Painting a New Dawn at Salpukur

 

On 3rd August 2008 Students of SXC took two more steps ahead. Fr. Felix Raj laid the foundation for Snegam work in Salpukur, a village situated in South 24 Parghanas of West Bengal near Nepalgunj. The village children numbering more than 200, along with the village elders defying the burning rays of the sun and the sultry heat, had gathered in the village for the programme.

 

Others present for the occasion were Ms Cheryl Francis, the SXC NSS director and the Village Panchayat members. A very special guest was Mr. Ghani Gazi, about 111 years old, standing tall and confident amidst the crowd with a broad smile.

 

In his inaugural address Fr. Felix Raj’s message was very clear and simple: “Education is one of the indicators of progress. It is the key to development. All the children in the village must continue their studies. The college students will stand by them. We want to create a bond between the college and the village. Through this effort we hope that after 10 or 15 years, some of the village children will go to college and this is what will lead India to greater heights.”

 

The village people were very happy and grateful to Fr. Raj and Snegam Society for reaching out to the children of Salpukur. They promised to cooperate in all ways possible so that together they would “paint a new dawn” in Salpukur. Athe end of the programme, Fr. Felix Raj felicitated Mr. Gazi.

 

Aryaman Kejriwal

NSS President

SXC 

 

 

 

 

 

RENOVATED CHURCH CUM STUDY CENTRE INAUGURATED IN DEBIPUR

 

August 3rd was a red-letter day for the people of Debipur. After the programme in Salpukur, all of us along with Fr. Felix Raj marched to Debipur under Raghapur Parish where the efforts of SXC students under Snegam had already begun a year ago. Fr. Felix Raj inaugurated the newly renovated Church –cum-community centre.

 

In the words of Mrs. Uma Majhi, the President of the Mahila Samiti, “Ek bhochorer modhya amra Debipurer paribartan dekhte payachi. Jaykhane aagay bachhara schooley jetya chaytona, ekhon teacherer baditheke niyeyjay porathey”. (We have seen the improvement in Debipur within a year’s time. Earlier children didn’t like to go to school but now they bring their teachers from their homes to teach them.) 

 

Here too the message of Fr. Raj was the same. “Education is a must. I want to see some of these children in our colleges in future. He also highlighted the role of college students in the villages. He said that the college students were role models to these children. It was very necessary for the college students to be in touch with the village children. Only then transformation would be possible.

 

“God has come to the village of Debipur through the vision of Father Felix Raj and the hard work of Ms. Francis” was all that Father T.J. Thomas; the Parish Priest of Ragapur could say about the change that has taken place in Debipur. What began, as a small endeavour has now become a major effort. This has been possible because Snegam Society strongly believes in quality education.

 

Aryaman Kejriwal

NSS President

SXC