Community Service Day 2016
Community Service Day was celebrated on 23rd January 2016 wherein about 700 residents of various NGO’s (from shelters for destitute women, orphanages, old age homes, children of migrant slum dwellers etc.) were invited to the Panvel Campus and treated to a day of food, fun and learning. The Chief Guest for the day was Dr. Madhu Chaku, member of Llandudno branch of Soroptimist International. She is a medical graduate from Indore Medical College (qualified in 1968). I did her post graduation in Anaesthetic from Royal College of Surgeons, London. The Guest of Honour was Sr. Jacinta Pinto, Asst Director of Don Bosco Balprafulta.
She has worked in the Social field for the past 10 years, having been a part of the National Domestic workers movement for their rights and was a part of the team that created the Standard Operating procedure for the cause of vulnerable children and their issues. She has completed her M.A. in sociology from Kalina University. In their keynote address, both guests spoke about the social service initiatives undertaken by their organisations. They also commended the Mahatma Education Society for their contribution to the less fortunate in society. The students of DGPA under the leadership of Ms. Mabel Chan Pillai performed a violin recital. After the inaugural ceremony they visited the various classrooms where the activities with the guests were being conducted. The guests were taken back to their shelters in busses arranged by the Pillai Group after a day of fun and learning. Gifts and sweets were also distributed to all. This is a unique community service program that gives our teachers and students an opportunity to serve the underprivileged in our society and sensitize them to the various problems faced by them.
