Moulding souls

Speaking more about their endeavour,Father Lazarus director of the ICYM says,“Our programme Khoj,which means search,was a three-day event,held recently wherein the youth of the parish along with students from other communities participated in a faith building programme. The children were from the age group of 15 to17 years and were mostly students of class 10 and 12. The main aim of the programme was to prepare the students so that they can help in bringing about a change in the lives of the poor. During the course of the three days doctors,and career counselors held talks with the students to familiarise them with the way the real world functions”

According to Father Lazarus,one of the most appalling things that need to be addressed in these modern times is the huge divide between the rich and the poor,the developed and the under-developed and between the urban and the rural areas of the nation. That is the reason why the youth of the cities need to get involved in programmes to help bring about a sense of pride,fulfillment and confidence for those who are under privileged.

Shraddha Raizada,one of the students,who participated in the programme says,“The programme basically aimed at helping us strengthen our own beliefs and values,so that we can take up the cause of working towards those who are not as lucky as we are. Sitting in our own comfort zone we are inclined to take things for granted whilst in reality there are many people who even cannot afford to garner two square meals for their families. In many ways this is a beginning of sorts to help us strengthen ourselves so that we can help others.”

“In order to reach out to the rural areas one of the most important things that need to be done is the students themselves have to be familiarised with the ways of the villages. We plan to take the students to these villages just to show how they live and experience their ways. It is only after they have gotten a full round up of how things work can they work towards developing them. Also another thing that I wish to mention is the fact that this is not a community based service,meaning we will go out and help the poorest of the poor irrespective of their cast,creed or their gender. One of the most important things that we wish to spread through our mission are the values associated with humanism,” adds Fr. Lazarus.

The basic theme of our programme is Dare to be Different. The reason behind that is also simple- In today’s times when the youth are more material oriented we want to spread across the message that while materialistic goods are necessary,they should not become a way to govern our lives,” he adds.