For Joel K. Biju, 14, and his parents, it was a dream come true. Like hundreds of middle and lower middle class families in their community, they are on cloud nine. A comprehensive, academic-cum-non-academic programme for the overall improvement of children in the community has enabled Noel and his parents, like many in the community to aim high.
Navadarsan, a charitable trust formed under the Archdiocese of Verapoly, Kochi, conducts various programmes for the overall improvement of children between the age of 10 and above of the Latin Catholic community.
“Launched in 2004, the Trust aims to pick at least one member from each of the Latin Catholic families and help them pursue higher education. We provide educational and career guidance, sports coaching, social, and allied services. Now into its 10th year we are proud to say that we have been able to help a large number of students enjoy the fruits of higher education,” says Fr. Denny Mathew Peringatt, Director, Navadarsan Trust.
The Trust conducts coaching classes for Engineering entrance examination, personality development, career guidance, awareness of job opportunities, regular tuition classes, and sports coaching. And only a nominal fee is charged from the students.
Under the Pioneer Build-Up (PBU) programme, the students are imparted intensive training in communication skills, memory skills, study skills, career awareness, motivation, Yoga etc. Children studying in Class 7 are selected after an entrance test and they are eligible for the PBU programme for three years.
“We were not aware of such opportunities at our doorstep. And only when I went through this training did I realise how wonderful and useful this is for children like us,” says Joel, a Class IX student at Infant Jesus Public School, Alangad, near Aluva.
These classes are held at different schools under the Diocese every month. In addition to this, three-day residential camps are conducted three times a year during vacations.
“Nearly 70-80 per cent of the students who attended the training classes have secured admissions to the Engineering courses,” says Fr. Denny. He adds that plans are afoot to start coaching classes for Medicine, Management and Civil Service courses.
At the parish level coaching classes are conducted for competitive examinations like PSC, UPSC, Bank, LIC recruitments. The Trust also has a IELTS training programme for job aspirants and the Diocese awards certificates to students who secure 80 per cent marks.
“For those students who aspire for professional courses we have a corpus fund from where we distribute scholarships to outstanding students who are in need of financial assistance,” adds Fr. Denny.
The scholarship fund is collected as donations from the well wishers and parishioners. So far the Trust has been to collect around Rs.3 crores. Apart from this corpus fund, the Trust has created an education fund. This is for each student, which is deposited in the bank as a joint account in the name of the student and his parent. For this donations are collected from the parishioners after the holy mass in the churches every Sunday.
Under the sports programme intensive coaching in athletics is provided during summer vacation for both boys and girls. The coaching, held under the aegis of Kerala Sports Council, is held on April-May every year at the Maharaja’s College ground, Ernakulam.
“My daughter Athulaya Ann Mary, 12, trains in sprint events. She is trained by Sports Council coach Purushothaman and this has given her an edge when it comes to school-level competitions,” says Jaison Athappally, a Kakkanad-based parishioner.
Around 30,000 students have enrolled and are enjoying the benefits of the various programmes organised by the Trust. The Dioceses of Thiruvanathapuram and Alappuzha are planning to introduce Navadarsan programmes in their areas.