Bringing in some cheer ahead of the Pongal festival, members of the American College Rotaract Club hosted celebrations at the Government Observation Home for boys and girls run by the Children’s Aid Society here on Monday.
The premises had been decorated with sugarcane to bring in a feel of the festival to the thirty inmates of the home.
More than fifty members of the ACRC put up a cultural programme including skits with patriotic themes to commemorate Swami Vivekananda’s birth anniversary as well as talks about the leader. A comedy skit on people falling prey to advertisers was also staged by the students.
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Christina Esther, a final year student and member of the club said that celebrating the festival at the juvenile home promoted inclusiveness and gave inmates, a chance to partake in the celebrations.
“Instead of celebrating the festival within our families, we are taking the festivities to people who are unable to partake in the joy of the festival due to their circumstances,” she said.
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S. Rajagopal, President of the Children’s Aid Society said that most of the inmates did not have frequent visits from their parents and craved for affection.
“A few of them have behavioural issues and it stems from the fact that they feel ignored and discarded. Such group interactions, if hosted periodically, will go a long way in reforming and guiding them,” he said.
The inmates were further distributed Pongal which was prepared by the students and other snacks to mark the celebrations. On behalf of the Rotary Club of Madurai West, President T. Ravee also gave the inmates, shirts for the festival.
“We had earlier hosted celebrations at the home for Christmas and then decided to host regular celebrations for important festivals here. The ACRC is also planning to sign an MoU with the Children’s Aid Society which runs the home, to undertake collaborations and guide the inmates with academics and other interests as well,” said S. Jeyarani, Assistant Professor and Coordinator of the ACRC.
“The students are being encouraged to visit the home on a regular basis and offer guidance to the inmates if needed as well as conduct competitions and other fun activities,” she added.