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BOSCO OUTREACH PROGRAMME

Don Bosco College (Co-Ed), Guezou Nagar, Yelagiri Hills

Draft: 8th September 2023

 

BOSCO OUTREACH is a transformative community engagement initiative designed to empower students with practical experience in social interventions. This program mandates every student to contribute a minimum of 30 service hours annually, focusing on four crucial areas: social awareness (SA), education and vocational development (EV), health and sanitation (HS), and environmental management (EM).

Objectives:

  • Promoting Social Responsibility: The program aims to instill a sense of social responsibility by actively involving students in initiatives addressing critical societal needs.
  • Enhancing Practical Learning: Through hands-on involvement in real-world interventions, students will gain practical experience that complements their academic knowledge.
  • Strengthening Community Bonds: The program seeks to establish strong and sustainable bonds between the college and surrounding communities, fostering mutual understanding and cooperation.
  • Contributing to Sustainable Development: Focusing on SA, EV, HS, and EM, the program aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, contributing to the overall well-being of the community.

Program Components:

Social Awareness (SA):

  • Awareness Campaigns: Conducting workshops and awareness campaigns on various social issues such as gender equality, poverty alleviation, and community development.
  • Advocacy Initiatives: Engaging in advocacy efforts to promote positive social change within the community.

 

Education and Vocational Development (EV):

  • Tutoring and Skill-building: Providing educational support and skill development opportunities for individuals of all age groups.
  • Career Guidance: Offering guidance and mentorship to help individuals make informed decisions about their educational and vocational pursuits.

 

Health and Sanitation (HS):

  • Health Camps: organizing medical camps and awareness sessions to address prevalent health issues and promote preventive care.
  • Sanitation Drives: Initiating cleanliness and hygiene campaigns to improve community health standards.

 

Environmental Management (EM):

  • Tree Plantation and Conservation: Undertaking tree plantation drives and initiatives for the conservation of natural resources.
  • Waste Management: Implementing waste segregation and recycling programs to promote environmental sustainability.

 

Implementation Plan:

 

  1. Student Service Hours: Each student is required to render a minimum of 30 service hours per year (having at least 24 contact hours), to be conducted on weekends or after 4:00 pm on working days. At least 3 days of 6 hours each to be spent by every student in a village. 6 hours of input session is given by the faculty.
  2. Accompanying Teachers: A designated teacher accompanies the students when they go to the villages as a group or conduct an event, ensuring guidance and supervision.
  3. Departmental Assignments: Each department is assigned a specific village for follow-up, fostering long-term relationships and continuity in interventions.
  4. Needs Assessment: Conduct a comprehensive assessment of the specific needs and challenges within the target villages to tailor interventions accordingly as social audit.
  5. Collaborations: Establish partnerships with local authorities, NGOs, and community leaders to ensure the success and sustainability of the program.
  6. Monitoring and Evaluation: Regularly monitor the progress of interventions and evaluate their impact on the community. Seek feedback from both students and community members for continuous improvement.
  7. Don Bosco College gets the collaboration of the department of Social Work (Sacred Heart College, Tirupattur) towards consultancy, training, monitoring and evaluation of Bosco Outreach Programme
  8. Students are record their participation in every activity of Bosco Outreach in Student Extension Activity Card.

 

Budgetary Considerations:

Outline the anticipated budget required for the successful implementation of the Village Reachout Program, including expenses for transportation, materials, training, and other logistical needs.

 

Consultancy and Training

The Department of Social Work at Sacred Heart College, Tirupattur, provides consultancy and training for teachers and students.

 

  • To conduct three hours input session for the teachers to know the techniques and methods to conduct the outreach programme in their respective villages with social audit and continuous social interventions.
  • To assist the faculty members to provide orientation for the students with six hours of input sessions
  • To assist the faculty and students to analyze the data obtained from social audit and to introduce appropriate social interventions
  • To assist Bosco Outreach coordinator to monitor and evaluate the progress of the programme in every village and publish the results of social impact and the contribution of every department.
  • To conduct a feedback with the village representatives to know the impact of Bosco Outreach programme with the village communities

 

Conclusion:

BOSCO OUTREACH is a powerful initiative that empowers students to become socially responsible leaders. By implementing mandatory service hours, involving teachers, and assigning specific villages to departments, this program strives to make a significant and sustained impact on the communities it serves, ultimately contributing to a more inclusive and sustainable society.

 

 

APPENDIX A: SOCIAL AUDIT: What and How

A social audit conducted for a village as part of field work by a group of college students involves a systematic evaluation of various aspects of the community's social well-being, with the aim of identifying strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement. Here are the key components typically included in a social audit:

Stakeholder Identification: Identify and list all the stakeholders involved in the village community. This can include residents, local authorities, community leaders, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and other relevant entities.

Objectives and Scope Definition: Clearly outline the objectives and scope of the social audit. This helps in focusing the audit efforts on specific areas of interest, such as education, healthcare, livelihoods, sanitation, etc.

Data Collection and Documentation:
a. Demographic Information: Gather data on the population size, age distribution, gender ratio, and other relevant demographic details of the village.
b. Economic Conditions: Evaluate the economic status of the community, including sources of income, employment opportunities, poverty levels, and access to financial resources.
c. Education: Assess the state of education in the village, including the availability of schools, enrollment rates, literacy levels, and access to educational resources.
d. Healthcare: Examine the availability and quality of healthcare services, including the presence of healthcare facilities, access to healthcare professionals, immunization rates, and prevalent health issues.
e. Infrastructure and Basic Services: Evaluate the availability of basic amenities such as clean water, sanitation facilities, electricity, roads, and public transportation.
f. Social Services: Assess the availability of social services like welfare programs, community centers, and support networks for vulnerable populations.
g. Cultural and Recreational Activities: Explore the cultural heritage and recreational opportunities available in the village, which contribute to the overall well-being of the community.
h. Community Engagement and Participation: Analyze the level of community participation in decision-making processes, local governance, and participation in various social activities.
i. Environmental Sustainability: Consider factors related to environmental sustainability, including waste management, conservation efforts, and access to green spaces.

Data Analysis and Interpretation: Once the data is collected, analyze it to identify trends, patterns, and areas of concern. This step involves quantitative analysis of numerical data and qualitative interpretation of responses and observations.

Community Feedback and Consultation: Engage with the community members, leaders, and stakeholders to gather their perspectives, concerns, and suggestions regarding the social audit findings.

Report Preparation and Presentation: Compile the findings, analysis, and community feedback into a comprehensive report. This report should include clear recommendations for potential interventions and improvements.

Implementation and Follow-up: Work with relevant stakeholders, including local authorities and NGOs, to implement recommended interventions and monitor their progress over time.

Feedback Loop: Establish a feedback mechanism to ensure that the implemented changes are benefiting the community and address any emerging issues.

Documentation and Knowledge Sharing: Keep records of the social audit process, findings, and outcomes for future reference. Additionally, share the results with the community, academic institutions, and relevant organizations to promote learning and knowledge dissemination.

 

By following these steps, the group of college students can conduct a thorough and effective social audit that provides valuable insights for improving the social well-being of the village.

 

APPENDIX B: Collaborative Partnership between Sacred Heart College (SHC) and Don Bosco College, with the Department of Social Work

 

Objective: To establish a structured collaborative partnership between Sacred Heart College (SHC) and Don Bosco College, with the Department of Social Work at SHC providing consultancy, training, and support to Don Bosco College in order to achieve specific measurable outcomes in the areas of social responsibility, practical learning, community engagement, and sustainable development.

 

Specific and Measurable Components:

 

Consultancy and Training (CT):

  • Objective: To enhance the capacity of the faculty of Don Bosco College in effectively implementing the Village Reachout program.
  • Target Audience: Faculty Members of DBCY
  • Measurable Outcome: Conduct a baseline assessment of Don Bosco College's current community engagement initiatives and capabilities.
  • Activities:
    • Develop a customized training plan based on the assessment.
    • Provide training sessions to Don Bosco College staff on program management, community needs assessment, and impact evaluation.
    • Monitor progress through regular evaluations and progress reports.

 

Community Engagement Workshops (CEW):

  • Objective: To actively involve students in addressing critical societal needs.
  • Measurable Outcome: Conduct a series of community engagement workshops at Don Bosco College, targeting specific social issues.
  • Target Audience: Student Groups for each Village
  • Activities:
    • Develop a curriculum for the workshops.
    • Measure student participation and engagement.
    • Evaluate the impact of workshops on students' understanding of social responsibility.

Practical Learning Assessment (PLA):

  • Objective: To measure the practical learning outcomes of students.
  • Measurable Outcome: Administer pre- and post-program assessments to evaluate the growth in students' practical skills and understanding.
  • Participants: MSW Students (SHC, Tirupattur)
  • Activities:
    • Design assessment tools to measure practical skills.
    • Compare pre- and post-program assessment results.
    • Analyze the impact of hands-on involvement on students' academic knowledge.

Community Bonding Score (CBS):

  • Objective: To establish and strengthen bonds between Don Bosco College and surrounding communities.
  • Measurable Outcome: Develop a Community Bonding Score to measure the level of cooperation and mutual understanding.
  • Participants: MSW Students (SHC Tirupattur)
  • Activities:
    • Create a survey or assessment tool to measure community perceptions.
    • Administer the assessment at regular intervals.
    • Use the score to track improvements in community relations.

Sustainable Development Impact (SDI):

  • Objective: To contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through program activities.
  • Measurable Outcome: Track program activities related to Social Awareness (SA), Education and Vocational Development (EV), Health and Sanitation (HS), and Environmental Management (EM) and their alignment with specific SDGs.
  • Participants: MSW Students (SHC, Tirupattur)
  • Activities:
    • Identify which SDGs are addressed by each program component.
    • Regularly update the SDI report with quantitative data on SDG contributions.
    • Share the SDI report with stakeholders to showcase program impact.

By implementing these specific and measurable components, the Bosco Reachout Collaborative Partnership aims to achieve its objectives effectively and provide tangible evidence of its impact.