DESAM is an organization run by Jesuit fathers of Loyola College aiming at the upliftment of the Gypsy community people in and around Chennai.

Desam - 2017 camp was conducted from 3rd May,2017 to 10th May,2017 for the Gypsy people around Pallavaram, Guindy, Kotoorpuram, Ponneri and Avadi.

The camp focuses to take the Gypsy Community to the next level of development through education, Soft skills and communication skill development program.

The camp also helps them to promote themselves to the next stage in education, to gain a special interest in education, to stimulate an interest for the school drop-outs to go to school again. Not only these, the main motto of this plan is to give a special attention to the students who cannot continue their studies further and according to their interest, an apprenticeship is given and to make them achieve their goal.

        Loyola College has been conducting ‘EXODUS CAMP’, a preparatory coaching program for the lesser privileged students namely poor Tamil Medium Students from the villages, the Dalits, Orphans and Semi orphans by providing them with language skills, Life skills, city exposure and so on to take up UG degree studies in Loyola College confidently.

EXODUS CAMP – 2017 was further strengthened and enhanced by the collaboration with ONGC. The fine gesture of ONGC that sponsored for 200 students enabled Loyola College Management to reach out to the periphery and to provide the opportunity for the socially deprived sections and first generation learners from the villages. This year Exodus ’17 catered to 546 students from different districts of Tamilnadu.

The objective of the Exodus Camp is to prepare the lesser privileged students namely poor Tamil Medium students from the villages, the Dalits, Orphans and Semi orphans by providing them with language skills, Life skills, city exposure to take up degree studies in Loyola College and elsewhere confidently.

        DESAM camp was conducted from 3rd May to 13th May 2016. It is conducted every year for the Gypsy children to help them improve their health, sanitation, skills and educational status. Nearly 75 Gypsy children (from Pallavaram, Guindy, Minjur and Kotturpuram settlements) have benefitted. This camp promotes them to the next stage in education and elevates drop outs in their community. Being a residential camp, the children were taught through play way method and they were also groomed in discipline, relationship, table etiquette, general knowledge and social awareness. Eminent personalities, social activists and artists were invited to share their experiences and motivate them. This exposure to a new culture and atmosphere broadened their outlook and instilled in them the desire to come up in life.

FOLLOW UP

1. Started Tuition centers in Gypsy Colonies with the help of DESAM volunteers to reduce drop outs
2. Admitted 8 Gypsy students in Loyola School, Kuppayanallur.
3. Updating the data of Gypsy people so that their needs and rights can be addressed.

" Empowering of individual leads to the empowering of the whole society "

        Loyola College has been conducting ‘EXODUS CAMP’, a preparatory coaching program for the lesser privileged student’s namely poor catholic students from the villages, the Dalit’s, Orphans and Semi-orphans by providing them with language skills, life skills, city exposure and so on to take up degree studies in Loyola College confidently. EXODUS CAMP was conducted from 24th April to 18th May 2016 and 442 students from different districts in Tamil Nadu were benefitted. This year EXODUS CAMP – 2016 was further strengthened and enhanced in collaboration with ONGC. The fine gesture of ONGC which sponsored for 100 students enabled Loyola College Management to reach out to the periphery and provided the opportunity for the socially deprived sections and first generation learners from the villages.

Activities

The activities of the camp include English language classes, Motivational sessions, Spiritual activities, Guest lectures on various social issues, Cultural events, Sports competitions etc. Thus we have tried our best to provide a holistic formation to the lesser privileged students and prepare them to face their college studies and future challenges.

Outcome

1. Students got rid of their prejudices
2. Acquired basic English knowledge and gained confidence to speak in English
3. Took part in spiritual and cultural events

        A part of Renault Nissan Technology and Business Centre India Private limited (RNTBCI) Corporate Social Responsibility activities in India, RNTBCI has signed an Agreement with Loyola College Society in October 2015 to Provide 1. Scholarships to Fourteen Engineering

        Students of Loyola-ICAM College of Engineering and Technology and 2. For providing training in ‘Quality Enhancement’ though Loyola Institute of Business Administration (LIBA). The programme was inaugurated by Mr. Charles Etienne Verdier the M.D. of RNTBCI on the 25th of November 2015.

CHARLES ETIENNE VERDIER , M.D., RNTBCI

Eighteen (18)Engineers/Foremen and Technical experts from six (6) different Tier 1 and Tier 2 supplier industries have been attending the training progrmmes to find ways and means to improve the Quality of the products supplied by them

        The main objective of LICET is to empower the disadvantaged and marginalized. LICET has been conducting the summer coaching camp for the past three years for the economically poor and the socially marginalized (Dalit) students. Information would be sent to the parishes of the nearby dioceses and every summer about 60 students would be taken for the summer camp for a period of four weeks.

During the summer camp the following needs are addressed

1. The academic syllabi of the school final year would be revised since in many schools very important sections, such as calculus and differential equations, are omitted and they become the basis for engineering studies. The summer camp helps the students get ready for the forthcoming engineering studies.

2. Further, the students coming from rural and socially marginalized milieu have low self-esteem and very low self-confidence. This is addressed through motivational talks on daily basis and leadership training is given. The students are also trained in communication such as public speaking, group discussion, singing and cultural programs so that they could come out of their shyness and are able to face others.

3. They are given a foretaste of education in the engineering college. They are taken to the labs and workshops and are given practical and hand-on lessons on computer and other engineering gadgets.

4. At the end of the summer camp, some students are absorbed into LICET for their engineering studies.

The summer camp is a boon, even for those who are not coming into LICET, since they profit by the training given in LICET.

        Loyola College, Chennai launched emergency response soon after the flood hit the capital, Tamilnadu on November, 2015 and immediate steps were taken to address the issues of hunger, shelter, clean drinking water, health and hygiene.

        Loyola Rain Relief services and Loyola Relief and Rehabilitation services were carried out in Loyola College campus and in various places in and around Chennai.

Activities at Loyola College Campus

A group of 2000+ slum dwellers from the banks of river Coovam were brought and were provided with shelter, clothing, medicine and food for a period of 7 days at Loyola College. While they were going back to their dwelling places, Provisions and Utensils to support a 5 member team were provided for 5 days.

Loyola College provided Relief materials to over 7000+ affected slum dwellers at seven different locations for over 8 days.

At present the Outreach department continues to do its Rehabilitation activities in the 36 slums adopted by the college.

Activities at Mahabalipuram

1. Provided utensils for 30 families to the tune of 1 lac + supported by give smiles
2. Provided driving license training to 30 persons at Ahal, Kilpennathur
3. Received proposals for tailoring training and widow rehabilitation programs
4. Conducted summer camp for 50 children

Activities at Chengalpet

1. Provided bed sheets for 3000 people

Activities at Thiruvallur

1. Employed 22 part time volunteers for tuitions at 22 centers
2. Employed one full time chief coordinator for the activities of Thiruvallur
3. Employed three full time coordinators in the region
4. Conducted summer camps in four places
5. Provided school bags, and education stationeries

Activities at cuddalore

Cuddalore is one of the worst affected regions of Tamil Nadu during the Floods of 2015. Rev.Fr.Kennedy SJ was in charge of the activities of Cuddalore Region. Under his direction a number of volunteers conducted the Relief activities till the end of January 2016. The victims were provided with Cooked Food, Medicines, Water, Bed sheets and Clothing besides some Food Provisions. Rev.Fr.Henry Jerome has taken over the long term activities of LRRS from July 2016.

Activities at Tuticorin

1. Provided utensils for 100 families

Activities at Nagapattinam

1. Provided house repair cash amount for 46 houses to the tune of 7500/-