Generally, most of the students, when they leave their college, do not have any connectivity with their college. In Pondicherry Engineering College, some of the current students and alumni join together for supporting the social cause effectively.
Mr Sebastin Britto Stephen , working in a leading IT firm and an alumnus of Pondicherry Engineering College (a member of India vision group) sent a mail to me about their activities through 'FRIENDZ FOR LIFE' (FFL). I had an elaborate discussion with him on their inspiring model, which can be emulated by other college students also.
This FFL was formed as a Trust by the outgoing students of Pondicherry Engineering College in May 2006 to support various social projects. Though the Trust was formed by the outgoing students, the current students continue the activities for the past three years. Nearly 120 alumni contribute to the extent of Rs. 2 lakhs every year and these funds are managed by the current third and fourth year students.
When these students go out, they will join their seniors for contribution. I spoke to Mr Sebastin, who is presently administering the trust as an alumnus and also Mr Thierry Gloude, the student who moves from third year to fourth year. Nearly 100 of third and fourth year students are involved in the social work. They have divided amongst themselves into 10 teams to cover environment, health check up, education, etc. They also visit the nearby schools and help the children in different ways.
Sabastian says that one of their achievements is creating awareness about women education. One of the nearby schools had classes only upto 8th standard. The local people were not allowing the girl children to study beyond 8th standard. These Engineering students found lot of potentiality and enthusiasm amongst girls for studying further. They helped the School itself to get themselves upgraded upto 10th standard and convinced the parents to send the girls to the school. Sabastian proudly says that 55 such poor girls, who could have dropped out after 8th standard, were made to complete 10th standard successfully.
Though FFL was started in 2006 by the then Senior students, the current students who are associated will continue to contribute money after their employment. The routine process of third and fourth year students decide the projects and implement them.
Both Sabestian and Thierry inform in chorus that all the students were inspired to go into this type of social work by their Professor Dr E Srinivasan, who has been relentlessly supporting the poor boys for nearly twenty years. They say through the inspiration drawn from him, they would continue to add more and more alumni of PEC in their team and support the poor people in their own humble way.
"I am very happy to be part of FFL and contribute something to the poor and needy as a student, beyond my academic works. Definitely, I will continue to be with FFL even after my leaving the College and spread the awareness amongst my colleagues after employment too" proudly says Thierry., who is now the final year student.
We will feature Prof. Dr E Srinivasan, separately, as an 'Unsung Hero" tomorrow.
Sebastin can be contacted at sebastin.stephen@
Hats off TO PEC students! Continue your good work!!
Srinivasan
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