Save the river Campaign inauguration by Mrs. Mariamma Mathew (URI National Assembly Project Prize Winner)
Save the rivers campaign(URI National Assembly Project) -- bamboo planting at Panaveli by KIPS CC
Thursday, November 12, 2015
Thursday, October 15, 2015
Thursday, September 10, 2015
Second Zonal Assembly at KIPS
Sr. Dr. Emilia
lighting the lamp during the inauguration of URI Zonal Assembly at KIPS
Karen, Robin, Curtis and Muthu at KIPS, addressing senior students
Karen Barensche (South Africa) presenting the URI Interfaith Peace
award, 2015 to Sri. Pravasi Bandhu S. Ahamed at KIPS Karickam
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
Sunday, August 9, 2015
11nth K.C Mathew Memorial Lecture at ICSD De - addiction Centre, Valakom
11nth K.C Mathew Memorial Lecture at ICSD De - addiction Centre, Valakom
Thursday, August 6, 2015
ZERO LIMITS CC Profile
CC NAME: ZERO LIMITS, KOLLAM, KERALA, SOUTH INDIA REGION
FAITHS AND TRADITIONS
REPRESENTED IN CC: HINDUS, MUSLIMS, CHRISTIANS AND DALITS.
LOCATION OF CC: KOLLAM, KOLLAM DISTRICT, KERALA STATE.
KEY AREAS OF FOCUS: Youth
Development, Women Empowerment, Value added Education, Community Development,
Counseling, Health Awareness for Ladies, Celebration of UN related EVENTS for the awareness of public.
PRIMARY AND SECONDARY CONTACT
INFORMATION:
MOHAN LAL. K DEVI
RAJ. S
LADDE EDU SOLUTIONS POURNAMI
72 – VIDYA NAGAR HOUSE NO.72/B
CHEMMAMMUKKU SURABHI NAGAR
KOLLAM APSARA JN.
PATTATHANAM
POST, KOLLAM
Ph: 9446478726 Ph:
9446010728
0474-6066166
Inauguration of Zero Limits CC by Dr. Abraham Karickam, URI Asia Executive Director
QUESTIONS:
1. What is the current
religious/cultural/social context in the area where your CC is working?
As
Kollam is the District Head Quarters, there are people from other states of
India and people from Maldives and other foreign countries are residing here. That
is why we can see people with diverse religions. Here the main communities are
Christians, Hindus, Muslims and Dalits, having equal importance in the society.
Most of the people are government employees and businessmen having good educational
background. Famous colleges like Fathima Matha National College, Sree Narayana
College, S. N College for Women, Jerome College of Management Studies etc are
seen in our vicinity.
URI Regional Team having discussions with
the CC Leaders at Kollam.
2. Why is interfaith/intercultural bridge
building needed in the area where your CC works?
Since there are different
religions and people from different countries, there are chances for communal
issues. As it is the district head quarters and the people coming from other
states are considered as the initiators of anti- social activities, and the
Muslim community is considered as the supporters of anti- social activities, it
is inevitable to build up harmony among them. So, as youth, we consider it as our
duty to make people trust the ‘other’, and make the people understand the
reality of religious harmony. We do effective campaigning for the same.
(i). Career Counseling classes are conducted for Plus Two students in
association with Malayalam Manorama Daily (The largest Indian Language News
Paper).
(iv). Campaign against bullying in association with Amnesty
International.
(v). Human Rights Education among school students.
(vii). Project Triple -5: - Planting 555 trees in different parts of
Kollam district.
(viii). Vocational training for ladies from financially challenged
family.
(ix). Special summer camp for differently abled Kids
(x). Campus Initiatives for
college students to make them good professionals.
(xi). Health Educational and Interpersonal Skills Enhancement program
with Southern Railway.
(xii). Special training for teachers.
(xiii). Bike Rally – A Campaign for Save Water.
(xiv). Campaign against human trafficking.
(xv). Cancer awareness – Pediatric Cancer.
(xvi). Blood donation camp.
(xvii). Awareness workshop for unemployed youth to equip as a good
entrepreneurs.
(xviii). Awareness camp on modern life style diseases.
(xix). Celebration of days of National and International relevance.
(xx). Kids Carnivals – Confidence building program for kids.
(xxi). Marriage preparation course – Pre marital and post marital
counseling including life styles, skills like cooking etc.
(xxii). International Day of peace celebration.
(xxiii). Participation URI Zonal and National activities.
(xxiv). We celebrated UN Interfaith Harmony Week from 1st
February to 7th February with different schools.
4. Between which specific religions
or cultures are bridges being built?
Mainly
among the four communities like Hindus, Muslims, Christians and Dalits.
5. Please explain the method or strategy that your CC uses to bring
together people of different cultures and faiths that would otherwise not
interact or cooperate with each other.
Our
main strategy is to bring together the people of different cultures or Faiths
through campaigns awareness classes, workshops and association with socially
committed National and International organization.
6. Given the current context you described,
what does your CC hope to achieve (goals)?
Our
main hope is to create powerful youth without having any racial or religious discrimination
and have the aspiration to mould a new society of youngsters free of violence,
terror and fear.
7. How do you see your CC’s work improving
cooperation among people of different traditions?
We have a large network of youngsters who are working for the smooth running of our campaign. This is the confidence behind the starting of 10 new
CCs, which we plan for this coming year.
8. How is the work of your CC helping to
prevent religiously inspired violence or transforming conflict? (NOTE: This
question is relevant only in areas with violence/open conflict.)
As
we are focusing on youth and as we are helping them to be successful persons in their career, these
educated generation can easily understand our vision to create an interfaith
society. As they are going to the success point of their life with external
support from us, they believe that there are some value added matters in
society than religious fundamentalism. As youngsters, once they are convinced
they will be the spokespersons for URI in future.
9. What are some observations or signs you see
that relations are improving between people of different faiths/cultures in the
area where your CC works?
People are supporting us in our activities even though they know it is meant for interfaith harmony. Many persons come forward to join in our CC. Many
organizations come forward to host our programs on interfaith harmony, justice
and peace. Many of them express their willingness to join the URI Movement.
10. Please share specific short story about your
CC’s work that might teach a lesson about interfaith or inspire other CCs.
Last month we went to Cosmic
Community Centre, Karickam for a Zonal Program in which Dr. Victor Kazanjian
was the Chief Guest. In that function we went there with two of our friends
from Muslim community. They were so impressed of this beautiful get together.
The message from URI Executive Director touched them deeply and they were excited
to know more about the work done by URI around the world. After attending that
program they told us that they will spread the vision of interfaith harmony in
their area through a series of family meetings. This incident helped us to
understand the importance of hospitality also, which is a core principle of
URI. We would like to host similar meetings in our CC in the near future, so as
to spread the message of unity , hospitality and love.
11. How
is your CC’s work helping to achieve the mission of URI?
Our
CC always will be a supportive medium for URI to bridge the gap among different
religious communities. We work among the youth in various schools and colleges and
we use this platform for spreading URI principles.
12. Within your CC, you have members from
several different faiths and cultural traditions. How would you describe
cooperation among your CC’s members? What are the challenges?
Our CC members joined in it after our explanation
about URI Charter and they understand the necessity of Interfaith Harmony. They
are so happy to accept it as a true mission. We work with one spirit and our
bondage has become very strong because of URI. We began serious study of our
neighbor’s Faith after joining the URI Movement.
13.
How is
being part of URI helping your CC to achieve its goals?
As our name suggests (Zero Limit), we work
for a great goal of living without borders, which means to surpass all
boundaries of suspicion and fear. Unity is strength. “United we stand, divided
we fall”. We uphold this teaching. As URI members, we learn to stand united.
14.
Aside
from funding, what are some specific ways URI can better support your CC in
reaching its goals?
We expect to participate in important training programs organized by
URI at different levels. We also hope to benefit by youth exchange program,
youth empowerment training program and Peace Building Workshops by URI. We
would like to have tie-up with other CCs working on similar goals, especially
with those who work among youth in other continents. We are also very much
impressed by the YLP programs in several schools and hope to spread the message
of URI in all the schools that we visit.
SURYA THEJAS CC Profile
CC NAME: SURYA THEJAS, Kerala, South India
FAITHS AND TRADITIONS REPRESENTED IN CC: Hindus, Christians, Muslims and
Dalits
LOCATION OF CC: B.M.M.II CENTRAL SCHOOL, SOORANAD, Kerala,
South India
KEY AREAS OF FOCUS: Peace
Building, Education, Palliative care, De-addiction Programs, Environmental
Protection,
PRIMARY AND SECONDARY CONTACT INFORMATION:
PRIMARY CONTACT: Sr Dr EMILIA Ph: 9447362730
Email: sremilia@rediffmail.com
SECONDARY CONTACT: S. GANGADHARA KURUP Ph: 9847452278 Email: bmm2cscbse@yahoo.com
Photo Session after the Inauguration
of Surya Thejus CC
QUESTIONS:
1. What is the current religious/cultural/social context in the area where
your CC is working?
Ans. Sooranad North Panchayat is a rural area in the northern side of
Kollam District in Kerala State. The
inhabitant s of this Panchayat belong to Hindu, Christian and Islam religions. Many
are Dalits, too. Most of them are farmers and agricultural labourers. There are some government servants and
businessmen also. The highest
educational institution in this Panchayat is a Government Higher Secondary
School. Even then most of the young ones
are having basic education and are living in harmony and co-operation without
any segregation.
URI Regional Team having discussions with
the CC Leaders at Sooranad School
2. Why is interfaith/intercultural bridge building needed in the area
where your CC works?
Ans. Recently there arose a crisis between two families-- one Hindu and
other Muslim. It was related to the misuse of drinking water from the common
water tap. This silly incident began to
develop as a serious communal issue with
the supporters of two parties.
The matter was brought up to our notice by a member of our CC. We interfered and solved peacefully. The sad
state is that any simple violence can flare up into big communal issues at any
time, due to political manipulation. We have to be vigilant always.
3. Please briefly describe the
main activities or programmes your CC is carrying out this year?
The name of our CC means the “The Halo of the Sun”. Like the sun, we want
to spread our warmth to the communities around. Our main activities include:
a.
Relief programme for palliative care
patients in the Panchayat
b.
Anti- tobacco movement – a programme
for eradication of tobacco use among Youth and Adults
Notice of programme for eradication of tobacco use
among Youth and Adults
c. Special campaign for traffic rules awareness
d. Counseling for parents
e. Medical camp for detection of cancer and blood donation
f. Peace Building
4. Between which specific religions or cultures are bridges being built?
Ans. Our work is mainly among
Hindus and Muslims. But we work for the promotion of wider ecumenism and also
to preserve peace between fighting Christian factions.
5. Please explain the method of strategy that your CC uses to bring
together people of different cultures and faiths that would otherwise not
interact or cooperate with each other?
Ans. We concentrate in bringing the people of different traditions and
cultures under the shade of harmony by providing them with ample opportunities
to mingle and work together. Family
festivals, Residence associations and
voluntary social organizations will serve the purpose.
6. Given the current context you described, what does your CC hope to
achieve (goals)?
Ans. We hope we will succeed in making them understand the right and
wrong aspects of the issues and the necessity for solving the problems and the hidden
dangers due to the involvement of the antisocial elements in the society.
7. How do you see your CC’s work improving cooperation among people of
different traditions?
Ans. We understand our CC’s work is going in the right path from the
support we gained by the local organizations like political parties, youth
clubs, other social voluntary agencies etc.
8. How is the work of your CC helping to prevent religiously inspired
violence or transforming conflict?
(Note: This question is relevant only in areas with violence/open
conflict)
Ans. Our effort to bring the religious leaders and social workers and the
members of the two fighting families
around a table for discussion for finding a solution, succeeded. We are now
emboldened in the fact that as URI, we
have a key-role to play in keeping the social fabric intact. As we are deeply
rooted in our PPP, we have the confidence of ensuring support of all.
9. What are some observations or signs you see that relations are improving
between people of different faiths/cultures in the area where your CC works?
Ans. We observed the presence of a long queue of the youth, without any
discrimination of caste and religion, in
the hospital to donate blood for the patients who were affected by a bus
accident which occurred there. The impact of URI is so high in such situations.
The YLP Project under our CC has had miraculous impact in the society. We
conducted a big Anti – Drug march and so many people from the village joined
hands with us. Our hope is to develop an alcohol free, drug free village. The
whole student community has accepted this as their pet project and message is
reaching hundreds of families, through our students.
10. Please share a specific short story about your CC’s work that might
teach a lesson about interfaith or inspire other CCs.
Ans. After a few months we, the members of Surya Thejas were invited to
the Annual Day celebration of an arts and sports club in a nearby area. The
local MLA (Member of the State Legislative Assembly) was the chief guest. The Secretary of the club introduced us as their
saviors in that Water TAP incident (Family Feud in the name of the Water Tap) and mentioned about the World Organization
“URI”. All were impressed in the
activities of URI and they offered their full support in spreading interfaith
harmony in their region, too.
11. How is your CC’s work helping
to achieve the mission of URI?
Ans. We work among the youth in Schools and Colleges to spread URI’s
principles. Our CC works in Baselios Mar Thoma II Central School where we have
around 500 students. The message of our programs reach in 500 families and
through them we spread the message to a large section of the society.
12. Within in your CC, you have members from several different faiths and
cultural traditions . How would you
describe cooperation among your CC’s members?
What are the challenges?
Ans. Our members joined the
organization after getting a clear understanding about URI. So they are happy to accept it as a true
mission. The main challenge we have to
face is from some religious leaders who
never accept the truth that all other religions also stand for the welfare of
human beings.
13. How is being part of URI
helping your CC to achieve its goals?
Ans. “Unity is Strength”, we uphold this teaching. As URI members, we learned to stand united.
We have the moral support of our regional hub for all our multifarious
activities. We learn a lot from the experiences of other CCs also.
14. Aside from funding, what are some specific ways URI can better
support your CC in reaching its goals?
Ans. We expect valuable instructions and proper guidance for CC and
opportunities for exchanging our faith and traditions with youths in other
parts of the world.
Wednesday, August 5, 2015
A Prayer for Hiroshima Day
A Prayer for Hiroshima Day
Prayer
Like most traumatic
scars, the ones that are found in Hiroshima and Nagasaki are permanent:
reminders of the terrible damage human beings can inflict.
Similar scars can be
found in the hearts and souls of people around the world who understand this
terror: scars of grief, sadness, fear and even shame.
None of these scars
promise an end to war and devastation. Instead, they serve as a reminder of
healing and renewal - of a return to life.
Gracious God, Spirit
of Life and Love, help us to see our scars: those we have created, those we are
called to witness, and those we can soothe and heal.
We are deeply grateful
for the buds and blossoms that even the most scarred offer as a revelation to
the world.
And, especially on
this 70th* anniversary of Hiroshima Day, we renew our commitment to peace
individually, collectively and globally:
To "peace
within" which calms our anxieties and fears,
To "peace
between" which overcomes differences, animosities and conflict,
And, to "the
great peace", beyond even our understanding, that is Your gift and which
we attempt to be stewards of for the world.
Amen.
(*2015 = 70th
anniversary)
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