KARICKAM INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOL, CC PROFILE

CC NAME: KARICKAM INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOL, SOUTH INDIA REGION

FAITHS AND TRADITIONS REPRESENTED IN CC: HINDUS, MUSLIMS, DLITS   AND CHRISTIANS.

LOCATION OF CC: KARICKAM, KOTTARAKKARA,  KOLLAM DISTRICT, KERALA STATE.

KEY AREAS OF FOCUS: Counseling, IFHW Celebrations, YLP Programs, Youth Leadership Training, IDP Rally

 Value Added Education, Civil service Training, Community Development programs, Cancer Care and Medical Assistance,

Environmental Protection, Education, Career  Guidance, Peace Building etc.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY CONTACT INFORMATION: 

Anila.S.V                                                                                 Jiji.P.Mathew

Karickam International Public School                                 Friends Complex

Karickam P. O                                                                                    Karickam. P.O

Kottarakara                                                                            Kottarakara

Ph: 9539093863                                                                      Ph: 9446710367

Email: anilamol05@gmail.com                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Email: jpm29466@gmail.com

QUESTIONS:

1.    What is the current religious/cultural/social context in the area where your CC is working?

There are around 600 members in our CC. They belong to four communities described above. There are three schools, Agricultural University, ESI hospital, famous Ganapathi Temple, Muslim Mosque etc. in our place. There is a big cashew factory also. The Sadananda Ashram houses an Ayurvedic Centre also. World famous classical dance form  Kathakali originated in Kottarakkara. An  institution named Kalakshetra for teaching various arts like Kathakali is  situated near the Mahaganapathi temple. Famous St. Gregorious College is also within three Kilometeres.

Karickam has become an educational Hub in the region. Almost one hundred years ago the Seventh Day Adventist Missionaries from United States of America came here and started a school. That was a turning point in our history. It opened out doors for a revival and it was a window to the West. All the villagers got a chance for better education.

2.    Why is interfaith/intercultural bridge building needed in the area where your CC works?

 The four communities of our region, viz. Hindus, Christians, Muslims and Dalits usually live in peace, but due to political manipulations, the relationship fail on several occasions. The ‘other’ becomes an enemy. We have to be very vigilant in order to keep the social fabric in tact. And today youth have lost their moral values and they might become criminals and some of them turn to drugs. So the interfaith meetings and youth leadership training are very essential for educating the youth. We promote peace through our Interfaith Students, Movement with affiliates in several educational institutions in Kerala.

3.    Please briefly describe the main activities or programs your CC is carrying out this year?

(i). Career Guidance Program.

(ii). Counseling for students.

(iii). Distributing saplings in connection with Environment Day on June 5^th .

Principal Jiji P Mathew distributing seedlings as part of forestation program.

Environmental Activities.
(Distribution of saplings & seeds, medicinal garden, vegetable garden etc)

(iv). Palliative Care.

Students presenting 10,000 rupees to Mr. Shaji, who is in bed for 10 years after a bus accident, 35 KM away from our school.

    Every year our students and staff collect around 100,000 rupees (2000 dollars approx.) for cancer care. Sometimes there will be a special drive for some patients, especially parents or immediate family members of our community.

(v). Conducting leadership training and youth camp.

Participants of annual youth camp—second line leaders of URI.

(vi). Celebrating days of National and International relevance.

(vii).Conducting Water Literacy Seminar.

Water Literacy Seminar being inaugurated by V. Prakash, Asst. Director of Water and Irrigation Department of the Govt. of Kerala. (News in Mathrubhoomi Daily).

(viii). International Day of Peace celebration.

Peace rally in connection with UN International day of Peace. We conduct this program every year, which attaracts the attention of large number of peaople.

(Ix) 5^th International Holy Books Conference.

Participants of the 5^th International Holy Books Conference, which was held in our school in 2013.

(x). Sri Lankan Gandhi Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne was honored by our CC.

Magseyse award winner Dr. A. T. Ariaratna (Founder President of Sarvodaya Movement in Sri Lanka) with our students at KIPS. It was a rare privilegefor us  to receive this veteran URI leader in our institution.

(xi). We celebrate UN Interfaith Harmony Week.

UN Interfaith Harmony Week is celebrated every year in our school with a series of programs. Rev. Dr. Victor kazanjian inaugurating 2015 Harmony Week clelebration by flying a pigeon into the sky.

(xii). Support ‘Run Kerala Run’.

We supported the Run Kerala Run program of Kerala Govt. for a better Health Culture. All our senior students and staff participated in the 2 KM run.

(xiii). YLP Water Harvester Inauguration

YLP Water Harvester Inauguration at KIPS by Dr. Victor Kazanjian- a special URI project under Youth Leadership Program supported by the Hub Office, San Francisco.

(xiv). Interfaith Exhibition.

A scene from the Interfaith Exhibition that we conduct every other year. Large number of people visit our booths  with multifarious rarities.

(xv). Medical Camp.

Medical Camp is one of our regular programs. There have been camps related to Heart care, Cancer care etc.

(xvi). Conducted South India Zonal Assembly.

We could organize the URI South India Zonal Assembly last year in connection with the visit of Matthew Youde and Krithika Hareesh.

(xvii). Community Service

Malayala Manorama news about our Community out reach program—Collection Check for Cancer care being handed over by Dr. J. Parameela Devi (Women’s Commission Member of Kerala) to Thomas P. Malchi, President of Santhvanam cancer care Society.

1.    Between which specific religions or cultures are bridges being built?

Mainly among the three communities like Hindus, Muslims and Christians. In our CC Students are specially trained for community development and peace building.

2.    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 method is to bring all faiths in one circle through IDP Rally, Career guidance program, Counseling, Youth camp, Interfaith exhibition, palliative care, IFHW celebrations and so on.

3.    Given the current context you described, what does your CC hope to achieve (goals)?

 We hope to cultivate a culture of dialogue and lasting peace in our locality. Environmental protection is also one of our primary objectives, and we have created a medicinal garden in our compound. We feel it is a gift that we can communicate directly with 500 students and staff members who are being motivated through our activities.

We hope to create a potential generation of youngsters who can build a new society free of violence. We invest in the youth for a better world. We mould citizens of the world.

4.    How do you see your CC’s work improving cooperation among people of different traditions?

We have people of different traditions in our school and it becomes a nucleus of excellent interfaith relations. It is surprising that the knowledge about other religions is very limited among the students. We are trying to cultivate a intercultural and interreligious foundation that provides a new philosophical view for our young member

5.    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.)

6.    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?

It is a great achievement that we have been able to bring together all the residents of Karickam during the Onam festival. This event was the first of its kind to happen in this locality. Large numbers of people assemble irrespective of caste and creed when we have programs like medical camps, IDP Peace procession and so on. Our CC has hundreds of families generously contributing towards our pain and Palliative care program.

7.    Please share specific short story about your CC’s work that might teach a lesson about interfaith or inspire other CCs.

Once, one of our students’ mother was in critical stage due to cancer. The moment we knew about this, all CC members came forward to help that poor  patient. Within two days we collected more than 60,000 rupees (1000 dollars) and gave it to her. After recovering she came to us and expressed her gratitude with tears. It was an unforgettable experience.

Our members recently travelled 40 kms to visit another  person who had been in bed for the past 10 years. He was injured in a bus accident that left him paralyzed. He called our contact person after reading about our programs in local newspapers. The moment was recognition of our work that a person in need could reach out to us seeking help. We contributed 1000 Rupees towards his medical treatment. It was an unforgettable experience to spend some time with a family and provide them with moral and financial support.

8.    How is your CC’s work helping to achieve the mission of URI?

All our social work helps realize the objectives of URI. URI is in itself a peace building entity, and we are also striving to bridge the gap between religions and cultures

9.    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?

We have four communities on our campus and interfaith worship is sometimes a challenge. Some fundamental Christian groups find it difficult to understand our vocation. But on the whole we are developing a new philosophy of ‘one humanity.’

10.          How is being part of URI helping your CC to achieve its goals?

Our institution and our CC have gained a lot by becoming part of URI. Our members have been able to grow as world citizens. Every student now feels that he/she is like a youth ambassador of United Nations, because of our UN related activities. Many of them want to study peace-building and conflict transformation courses in the future.

11.          Aside from funding, what are some specific ways URI can better support your CC in reaching its goals?

URI can support us in the following programs:

 1) Send international volunteers to work in our school for a few weeks.

 2) Help us find a partner school in another continent with which we can have exchange programs.

Compiled by T. G. Stephen and Sini.D