Celebration with a difference

Tenth standard students from Stella Maries Girls High School, Malleswaram, Bangalore thought of celebrating this year's Christmas in a different manner. About 50 students visited Summanahalli Project, a social hub for leprosy, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS victims and physically challenged children, on the eve of Christmas to express greetings and share the joy of happiness to the inmates in the Centre.

Summanahalli is located at the outskirts of the city, on the Magadi road. The visit aimed at providing the students with an exposure to social welfare programme for poor children, thereby take opportunity to share love and concern for the less fortunate ones on the festive occasion.

Stella Maries team was led by two teachers - Sr. Mary and Mrs. Maya. Fr. Joseph Thoompanal, Executive Director of Summanahalli, received the team and gave a brief introduction about the ongoing projects at Summanahalli. Sr. Mary Mascarenhas, a crusader for the socio-economic rehabilitation of leprosy-cured persons welcomed the students and appreciated them for visiting the less fortunate children at Summanahalli. Fr. Augustine took the students around the Centre. He students performed various cultural programmes and organized games to entertain the physically challenged children and the inmates. Cakes, fruits and sweets were presented to all the inmates and children of the Centre.

The students also visited the leprosy, TB and HIV patients units and presented gifts and interacted with them and wished them all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
It was a satisfying experience for us to see the young and enthusiastic students reaching out to the sick and needy with compassion and concern, expressed Rev. Sr. Mary.

Indian Development Foundation - a national NGO committed to the cause of health, education and rural development - organized the visit as part of its Student Social Responsibility & Reach-out Programme. Dr. S. Franklin, Manager, Southern Region, IDF co-ordinated the social trip and gave an insight into service-oriented activities.