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Introduction:

LEAP was initiated in the year 1993, for the Post graduate students. Every year Ist year postgraduate are taken for Outreach activity to various rural areas such as Chengalpet, Palliagaram, Pulicat and Kovalam. The main objective of taking the students is to have a feel of the Outside campus reality and to strengthen the positive forces present in the area for social and cultural transformation. Every year about 400 postgraduate students representing from all the 16 PG departments visit the rural areas as part of the academic requirement. The students are given class room orientation and then they are taken to a village where they stay in the village for five days and interact with the community, understand the dynamics of the community and present their observation of the field exposure and also plan programs for their second year outreach program. The students are given orientation on Leadership; rural dynamics at the campsite and finally social analysis is done with the students about their experience during their community visit.

Objective of the Students Outreach Programme (LEAP):

- To enable students to develop people oriented attitudes, and to imbibe the spirit of concern for others.
- To initiate team process within the students groups as well as with the groups.

Faculty Members

Strategies involved in the Outreach Program: Staff orientation and training program.

One staff in charge from each department are nominated and given orientation on the importance of this Leap programme and their involvement is handling sessions are also briefed. The staffs in charge for their respective departments collaborate with the Coordinators in guiding the students throughout the camp.Students Orientation Program.

Students are given orientation before they are taken to the camp. On the first day pf the camp students are given one full day orientation on the need of their stay in the village and its objective. The orientation and the social analysis sessions are handled by our college professors and the Core committee members. Program hand out is given to the students, which contains all guidelines and regulations to be followed while interacting with the community people. Loyola LEAP students Involvement at Kovalam – 2005 -2006:
¨ Seminar on Neuro Linguistic programming for the PG students.
¨ Improve health and sanitation.
¨ Creating awareness among the community on social issues by regular home visits, followed up by our staff.
¨ Consolation and support to the elders living in the old age home.
¨ Mutual benefits such as students gain knowledge about system and village gain exposure to students.
¨ Identifying the need of the community.
¨ Gaining knowledge about the Village Knowledge centre which is functioned by M.S.Swaminathan Research Foundation. Project activity of the Outreach: TATA – Loyola Kovalam Outreach Project.

In the beginning of the last academic year, April 2005 – 2006 a project was launched in the name of TATA Loyola Outreach Program. The project is under the supervision of Rev. Fr. Xavier Vedam, S.J., Vice Principal and Director of the Outreach Program. The activities of this project have been carried out and have benefited the community irrespective of their caste and religionActivities Carried out for the following target group at Kovalam in our TATA – Loyola Kovalam Outreach Project:Children Programme:
¨ Supplementary education for the school going children.
¨ Motivating children on Public speaking.
¨ No of Tuition Centres: 7 centers.
¨ No of Beneficiaries : 300 children.
¨ Nutrition program for the children (Daily children are given nutritious food like cereals, pulses, milk and biscuits).
¨ Sports and Games for the children.
¨ Art and Craft Course.
¨ Spoken English.Youth Programme:
¨ Volleyball tournament.
¨ Regular motivation meetings.
¨ Education through games.
¨ Involving youths in community programs.
¨ Training on Life and Game (Relating games situation in life).
¨ Developing leadership qualities and personality development.
¨ Training on Generation gap and teen-age problem.
¨ Training on Group Dynamics. Kovalam Community College:
“ Fit for Life and Fit for Job”
The Following skilled courses are being offered:
1. Catering assistant.
2. DTP.
3. AC, Refrigerator mechanism.
4. Basic Life skill training.
5. Spoken English class.
6. Cultural awareness. Widows / Women Programme:

Women are the vital supporting factor in the community. Organizing widows and training them in sustainable livelihood programs was the major area of intervention. A series of confidence building workshops were conducted to enable them to understand and improve their entrepreneurial skills.
¨ Training 12 self help groups.
¨ Training on Women empowerment.
¨ Program for the widows.
¨ Income generation programs for the widows such as candle making, embroidery work and making shell ornaments.
¨ Input session on Health and Hygiene.
¨ Art and Craft trainings.

Books available at PG Outreach:

- Achieving Rural Development Using Neuro Linguistic Programming – M.R.Arulraja, NLP Specialist and Trainer.
- Directory of Child Care Organisations in the state of Tamil Nadu.

Rev. Fr. Xavier Vedam, S.J.,
Director cum Vice-Principal,
Loyola College,
Chennai - 600 034.
Tel: 91 44 28178347 (Outreach Office)
       91 44 28178315 (Vice - Principal Office)
Email: leaplc@gmail.com
          frxavierv@yahoo.com