What are the Young Indians at WCC up to?

Chennai: Women’s Christian College has been associated with “Young Indians” Club since 2011 and this collaboration has helped us move towards nation-building and social causes through various events and activities. The club at WCC has carried out its four major objectives namely, ‘Enhancing empathy’, ‘Social responsibility’, ‘Nation-building initiatives’ and ‘Skill development’ ever since its inception.

YI club in college has been in collaboration with four institutions around which their activities evolve namely, The Dean Foundation, Blind school, Child Development Centre, WCC and Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA).

Since the academic year 2020-21 started on a sombre note due to the pandemic, the club members have had no option to receive first-hand experience with the above-mentioned institutions. Instead, the coordinators of the clubs have involved the members in carrying on their objectives through activities conducted from the comfort of their homes in collaboration with three online projects: AID India, Safe Place and School Project.

YI week was held between 27 and 31 July. An activity was conducted every day. The following are some of the notable events conducted, based on the objectives of the club. The club held a Cyber talk on 30 July which was an event that contributed to the ‘nation-building initiative’ of the members. For the objective of ‘enhancing empathy’, there was a debate held on ‘Migrant Labourers’ along with Shift-two club members of the college on 31 July. There were huge takeaways from an in-depth debate on the struggles of migrant labourers during the pandemic, that aimed to build empathy and spur humanity to contribute to their welfare.

YI club took the opportunity to educate the members about suicide through an awareness talk. “Navigate successfully through any crisis situation” by Dr Subha Charles (Consultant Psychiatrist) was held on World Suicide Day (10 September). This talk served well for the objective of ‘social responsibility’ as members gained knowledge on how to handle crises and also to help their loved ones when they go through difficult situations.

“There is a need to forge intrinsic qualities in students. We look forward to organizing talk shows by passionate social workers to trigger the spirit of service in everyone in the club,” says Sneha Evangeline (Coordinator, YI club).

Under the objective of ‘Skill development’, two major events took place on 21 and 29 September respectively. The first day, 21 September, was observed as “International Peace Day” and the members of the club were asked to write a slogan and post a picture of the slogan in their social media accounts to build and spread awareness for world peace.

On the occasion of “World Heart Day” on 29 September, the members were asked to prepare a dish that strengthens heart-health and to post the picture and recipe. These were the highlights of the events that took place till date and there are more exciting events that are to come in the next semester.

“I hope the pandemic rests soon, I along with the rest of the club members can't wait to have the YI carnival and it would be sad to close the academic year without one,” says Diya ( YI Coordinator). She added, “There is a sense of joy in seeing the YI stall in front of Rivett Block and all brands of clothes being sold for a few hundred rupees”.

SOURCE: YI club coordinators

Editors: Sahana Mira S, Dainty W