ICHEC-2011 Students partake in SEVAI Shanthi School Project

ICHEC -2011 Launches the construction of class rooms in SEVAI School

Trichy, 1, July: The Brussels-India program is done in conjunction with ICHEC Business University in Brussels, Belgium. ICHEC-2011 Business School Students launched the work camp in SEVAI Shanthi Matriculation Higher secondary school, Pettavaithalai on 1^st July 2011.There are two group of students namely Sevai Allur housed in Eastern block of Arubuhalnagar and they are Coppieters Alexandra, Delvaux Jeremy,Latour Zoe,Monderer Florent, Van Swieten Sandrine,Delvaux Alexia,Kabbaj Mohamed Said,Marlot Camille,tenants Ezlizabeth and Verschaeren Tanguy.SEVAI Amoor group stays in Western Block of Arumbuhalnagar and they are Vruyns Dorian,Garcia Marian Laura,Helfgott Philippe,Stoquart Celine,Warden Emily,De Canniere Fanny,Gerkbard Dan,Indejeu Madeleine and Wallemacq Richardo.At the eve of the work camp, Dr.K.Govindaraju, the Director of SEVAI, the host organisation thanked ICHEC Belgium for taking part in the construction of homes and school buildings in the remote areas of Trichy District over the years and said that this “ICHEC Project brings North South Cultural Exchange through Deeds not Words. This is an important camp for several reasons. It’s going to be a huge help to the poor people of villages in Pettavaithlai region because altogether we'll be building 2 class rooms for 80 students for perusing their studies in a rural setting. It's absolutely service-oriented”.ICHEC-2011 of two groups of 19 participants are constructing 2 class rooms for 80 students of the school, located at Arumbuhalnagar village, Pettavaithalai in Trichy District. The local students and volunteers of SEVAI join the ICHEC teams and work and play as teams during the day. Aside from assisting in building the 2 class rooms, the students will become completely immersed in the Indian cultures in the regions of Trichy. They are not staying in hotels but in huts exactly like those of the local village people of Trichy regions. Not only the students learn to build and work within an international team, immerse themselves completely in an overseas, third-world culture for a month, but they also have to raise the money to pay for their flight from Brussels to India and the housing materials. Each year around 20 ICHEC-Housing volunteers from Belgium participate in 3-4 weeks work camps in SEVAI,a local NGO, adopted villages, schools in Trichirapalli District of Tamilnadu. Living and working together in a group with local people helps to understand the way of life and cultural heritage of local population. Go beyond the work camp and play a deeper role in peacemaking and working on environmental or social service initiatives. ICHEC/SEVAI positions are excellent opportunities for students to gain experience in international service projects and obtain a fresh perspective on world issues. Noted Tamil Scholar Prof.So..Sathiyaseelan, who visited the camp, mentioned “Tamil Nadu finds a prime position on the cultural map of the country. The state’s contribution to literature, music, arts of Indian classical culture is praiseworthy. Dance, music, art and crafts and celebration of various festivals form important parts of Tamil culture. The various fairs and festivals are celebrated with great enthusiasm. Tamil people have their own living style which is reflected in their food, costumes, language and folk art and culture. Tamil professor further said “Tamil Nadu has a glorious history and great civilization that flourished in the region during the Sangam Age with developments in the fields like art, literature and occultism. The subsequent periods were associated with Pallava, Pandya, Chola, Vijayanagara and then came the British. The British established their first trade centre in the Madras State at Peddapali (now Nizampatnam) in 1611 and then at Masulipatnam. In 1639, they were permitted to make more settlements in the region and as an outcome the Fort St. George was founded (present Chennai). After India got her independence in 1947, in 1968, the state of Madras was renamed as Tamil Nadu. Dr.R.V.Varun Kumar, top ranker of All India Civil service commission examinations of 2011 Economics Professor Dr.Veerasekaran, Journalist Mr.Shanawaskhan, Writer Mr.Jawahar Arumugam were also present on the work camp eve.-Govin