School of Social Work, Roshni Nilaya, Mangaluru took the initiative to reach out to the flood victims of Kerala and Kodagu in collaboration with various organizations
Relief work at Wynad (14th August 2018 to 18th August 2018)
Seven students, led by Ms. Shobha D’Souza, Assistant Professor, Post Graduate Department of Social Work (MSW) assisted at the medical camps held at the relief camps in Wynad organized by Camilian Task Force (CTF) from 14th August, 2018 to 18th August, 2018.
Students and faculty at Wynad in collaboration with Camilian Taskforce 
Collection and dispatch of materials for Flood Victims ( 18th August 2018 to 26th August 2018)
Roshni Nilaya students and faculty organized material relief for the flood victims. This involved the collection and dispatch of materials for Flood Victims from 20th-26th August under the guidance of Prof.Chongtham Oddessy Singh. Prof. Sebastin K. V. took charge of packing and transport arrangements.
The seminar Hall was used as a relief materials collection center. All the materials received from general public,students and other contributors were collected and assembled and segregated based on their inventory types. In all there were 73 donors to the cause.
The dispatch of relief materials took place on 25th August,Saturday.Prof. Chongtham Oddessy Singh and Dr.Sebastian K. V.along with two 1st year MSW students Ashish Binu andNoyal Thomas,accompanied the material to the Kottapuram Integrated Development Society, Thrissur and Vimalalaya Welfare Center, Kochi, who then took the responsibility of distributing the material to the people affected by the flood.
Collection center co-ordinated by Prof. Chongtham Odessey Singh and students
Staff and students ready to dispatch the Relief Materials to Kerala – Dr. Sebastine K. V., Mr. Chongtham Odessey Singh, along with two 1st yr MSW students Mr. Noyal Thomas and Mr. Ashish Binu
Relief work at Vimala Bhavan, Gothuruth and Kottapuram Integrated Development Society (KIDS) – Cleaning Work (Shramadan)
On 24th of August 2018 a group of 7 students from MSc Criminology and Forensic Science along with Dr. Wilsy Francis, Assistant Professor, M. Sc. Counselling left from Roshni Nillaya to Kerala to offer a helping hand with the relief work. The 8 member team was divided into 2 smaller groups and were each team assigned a building. The floods, which had only moderately affected the property, had however, severely damaged the furniture and other personal possessions. The first day involved moving the damaged furniture inot open spaces where they were left to dry. The team managed to complete one building and began with the surroundings. On the 27th, the final day, while the girls continued to clean Vimala Bhavan, the boys helped out at a kids relief camp. By that afternoon all the inmates of the camp were sent home; and the boys helped out with the cleaning of the camp.
This experience was an eye opener for the entire group; it taught them the impermanence of material objects and that life on this planet is short.
Here is what a student told Newskarnataka.com. “It is in these short lives, man comes across grave circumstances which highlight the uncertainty of life itself and by lending a helping hand we hope to make our lives a little more meaningful. Another thing the trip has taught us is that even in the direst circumstances there is always hope when people come together in the name of humanity. We were lucky enough to experience our motto “Love is made fruitful in service” in real life, and we hope to continue to be the light in the lives of others”.
Psycho-Social Care at Kodagu in collaboration with Dr. Rupesh Gopal, Kodagu Institute of Medical Sciences under the National Disaster Management Authority
A team of 14 BSW students led by Prof. Vineetha K. M. left for Coorg on 2ndSeptember, 2018. They had a session of orientation in the Psycho-social care of flood victims on 3rd September, 2018rendered by Dr. Rupesh, HoD, Psychiatric Department, Kodagu Institute of Medical Sciences, Madikeriat the District Hospital of Kodagu and were provided with ID cards. From 4thSeptember onwards, the team conducted group activities to enhance the coping capacity and support the psychological strength of the victims, particularly children in the camps. They also guided them and supported some of them regarding awareness and access to employment. The team also held counseling sessions for the campers.
Staff and students at rehabilitation work at Kodagu, Karnataka
Art/Play therapy with children and campers
Group session with adults
This is how a faculty member who took active part in the relief efforts summed it up: “The experience of all our teams brought about an empathetic understanding of the pain of the people who lost everything, who lost something and those who lost those near and dear to them. It also opened our eyes to the goodness in human beings, their selflessness, their humanity, whether in government or in the general public”.
