DAHS, WGSHA Manipal University students empowering rural youths through ’smart centre’

By Alphonse Mendonsa
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi, 22 Oct 2016: As part of the Student Empowerment for Environmental Development (SEED) project, Department of Allied Hospitality, MSc Hospitality and Tourism Management students have conducted workshop on fruit jam, home made chocolate and Diwali crafts to the members of Sthree Shakthi at Shankerpura Village on 21/10/2016. With supervision of Principal, Vice Principal and the faculty members of WGSHA, students of MSc HTM have developed a series of activities that empower local people in terms of improving and sustaining what is already in place, by strengthening the skills of community members in Hospitality, Agro tourism and Farm Value Addition Products.

 

Special sessions on jam, home made chocolate and crafts, have started at Shankerpura by the initiative of Samata, Deeksha, Sushmita, Neha , Anoosha, Abhijith and Sumant, MSc HTM students who regularly visit the villages to hold workshops for the ladies and youths as part of their community outreach project. Similar programme was conducted in Hiriyadka village last week.

 

 

Using a participatory approach, activities are carried out in consultation with the community, which holds a preponderant role in developing its own agenda. Students act as facilitators of this process, applying the knowledge they have acquired in the university to address the local community′s needs.

 

Along with the sessions conducted, students have also collected relevant data for documentation and their research papers on tourism and community engagement. According to Anoosha, who demonstrated apple jam and homemade chocolates to villagers “it has been an opportunity to contribute to the village’s prosperity and to raise awareness regarding development of value added home industry products. Villagers may produce the same and engage in marketing the products through sustainable ways. ”

 

Ms. Linet, President of Sthree shakti made all the arrangements in advance at St Johns Evangelist Church Mini Hall, Shankerpura. Total 12 members of Sthree Shakti group attended the fruit jam and chocolate making workshop.

 

Samata, Neha and Abhijith conducted the session on Diwali craft, whereas Deeksha and Sushmita explained the crowd about the importance of mass marketing and self employment opportunities. Students were successful in their approach in assisting the villagers to emerge as entrepreneur in future. The activity was supported by Centre for Hospitality and Tourism, WGSHA, Manipal University.