There are many sections of the community who are less privileged or underprivileged to enjoy the major occasions due to their social and economic status. So, Joy of Giving Week organized during the Christmas season motivates the students to reach out to the community. This enhances the belongingness and responsibility towards the less privileged in the society. Students get an opportunity to experience the satisfaction of sharing things with others. In this context Joy of Giving Week was started in the campus.
‘Joy of Giving Week’ is observed during the month of December that is Christmas season. It is a practice of sharing anything in kind with the children of Govt. Schools, orphanages and slums. The staff and students of Ch.S.D.St.Theresa’s Autonomous College for women, Eluru, AP, voluntarily came forward to observe the joy of giving week. They are self motivated to donate various things like pencils, pens, chocolates, money, books, colour pencils, crayons, toys, clothes etc. The occasion of sharing gifts is made more joyful by the inclusion of some cultural and value oriented entertainment and Santa clause. The college students as well as the children and elders in the schools and slums eagerly wait for this event. The students take pride of doing the task and organize the whole event.
The major obstacle faced in the implementation of the programme is the distribution of the things without much disturbance to the regular academic work. To overcome this problem management took a decision to provide the college vehicle to reach the schools and slums. The students were divided into groups so that most of them get chance to go, share the gifts and experience the joy of giving.
This practice created a very good impact on students who came forward willingly to share several things in different forms. They experienced utmost joy in sharing with the children and enjoyed the practice. Immense joy and happiness was observed on the faces of the children who received the token of love from the college students. This made an impact on the belongingness to one another and widened the thought for community service activities. Joy of giving week inculcates the habit of sharing with others. They experience the pure of joy of giving without expecting anything in return.
Prakruthi