83 balwadi(pre-school) children visited Vaigai Dam on a school outing. All the children enjoyed seeing the huge dam with water, flowers and big trees in the park. They also enjoyed playing in the beautiful meadow and on the play equipment in the park. And our 5th standard children visited Kottakudi’s river for their educational trip. All the children enjoyed seeing the water resources and admired the flora and fauna. Kottagudi’s river flows from Meesapulimala in the foothills of Athiyuthu, Anakarai in the Western Ghats. 

A life-skills training programme was organised for 6^th to 8^th standard students (aged 12 to 15) on every Saturday throughout February by staff from the Nikhil Foundation. In total, 300 students attended the classes which helped to empower them to aim high and to become responsible citizens in our society. We also organised workshops on child rights for teachers and children and the laws available to protect them. This workshop was held here in the RTU campus and more than 120 of our students from 8^th standard (aged 14/15) took part.

Physiotherapy unit offers new treatments

This month we moved the physiotherapy unit to a newly refurbished building opposite the medical centre to give the unit more space.  We have purchased cryotherapy (ice treatment equipment) which reduces arthritic pain and short-wave therapy machines which are used to encourage healing, pain relief, reduction of muscle spasm and an increase in mobility. These will be very helpful to our patients and staff in our physiotherapy unit.

Wedding bells for one of the former children in our care

Muthumasila came to RTU in 2005 as her father deserted the family and her mother was unable to cope with raising five children in a very remote village. So, Muthumasila and her younger sister, Shanmugapriya, came to our Anbu Illam Children’s Village. Muthumasila studied in RTU’s schools and her greatest wish was to become a teacher. Therefore, we helped her join Sancta Fatima Teachers’ Training Institute in Dindigul where she completed a 2-year Diploma in Teaching in 2016. After completing her course, she was able to get a job in a private school. Her mother and relatives arranged her marriage and it was held in Sivakasi with Mr Gurunathan on 18th February. On the previous evening, the traditional betrothal function was held in their own village –VadakkuValayapatti in Batlagundu block. Our Director, Fr Antony, and some staff members attended the function with a marriage gift.  We wish her a happy married life.

In February we also held our Sports Day in our schools and opened new housing in rural villages. You can read our full e-news for February here

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