Devotees at St. Paul’s Basilica Church during Christmas celebrations in Bengaluru on December 24. Photo Credit: Sudhakar Jain
Some institutions and educational institutions in Bengaluru have embraced the spirit of Christmas this festive season through social activities ranging from building toilets to donating warm clothes to the needy.
SCEAD Foundation is on a mission to build 48 toilets for tribal residents of Maddur Colony in Chamarajanagar district. “So far we have constructed 10 toilets, of which 38 more are expected to be completed by the end of January. It’s not just about infrastructure, it’s about restoring dignity and improving hygiene,” said Siju Thomas Daniel, director of the foundation. The foundation, along with the forest department, is planting 7,000 saplings to protect the environment in south Bengaluru.
File photo of shoppers standing next to a Christmas tree set up in front of a shop before Christmas on Church Street. | Photo credit: Idris Mohammed
Students of St Joseph’s Boys High School involved themselves in an outreach program organized for Christmas in the first week of December. “The students, with the help of their parents, collected blankets, medicines, stationery and toiletries, which were distributed to old age homes and HIV-affected people. The program reached out to various institutions in the rural areas of Bangalore, Anekal and Manav-Raichur,” said school principal Sunil Fernandes SJ, adding, “Concrete and tangible acts of love are the essence of Christmas.”
On December 16, St Claret’s PU College, Jalahalli organized its annual charity event ‘Namma Santa’, where 8,000 students raised ₹ 12 lakh for the welfare of cancer patients, underprivileged children and orphans. The students were involved in the program of celebrating cancer patients and underprivileged children in the afternoon, organizing games and providing other entertainment for them.
published – December 24, 2024 at 11:05 am IST