About RESCAPES

One of the major goals of our college is to awaken Social Consciousness and prepare our students socially responsible young Women leaders who would respond to the need of the society. Having these objectives in mind Holy Cross College (Autonomous) Trichy has undertaken two innovative and useful ongoing extension programmes such as RESCAPES and Holy Cross Community Radio.

RESCAPES

Rural Enrichment through Students Community Action & Participation for Environmental Sustainability (RESCAPES). RESCAPES is a well structured program, integrated into the curriculum, running for 3 academic years with specific evaluation system carrying credits.

ORIGIN

The Community Extension Programme RESCAPES emerged out of an interaction with experts in the International Conference on Sustainable Development and Management of Natural Resources held from 15th -17th March 2003 at Holy Cross College (Autonomous) Trichy Experts’ recommendations were on the conservation of ecosystem and their sustainability in India. This spark ignited the launching of the program in 2004 (06.07.2004) with the following objectives.

The primary stakeholders of this extension activity are the entire U.G.student community. The secondary stakeholders are the 24 selected village communities. To assist students, teaching faculty were provided with input on how to make benchmark survey, problem identification, and micro level planning by experts from different NGO’s. Identifying 22 villages belonging to Mannachanallur Panchayath, each department was allotted one village and action plan for the respective villages are carried out and recorded. Having environmental sustainability in mind and the bench mark survey and need analysis, a set of projects are identified and categorized to core projects, non-core projects and discipline oriented specific projects which are carried out. Since 2004, various kinds of activities are carried out in all the adopted villages.

Through RESCAPES Training Programs for SHG members in vermi compost, Panchakaviya and mushroom cultivation were arranged in selected villages. Awareness cum skill training programs for students and teaching faculty on the above mentioned projects for the effective implementation of the projects were also arrange. Incorporation of Research into RESCAPES program resulted in the Department of Science & Technology funded one major Research project for Rs.5,25,000/- and three UGC funded Minor Research Projects for Rs 1,00,000/- , Rs.90,000/- & Rs.60,000/-

The RESCAPES program is co-ordinated by a full time co-ordinator who bridges among the villagers, authorities and the college. A core committee constituted by selected faculty members with external expert co-ordinates the whole process.

Specific Outcome of RESCAPES Program

Through RESCAPES, Students:

• Made aware of Self, improved Self-esteem, and Emotional Intelligence
• Developed project-specific knowledge and skills
• Sensitized about sustainable development
• Exposed to rural community and the problems they face
• Enriched with creativity in planning, execution, and documentation
• Developed leadership ability and team spirit

Village Community Becomes:

• Self-reliant
• Economically developed
• Environmentally and socially improved

Uniqueness of RESCAPES

• Institutionalized and inbuilt into the academic curriculum
• Involves the entire U.G. student community and teaching faculty
• Has periodical reviewing & updating of the entire program
• Integrates NSS, EXNORA, ROTARACT, and RED CROSS activities to UGC-funded research projects
• Links RESCAPES program with adopted villages
• Exhibits improved self-awareness, self-esteem, and Emotional Intelligence

Future Plan for 2009-2010 to 2014-2015

I. Soft Skills: Personality Development

Target Group: Rural school students and educated youth

• Improving communication skills using the college language lab
• Facilitating public speaking skills
• Teamwork through Group Discussion exercises
• Improving creativity through competitions

II. Knowledge Empowerment

• Providing hands-on training for basic science concepts – Physics, Chemistry, Botany, Zoology
• Setting up libraries in the selected villages
• Training in computer operations
• Training on Food safety & security

III. Networking

• Sharing of knowledge through Holy Cross Community Radio

IV. Establishment of Nature Club

• In all adopted villages

V. Non-Conventional Energy Resources

• Establishment of units in selected villages

RESCAPES

Rural Enrichment through Students and Community Action and Participation for Environmental Sustainability.

Holy Cross College, Tiruchirappalli is an autonomous college established in 1923 and affiliated with Bharathidasan University. The RESCAPES program was launched in 2004 as a structured initiative integrated into the academic curriculum to provide skills and opportunities for students to engage in community action and environmental sustainability.

Need and Scope for RESCAPES

• To awaken social consciousness and prepare socially responsible citizens
• The College has several service wings focusing on innovative and sustained activities
• Decline in the quality of the rural environment has been highlighted
• RESCAPES is planned to rejuvenate rural environments and create sustainable livelihoods
• Recommendations focus on conservation of ecosystems in India
• Field visits, workshops, and seminars have been conducted to develop a comprehensive Action Plan

Purpose of RESCAPES

The purpose of RESCAPES is to provide students with a structured opportunity to engage in rural development activities that promote environmental sustainability, personal growth, and skill-building.

Objectives of RESCAPES

• To awaken social consciousness and prepare socially responsible citizens
• To impart skills and knowledge
• To encourage creativity in students
• To build genuine human relationships
• To inculcate respect for persons and nature
• To expose students to rural communities
• To enable village communities to become self-reliant and sustainable

Target Area

For the RESCAPES program, Holy Cross College has adopted 22 villages in the Manachanallur Block:

• Samayapurampudur
• Akkaraipatty
• Devimangalam
• ... (other villages)

Core and Optional Projects

Core Projects

• Water and Soil Conservation (Water Harvesting, Bund Formation, etc.)
• Tree Plantation
• Kitchen Gardening
• Sustainable Agricultural Practices
• Health, Hygiene, and Sanitation

Optional Projects

• Herbal Plants Cultivation
• Strengthening of SHG’s
• Mushroom Cultivation

Strategy

The strategy for village rejuvenation involves addressing issues relating to soil, water, and energy, with the following key areas:

• Watershed and soil management
• Promotion of eco-friendly agricultural practices
• Use of non-conventional energy
• Promotion of food security
• Development of infrastructure and market access

Methodology

Stage I: First Year

Students acquire skills for personal and environmental sustainability through SBE-paper I and II courses.

Stage II: Second Year

Students engage in fieldwork in adopted villages, identifying problems and designing projects with local communities.

Stage III: Third Year

Students conduct impact studies and prepare reports on project outcomes.

Conclusion

The RESCAPES program develops ecologically sustainable model villages and empowers rural communities while facilitating the growth of students into potential leaders.