By Matters India Reporter
Indore, April 7, 2022: An NGO that tries to produce responsible citizens from youth has resumed after two years its training programs to develop enlightened leaders.
“We started the training after the two-year-gap of Covid pandemic and lockdowns,” says Father Varghese Alengaden, founder director of the Universal Solidarity Movement.
On April 6, the second batch of 18 students from Don Bosco Senior Secondary School in Navi Mumbai completed the weeklong training program. Earlier, another batch of 30 students from the same school attended the March 16-22 training program.
During the graduation ceremony of the second batch, the participants said the training has brought positive transformation in them. They promised to become visionary leaders, who are altruistic, not self-centered ambitious ones.
“I understand that a visionary leader is altruistic whereas an ambitious leader is self-centered. A visionary leader is spiritual whereas an ambitious leader is religious,” wrote Kaamil Verma, one of the participants of the second batch.
Piyus Kumar Sing, another student, wrote: “I realize that humanity is the greatest religion and harmony among different religions and respect for all religions are essential for peace and I will work for it.”
What impressed Aleena Jose, who won the best participant award, was the sessions on “vision formulation” by Neetu Joshi, a staff member of the NGO. “As she suggested, I will formulate my vision and prepare my goals and policies to realize my vision,” she wrote.
Father Blaise Fernandes, the Salesian school principal, says he motivates his students to participate in the leadership training program because he has seen “the positive transformation” in the students of Don Bosco School Alirajpur who had attended the program before the lockdown. He was then the principal of that school in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.
The training included watching five movies such as Gandhi, besides the input sessions.
The participants said the Gandhi film made them understand that non-violence is the most effective means for conflict resolution. Pluralism in religion, culture and language is essential to foster peace and harmony in society.
The program also taught them to do their own work such as washing cloths and showing concern for environment.
Father Alengaden was the youth director of Madhya Pradesh Regional Bishops’ Council. His work among the youth led him to launch the movement and promote a culture of interreligious harmony and cooperation in India and abroad.