Pallottine Social Welfare Centre, Salem: This centre had a humble beginning initially to organize awareness program for the HIV/AIDS patients and supporting them in providing medical aid. Gradually seeing the need of the time tailoring Class for the rural women is organized for the rural women. It is aimed at the rural women’s economic self-sufficiency. This centre achieved a milestone of building second floor for the purpose of starting community college at the campus of Pallottine Social Welfare Centre and was inaugurated on 28th August, 2019. The Community College is an alternative system of education, which is aimed at the empowerment of the disadvantaged, uneducated and the underprivileged. In partnership with ICRDCE (Jesuit organization), Skill India and National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), an initiative of central Government, we have started skill certification programme for rural women in the year 10 th September, 2019. We offer them the following courses namely, tailoring, embroidery cloth design and Beautician. At the successful completion of courses, they get certificates which are recognized by the central government. However, keeping the original aim of this centre, we continue to care for the HIV/AIDS patients supporting them with medical aid and food grains and offering them counseling.
Over three years, St. Vincent Pallotti Community College helps to empower women specially the rural women by making them economically self-sufficient and independent by imparting them skill- based education. The Community College offers Tailoring, beautician and embroidery courses. After completing the five months of regular course, the students take exams conducted by NSDC ( National Skill Development Corporation). There were 17 Tailoring students and 12 Beautician students appeared for the exams and all of them passed with “A” grade. On 2ndDecember during our Christmas Celebration, they were awarded with central government NSDC certificates. The College management is confident that these certificates would enable them to get jobs in the various government and non-governmental sectors. The Institute will also help them to start their own tailoring and beauty parlour centres. It is one of the small steps in the direction of women empowerment. We at the community college strongly believe that economic empowerment plays a significant role for women empowerment in the society. St. Vincent Pallotti Community College management congratulates all the students who have successfully completed their courses and got awarded the NSDC certificates. We are also grateful to Fr. Dr. Arul Xavier, Director, ICRDCE, Chennei for his continued support and partnership. A Special note of thanks to all the benefactors and friends, especially from Germany.
Fr. Jerome
Director, St. Vincent Pallotti Community College, Salem
