by Mr. Prakash Wagh
WALVANDA-MAHARASHTRA, April 6, 2015: Bosco Samajik Vikas Sanstha (BSVS) organized one week rural experience programme for the first year theology students of Mumbai Province. It was organized as per the re
quest of Vice Provincial Fr. Ajoy Fernandes Sdb. Five brothers attended the residential workshop from March 24 to 31, 2015 at Walvanda.During the one week workshop, Mr. Prakash Wagh and Mr. Melvin Pangya introduced the brothers to the BSVS approach for community development in this area. BSVS follows a rights based approach for community development in Jawhar and Mokhada blocks of Palghar district. Brothers were provided inputs on Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA), Participatory
Strategic Planning (PSP) and life skill modules. PRA was conducted in Kogda village by the participants and, PSP in Nandkal and Giriz Parishes and Raitala village.Bro. Alex Gonsalves, the Assistant Director of BSVS, spoke to the brothers about the integrated watershed approach for community development. Fr. Anaclete D'mello, the Director of BSVS, guided the brothers into a spiritual experience, through creating an atmosphere for meditation, spiritual discourses and dialogue during prayer moments. Fr. D'mello also interacted with the brothers after each module and kindled in them a curiosity to learn and clarify doubts about the topics. Brothers thought of the workshop as a unique experience regarding mission work and also got an idea of how to interact with the people from rural areas.