30. VILATHIKULAM

St. Antony;(1994)  2000: Tuticorin

VISION

“Society holistically developed and sustained where every human being is ensured human dignity and social justice”.

MISSION

VEMBU is committed to build and empower marginalized communities specially children, women and youth, enabling them to analyze ttheir human rights situations and design their life in a more responsible and sustainable way through community mobilization, sensitization, livelihood, capacity building and advocacy.

HISTORY

On Sep 22^nd 2000, Vembu Trust was registered, to give thrust for the marginalized in this area. Vembu’s task also consists in networking with government institutions, local NGO’s and panchayat leaders. It has taken up four pronged strategies; Education, Health care, Community mobilization and Campaignand advocacy. Various activities also have been undertaken in these lines; notable being 50 dropout preventinon centers, 1 child labour school, organization of children groups, self-help groups, young girls associations, women’s groups, and convergent village development committees, performances of awareness camps, seminars and rallies. Fr. Amala Joseph was the first director of Vembu.  Fr. Amala Joseph was succeeded by Fr. Amalorpavaraj. Fr. Ricopar became the Director of Vembu after fr. Amalorpovaraj. Fr. Lawrence succeeded fr. Rico as the rector and director and Fr. Arockiam became the Rector and Director of Vembu from May 2017.

In stepping up creating public opinion we formed Sarva Samaya Manitha Neya Iyakkam involving all groups of Vilathikulam town. The first action was to gather relief for the Gujarat victims on 15-03-2001. A public rally comprising of all schools was organized for the death of children at kumbakonam and a condolence meeting too was held.

As part of Vembu activities, we had a regular boarding for the boys at Kathalampatti since 2002. The practical trainee of the house looks after it. In order to cater to the poor boys in a more effective manner, the boarding is shifted to Vilathikulam and is part of the house and in April 2017 we were asked to close the boarding for boys by the government due to lack of infrastructure.

We have the Vembu Computer Academy started in 2003, a mini library for the staff and the students was started in order to cultivate the reading habit among the children. SIGARAM (Child right creative center) was started in the month of May 2004. Tailoring center in Surangudi was started to help the unskilled rural young girls and it was closed due to lack of finance in 2014. With the help of government official’s mobile family counseling was organized in order to give family conunselling for the villagers. Once in three months we release a magazine titled KARISAL KATHIR which consists of the activities of Vembu. Also digital newsletter of Vembu is sent to all its well wishers from August 2010. Every year non-residential village camp is being organized during the summer. We have resumed the Vembu boys home from June onwards.

MAJOR ACTIVITIES

PARISH: Vilathikulam parish consists of 7 substations. There are 252 Catholic families with 1500 Catholics. There are 11 Anbiams in the Parish. Sunday Catechism is conducted at the main centre. Around 30 children attend the Sunday Catechism classes. There are pious associations – Vincent De Paul, ADMA. There is a unit of Altar Children unit with 12 members.

CHILDREN HOME: There are 20 students at the children Home.

REACH-OUT PROGRAMME: The community reaches out to the local villages through reach out programmes. There are 24 dropout prevention centres with 809 children, 19 children parliaments with 450 children, 19 Eco clubs with 388 members.

VOCATION TRAINING CENTRE: The centre offers tailoring course. There are 50 students this year (38 for six months course and 12 for 3 months course). Typing course is offered for 43 students. basic computer education is offered for 13 members. There are also handi-crafts training offered.

YOUTH GROUPS: Local youth are formed into 3 units of youth groups and there are 60 members at present. Efforts are taken to form three more groups.

SALESIAN CO-OPERATORS: There is a Salesian co-operators unit with 19 members (15 promised members).

ADMA:There is a unit of ADMA with 14 members.

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