Vidya Social Empowerment Centre (VSEC) is an initiative of Vidya International Charitable Trust (VICT) to serve as an umbrella body to coordinate the activities for strengthening the several social outreach programmes of VICT. The Centre was formally inaugurated in an online function held on 23 January 2021 in the presence of Mr V P Nandakumar, MD and CEO, Manappuram Finance Ltd. Recently, the VSEC conducted an online quiz christened as “MaSC” (for Mathematics, Science, Computer Science) for school students. The quiz attracted participation of more than 500 students in the 6th, 9th and 11th standards studying in more than 40 different schools in various districts of Kerala.
As a continuation of the quiz programme, VSEC organised a series of three-day empowerment programmes for students selected on their performance in MaSC. Students were given sessions on mathematics, science and character building. The programme was conducted separately for students of the 6th, 9th and 11th Standards.
Ms Ida David, Assistant Professor, Department of Applied Sciences and Humanities coordinated the programme.
Empowerment programme for 11th Standard students
The empowerment programme for the 11th Standard students was conducted on 27 – 29 January 2021.
The first day was devoted to mathematics through video sessions and quizzes prepared by Ms Jiji P J, Dr Siju K C and Ms Binitha K M, Assistant Professors in Department of Applied Sciences and Humanities. On the second day, there was a session on “An Exam Level Preparatory Class in Physics” handled by Mr Liju Augustine, Assistant Professor, Department of Applied Sciences and Humanities. On the third day the participants were given a career orientation session handled by Mr Alex Chacko C, Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering. Around 50 students actively participated in the Programme.
Empowerment programme for 9th Standard students
The programme for the 9th Standard students was conducted on 3 – 5 February 2021.
On the first day, Ms Divya Radhakrishnan, Assistant Professor, Department of Applied Sciences and Humanities, gave a talk on “Rise and Shine”. The online course on Fundamatics Level 1 (Fundamentals of Mathematics) conducted by Vidya somtime earlier, was also open on the first day and it was conducted by posting videos and quiz links through WhatsApp. On the second day, a session on “System of Equations” was handled by Dr Jiby Jose K, HoD, Department of Applied Sciences and Humanities. On the third day, a session on “Science in History” was handled by Dr Sobha A P, Associate Professor, Department of Applied Sciences and Humanities. As many as 78 students participated in the programme.
Empowerment programme for 6th Standard students
The programme for the 6th Standard students was conducted on 10 – 12 February 2021.
On day 1, Mr Alex Chacko C handled a session on life skills. On day 2, a session on “Ratios and Proportions” was handled by Dr Jiby Jose K. On day 3, a session on “A Moment in Science” was handled by Dr Vineetha C P, Assistant Professor, Department of Applied Sciences and Humanities. As many as 41 students participated in the programme.
