Outreach Programme

BEMBALA - ST JOSEPH'S OUTREACH

Social Concern:
Preparing persons for the services of others is the aim of education in St Joseph's College of law, Bengaluru. Students are expected to be sensitive to the poor and be persons of concern, compassion and conscience.

WHAT IS OUTREACH?
The Jesuit view of Higher education has never been a simplistic and one-sided one. It concerns all round development with a special focus on critical praxis that engages students to yoke their academic excellence, their character development and their personal concern to the transformation of society deeply disturbed by inequality and injustice. The students who pass through Jesuit higher education cannot remain isolated from the economics, political and cultural fabric of his/ her society. It is integral to higher education that he / she becomes aware of and is involved in the everyday realities of society. It is the Jesuit ideal that solidarity with the people can only be achieved by 'contact' and 'participation' in the daily life of the marginalized. It is therefore the firm conviction of Jesuit Higher Education that 'personal involvement with innocent suffering, with the injustice other suffer, is the catalyst for solidarity which then gives rise to intellectual inquiry and moral reflections'.

In alignment with Jesuits’ Higher Education purposes, the University Grants Commission, the Higher Education Authority in India, has recognized the relevance and importance of the purposes and practice to 'Extension' as integral to the process of learning. Hence it expects universities and colleges, given their knowledge, human resources and infrastructure, to become positive change – makers who would empower the marginalized of the society.

WHY OUTREACH?
The Outreach programme draws its inspiration from the college's vision of forming women and men for others. It will provide students with a platform to explore and develop the art of critical thinking, the skill of leadership and techniques of meaningful interventions aimed at building a just equitable society. It further draws its roots from the Brazilian educator Paulo Friere's Philosophy of Action – Reflection – Praxis.

In the view of the UGC and the NAAC recommendations on Extension, the objective of the outreach programme is to extend knowledge and other institutional resources to the community and vice – versa. It is two – way process between the institution and the people, an intellectual intervention in the community's living problems which need to be overcome through an educational process. Extension is a perfect blend of theory with practice.

It will orient the students with the skills required in community development and would sensitize them towards various issues of these marginalized groups and instill enough confidence and satisfaction for taking up the cause of the development of those groups. Eventually it will facilitate networking and linkages of the community with NGOs, institutions, and government agencies for the effective service delivery and advocacy support.