Holy Cross Rural Development Centre

History of Holy Cross Rural Development Centre (HCRDC).

The congregation of Holy Cross is a religious order founded in France in 1837 by Rev. Basil Moreau, who has been beatified on 15th September 2007 and comprising of three distinct branches of Priests, Brothers and Sisters, spread out across the globe, Holy Cross Religious men and women, together with their collaborators, are engaged in a variety of apostolic activities for the over all development and well being of people. A preferential option for the poor characterizes our endeavors. While the Congregational headquarters of the Priests and Brothers is located at Congregazione di Santa Croce, Via framura, 85, 00168 Rome, Italy, the Vicariate of India, is directed by the Vicariate Superior located at 47, St. Mark’s road, Bangalore, 560 001, Karnataka, India.

The Brothers of Holy Cross, India was established in 1947 in Mizoram and in 1959 in Yercaud, south India.

The Brothers of Holy Cross, India, envision: “A united harmonious, peaceful and friendly world ruled by love and make up of well integrated, healthy, people oriented, responsible and self reliant people whose life is guided by spiritual values, and who for societies that uphold freedom, equality and dignity of all persons, and which support and respect people, environment and life in all forms”. It promotes national integration.

The Congregation of “The Brothers of Holy Cross” has been involved in formal education in Salem, Tamil Nadu, since the 1960s. Bro. Yves Tremblay, c.s.c. a Holy Cross Brother from Canada, who was a trained nurse and who was working among leprosy patients in Salem, moved to the Holy Cross School campus and started “Holy Cross Dispensary”(HCD) to care for the medical needs of the poor located in the villages around the school. In 1978, under the direction of Fr. Yvon Martin, c.s.c., a Holy Cross Priest from Canada, the :Holy Cross Adult Education Centre”(HCAEC) was set up on the school campus, primarily to impart education to the rural adult. Subsequently, Holy Cross School, under the direction of Bros. Chacko Kannikkatt and Fernand Madore, developed its audio visual centre into the “Centre for Audio Visual Research and Production” (CAVRP) aimed at producing, distributing and using audio visual aids for the education of rural masses, and for training personnel of other voluntary organizations in the use of audio visual aids in education. Subsequently, HCD, HEAEC and CAVRP were merged to form the new “Holy Cross Rural Development Centre” (HCRDC) comprising of various units that are involved in organizing kindergarten schools in villages, conducting tailoring, typewriting and computer training for village girls, animating women’s organizations production of audio visual aids for the education of the masses etc. Though both Bro. Yves Tremblay and Fr. Yvon Martin have since passed away, the works they have started continue to live and serve the rural masses of Salem through the Brothers of Holy Cross and the dedicated staff of HCRDC.

At this centre we have Centre Based Activities and Community Based Activities.

Centre Based Activities :

Objective 01:
To help the poor women, girls and female school drop outs to acquire an employment skill and supplement their family income.


01.01a : Foreseen Activities: Tailoring Course:

We had planned to conduct the following Tailoring Courses: 6 months course: 2 batches; 12 months course: 1 batch and 3 months update course: 4 batches.



01.01b : Foreseen Deadlines/Targets:

It was foreseen that 100 trainees would be trained every year: that is from 01 April to 31 March.

01.01c : Actual Achievements and Problems encountered :

During the period 1987 to 2008 we had 1690 trainees in all.

January 2002 Examination Results:
Needle Work and Dress Making 5 Students – First Class.
Embroidery 5 Students - First Class.

January 2003 Examination Details:
Needle work and Dress Making 7 students – First Class
Tailoring 1 student – First Class
Embroidery 5 students – First Class

January 2004 Examination Details:
Needle work and Dress Making 8 students: 7 First Class, 1 failed.
Embroidery 8 students: 7 First Class, 1 Second Class.

November 2005 Examination Details:
Needle work and Dress Making 15 students: 15 First Class,
Embroidery 17 students: 17 First Class.

November 2006 Examinations Details:
Needle work and Dress making 18 students: First Class
Embroidery 16 students: First Class

November 2007 Examinations Details:
Needle work and Dress making 9 students
(Higher grade 5 + Junior Grade 4) First Class
Embroidery 9 students
(Higher Grade 5 + Junior Grade 4) First Class








The following courses were given:

Type of Course
Period of Training
3 month’s update course
01 April - 30 June
3 month’s update course
01 July - 30 September
3 month’s update course
01 October – 31 December
3 month’s update course
01 January – 31 March
6 month’s course
01 April - 30 September
6 month’s course
01 October – 31 March
12 month’s course
01 April - 31 March

01.01d : Observed Impact of this activity:

It is to be noted that of the 1690 trainees who attended the 1987 to 2008 training, 76 have been employed in full-time tailoring. Again, of the 90 trainees who have completed their update course / 6 months course, 54 are employed today. This is an indicative of the fact that there are jobs in the area for those who are trained in this trade.

Kasthuri and Kavitha – Tailoring school at Home (K.N. Colony)
M. Amutha and Selvambol – Stitching work
Mallika – Tailoring School at Home (V.O.C. Nagar)
Kamala – Tailoring school and Ready made garments stitching at home (Ammapet)
K. Sumathi – Ready made garments stitching at home
S. Amutha, Thathampatty – Stitching work
S. Amutha from Udayapatty – Tailoring school at home (Erode)
Mohana from K.N. Colony – Tailoring school at home

Gomathi, Geetha, Revathi, Suganthi, Regina Mary and Sathya, C. Geetha,
T. Kalaiyarsi, S. Amutha, A. Chitra, J. Yuvarani, A. Shalini, M. Sumathi and
Y.P. Manimegalai Santhakumari, Kalaivani, Sasikala, Parameswari, Sagunthala, Tamilarasi, Gnanasoundari, Nithya and Vasantha were joined TTC (three months course conducted by the Tamil Nadu state Government) and finished the course. They are passed and got FIRST Class

S. Amutha and J. Yuvarani joined the Garment company
Prema joined one ready-made garment factory as a cutting master.





Objective 02:

To prepare poor rural students who have completed their 8th standard to acquire an employment skill and supplement their family income.


02.01a : Foreseen Activities: Typewriting Course:

We had foreseen that we would conduct an 18 month course in Typewriting.

02.01b : Foreseen Deadlines/Targets:

It was foreseen that 50 trainees would be trained every year

02.01c : Actual Achievements and Problems encountered:

During the period 01 July 1993 to 31 July 2008, six hundred and twelve (612) trainees enrolled for the typewriting course:

3 months course
2 batches
549 trainees

Junior Grade: 1 batch
34 trainees
Additional 06 months course
Senior Grade: 2 batches
29 trainees
Total number of trainees
612 trainees

Of those who appeared for the Government Examination in February 2001:
02 Senior Grade English Trainees passed in 1st Class with distinction,
01 Senior Grade English Trainee passed in 1st Class,
02 Senior Grade Tamil Trainees passed in 1st Class with distinction,
02 Senior Grade Tamil Trainees passed in 1st Class,
05 Junior Grade English Trainees passed in 1st Class with distinction,
02 Junior Grade English Trainees failed,
01 Junior Grade English Trainee passed in 1st Class,
01 Junior Grade English Trainee passed in 2nd Class.

Of those who appeared for the Government Examination in August 2001:
05 Senior Grade English Trainees passed in 1st Class,
01 Senior Grade English Trainee failed,
05 Senior Grade Tamil Trainees passed in 2nd Class,
02 Junior Grade English Trainees passed in 1st Class,

Of those who appeared for the Government Examination in February 2002:
03 Junior Grade English Trainees passed in 2nd Class
01 Junior Grade Tamil Trainee passed in 2nd Class.

Of those who appeared for the Government Examination in August 2002 results:
2 Junior English and 1 Junior Tamil – Distinction
1 Junior English – Second Class.

Of those who appeared for the Government Examination in February 2003:
03 Senior Grade English Trainees passed in 1st Class
01 Senior Grade Tamil Trainee passed in 1st Class.

Of those who appeared for the Government Examination in August 2003:
01 Junior Grade English Trainee passed in 1st Class
01 Junior Grade Tamil Trainee passed in 2nd Class.

Of those who appeared for the Government Examination in February 2004:
03 Junior Grade English Trainees passed in 1st Class

Of those who appeared for the Government Examination in August 2004:
01 Senior Grade English Trainee passed in 2nd Class
01 Senior Grade Tamil Trainee passed in 1st Class

Of those who appeared for the Government Examination in February 2005:
02 Junior Grade English Trainees passed in 2nd Class
01 Junior Grade Tamil Trainee passed in 2nd Class

Of those who appeared for the Government Examination in August 2005:
03 Senior Grade English Trainees passed in 1st Class

Of those who appeared for the Government Examination in February 2007:
04 Junior Grade English Trainees passed in 1st Class
01 Junior Grade Tamil Trainee passed in 1st Class

Of those who appeared for the Government Examination in August 2007:
02 Senior Grade English Trainees passed in 1st Class

Of those who appeared for the Government Examination in February 2008:
02 Junior Grade English Trainees passed in 1st Class
01 Junior Grade Tamil Trainee passed in 1st Class.

02.01d : Observed Impact of this activity:

The trainees mentioned above were school and college students who are still pursuing their studies.




Objective 03:

To plan constructively for the self sufficiency of the project.

03.01a : Foreseen Activities: Computer Course:

The Computer Section was commenced in view of generating income locally for the centre so that its activities could continue without further financial assistance.

03.01b : Foreseen Deadlines/Targets:

We plan to train 1100 students of Holy Cross School and 50 external trainees every year.

03.01c : Actual Achievements and Problems encountered:

Holy Cross Primary School gave us the contract to train its students. The courses for the villagers started from 01 April 2001. We had the following courses:

Name of Course
Duration
No. Of trainees
Diploma in Computer Fundamentals
2 months
87
Certificate Course: Windows98
15 days
62
Diploma in Business Application
3 months
19
Diploma in Computer Application
2 months
46
Internet
4 days
09
HTML
15 days
29
PG Diploma in Computer Science
12 months
34
Certificate Course: VB
1 month
01
Certificate Course: MS-DOS
15 days
81
Certificate Course: C-Language
45 days
28
Certificate Course: C++
60 days
03
Certificate Course: Tally
30 days
43
Summer course for 4th std. & 5th std.
30 days
148
Summer Course for 6th to 8th standards
30 days
15
Diploma in Office Management
3 months
40
Certificate Course: MS-Office
1 month
50
Certificate Course: Fox-Pro
30 days
15
Summer Course for 9th & 10th std.
30 days
05
Summer course for up to 3rd std.
15 days
38



03.01d: Observed Impact of this activity:

This to be a good source of income for the Centre.

Community Based Activities:


Objective 04:

To stimulate natural curiosity in children of illiterate parents, to generate self-confidence to face life squarely and to prepare them for schooling.


04.01a: Foreseen Activities: Balwadis:

It was planned that training be given for a 2-year duration at various Balwadis for
3 – 5 year old children.


Objective 05:

To enable the less gifted students to achieve proficiency in their studies.



05.01a Foreseen Activities: Tuition Classes

We had planned to achieve the above objective by giving daily assistance to the less gifted students through tuition classes.



Objective 06:

To equip rural women with knowledge on savings and credit scheme and their role in development.



06.01a: Foreseen Activities: Training of Maathar Sangam Members:

We had planned to train them economically oppressed rural women so that they can overcome the economic and social oppression.



At present we are working in the following villages:

01. Athikaripatty colony
02. Kamaraj Nagar colony
03. Perumol koil medu
04. Alagapuram Periyaputhoor
05. Alagapuram Kaattoor
06. Periyakollapatty
07. Thamarai Nagar
08. Minaampalli
09. Karipatty
10. Periyagoundapuram
11. Mettupatty
12. Kootathupatty
13. Anuppoor
14. Seshanchavadi
15. Muthampatty
16. Neermullikuttai
17. Chinnamanaickanpalayam
18. Pallathathanoor
19. Chandrapillaivalasu
20. Kurichi
21. Kannankurichi







_________________________
Bro. Chacko V. Andrews, c.s.c.,
Director.