A group of six students help construct classrooms for a school
They have mobilised Rs.10 lakh for the purpose
Year of India being celebrated in France
— Photo: T. Singaravelou
Doing their bit: French students help in the construction of a school building at Thely in Villupuram.
VILLUPURAM: From the fashion capital of the world — Paris — to a nondescript village — Thely in Villupuram — is a long journey. Yet, the warmth of human nature has its unique way of forging relationships.
The residents of Thely were in for a surprise when a group of six French students, including four women, all in the age group of 18 to 21, came to serve them.
A. Arokiasamy, president, People’s Multipurpose Development Society (PMD), coordinated the trip.
The students are pursuing economy, law and management courses in Nanterre Universite, Paris-la Sorbonne Universite and Law University of Assas. The reason for their visit — to keep themselves occupied during the vacations by rendering social service. They had mobilised Rs.10 lakh (in Indian currency) through their institutions, from the general public and by selling artecrafts and paintings, to be spent on a social cause in India.
It was their first trip to India and what impressed them the most was the resilience of the people in the midst of poverty and other adversities. Mr. Arokiasamy said the primary objective of their visit was to construct classrooms for St. Joseph’s Primary School.
Ferrary Marie-Laure (21) and Narthe Lacoste (20) told The Hindu that the Year of India being celebrated in France had generated a lot of interest among the people about the country. The India they witnessed was totally different fro
m what was depicted in textbooks. The students would take back the memory of the cheerful countenance of the villagers to France. Jacquat Matthien (18) stressed the need for sending children to school to facilitate development.
Principal Rev.Fr.E.Thomas said the classrooms were in bad shape and that he had been looking for help for their reconstruction. He hailed the French students’ endeavour in this regard.
Mr. Arokiasamy said the French students would complete the work in batches.
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