Professionalism and existential relevance have been inevitable elements in any of the ethical fields for ensuring efficiency and effectiveness. Animation, facilitation, alliance building and advocacy mission are some of the social developmental means through which Caritas India closely works with her Diocesan Social Service Societies, Religious Congregations and other Civil Society Organizations to bring effective change in the society.

Mission Animation – Perspective Building for Participatory Programme Development, a two-day workshop discussed the importance of the participatory approach of the community in their development. Dr John Arockiaraj, Zonal Manager (South) facilitated the workshop for 15 participants at Pallottine Congregation on January 19-20, 2018.

The participants collectively reflected and gained knowledge and skills on Results-Based Management and processes for effectively working on humanitarian issues. The community will be the focus and they will steer the process of designing and owning up the programmes.

Participants echoed that henceforth the quality of their identifying core problem, analysing, implementing, monitoring and evaluation and reporting will be focused on results. This professionalism will increase their efficiency in bringing positive change in the style of organisational functioning to make them effective and relevant.

Fr. Rahul, from Northern Province, realised that collective learning through community participation is the effective means to empowerment. He also gave importance to the use of authenticated baseline data which is necessary to see the change.

Sr. Helen shared that so far, I was thinking vision is achieved when projects are completed. But now I understand that vision is unending and the mission drives us to take concrete actions leading towards the achievement of vision and projects are only means.

“We have wealth of resources which we are not utilising”, said Fr. Majo Jose, “I am motivated to engage volunteers who are willing to spare their time and energy for the welfare of the people. To begin with, we will reach out to minimum 100 chronically ill bedridden patients and study the health situation in our Parish.”

In addition, says General Council Member Fr. Markus from Germany, in the global scenario of dwindling funds for aligning with the poor and marginalized, we need professional approach. Unless our programmes address the actual needs of the poor, our interventions will become futile. Work constantly on devising people driven programme based on our vision – Let’s share faith and charity.

General Mission Secretary of Pallottine Congregation from Rome, Fr. Jean Bertand Etoundi suggested similar workshops to be conducted in Brazil and Cameroon in the years 2019 and 2020.