Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore

Mangalore, Aug 21:  Street plays are one of the most powerful agencies in creating social awareness. The Department of Social Work and NSS Units of St Agnes College (Autonomous), under the auspices of Breakthrough organization conducted a three-day workshop on Street Play focusing on Women’s Empowerment.

The workshop was
 launched on August 18 with Prof. Joselyn Lobo, Professor in social work, School of Social Work, Roshni Nilaya as chief guest and Dr Sr Prem D’souza, Principal, St Agnes College as presiding officer.

Udayakumar Jyothigudde, media co-ordinator and trainer of Breakthrough and Mallika Venugopal spearheaded the activity-based workshop. Dr. Bhoomigowda, NSS Programme Officer, Mrs. Aline Babita D’ Costa, HOD of Social Work and NSS Programme Officer and other Social Work Faculty members gave impetus to the workshop as staff co-ordinators.  

The learner-centric workshop brought under its canvas multifarious activities that trained students in voice modulation, body language, still acts, acting skills, awareness songs, lateral thinking, and the discipline related to street plays. Twenty one students were thoroughly grounded in the pre-requisites of street plays even as they sang, danced, exercised and played games, proving the veracity of the saying that we learn best in moments of enjoyment.

The valedictory programme had a fitting finale with the participants presenting a street play, which satirized the contemporary social evil of subjugation of women. The glowing feedback from two students bore testimony to the effectiveness of the workshop. Dr.Sr. Prem D ‘Souza, the President of the function and Udayakumar Jyoti Gudde, the chief guest appreciated the earnestness of the students and distributed certificates. It was hoped that the student participants would be the torch-bearers of society and would put to use the powerful tool of street plays to bring about social changes.