A Two day Training program (3^rd, 4^th May’03) for the Community volunteers working / interested in working with the slum children and slum development has been Organised at the KESHAVA MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL, Narayanaguda, Hyderabad. Participants represented from 72 slums in the twin cities have been trained in skill development, Personality development, Abinaya geyas, Shlokas, Story telling, Health and hygiene, and Cultural activities with a social cause. The female volunteers outnumbered the Male (92 female-35male) and were leading the training program by all means.

Sevabharathi has its presence in the 120 slums of the twin cities and runs various activities from Samskara kendras, Ekal Vidyalayas to the destitute homes, thrift societies and Voccational training camps. The volunteers were anxious enough and curious to learn and go back to impliment the same in their own places.

The Program took off with the inaugural speech of Sree Patlolla Ramireddy the Kshetra Seva Pramukh (Zonal Incharge of Service activities in AP, Karnataka) with a message to get to the last man sitting in the last row of the social Structure. And no matter how small the activity is but reach and give them the touch that they badly need. The Story-telling is the most interesting activity for the young and old so let us use the same technique to make the activity more interesting.

Dr Surenderreddy a Doctor by profession but has been working in the slums and the rural poor for the past two decades was of the view that let us take home the message of Prevention and not Cure is the need of the hour. He wanted the Volunteers first to be aware of the Health and Hygine and the smaller but finer things of health.

Mr Ramchandar is a Physical Instructor and has been with the participants to teach them the Kolatam and Chakka bhajana that has filled the gatherings with new energy. Sri Bhimsen Deshpande Editor Jagruthi Weekly magazine was there to share his experiences in the Social work as well as the Journalism. Sri G Anjaneyulu was the co-ordinator for the two-day camp.

Each one of us can contribute to the society in our own way and we shall do it further the cause.

The Valedictory function was held at 5:30 pm 4^th may’03 attended by all the partcipants with a farewell and bubbling energy to work back home. The better thing is the partcipants had a mix of students from professional courses, the Lecturers, the Community volunteers, Retired Employees, bank employees, Students puruing their studies and those who have just completed their courses. Participants from such varied backgrounds sharing the same platform for two days forgetting everything else was a beautiful scene.

Sri Chandra sekhar the Organising secretary Sevabharathi, Sri G anjaneyulu incharge seva activities in twin cities, Sri P Ramireddy have given the final address after a feedback session of sharing experiences of the camp and how they felt about it.