like previous years, a group of international students from the University of Texas have come to the cyclone-ravaged town of Gopalpur in Ganjam district to carry out a host of activities in the nearby villages as part of their summer camp.
The students, Samuel Vanicek, Alexandria Heath, Ramya Balijepally and Enna Ganguly, assisted by a group of management students from the State, have been in the town for the past four weeks and organising a series of special programmes for youths and women in the villages.
The students first conducted a survey on ground facts and designed the programmes to suit the need of the community. Notably, students from the Texas University have come to the city for the third consecutive year.
They have so far successfully organised computer training, spoken English classes, life skill education, etc, to empower village youths. Similarly, women are being trained on Self help Group (SHG) management, plantation, tailoring, setting up of kitchen garden, women leadership development, Panchayat Raj Institutions and Government schemes, etc, by the Texas team with the support of local NGO VIEWS.
Divya Jyoti Mahila Vikash president B Gopamma said the trainings would help poor fisher women in Markandi village in improving their economic well-being.