The mission statement of Sacred Heart College emphasises four core values – holistic
development, nation building, progress of humanity, and the dissemination of knowledge. With
these objectives the college has designed the programme Service Learning for giving training in
civic engagement. This sensitising project insists a minimum 40-hour mandatory social service
for all the undergraduate students to attain their graduation.

Objectives of the Practice:

a. To instil a sense of social commitment in students
b. To build sensitivity towards fellow beings and the environment
c. To encourage cleanliness and the preservation of the natural environment
d. To assist the local community
e. To enable them to relate the knowledge gained to the real-life situations
f. To encourage physical and mental well-being and to appreciate the joy of manual labour

The popular definition of field work by Hamilton and Else (1983),

Described field work as, “a consciously planned set of experiences occurring in a practice setting designed to move students from their initial level of understanding skills and attitudes to levels associated with autonomous social work practice,

Service learning programme is designed from the concept of filed work in social work. The Service learning programme is defined as a planned set of experience which makes students to understand community by field work practice. Through different service learning programmes, the students interact with local community and they explore their skills, knowledge and attitude to help them. It is also an opportunity to take part in socially relevant issues.

This programme was introduced in the year 2015 soon after the college became autonomous, for promoting social service activities among the students. The programme aims to develop a humanitarian value among student community by learning through service. This unique programme is mandatory for the successful completion of graduation. A student has to complete a minimum of 40 hours of service within the first two years. Students engage in social service activities during free hours and holidays during their graduation period. Credit hours will be provided depending on the service they do. Each student will enter the service activity in the service learning record, which is regularly checked by the student development officer.

The students can participate, initiate, volunteer and organize various socially responsible programmes. The student development officer guides the students and creates opportunities for them to acquire credits. Students participate in various socially relevant programmes conducted by various Clubs and fora of the college.

The programmes mainly focus on agriculture (Paddy and vegetables), Education (tuition for the needy), environment education, Health and hygiene (campaign against misuse of plastic bags, no horn campaign near hospitals, lake cleaning, beach cleaning, surveys etc.) By doing services to needy community or by involving to social issues and social causes, the students sensitize with various factors in the community like environment, agriculture, energy, diseases, children, women, elderly, government policies and programmes NGOs, Hospitals, government offices, police stations, educational institutions etc.

 Through these programmes the students can reach out the community to help the needy people and to develop societal values in them which will help them to evolve and contribute to the nation building process.

“To strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity so that the nation constantly rises to the higher levels of endeavour and achievement” Fundamental Duties, constitution of India.  

Sensitisation Drive

The student groups visit old-age homes; destitute/isolation wards and child cancer wards of
hospitals periodically.

Community Service

Students bring food packets from their homes, under the initiative titled Daya, and the
collected food is given to the inmates of nearby orphanages and destitute houses. Another
initiative is “u3a” to train the elderly in computer, internet, smart phones, paper bag making
etc. Other community services undertaken by the students include family health surveys,
mammography clinics, community health camps, traffic volunteering, library cleaning and
rearrangement of books, etc.

Awareness Campaigns

Students organise cancer awareness classes with the support of medical practitioners.
Periodical health check-up for the detection of cancer and lifestyle diseases, eye diseases, hair
donation campaigns, first aid classes etc., are also conducted.

Swatch Bharat

Weekly cleaning drives of public places, including the removal of litter and plastic waste,
beautifying vacant lots and creating awareness among the public about cleanliness is an
important activity.

Environment Conservation

Used pens are collected, recycled and put them on sale through the Honesty Shop. Moreover,
paper pens and handicraft items are made from waste paper and sold in the college. Students
implemented a project on mangrove protection and has adopted a stretch of degraded
mangrove in the nearby area for its restoration and protection, together with mangrove
conservation awareness programmes. Campus biodiversity documentation is yet another
initiative in this direction.

Organic Farming

To initiate the youth into farming and to teach sustainable agricultural practices to the local
community, the college purchased 2 hectares of fallow land in a nearby village, and has been
doing organic farming with the involvement of student volunteers.

Arayankavu Paddy Farming

Fort Kochi Beach Cleaning