Beach Cleaning Drive and outdoor fitness Session for Nuvem Youth and Community Members

 Objective(s) of the Activity:

• To promote environmental awareness and responsibility through active participation in a beach cleaning drive.
• To encourage community engagement by involving students, youth groups, and local residents in a collective social initiative.
• To integrate service learning by providing students with experiential learning beyond the classroom.
• To promote health and well-being through an outdoor fitness session in a natural setting.
• To inculcate values of teamwork, leadership, and social responsibility among students.

Activity Overview:

On 15^th January 2026, the Department of Economics organised a Beach Cleaning Drive and an Outdoor Beach Fitness Session at Majorda Beach from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The initiative was conducted in collaboration with the Village Panchayat of Nuvem and the Jesus, Mary and Joseph Parish Youth, Nuvem.

The Village Panchayat extended valuable support by providing essential materials such as gloves, garbage collection bags, and water bottles. Students of the Department of Economics, parish youth, and community members actively participated in cleaning the beach, thereby contributing to environmental conservation and community responsibility.

Following the cleanliness drive, an outdoor fitness session was conducted to promote health and well-being. The session was led by Ms. Vardhana Dessai, faculty member of the Department of Economics, along with Ms. Anniya Khan and Ms. Valanka Pereira, both Third Year B.A. Economics students. The fitness activity was well received and enthusiastically participated in by all those present. The Department also acknowledges the support of Mr. Camilo, owner of the shack, Mishmar, who generously provided access to his electricity connection for the smooth conduct of the programme. As a token of appreciation, he was presented with a small gesture of gratitude by the Department. At the end, refreshments were served to all participating students.

Overall, the activity was well appreciated by students, youth, and community members and successfully combined environmental awareness with physical fitness and community engagement. This initiative also served as an effective service-learning activity, enabling students to apply classroom learning to real-world community service. It fostered social responsibility, civic engagement, and experiential learning by integrating environmental awareness and public health with active community participation.

Outcomes of the Activity:

• Students gained practical exposure to service learning by applying academic values to real-life community service.
• Enhanced awareness among participants and community members regarding cleanliness, sustainability, and environmental protection.
• Improved student engagement and community bonding through collaborative participation.
• Participants benefited from the outdoor fitness session, promoting physical well-being and healthy lifestyles.
• Strengthened institutional and community partnerships with the Village Panchayat and Parish Youth.
• The activity was positively received and appreciated by students, youth, and community members, reinforcing the importance of socially responsible initiatives.

Beneficiaries: