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DIMAPUR, MAY 17: One of the most active nongovernmental organizations in Dimapur, the Prodigal’s Home, on Tuesday completed its 4th certificate course in ‘Social Concern and Leadership’ by felicitating 23 students of the course from both secular and theological backgrounds. A program marking the conclusion of the course was conducted in Dimapur on Tuesday.
Prodigal’s Home was established in the year 1990 with its head office in Dimapur. The social welfare organization emerged to address problems of drug abuse, treatment, and rehabilitation besides offering a space of concern and redress for drug addicts and alcoholics.
The organization continues to strive toward addressing social, economic and health concerns in various ways.
Over the past few years, the Prodigal’s Home has been providing the certificate course of 15 days. The course aims to create social awareness and contribute to highlighting various issues concerning the social community of Nagaland.
So far, more than 70 theological students from Nagaland and other states besides students from secular streams have undertaken the Social Concern and Leadership Course.
A booklet about the course that the organization provided mentions that the concept emerged out of recommendations and experiences with objective to orient potential church and society leaders through examination of prevalent and relevant issues. Churches, for instance, can play a key role in making churches and society more inclusive for every individual, regardless of one’s religious, social or economic background.
Principal of the NEISSR, Rev. Dr. Fr. CP Anto spoke during the event. In his speech at the closing function of the training, Rev. Dr. Fr. CP Anto spoke about the problems that the state has been facing. He said that the kind of courses such as the leadership and welfare-concern offered by Prodigal’s Home would open ‘gates towards a new possible way of thinking for the people of Nagaland.’
By becoming a member of social activists, preventive strategies can be built in order to make the ailing society a better place to live in, he explained.
Rev. Dr. Fr. CP Anto also said that the society would progress only if the grass-root were taken care of. If an individual wishes to witness positive changes, the minority class of people of the population should also be shown concern.
The associate pastor of Dimapur Ao Baptist Church, Rev. I. Wati Jamir, also spoke during the event. He spoke on the topic ‘social concern initiatives.’ On behalf of the church, the speaker highlighted the various social initiatives his organization was undertaking to tackle various problems in the state in whatever little way.
Trainees also spoke about their experiences from the course and how the training had helped them understand the state of the local community and the problems the people are facing.