The Programme was conducted as a field visit to promote experiential learning among students.
The faculty members of the department of Sociology, along with students of Fourth and Sixth Semester, Honours in Sociology, actively participated in the programme.
The destination of the field visit was, the Old Age Home, Boomtar, Namchi. During the visit various service oriented activities were carried out including cleaning, dusting and weeding of the premises. The participants also spent quality times interacting with the residents, which provided meaningful insights into their lives and experiences.
As a small gesture of care and contribution, faculty members and students also offered snacks to the residents.
The Old Age Home accommodates a total number of 22 residents, comprising 13 males and 9 females. The residents fall within the age group of 70 to 83 years and the institution is managed by 6 staff members.
The programme provided the students with valuable experiential learning through direct interaction with elderly residents, students gained deeper insight into key sociological concepts such as ageing, social support system, family structures and marginalisation. Engaging in community service also helped them understand the role of empathy, social responsibility and collective action in society. Such field visit also enhances students’ ability to observe, analyse and interpret social realities, thereby strengthening their sociological imagination and making study of sociology more practical, meaningful and relevant.
Thus, the initiative was both educational and socially enriching for everyone involved.