As part of the MSW curriculum, the Department of Social Work, GEMS Arts and Science College, Ramapuram, organized a seven-day Community Living Camp at Pinavoorkudy, Kuttampuzha Panchayat, Ernakulam District, from 22nd to 28th August 2025. The camp was designed as an intensive field-based program to foster direct interaction with tribal communities and to promote a deeper understanding of their socio-economic, cultural, and developmental contexts.
The camp provided trainees with opportunities to integrate theoretical knowledge with practical exposure in areas such as community development, rural governance, public health, education, and livelihood practices. By living in close association with the tribal community, trainees were able to observe and analyze grassroots realities, including challenges of poverty, limited infrastructure, dependence on forest produce, and preservation of indigenous traditions.
Key activities included orientation sessions, theater workshop, community visits, PRA exercises, social mapping, awareness initiatives, and cultural programs. These experiences not only enhanced professional competencies such as leadership, teamwork, participatory learning, communication, and problem-solving but also adaptability Overall, the Pinavoorkudy camp served as a transformative learning platform, strengthening the professional growth of MSW trainees.