Stella Maris College and CAF India Advocates the Need for Protection of Children and Adolescents

Chennai, 12 May 2022: The Conference jointly conducted by Stella Maris College (Autonomous) and the Child and Adolescent Foundation (CAF) India, attempts to initiate a social dialogue and marks the galvanizing moments in reviving social welfare and benefits for the child and adolescent community especially after the unprecedented challenges which adversely affected the community during the pandemic.

The Conference aims to take stock of the progress made for the rights of children and adolescents and leverage knowledge through education and research, analyse the related concerns and issues and provide solutions to create a welfare culture of social security for the children and adolescents in our country.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Sr. Rosy Joseph fmm, Principal and Secretary, Stella Maris College stated, “While the conference aims to foreground the relevance of the topic it also attempts to showcase existing and emerging approaches by change‐makers, policy makers from the state and civil servants within the region with a focus on advocating inclusive development and shared prosperity of children and adolescents in society. The Conference is an important opportunity to mobilize global and local action to achieve social equity and protection for children and adolescents.”

Dr. Renuka Rajaratnam, Dean, Research and International Programmes, Stella Maris College stated, “The research conference initiates a social dialogue marking the galvanizing moments in reviving social welfare and benefits for the Child/Adolescent community followed by the unprecedented challenges which adversely affected the community during the pandemic. The conference addresses the advocacy of innovative education and research in the field of child and adolescent.”

Stella Maris College and CAF India collaborative research project, “Agarathi” was launched at the inaugural session.Thiru. Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, Honorable Minister for School Education of Tamil Nadu launched the project and presented the first copy to Dr. Sr. Rosy Joseph, Principal and Secretary Stella Maris College.

Thiru. Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, Honorable Minister for School Education of Tamil Nadu in his inaugural message spoke about the importance of school education and research and development in higher education to predict the problems and finding solutions. He also spoke about the importance of education and the role of students, teachers and research. He also highlighted the need for students to be guided and advised about the various courses they could opt for their Plus Two, undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.

Dr. Mridula C Jobson, Director Child and Adolescent Foundation (CAF) India stated, “We are glad to launch Project Agarathi, a research project of CAF India in association with Stella Maris College, which focuses on transforming K-12 education. We hope to adapt best practices through rigorous research in collaboration with university partners, research firms, and leading educators to identify and evaluate replicable practices at the student, teacher, and school level that impact the course of learning and lifelong achievement.”

The outcome of the Conference would also serve as a follow-up to other important summits, conferences, discussions with high level Child and Adolescent welfare organisations and also aim to publish research articles in the area of study.