Nazareth College of Arts and Science has been committed to integrating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into its community engagement programs, research, and campus activities. Through a variety of initiatives, the college works towards creating meaningful social impact and promoting sustainability across different sectors. Below is an overview of the college’s community outreach initiatives aligned with the SDGs. The various community engagement programs at Nazareth College exemplify the institution’s commitment to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals. By aligning academic and extracurricular initiatives with these global goals, Nazareth empowers students, faculty, and the surrounding community to actively contribute to a sustainable, just, and equitable future for all. Through hands-on projects, awareness campaigns, and partnerships, the college continues to be a key player in promoting environmental stewardship, social equity, and sustainable development.
Over the past 12 months, Nazareth College has actively demonstrated its dedication to the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) initiative by organizing and participating in programs that align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These efforts reflect the college’s commitment to fostering education, innovation, and sustainable practices within the local and global community.
A standout program was the Community Sustainability Series, which included awareness campaigns, women empowerment, implementation on renewable energy sources, waste reduction, and sustainable agriculture, directly addressing SDG 3 (Good Health), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 8 (Decent work) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). Additionally, Nazareth College partnered with local organizations to host health camps and nutrition awareness drives, contributing to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).
The college also launched an Equity in Education Initiative, providing resources and mentorship to underprivileged youth in the neighbourhood area, aligned with SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). This initiative fostered collaboration with international institutions, reinforcing global citizenship and cross-cultural understanding.
Furthermore, Nazareth’s students and faculty conducted about 26 research projects focused on sustainable urban development (SDG 11) and water conservation (SDG 6), emphasizing the integration of academic expertise into real-world problem-solving.
Nazareth College’s participation in UNAI continues to inspire innovative approaches to achieving the SDGs, positioning the institution as a leader in sustainable development education.
It is with immense pride and gratitude that I reflect on the impactful initiatives led by Nazareth College of Arts and Science, particularly through the SDG@Nazareth p rogram. As the Focal Point of the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI), I am deeply inspired by the collective efforts of students, faculty, and the broader community in addressing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The SDG@Nazareth initiative exemplifies how higher education institutions can play a pivotal role in achieving the global goals. Through various projects such as the Let There Be Light Project, Sustainable Sanitation, Waste Management Audits, and Menstrual Hygiene Awareness, Nazareth College is demonstrating its commitment to sustainability, social justice, and community empowerment. The collaborative efforts to raise awareness on topics like energy conservation, financial literacy, climate action, and gender equality are just a few examples of how the college is nurturing responsible leaders who are ready to make a real difference in their communities and beyond.
The SDG Book Project, as part of Nazareth’s SDG Transformation Centre, further strengthens this commitment by engaging second-year students in research that connects local issues with the broader SDG framework. This collective research project, led by 26 dedicated faculty members and 26 student teams, not only contributes to the academic excellence of the institution but also empowers students to take actionable steps toward sustainable development.
Through these efforts, Nazareth College is not just fostering academic growth but also nurturing a deep sense of social responsibility, preparing the next generation of leaders who are dedicated to creating a more sustainable, equitable, and just world. As we continue our work toward achieving the SDGs, I commend Nazareth College for its dedication, innovation, and collaboration. The college’s efforts are a testament to the power of education, engagement, and community action in building a better future for all.
Together, we are making a lasting impact on the global sustainability agenda.
Solar streetlights are raised light sources which are powered by solar panels generally mounted on the lighting structure or integrated into the pole itself. The solar panels charge a rechargeable battery, which powers a LED lamp during the night. Arikambattu one of the UBA adopted village has a hamlet of Irular Tribal families who shared their need for electricity from nearby houses. Based on the survey the UBA approached donors to provide light to the community. Habitat India Delhi with the help od donors provided 45 streetlamps and 45 batteries that can be used to for fan and 1 chargeable light to give them light.
TOTAL BENEFICIARIES REACHED: Awareness provided to 45 Irular families on Solar energy tapping and benefits and maintenance of the unit.
Clean water is one of the few things in life that never fails to live up to expectations. Clean water changes almost everything. Having clean water and sanitation means being able to avoid exposure to countless diseases. Every year, millions of people die from diseases caused by inadequate water supply, sanitation, and hygiene. Based on the survey and the need of the community the UBA team approached World Vision India for water filters. World vision donated nonelectric water filters to the households in Meyyur village.
TOTAL BENEFICIARIES REACHED: Awareness provided to 950 STUDENTS on Clean water 85 households.
The few households in the village population of Meyyur lack access to proper sanitation. People must often use open air, unhygienic shared toilets. Based on the survey and the need of the community the UBA team approached Habitat India for Bio Toilets for the community to solve open defecation. Education has been an essential part of the effort too. Bank of America constructed bio toilets to households in Meyyur village.
TOTAL BENEFICIARIES REACHED: Awareness provided to 950 STUDENTS on Clean water 85 households.
The Department of Computer Science, orchestrated an engaging event titled “Workshop on Cyber security.” The objective of the event was to educate students, staff members, and external participants about the fundamental principles of cybersecurity and equip them with the knowledge and skills necessary to protect themselves and their organizations from cyber threats. They covered fundamental concepts such as cyber-attacks, hacking, cybersecurity measures, and the role of ethical hackers. The participants felt empowered to apply the acquired knowledge and skills to protect themselves, their devices, and their organizations from cyber threats effectively.
TOTAL BENEFICIARIES REACHED: Awareness provided to 540 school students and staff of neighbouring schools.
The college through SDG@ Nazareth Joined hands with Surjana charitable trust and initiated a project on Sanitary Napkin – Reusable pads. 15 girls students from Commerce Department were trained as Master trainers to spread awareness on Menstrual hygiene in the adopted villages of Unnath Bharath Abhiyan and the adolescent school children of Nazareth Schools.
TOTAL BENEFICIARIES REACHED: 1200 STUDENTS 75 self-help group women 330 women in the UBA ADOPTED village community.
TOTAL BENEFICIARIES REACHED: Awareness provided to 45 Irular families on Solar energy tapping and benefits and maintenance of the unit.
The STEW program which stands for “STOP throwing E-waste” is an initiative led by the Department of Computer Science at Nazareth college (The STEW program includes E-waste Awareness, E-waste drop-off and E-waste Disposal as three levels of practice.
The college has partnered with schools for awareness, E-waste recycling units for Disposal. This signifies a commitment to responsibly manage electronic waste, further enhancing the program impact and sustainability thereby following responsible environmental practices. The students of Computer Science were given awareness on E-waste and E-Waste ambassadors were selected to spread awareness through the STEW-Program to neighbouring schools. This initiative also aims to reduce E-waste through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse. The Schools in Kovilpathagai were given awareness about E-Waste and informed the E-waste Drop off program and were encouraged to participate. The staffs and students of the college also encouraged to drop off E-waste at a designated box in the lobby. The collected E-waste from schools and colleges was sold to a E-waste recycling company. The company pays for the E-waste and also gives E-certificate to the institution.
TOTAL BENEFICIARIES REACHED:
1143 students benefited, 12 items weighing is 369 kg was collected and disposed at SKV E-waste Recycling Private Limited.
To perform art forms in communities in creatively depicting the ways to assess the clinical condition of dementia and spreading awareness on the impact dementia. By integrating artistic expression and student involvement within the framework of Ray of Hope as an institution, the awareness campaign becomes a dynamic and comprehensive initiative. It imparted clinical knowledge through art and also harnessed the institution’s educational and organizational capabilities to create lasting impact on dementia awareness in rural areas. There was active participation of community members in the awareness event, leading to increased engagement, attendance, and interaction with the information presented. This involvement sets the foundation for a receptive audience open to learning about dementia.
TOTAL BENEFICIARIES REACHED: 100 viewers in the community at Kannadapalayam
The college organized a financial literacy awareness programme to transform our world through self-help groups, schools, Self Help groups and colleges to girls create financial awareness, which will generate confidence in the financially excluded sections of society to use financial services and products more effectively, bringing more people into the formal financial sector. With the assistance of Srujna Charitable Trust, Nazareth College is carrying out this activity in accordance with SDG 8.3. This trust activity is carried out in a Mumbai based NGO that works on various initiatives for women’s empowerment. One of Laxmi’s key initiatives is Financial Literacy Awareness, which aims to ensure that every woman understands the fundamentals of financial knowledge. Experian is our estimated donor for this initiative. In the last two months, Nazareth College conducted various awareness programmes for girls with the help of 15 trained students in Nazareth College of Arts and Science, Nazareth matric hr. sec school, and the Nazareth Academy, and the institutions still plan to do more programmes in the community area and government school.
TOTAL BENEFICIARIES REACHED: 1700 STUDENTS 75 self-help group women 330 women in the UBA ADOPTED village community.
Ranger Over 2023 was two days inter – collegiate cultural event, which was organised by Department of Social Work and SEEDS Association of Nazareth College of Arts and Sciences on 17th and 18th March 2023. This inter – collegiate was an attempt to rove through the Sustainable Development Goals with various competitions envisioning 2030.
The day 1 program was held at Arikkampatu Panchayat Union Primary School (Arikkampatu was an adopted village of Nazareth Institution). The day 2 programmes were held at the NCAS auditorium. Students from Patrician College of Arts and Science, Anna Adarsh College for Women, Hindu college and Mar Gregorios College participated in various events. The Day 2 competitions were group dance, solo singing, mime, connection, quiz, and ramp walk.
“Training on Identification of Flora at College Campus.” Hosted by the Nazareth Emergency Relief & Rehab Foundation (NERF), the event aimed to equip students of the ECO Club with the skills to identify various plant species within the college campus. With the help of the Plant Net app, a powerful tool for plant identification, students were taught how to effectively use the app to identify different plant species by simply capturing photos of leaves, flowers, or fruits. This hands-on approach not only made the learning process engaging but also empowered students to contribute to biodiversity documentation efforts in their surroundings. By empowering students with the skills to identify and appreciate local flora, the Eco Club’s initiative takes a significant step towards achieving SDGs 4 (Quality Education) and 15 (Life on Land), fostering a generation of environmentally conscious individuals poised to make a positive impact on the world.
World Afforestation Day, was marked by a significant event organized by the 37 social work students. In an effort to raise awareness about the importance of afforestation and its connection to wildlife conservation, the students hosted a movie screening, highlighting the crucial role of forests in supporting biodiversity.
The event took place at Seminar Hall, where students, faculty, and interested community members gathered to participate in the enlightening experience. The primary focus of the occasion was to emphasize the symbiotic relationship between afforestation and wildlife conservation, underscoring the critical role forests play in maintaining ecological balance.
The centrepiece of the event was a thought-provoking documentary titled “Harmony in Green: Sustaining Life through Afforestation.” The documentary, curated by environmental experts, delved into the intricate connection between afforestation efforts and the preservation of diverse wildlife species. Through breath-taking visuals and insightful narratives, the film highlighted the consequences of deforestation and the positive impact of afforestation initiatives worldwide.
The organizers incorporated interactive sessions, allowing attendees to actively participate in discussions, ask questions, and share their perspectives. These sessions facilitated a sense of community engagement and inspired attendees to consider their individual roles in promoting afforestation and wildlife conservation.
The World Afforestation Day event left a lasting impact on the participants, fostering a greater appreciation for the interconnectedness of ecosystems and the role afforestation plays in mitigating climate change. Inspired by the success of this event, the BSW students expressed their commitment to organizing more initiatives that promote environmental stewardship and sustainable practices.
The World Afforestation Day event organized by students on October 7th, 2023, was a resounding success. By combining education, awareness, and community engagement, the event contributed to the on-going global conversation about the importance of afforestation in preserving wildlife and ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come. The BSW students demonstrated their dedication to social and environmental causes, leaving a positive mark on the campus and inspiring others to take an active role in environmental conservation.
Theme of the program is aligned with Innovation and design Thinking. The program had a dual objective: firstly, to gauge the awareness levels on energy conservation among students through a survey, and secondly, to involve students in creating awareness within the community by producing educational videos.
Around 50 students participated in the survey and around 40 students along with 5 staff members participated in evaluating awareness in the community, areas including Avadi ,Thirumullaivoyal and Ambattur. A survey through google forms was collected among students to assess their current understanding and awareness levels regarding energy conservation. Survey questions focused on energy-saving practices, knowledge about energy-efficient technologies, and attitudes towards sustainable energy use.
The second focus engaged students in a video creation session where they collaboratively produced educational videos on energy conservation. Topics included the importance of energy conservation, practical tips for saving energy at home and in daily life, and the impact of individual efforts on the environment.
Identified existing knowledge gaps and misconceptions about energy conservation among the student participants. Provided a baseline understanding, allowing for the development of targeted educational initiatives. Students demonstrated creativity and innovation in producing informative videos on energy conservation. The videos covered key aspects of energy-saving practices, reaching out to the wider community.
Overall Impact:
Participants gained a heightened awareness of energy conservation principles. The community-focused video creation fostered a sense of responsibility among students, positioning them as influencers within their communities. The program’s success is reflected in the active participation of students, the creation of impactful content, and the potential for sustained awareness within both the student body and the broader community.
This training educated the students on income, Budget, Saving, Investment, Inflation, Retirement, Insurance Health, and Life. A total of 15 students participated and benefited from this training.
THEME: Overcoming Barriers and Unleashing the Opportunities of Social Justice
On account of the World Day of Social Justice, Seeds association organized a signature campaign. Students from department of social work presented their chart works near the assembly ground to raise awareness on social justice. The audiences were given an orientation through the intercom by Ms. Agnes Johanna, II MSW. Students from various Departments participated and shown their support by signing the social justice banner.
The students of National Service Scheme made a door-to-door visit to the households surrounding the college to emphasize the use of eco-friendly materials and say no to plastic. The Objective of the event is to clean and say no to using and throwing plastic to the surroundings. Students gave details about the plastic waste management to the public, and encouraged public to stop using the plastic bags and start using to eco-friendly bags for their daily usage.
The Nazareth Centre for Skill Development has organized an ‘Art & Craft Workshop’ on Jewelry making. The objective of the workshop was to train the students as entrepreneurs in jewelry making. Ms. Geetha and Mr. Thomas, trainers from Pidilite Industries limited, a concern of Fevicryl trained the students to make earing and necklace using mould it clay. Participants learnt new techniques in jewelry making. The students designed one set of jewelry of their own. The program was an eye opener for the students who want to become entrepreneur.
TOTAL BENEFICIARIES REACHED: A total of 40 students from various departments participated in the workshop.
The primary objective of this event is to create a drug awareness to the people by conducting rally, speech and pledge on International drugs day. National cadet corps conducted drug awareness program on the occasion of INTERNATIONAL DRUGS DAY inside the campus of Nazareth college of arts and science.
NCC conducted rally and took pledge for the drug free Indian. Our cadets performed this event in an enthusiastic manner and the topic of this event based on drug related issues and drugs acts, it was a great and informative program to all the students of our College. The students gained a deeper knowledge about drug awareness and the acts on drugs. This event facilitated a positive approach in motivating the student to society.
TOTAL BENEFICIARIES REACHED: Totally 38 students were participated in this event
OBJECTIVE OF THE PROGRAMME: The primary objective of this event to create an awareness about environmental pollution in the society. National cadet corps conducted environmental awareness program in the surrounding of Nazareth college of arts and science. Our cadets performed this event in a successful manner and the topic of this event based on environmental pollution at last it was a great and informative program to all the students of our College. In this event students and public acquired knowledge on environmental pollution such as land pollution, water pollution, air pollution.
TOTAL BENEFICIARIES REACHED: Totally 30 students and 43 cadets were participated in this event.
The objective of the event is to create an awareness about khadi and handloom products to the students. We performed NIAP and PPT to students. .NCC conducted rally and took pledge for the drug free India. Our cadets performed this event in a successful manner and the topic of this event-based khadi and handlooms at last it was a great and informative program to all the students of our College. Students gained knowledge about khadi pro ducts. It helps to develop our economy because it is a swadeshi (made in India). The students gained a deeper knowledge about khadi products and handlooms. The students learned about the process behind the handlooms.
TOTAL BENEFICIARIES REACHED: Totally 80 students and 43 cadets were participated in this event.
The NSS unit-1and unit-2 of Nazareth college of Arts and Science, Avadi, Chennai-62, of arts and science. As per our NSS unit guidance and its influence our college students voluntarily took participated in this program.
A waste audit is a method for analysing an organization’s waste stream. The goal is to discover what types and quantities of waste (paper, plastic, food etc.) you produce within a given timeframe—usually a week. Auditing also measures how much waste is recycled. The Objective of the audit was to find out the categories of waste accumulate in our campus and to segregate the waste according to degradable and non-degradable.
The following are the categories of waste which we prescribed for audit:
We all together joined and sort out the waste and segregated the waste according to the categories, after sent it to the allotted dustbin. The management staff members also took part in this program.
TOTAL BENEFICIARIES REACHED: Total of 3500 students were befitted by a clean environment.
The SDG Book Project by Nazareth appears to be an initiative aimed at promoting awareness, education, and actionable steps toward achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through the Nazareth SDG Transformation Centre, the SDG Book Project which has 26 studies serves as a tool to:
SDG Book project is a collective research project based on local issues and directed towards the 17 Sustainable Goals of United Nations. The Second-year students of all the 9 departments were divided into 26 projects coordinated by 26 faculties and students.
SDG GOAL | TARGET | TOPIC OF THE RESEARCH PROJECT |
---|---|---|
6 | 6.3 | A study on wastage of Water in gated communities in Avadi |
16 | 16.1 | A study on how youth adopt kindness in their life in Avadi |
2 | 2.2 | A study on everyday health choices of food that affect their health in Avadi |
2 | 2.3.2 | Challenges of Jasmine farming at Arikambattu Village |
7 | 7.3.1 | A study on the main consumers of energy on School Campus in Avadi |
3 | 3.4.4 | A study on students awareness on organic foods in Vadi |
5 | 5.4 | A study on spending behaviour among women in Avadi |
12 | 12.5.1 | A study on the type of the waste produced by educational institutions in Avadi |
12 | 12.5.1 | A study on waste disposal system adopted by health care settings in Avadi |
12 | 12.3 | A study on vegetable & fruit waste disposal adopted by the street vendors in Avadi |
11 | 11.2.1 | A study on the student’s preference to use public transport to commute to college in Avadi |
3 | 3.4 | A study on fitness routine followed by students in higher educational institutions in Avadi |
12 | 12.4.1 | A study on use of single use cups among customers in road side shops |
12 | 12.3.1 | A study on practices of using own bags to shop to reduce plastic bags |
12 | 12.3.1 | A study on supermarkets that use plastic free bags in Avadi corporation |
12 | 12.8.1 | A study on organic food consumption among families in Avadi |
4 | 4.1.1 | A study on maths readiness among children in high schools in Kannadapalayam |
6 | 6.1.1 | A study on daily water usage among public in Avadi |
8 | 8.5.1 | A study on the challenges of women vendors in Avadi Municipal Corporation |
9 | 9.1.1 & 9.1.2 | Impact of bad roads on the commuters in Avadi |
11 | 11.5.1 | A study on disaster preparedness among government schools in Avadi |
6 | 6.1 | A study on the lakes and its biodiversity in Avadi |
7 | 7.2.1 | A study on the effectiveness of owners of electric vehicles in Avadi |
11 | 11.2.1 | A study on choice of transportation among adolescents in Metropolitan cities |
8 | 8.5.2 | A study on challenges of women autorickshaw drivers in Chennai |