YCS/YSM Exposure Programme Takes Young Delegates Into the Realities of Society

Mangaluru, May 25, 2026: Young delegates attending the 20th National Council and 29th Study Session of the Young Christian Students/Young Students Movement stepped out of conference halls and into the heart of society on the second day of the gathering, as an immersive Exposure Programme led them to hospitals, care homes, marketplaces, and public spaces across Mangaluru.

Designed around the “See” dimension of the movement’s “See, Judge and Act” methodology, the initiative offered participants an opportunity to encounter firsthand the struggles, hopes, and realities faced by people living on the margins of society.

The participants were divided into ten groups and sent to different institutions and locations, including the oncology wards at Father Muller Medical College Hospital, Jeppu Ashram, White Doves, Jeevadana Gurupura, Ave Maria Palliative Care Centre, the city dumping yard, the Milk Dairy at Kulshekar, Forum Mall, Central Market, and the Bunder Dhakke Fish Market.

Each visit exposed the students to diverse aspects of life — from illness and ageing to labour, trade, poverty, and community living. Through conversations with patients, workers, elderly residents, and vulnerable individuals, participants gained a deeper understanding of the dignity and resilience of people facing hardship.

Many students described the experience as moving and transformative, reflecting on the importance of compassion, emotional support, and human connection in a fast-changing world. The programme also helped participants appreciate the silent yet significant contribution of faith-based institutions and charitable organisations serving the sick, elderly, homeless, and marginalised.

Apart from social awareness, the exposure visits encouraged the youth to critically examine contemporary lifestyles, especially the growing dependence on technology and virtual communication. Discussions among the delegates centred on the need to nurture genuine human relationships rooted in empathy, care, and solidarity.

Organisers noted that the programme sought to bridge the gap between learning and lived reality by helping young people see society not from a distance, but through personal encounter and reflection.

The Exposure Programme concluded as a powerful reminder that meaningful social transformation begins with the willingness to truly “see” the world with openness, compassion, and responsibility.

By Catholic Connect Reporter