An awareness program and simulation lab were organized for the volunteers of the National Cadet Corps at Navalar Nedunchezhian Govt. Hr. Sec. School. Ms. Chitra Shah and Mr. Sheikh Sharif addressed the students in separate sessions, along with Mr. Arun, coach at Special Olympics Pondicherry.
Dr. Mohan Prasad the principal of the school welcomed the gathering and honoured Ms. Chitra Shah founder and director of Satya Special School.
Ms. Chitra Shah spoke about being the first NCC contingent from Tamil Nadu to take part in the Republic Day Parade. She went on speak about the current ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and how the effects of lockdowns and isolation will have repercussions on psychological problems two or three years down the line, and the role that NCC volunteers can play.
Mr. Arun, the coach at Special Olympics Bharat Pondicherry, spoke about the Special Olympics and how athletes from Pondicherry brought glory to the nation by winning medals on a national level in Abu Dhabi in 2019.
Mr. Sheikh Sheriff spoke about the dangers of drug abuse and how drug abuse and consumption of narcotics and alcohol ruins the well-being of an entire family.
The participants were encouraged to take part in the disability simulation lab which mimics the world as seen by children with autism. Participants try to solve a maze by looking at its reflection and read a passage of text with jumbled letters. These exercises helps participants empathize with people with autism.