Community service At Ashraya sanketham kalayapuram Day 1

On 12/03/2025, we visited Ashraya as part of our community outreach program. We arrived at 9:30 AM and were warmly welcomed by the staff and residents. The program started with a small speech by Kalayapuram Jose, who shared inspiring words about the importance of supporting the elderly and understanding their needs. After the speech, we had a brief conversation with the administrative officer, who gave us an overview of the functioning and management of the facility.

Following this, we had a meeting with the social worker, who provided us with insights into the challenges faced by the residents and how Ashraya is working to address them. We were then introduced to our mentor for the visit, Remya Vimala, who guided us throughout the day and ensured that we were comfortable during our interactions with the residents.

Next, we visited the female ward, where we spent time talking to the residents. They shared their life experiences, and we could sense how much they valued having someone to listen to them. 

From 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM, we participated in a prayer session with the residents, which created a peaceful and positive atmosphere.

After the prayer session, we had lunch, which gave us an opportunity to reflect on the morning's experiences. In the afternoon, 

we visited the male ward and met several inmates. We interacted with Krishnan Kutty from Pattazhy, Thankappan, Gopalakrishnan, Rajan from Ganapathy Temple in Kottarakkara, Mohanakrishnan from Pujappura in Trivandrum, and Chandran. They shared stories about their lives, and we were touched by their openness and the warmth with which they welcomed us.

The visit to Ashraya was a meaningful and eye-opening experience. It gave us a deeper understanding of the emotional and social needs of the elderly. The interactions with the residents highlighted the importance of compassion and support, leaving a lasting impact on all of us.