Introduction
Objectives
- To help students evolve spirituality that has humanization as its core, through involvement and reflection.
- To motivate students to become involved in studies, research and activities within the university.
- To enable Christian students to play a prophetic role in their communities through a critical understanding of their faith, drawing inspiration from the Gospels, the Eucharist and their prayer life
Origin and History of The AICUF Association
All India Catholic University Federation is a movement of university students with a vision for a new and just society.
- Fr. Carty SJ is the Founder of AICUF 1924
- Catholic Young Man Guild (CYMG) and Its humble Commencing at St.Joseph’s College, Trichy.
- Fr. Carty, S. J. guided this CYMG
- A Magazine ‘The Rally’ was started.
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1929 |
Catholic Young Men Federation (CYMF) The CYMG and the MYCL (Malabar Catholic Youth League Founded by Fr. Honore, S. J. in 1915) federated to form the CYMF. |
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1937 |
The birth of South India Catholic University Federation (SICUF) It was created after the model of PAX ROMANA (IMCS – International Movement of Catholic Students). |
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1944 |
SICUF The new man association and catholic students union was formed. |
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1952 |
The New National Director Fr. Ceyrac S who gave a new stand to AICUF. In the same year December, the first AICUF national congress held in Madras with the theme “Unity”. Over 2700 delegates from all over participated. |
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1953 |
The first national leadership program was held in Mysore. |
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1954 |
National Secretariat shifted from Trichy to Loyola College, Chennai. |
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1955 |
First AICUF Constitution - CSU Constitution The Federation was divided into 9 Regions The First SOCIAL WORK CAMP was held. |
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1956 |
The Second National Congress was held in Bangalore with its theme, “Towards a Better World”.2800 delegates attended the congress. |
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1958 |
The Third National Congress was held in Bombay.2500 delegates attended the Congress.The theme was “Problems of Student Milieu” as its theme. |
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1961 |
Fourth National Congress was held in Ernakulum. 3000 delegates attended the Congress.“Students and Social Justice “was the theme. |
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1965 |
First National Convention in Madras.The theme was “National Responsibility and Commitment”. |
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1967 |
Fr. Lawrence Colaco, S.J., was appointed National Director of AlCUF. The Present National Secretariat AICUF House was acquired.The Constitution was revised and Federation was divided into 14 Regions. |
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1968 |
Second National Convention in Madras with theme “The India we want”. |
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1970 |
The First National Consultation in Bangalore initiated the new orientation by a through study of AlCUF's function and role in the society. |
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1970 |
Fr. Claude D’ Souza. S.J. was appointed National Director of AICUF. Two ex-AICUF-ers joined the National Team as Full-Timers. |
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1970 |
National seminar on 'Marxism and Christianity' was held at Poonamallee, Madras.Poonamallee declaration "We were born into an unjust society and we are determined not to leave it as we have found it" |
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1972 |
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1973 |
National documentation centre was started. |
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1974 |
Serendipity sessions were started for grasping the Gospel values through the discovery method at individual and group levels. |
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1977 |
The AICUF Documentation Service began sending relevant cyclostyled materials on a regular basis to the advisors and others interested in Christian reflection and social change. |
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1979 |
The Central Committee members spelt out the new vision and the main Thrust of the movement. |
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1982 |
The Second National Consultation, held in Madras is an important landmark in the history of AICUF. The fruit of the deliberation was the ‘Mylapore Minutes’. “Back to the Campus” and “University to the masses” were the slogans that reflect the spirit of the consultation. |
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1985 |
Constituting a constitution commission in July 1985, “to explore the various aspects of constitutional changes and to initiate the process of evolving a new constitution”. |
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1988 |
The Third National Consultation of AICUF was held at Loyola College, Madras. |
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1988 |
The CCM unanimously accepted most of the recommendations of the consultations to prepare a fresh draft incorporating all the insights of the National Consultation. |
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1989 June |
In the Third National Convention the student representatives approved the Draft constitution prepared by the commission. |
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1989 |
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1989 |
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1990 |
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1991 |
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1992 |
Bangalore Catholic Student Association (BACSA) was started
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1993 |
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1994 |
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1995 |
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1996 |
Theme: Youth & Politics, Youth & Media
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1997 |
Theme: Fifty Years of Independent India |
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1989 |
Theme: Globalisation and Communalism
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1999 |
Theme: Marching with the Marginalised
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2000 |
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2001 |
Theme: University Students Let’s be Conscientious and be Sensitive to the marginalised. |
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2002 |
Theme: University Students – Let’s Search to Know, Realise and Assert Our Rights. National
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2003 |
Theme: “Let us Unite and Assert Our Rights, To Evolve Alternatives towards a Just Society”.
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2004 |
Theme: “Dreaming and struggling together...Stepping into the 80th Year...Sensitising Students for a Just World...” |
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2005 |
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2006 |
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2007 |
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2008 |
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2009 |
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2010 |
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2011-12 |
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2012-13 |
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2013 ONWARDS SOME CONCERNS |
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Change in Functioning Style in New Millennium
- During this period -More Collaboration with Global International Movements & Bodies with similar ideologies and Principles
- AICUFers took part in programmes organised by IMCS,(International Movement For Catholic Students), SAPI (South Asian People’s Initiatives), WSF (World Social Forum), WYD (World Youth Day) and so on
- National Councils, Summer Camps and Commission Programmes were given importance.
- Student Centrality was stressed as always which was and is the core of AICUF movement.
- Student issues and common social issues were discussed & deliberated critically But there seems to be hesitancy in plunging into action as the socio-economic-political scenario kept changing.
- Training Programmes reduced......Financial Constraints came in.
- National councils in AICUF is the time to review the Unit, Regional, State, and National level AICUF programs and activities, to introspect and clarify from each other about the movement, to evaluate the activities in the light of clarity of the option and relevance of the context.
- Every year new members join the council and bring newness and freshness.
- The new leaders come to listen, share views, analyse, deliberate and decide for the Federation, ratifying important steps of the states, reinforcing the constitution and meaningful traditions and experiments.
- National Councils are held every year from the 12th to the 15th of August .
- Only exception is when there is mid-term Consultation or Convention coming the dates may differ otherwise more or less the dates are fixed.Covid changed our normal life and the programmes.
- We are trying to revive our normalcy in AICUF in this new normal.
Training Programmes conducted
- Training Programmes for the Advisors and Animators
- Training Workshops for AICUF Full –Timers
- Understanding AICUF Constitution through in-depth-study and awareness sessions for AICUFers.
- Regular sharing and training of National Team members and even National Council members • Inter-commission programs etc... National Training Programs Training is the Centre of AICUF Of all the trainings, AICUF considered the following three training programs as important to the movement’s growth- • Training for National Advisers and Animators
- Training for National level Full- timers
- Training for National Team Members Commissions
- COMMISSIONS started functioning actively in different states and Conventions happened
- Different Commissions which are functioning in different states are :- –Dalit Commission –Women Commission –Adivasi Commission –Refugee Commission –Ecology, Peace & Reconciliation Commission AICUF continues its journey with its own ups and down.
- It needs to be cared, nurtured, even pruned to make it grow bigger and Make a difference in the lives of AICUFers and in Society...... There is a Long way to go before we rest. p to the AICUF motto - “We are born into an unjust society and we are determined not to leave it as we have found it”.
The Council of the Year 2023-24 is as follows
| SL No. | Name | Role |
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| 1. | Noel Chris | President |
| 2. | Neha Maria Robin | Vice President |
| 3. | Jennifer Tessy | Vice President |
| 4. | Sharon Sebastin | Secretary |
| 4. | A Carlton Britto | Joint Secretary |
| 5. | Alwin Anthony A L | Cultural Secretary |
| 6. | Dino C D | Treasurer |
| 7. | Diyo C D | Media Head |
| 8. | Dravid A | Outreach Coordinator |
| 9. | Saranyaa M V | Science Representative |
| 10. | Jovita M Nongbet | Humanities Representative |
| 12. | Poornima D Kanti | Commerce Representative |
| 13. | Akash Melvin | Extended Council Member |
| 14. | Sam Nongkynrih | Executive Council Member |
There are about 500 volunteers in AICUF from St Joseph’s University. All these members take part in the events conducted by the AICUF. We all are known as AICUFers.
Regular Events conducted in AICUF
- Leadership Development Program: AICUF mainly focuses on certain area of leadership development for students such asdalit politics, communism, fight for marginalized people, women empowerment, transgender empowerment, road safety, awareness on flood safety and role of youth in politics.
- Orphanage visit: Aicuf takes initiative of insisting social responsibility in the Students. One way in which this is done by arranging regular visit to ashrams, Homes and orphanages encouraging the students to interact regularly with Residents and carrying out various activities and having interactive sessions with them.
- Rural camps: The main objective of conducting rural camps areto create a platform for the students to understand and analyze the Rural Social System, Strategies used by the Non-Governmental Agencies, Nature of Government Intervention for the development of poor people, and to facilitate students experiences of group living.
- Essay and drawing competition: This is one form of expressing by the students on a current social issue or problem to get the creative ideas and the thought of students to give a platform to express.
- Awareness program: To increase the knowledge of the students on various current social issues and many other informative sessions to the students.
- Rallies: Students are encouraged to go on rallies to support a social causein order to show support and spread awareness.
- Stationary drive: Collect stationary from the students and donate it to the orphanage kids who are not able to afford them.
- Regular meetings with Aicufer’s: The main objective of this meeting is to let the Aicufer’s know what is going in the council and future plans.
- Camps: Here the state organises camps so all the units in the state come together to learn and get to know each other. Help the students in team building and exposure to other places.
Achievements
- We represented our college in an inter collegiate gospel fest conducted by Mount Carmel College and our participants who represented SJU won in many events.
- We conducted an outreach to Vidyaranya orphanage which was another great success
- We also gave our best to the working of Exodus, an inter collage fest conducted by SJU
- We have our council member Ms. Rashmi representing the entire college in the state as the Nation Team Member and the Co-Convener.
- SJU have won in the sports meet conducted by AICUF Karnataka
- We also had an outreach to St. Patrick’s boys home in St. Patrick’s church
Testimony of Students
- AICUF - All India Catholic University Federation, is a movement of university students with a vision for a new and just society. Progressing in a history of constant rediscovery and re- creation, the AICUF ever tries to link itself to the emerging needs and realities of the University, the Church and wider society. The AICUF is affiliated to PAX ROMANA – the International Movement of Catholic Students (IMCS). It was represented Maharashtra and India at several national and international level programs for university students, including the International Council of the IMCS.
- Every year the AICUF takes charge of the Eucharistic celebrations for the feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola and St. Francis Xavier. The annual women’s empowerment initiative ‘Ujali’ is a combination of talks, panel discussions, debates, poetry sessions and creative activity-based awareness sessions. The annual YES (Youth Encounter Sessions) camps are an opportunity for personality development and socio-cultural awareness. Tutoring underprivileged children and conducting workshops for them are part of social outreach. Besides these regular annual activities, there are many other activities that the AICUF organizes for students. We look forward to being of continual service to the college and to society, especially to those who are marginalized and discriminated against.
- AICUF - All India Catholic University Federation, is a movement of university students with a vision for a new and just society. Progressing in a history of constant rediscovery and re- creation, the AICUF ever tries to link itself to the emerging needs and realities of the University.
- It organizes various activities keeping 3 objectives in mind - Social Outreach, Personality Development and Spiritual Growth. These activities include camps, retreats, hikes, exposure visits, exhibitions, seminars, webinars, rallies and campaigns. The AICUF aims to respond to various social and societal issues, especially those where inequality and injustice are rampant. Social justice and reconciliation is the basis of all AICUF activities. It includes social awareness, social service and social outreach. Our aim is to live up to the AICUF motto - “We are born into an unjust society and we are determined not to leave it as we have found it”.