:: YAV India ::

Photograph by Charlotte Erickson

The Union Christian College, Alwaye was founded in 1921 as a center of Christian Higher Education and a venture of ecumenical cooperation among the major non-Roman Christian denominations in Kerala. At a time when denominations were suspicious of one another, four young men, Messers K.C.Chacko, A.M.Varki, C.P.Mathew, and V.M.Ittyerah, who were in Madras Christian College, embarked upon an adventure of faith by founding this institution. The ecumenical basis, Fellowship method of work, residential character, East-west cooperation and cosmopolitan outlook in staff appointment and student admission have been some of the distinctive characteristics of the college.

This is the only center of higher education in Kerala run on an ecumenical basis. It is managed by an association formed by members from the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, the Malankara Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church, the Malankara Marthoma Syrian Church and the Church of South India in Kerala. From this humble but conspicuous beginning with 5 teachers and 64 students in 1921, the college has grown to be one of the foremost institutions of higher learning in South India. Born out of purely indigenous initiative, the College adopted a residential system which had much in common with the Gurukula tradition. Though modified by the imperatives of time, the life and ethos of UCC still remain unique. The college offers postgraduate courses in eight subjects in addition to several undergraduate courses. Five of the postgraduate departments are recognized Research Centers of Mahatma Gandhi University. The College also has an institute of Information Technology accredited by the Department of Electronics, Government of India.

 

Charlotte Erickson, a Young Adult Volunteer from the Evangelical Lutheran Church spent a year in UCC during 2005-06. This is what she has to say about her time in UC College:

At Union Christian College in Aluva, duties include working in the office and assisting the various members of the faculty and staff on the university campus. There is a lot of opportunity for one to develop his/her own schedule, working with students in extra curricular activities and helping them with their spoken English. Outside the college gates, one finds even more opportunities. “

 

There is a dalit colony, full of smiling children that welcome new faces into their lives with open arms. There is also Chacko Homes, a retirement community in which the volunteer will most likely live, where activities are abundant and long-lasting friendships can blossom. The placement at Union Christian College offers a wide range of opportunities and options for a volunteer who desires to take the initiative and develop a program that will be meaningful to him/her and benefit the community.”