06/04/2026
The Department of Social Work, NEF College successfully organized a rural camp from 29th March to 4th April 2026 at Mayong, a culturally rich and historically significant village in Assam.
A total of 55 students from both MSW and BSW programmes actively participated in the camp, under the guidance of four faculty members—S. Srinivas Rao, Paridhi Baruah, Nabanita Dutta, and Writu Sarmah. The participants were accommodated at Mayong Higher Secondary School.
The primary objective of the camp was to provide students with first-hand exposure to rural community life, enabling them to understand the challenges faced by the local population, identify available resources, and design appropriate interventions in collaboration with the community.
Throughout the camp, students effectively developed and applied essential social work skills, including communication, persuasion, mobilization, organization, observation, active listening, leadership, and team-building. Every morning, students began their day with yoga and meditation sessions, promoting holistic well-being, mindfulness, and mental preparedness for field activities.
Hatimuria village was selected as the fieldwork area for study and intervention. Students engaged closely with the community using Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) techniques such as transect walks, resource mapping, social mapping, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), problem tree analysis, and objective tree analysis. These participatory methods helped them gain a deeper understanding of community dynamics and informed their intervention strategies.
*Day-wise Activities:*
*Day 1:* 30/03/2026
The camp commenced with an orientation session conducted by Mr. Bikash Thakuria, Assistant Teacher at Mayong Higher Secondary School, who provided valuable insights into the demography and historical background of the Mayong community. This session helped students contextualize their fieldwork within the socio-cultural framework of the region.
Following the orientation, a transect walk was carried out in Hatimuria village. Students observed the physical layout, living conditions, and environmental context while interacting with villagers to build rapport and initiate community engagement.
*Day 2:* 31/03/2026
Focus Group Discussions were conducted with elderly members and women of the village. These sessions provided valuable insights into their lived experiences, needs, and challenges. Based on these discussions, students developed a problem tree and an objective tree to systematically analyze key issues.
*Day 3:* 1/04/2025
With active participation from the villagers, students prepared resource and social maps of the community. They also interacted with Panchayat officials, ASHA workers, PHC staff, and members of Self-Help Groups (SHGs), which enriched their understanding of local governance, health practices, and ongoing development initiatives.
*Day 4:* 2/04/2026
Following detailed analysis, students identified key concerns within the community. It was observed that women had limited access to recreational opportunities and lacked awareness regarding government schemes related to Self-Help Groups. Additionally, PHC staff highlighted the community’s reliance on traditional healing practices.
In response, students conducted awareness programmes by distributing informative pamphlets on various government schemes for women, organized folk games to promote recreation, planted medicinal plants in collaboration with the community, and performed a street play focusing on women empowerment and road safety.
On the very day, HoD-Dr. Alia Zebin Ahmed and Assistant Professor- Panchali Choudhury also visited the camp site and witnessed students engagement in the village , offering valuable guidance and motivation that further strengthened the intervention process conducted by the students.
*Day 5:* 3/04/2026
The camp concluded with a community cleanliness drive, promoting awareness about hygiene and collective responsibility among the villagers. In the evening, a cultural programme was organized by the students, where villagers who actively supported the camp were invited as a gesture of appreciation.
The programme was graced by distinguished guests, including Mr. Bikash Thakuria, Assistant Teacher at Mayong Higher Secondary School, and Mr. Binud Deka, a renowned photojournalist and wildlife photographer, currently serving as a Multi-Purpose Worker (MPW) at Mayong PHC. They were invited as Guests of Honour and delivered an insightful orientation to the students.
They shared valuable perspectives on the rich historical legacy of Mayong, particularly its association with traditional magical practices, offering a deeper cultural understanding of the community. Additionally, Mr. Deka highlighted the ecological and tourism significance of Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, elaborating on the diverse migratory birds and the region’s potential for sustainable tourism.
After the completion of the programme, the students celebrated the successful culmination of the productive camp with a lively bonfire ritual, fostering a sense of unity, joy, and reflection among all participants.
*Day 6* 4/04/2026
The students once again undertook a cleanliness drive on the campus and warmly engaged with the villagers as they bid them farewell. They returned with enriched experiences, cherished memories, and a deeper understanding of rural community life.
The rural camp proved to be a highly enriching experience, effectively bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application. It significantly enhanced the students’ understanding of rural realities and reinforced the importance of community participation in social work practice.
