“TALITHA CUMI – SMILES”- Enhancing Joyfulness, Professionalism & Health

In the Gospel of Mark 5: 41, Talitha cumi literally means “Little girl, arise”. With vitality and success, it is inevitable to have smiles on everyone’s face. Our initiative Talitha cumi, seeks to become a leader in promoting Christ-centered higher education locally, regionally and globally (with a special focus on adolescent girls).

TCS is a youth-focused, non-profit association which addresses the needs of young people by building their capacities to be leaders. Our immediate target group is adolescent girls, their rights health, hygiene, communication, and career choices.

TCS currently supports the education of 94 young women. It is guided by a three-member Board of Directors in India. Each of them is dedicated, experienced and gifted. They have passion to empower the marginalized. They give their time to serve the poor.

We offer a focused and innovative approach especially to the socially and economically marginalized rural students. Focused because of emphasis on faith, joyfulness, health, ecology and sports; Innovative, because this combined enterprise for young people has not been taken up thus far.

Faith

We envisage forming an academic community of caring for poor Christian/Catholic believers. We promote Godly-living with grace, hearten integral dignity with honor and provide a platform for a sound intellectually reasoned growth in faith.

Faithful lifestyle means:

  • Adoption of lifestyle of Christus Vivit- the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation to the Young People (released on March 25, 2019).
  • Accompaniment in reading, studying and sharing of the Bible as the Word of God.
  • Invitation to participate in the life of the Church through Holy Mass and Sacraments.
  • Affirmation of an identity that integrates the gifts of the Holy Spirit, namely “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” while seeking righteousness, mercy, and justice.
  • Formation of trust-worthy people of integrity committed to truth, charity and values.
  • Embracing a lifestyle of spirituality that fortifies beautiful though fragile youthful phase.
  • Grooming the young into intuitive, courteous, smiling ones with a dynamic positive vibe.

Joyfulness

The second part of the Talitha cumi vision is to raise up future generations who are happy in their heart, soul, mind and body. Holiness leading to happiness is the focus. The greatest desire of parents for their children is real happiness and success.

Joyful lifestyle means:

  • Enabling the young to taste the “Joy of the Gospel” and be creative and confident.
  • Forming the youthful ones to lead a resilient life and to have a ‘never-say-die attitude’ which will contribute to exuberant nature, result-driven mind-set and splendid service.
  • Ingraining their zeal for social protection of the poor, elderly, lonely and the needy.
  • Offering the consultancy for higher education abroad and to tap scholarships.
  • Creating and pursuing job opportunities for sustainable settlement now and for future.
  • Accompanying young adults to discern family life.
  • Promoting an education which is a combination of grades and graces.

Health

The third module is health care, namely medicine, nursing, hygiene, drinking water, nutritious food, integral wellness and the like…With growing health-consciousness, we hope our young adults become leaders who are emotionally healthy and professionally brilliant.

Healthy lifestyle means:

  • Organize rural health awareness programs, medical camps and wellbeing seminars.
  • Help youth to gain access to affordable and high-quality health care and hygiene.
  • Holistic preparation centrally focused on the entire person: head, heart, hands, and feet.
  • Motivation for wellness, fitness, music and relaxation; workshop on Evangelium Vitae.
  • Channelling the pulsating expressive youthful energy into positive thinking and acting.
  • Building peace, promoting ecumenical and inter-religious dialogue.
  • Protecting dignity of life through solidarity: prolife, legal rights of women and children.

Ecology

We challenge the young to take new perspectives to do good in the world. Ecological action is a great platform to find their passion which makes life worth living. We voice against eco-injustice and inequality by mobilizing the young to effect correct policies.

Ecological lifestyle means:

  1. Promote the vision of ‘Laudato Si’ and youth environmental leadership.
  2. Combat and prevent ecological poverty and social exclusion.

iii. Foster eco-action team, initiate ‘Fridays for future’ and Franciscan spirituality.

  1. Green mission: resources and info-personnel for environmental stewardship and clean air.
  2. Minimize food waste and eliminate use of plastic and pesticides.
  3. Encourage research for right land-use, organic farming and green infrastructure.

vii. Advocate zero hunger and clean drinking water; reduce migration and deforestation.

Sports

Nobody gets left behind. Through games and sports, we facilitate friendship, empathy, cooperation, solidarity and mutual respect. Sports and cultural activities connect, heal and improve holistic wellbeing. So, Talitha cumi players echo the joy of smiles.

Sportive lifestyle means:

  • Prepare the young in the spirit of document “Giving the Best of Yourself”.
  • Build communicative, symbolic strength via educational and training potential of sports.
  • Create an atmosphere of creativity, fair-play, responsibility, accompaniment and character.
  • Protect children from any form of exploitation and abuse.
  • Provide opportunity for poor, displaced or physically, intellectually less able children.
  • Facilitate a culture of inclusion, acceptance, participation and hope.
  • Fostering a healthy use of social media, discernment of vocation and practice of Christian Yoga and dance.

When passionate drive becomes an energetic inner force, achievement becomes inevitable. Therefore, amidst challenges, we escalate a gateway to a success and maturity. Thus, we focus on germinating quintessential Catholic adults.