Mangaluru: The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has commended the ‘Beacon Buddies’ project, an innovative initiative by Expert PU College, Valachil, aimed at enhancing peer counselling, mental wellness, and child rights awareness among students.

In a letter, Dr Prabhat K Mishra, a professor from department of educational psychology and foundations of education at NCERT, praised the project for its innovative approach and successful pilot implementation.

‘Beacon Buddies’ initiative was recognised for its strong understanding of the psychosocial needs of adolescents and its alignment with the national Manodarpan mental health initiative. NCERT highlighted the programme’s potential for expansion through state education departments, SCERTs, and child rights commissions, suggesting it could be effectively integrated at the grassroots level.

What sets the project apart is its student-driven approach, characterised as a zero-cost, high-impact project for schools and colleges. Trained peer volunteers, known as ‘buddies’, provide the first line of emotional support on campus, identifying students in distress, offering compassionate listening, and connecting them with professional counsellors when necessary.

Narendra L Nayak, chairman of the Expert Group of Institutions, expressed his willingness to collaborate with the state govt to promote mental wellness among adolescents through the programme. He described the initiative as a beacon of hope, healing, and happiness, empowering students to offer mental first aid to their peers. “The programme aims to create a culture of empathy, listening, and mutual support among students — by fellow students themselves.”

NK Vijayan Karippal, the strategist and chief mentor of the concept and principal of Expert PU College, emphasised the importance of making every student feel valued and supported. He expressed gratitude for NCERT’s recognition and added that it would encourage the institution to scale the initiative across Karnataka in collaboration with state-level bodies.

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