the general perception about the younger lot as having little sense of direction or social commitment underwent a sea change after the floods when they put their heart and soul into relief work the students of sacred heart college kochi are determined to prove that it was no flash in the panaround 150 nss volunteers from the college have pitched in with help for a few floodaffected families in and around aluva to rebuild their houses and more importantly their lives there were smiles in those tired faces as they were handed over the keys of the houses at an event held at durbar hall ground kochi on new years evesijo jose a second year bsc chemistry student and nss volunteer says they had started their work soon after the floods when they pitched in with support at the camps we organise a sevenday camp every year in december and this time we decided that our focus would be the flood affected we then identified a colony in desom and companypady aluva where the houses of a few financially backward families were fully damaged these houses had been completely submerged in flood waters while we went there people were cynical and doubtful telling us that many had come and gone but help was not forthcoming from any quartersfifteen of them got to work though not knowing the nuances of construction and took turns by even bunking classes the confederation of real estate developers association credai was so impressed with their conviction that they agreed to offer financial and technical support along with the workers they provided gradually we learnt how to plaster the walls with cement and paint the walls eventually all of us became expertsit was one moment when the motto of nss not me but you was put into practice he says we were not even bothered about the christmas vacation but spent time with the poor souls there the work often started as early as 8 am and would continue until 6 in the evening and what better new year gift can we give them he askssandra maria augustian another volunteer is proud that after the floods from sorting the relief materials in the camp cleaning the floodhit houses learning to repair electronic devices to now building the houses they have tried their hand at everything in the past few months we had gone to chendamangalam to repair the damaged items in various houses there helping build houses was the final stage of our operation these people were so financially backward that government had allotted them houses which were snatched away during the floods hence we thought of working hard to provide a roof for themshe adds that two trained people from credai were always there with them to give assistance she excitedly says that actress manju warrier innocent and mla anwar sadath too visited their site most people from our generation do not put in enough work when it comes to domestic duties but