Montfort Community Project
A 21st Century Experiment in Human Empowerment…..

Koravankadu near Kombuthooki is a  small  mountainous village in the Yercaud Taluk, 20 kms away from our main school and situated in the interior semi forest regions at the edge of the Shevaroy Hills abutting Dharmapuri District. There are a cluster of 18 villages in a radius of 13 kms around Koravankadu with a net population of nearly 7000 inhabitants. These villages fall very much in the rain shadow area of Yercaud hills. They are practically cut off from the mainstream of life. These villages are not yet fully electrified. Education, health, transport  and communication facilities are very poor. Only recently a road was laid to Maramangalam and Arangam connecting Yercaud to these villages. In order to reach some of these villages one has to walk nearly 20 to 30 kms.

Every year as part of our exposure cum extension programme we are organising  annual camps for our students of classes III  to XII around these villages. Our students learn the art of living in harmony with nature and thereby extend their enthusiastic support to the less privileged people of this area. In response to the request by these villagers, a Community Project was started at Koravankadu on a very moderate note on 10th December 2001. To start this project, we acquired nearly 10 acres of land at Koravankadu. We collected around 100 children – boys and girls in the age group of 3 years to 16 years. Later, the numbers swelled up to 410 within 3 years under the leadership of Bro.George K.J. These children have never been to school or are dropouts from the single teacher schools situated in the hills. There were 5 teachers and two health workers to take care of the children. A well equipped mini-hospital is also functioning in the premises. This mini hospital was built by the 1986 batch of past students of Montfort under the leadership of Mr.Vinodhan Kandiah and Mr.Suresh Kamak. Periodical medical camps are organized with the help of various organizations and Medical colleges such as the Vinayaga Missions, to create health awareness among the tribals and to take care of the medical needs of the people.

A special feature of the Community School is a free nutritious meal served at noon and a cup of tea and biscuits in the evening. Text books, note books, uniforms, canvas shoes, slippers and warm clothes are supplied to the students on free of cost.

In order to bring the children from remote and interior villages who cannot walk the to and fro distance, we have stated a hostel for boys and girls. Presently there are nearly 90 students in the Community  School hostel (40 girls and 50 boys). The school also acquired a bus to transport children who can reach the motorable roads from their villages. They are picked up in the morning and dropped back in the evening after the class.

On 29th September 2002, Thiru.Thambidurai, the Hon’ble Education Minister of Tamil Nadu, inaugurated the Community School in the august presence of Bro.Rene Delorme – Superior General, Brothers of St.Gabriel. The Hon’ble Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Government of Tamil Nadu, Thiru.Semmalai inaugurated the Health Centre and lauded our
humanitarian efforts to improve the lives of these poor people bringing education and health to their door steps. Initially the Government of Tamil Nadu had recognized this school up to Std V. Later in 2007,  it was upgraded as a High School and in 2008, the Government gave recognition up to Std XII.