Nursing students from St. Francis College visit Indore's Jimmy McGilligan Centre for Sustainable Development to explore renewable energy, organic farming, and eco-friendly practices
Students Root into Sustainability Learning at Jimmy McGilligan Centre in Indore
A group of 45 final-year students from St. Francis College of Nursing visited the Jimmy McGilligan Centre for Sustainable Development in Sanawadiya, Indore, for an educational exposure on sustainable living, environmental conservation, renewable energy systems, and community empowerment practices.
The group reached the Jimmy McGilligan Centre for Sustainable Development at 9:15 a.m., where they were introduced to integrated models of sustainability that combine environmental education with practical applications in daily life. Students observed medicinal plants, organic farming practices, solar cookers, renewable energy systems, and other eco-friendly technologies developed and demonstrated at the centre. The visit highlighted how sustainable methods are used to reduce environmental impact while supporting community-based living.
An Inspiring Interaction with Janak Palta McGilligan
At 10:30 a.m., an interactive session was held with centre founder Janak Palta McGilligan, Director of Jimmy McGilligan Centre for Sustainable Development. She shared her experience of over 40 years in social service and community development and explained the centre’s approach to sustainability.
“We have been practising sustainable living and training people in sustainable development through education, renewable energy, plantation, organic farming, environmental conservation and community empowerment, completely free of cost.”
She emphasised that environmental responsibility must be linked with education and community participation for long-term impact. Her interaction focused on rural empowerment, women’s participation in development programmes, and the importance of adopting renewable energy in everyday life.
Connecting Personal Experiences with Renewable Energy
The session was interactive, with students engaging in discussion and asking questions on environmental conservation and implementation of sustainable practices in their own districts. Participants shared local experiences related to waste management, resource conservation, and awareness of eco-friendly alternatives.
A student from Kalyanpura in Jhabua shared a personal reflection, stating that she had studied in a school hostel in Dattigaon where food was cooked in a solar kitchen developed by the Jimmy McGilligan Centre. She said that revisiting similar practices during the visit reminded her of her childhood experience and reinforced the importance of renewable energy use in daily life.
Bridging Academic Learning and Social Responsibility
Faculty members accompanying the group noted that such visits help students connect academic learning with practical exposure, particularly in areas related to healthcare, environmental sustainability, and community development.
The visit concluded with students expressing that the experience encouraged them to adopt eco-friendly practices such as tree plantation, reduction of plastic use, conservation of natural resources, and promotion of renewable energy solutions. They stated that the visit to the Jimmy McGilligan Centre for Sustainable Development was informative, interactive, and strengthened their understanding of sustainability and social responsibility.
- Practical Eco-Technologies: Firsthand exposure to solar cookers, renewable energy models, organic farming, and medicinal plant cultivation.
- Community Empowerment: Understanding how rural development and women’s active participation drive successful conservation efforts.
- Healthcare and Environment: Bridging nursing education with environmental health, resource conservation, and clean energy strategies.
- Free Outreach and Education: Learning from over 40 years of community service dedicated to training citizens in self-reliant, low-impact living.