Marina D’Costa is an Anthropologist working in the field of Public Health. She is been member of AICUF from year 2004 to 2009 and has been a leader from 2006 to 2009 of AICUF, Pax Romana IMCS India and now serves as a young professional volunteer in Pax Romana ICMICA. She founded ‘The Power of Dialogue’ banner in January 2013 to promote  and build a culture of dialogue. She does various works on dialogue under this banner.

Being part of Pax Romana IMCS is like doing a role play to prepare for the real world. The little things you do with powerful intentions when you are young, turns out to be a real mission for the world when you get a little older. My journey began at the age of 16 in my home movement AICUF (All India Catholic University Federation) also known as IMCS India. Hailing from a city like Mumbai where life is comfortable and just graduating out of high school, I stepped into a whole new realm of the society. I was introduced to AICUF at St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai where I was doing my graduation in Arts. Starting from fun and frolic personality development camps to humble outreach activities with orphans, I slowly was exposed to the real world where poverty and injustice thrived. The first time I left home  to stay with the marginalized people for a month was at the age of 17, where I lived in the villages of Tamil Nadu in South of India during the AICUF Tsunami rehabilitation summer camp. It was the first time I was exposed to how an underprivileged in his own village is treated. My dreams for this and that, which probably I don’t remember now were translated into a mission. In this summer camp I learned to dialogue with students from different states in India, understanding the reality of the society and culture through their sharing and experiences. As a student of humanities there is no social laboratory than what Pax Romana as a movement brings to you. I no more lived for myself; I grew to become a strong and sensitive human being. In my friend circle or parish youth group, I had an upper hand to make contributions in advocating change because of my exposure to reality and training in human rights. I learnt not to use sociological terms in vain. I understood the struggles and stories of dalits and adivasis. While I was aware of the reality, I believed in not being resigned and cynical about our society, rather I always approached positively to see how best I could contribute to uplift the marginalized people at one hand and to bring a shift in thoughts and values of young people on the other.

At the age of 18 I got elected as the national leader for AICUF. I started my train journeys all alone within the country. I started travelling for 24 hours one way in the train to reach Chennai where we have AICUF headquarters. It helped me multi-task and become responsible for my life. The needs were basic. Lifestyle was simple. Travelling to different states as a student leader for the movement was a pride. Staying with the students and their families’ added value to my education with the subjects of Sociology, Anthropology and Ancient Indian Culture that I was studying. I remember being complimented for being an AICUFer in gatherings and classrooms because of the stand I took in arguments supporting the realities of the people. So I was living my education on field each day.  My first International exposure was because of AICUF, when I was sent as a delegate for Pax Romana IMCS International Council. This seemed like a breakthrough. It was the first time I had seen the face of the airport or a plane. I travelled alone to a new country, not even having any idea how the map of that country looked or the currency it had. Unlike today I didn’t have the novelty of accessing information at the tip of my finger. The way I learnt to dialogue with students from different states in India, now I was learning to dialogue with students internationally. I am happy to share with you that even after 12 years of my formation in the movement, I still keep in touch with these friends nationally and internationally whom I met in my journey. I still continue to grow in fostering unconditional bonds of friendship within the movement. I was not aware that I was preparing myself to be an anthropologist, a researcher, a critical thinker, a theologian, a human rights activist, an innovator for dialogue, a multi tasker, a global leader, a traveller and all that people connect me to through my qualification, profession and the humanitarian works. I was not aware that I was preparing myself for a larger mission. I learnt that your work starts where you stand, the rest is created for you by the universe. All you need is a powerful intention to make a difference to the lives on this planet.

Today at the age of 28 I still march shoulder to shoulder with Pax Romana, now also being part of Pax Romana ICMICA as a young professional. The very reason I am connected to Pax Romana is because I feel responsible to give back to what the movement has invested in me. If it wouldn’t had been for the movement, I would not be what I am today to the world. I personally experienced many challenges, accuses, negative comments and other such issues that arise in every movement. However, I always ensured to let all these experience fade off and took full responsibility for my behaviour. I always reminded myself that my mission to build a better world was larger than these petty ego issues. One has to understand that it is human design to live with experiences, and one should know what the impact of living like this can turn out to be. Ask yourself, Can I be someone who can encourage a student and be the cause for transformation rather than being at the effect of a situation which I faced as a student. While I was busy with the movement activities, I didn’t compromise on my education, personal life or livelihood. I developed the ability to do more and more by unconditionally working for the good of the movement and for the world at large. The movement invested time and money in me. It gave me what it can unconditionally. How can I not be grateful to the movement and not contribute back. After all people like you and me build this movement. I am not sustaining my space in the movement, I am breathing life into the movement. This is how I choose to give back to what I received. You can connect the dots only when you look back. The mantra that worked for me to do my best in the movement is, “Focus on your mission”. Once your intentions are pure and you are passionate to make a difference, you will find your way to go places and fulfil your mission. Let us all become capable individuals who take full responsibility for our formation within the movement and branch out to various parts of the world making remarkable contribution to humanity. I want to end with the AICUF moto, “I will not leave the society, the way I have found it. I will make this world a better place. A new world of love and dialogue is possible”.