Youth seminar held on Sept 8, 2009

In connection with its YEAR OF THE YOUTH theme, Goa Sudharop Community Development Inc. USA – a voluntary organization and the NSS Unit of Vidya Vikas Mandal’s Shree Damodar College of Commerce & Economics jointly organized a seminar for college students from South Goa on Tuesday, September 8, 2009 from 9.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. at Kare Hall, G. R. Kare College of Law, Comba, Margao.

The theme of the seminar was “You...th are the Solution”. Mr. Ibonio M. B. D’Souza, Goa Representative, Goa Sudharop, delivered the welcome address and briefed the audience about the theme of the seminar. The Chief Guest, Mr. R. G. Kare, industrialist and President, Vidya Vikas Mandal, could not attend the inaugural session, but his message was read out. Vice-Principal Ms. Lydia Menon gave the vote of thanks.

The seminar was composed of five different sessions spread over the entire day. The first session - MIND YOUR MIND - was conducted by Brahmachari Prahlad of Chinmaya Mission, Margao. He spoke about how negative feelings like anger, jealousy, selfishness and hatred can corrode the minds of youngsters. In a session enlivened by interesting examples and interactions, he helped students understand how these emotions can be effectively managed.

JUST SAY NO - A session on Addiction – was ably conducted by Dr. Priti Bakre, Psychiatrist, Sethu Centre for Child Development & Family Guidance, Panaji. Dr. Bakre pointed out that many youngsters can and do say NO to addictive substances, such as tobacco, alcohol and drugs, but an equally large number decide to experiment. Of these, some are able to get out before they become dependent. But an unfortunate minority become substance abusers and develop dependence on the addictive substances. It is then very difficult to get these youngsters to kick the habit. The best way, therefore, is to say NO.

INSIDE OUT (a session on Personal & Community Values) by Fr. Simon Diniz, Principal, Rosary College of Arts & Commerce, Navelim, w as the last technical session of the morning. Fr. Diniz listed all the values and demonstrated the significance of these values in our lives. He urged the students to choose some values that they think are the most important, and to live these values every day of their lives.

KNOW, GROW & SHOW THE WAY (A session on Leadership) by Mr. Atul Shah, Director, VVM’s H.M.N. Gaunekar Institute of Management Training & Research, Margao was a highly interactive, fun-filled session. Through a series of games and activities, Mr. Shah got students to realize the qualities of a leader – courage, initiative, persistence, integrity, commitment, confidence and the ability to make his/her team work towards a common goal.

THE NEW “R”s OF EDUCATION was a session on Environment protection by Mr. Clinton Vaz, a young environmentalist from Margao. In this last session of the day, Mr. Vaz highlighted the various environment-related issues that Goa is facing today. He stressed the importance of the “Reduce, Re-use, Recycle” message and said more “R”s need to be added, such as “Refuse”. He enlightened students about small steps they can take at home to help tackle this problem. These relate to waste segregation, making compost pits, reusing materials, and so on.

Approximately 150 students from Colleges in South Goa attended the seminar. Mr. Ganesh M. Daivajna, leading Chartered Accountant and Vice-President, Vidya Vikas Mandal was the Chief Guest at the valedictory programme and gave away the certificates. In his valedictory address, he stressed the need for students in general and NSS volunteers in particular, to develop civic sense and a spirit of community service. This is the need of the hour. Principal of Shree Damodar College of Commerce & Economics, Dr. I. Bhanu Murthy, also spoke on the occasion.

Thanks to the donors, supporters, volunteers and well-wishers of Goa Sudharop.