GoaSudharop - Event

All Goa School Principals/Headmasters/Headmistresses Essay Contest

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 01:17:33 -0400

Start: 2008-09-17 09:00

Timezone: Etc/GMT

GOA SUDHAROP's theme for 2008 is “YEAR OF EDUCATION”. In accordance with this theme, GOA SUDHAROP invites from school PRINCIPALS/HEADMAST

ERS/HEADMISTRESSES in Goa, essays written in English on the topic “EDUCATION IN GOA: WHAT IS NEEDED?”. Maximum essay length 2000 words. The essay should be based on personal experience and insights with a view to suggest creative ideas towards enhancing the educational system in Goa.

There will be three prizes awarded for the best essays. The first prize will carry a cash award of RS. 8,000/-, the second prize RS. 6,500/-, and the third prize RS. 5,000/-. One essay per school. All entries are to be submitted to the address of GOA SUDHAROP (see below), no later than 15TH OCTOBER, 2008.

[GS-Management] Goa Sudharop: Reading workshop for Parents-Reading with Kids

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 02:29:47 -0400

Start: 2008-09-10 10:00

Timezone: Etc/GMT

Below is a synopsis of the Goa Sudharop sponsored workshop "Reading With Kids" conducted for approximately 40 parents at the Hospicio Hospital, Child Development Clinic of the Pediatric Dept, Goa, on 29th August, 2008 from 3-6pm. This workshop was conducted consistent with Goa Sudharop's 2008 theme "YEAR OF EDUCATION". The workshop was conducted by Ms. Sujata Noronha.

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

Goa Sudharop
www.goasudharop.

org

----------------------------------------------------------Topic: Workshop topic: How to encourage children to love to read

Teachers Training Workshop held at Margao on 9th August 2008

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:52:12 -0400

Start: 2008-08-22 08:00

Timezone: Etc/GMT

Goa Sudharop Community Development Inc. USA in association with Vidya
Vikas Academy, Margao organized a day's teachers training workshop
"Creating a Child Friendly Classroom" for South Goa school teachers on 9th
August, at Vidya Vikas Academy, school hall, at Comba, Margao.

Goa Sudharop is a Goan Diaspora volunteer, non-profit NGO working for
betterment of Goa and Goans worldwide. Goa Sudharop observes 2008 as "Year
of Education" in Goa. In line with this theme Goa Sudharop has chosen to
specially focus on training and empowerment of school teachers. Hence,
this workshop, which is one of the many such type of educational
programmes being conducted by Goa Sudharop this year.

The topics at the workshop were: Case discussions; handling behaviour
problems in school children; classroom management skills - creating an
atmosphere of mutual caring and respect; discipline policies for schools,
and stress management for teachers. Over 60 teachers from different
schools in South Goa participated in the workshop, and each teacher was
presented with a participation certificate. The resource persons were Dr.
Nandita de Souza and Dr. Priti Bakre of Sethu Centre for Child Development
& Family Guidance, Panjim.

Mr. Ramah G. Kare, President of Vidya Vikas Academy inaugurated the
workshop by lighting the traditional lamp. Mrs. Sheela Gaunekar,
Chairperson of Vidya Vikas Academy was also present. The gathering was
welcomed by Mr. Ibonio D'Souza, the local representative of Goa Sudharop,
and Mrs. Melinda Powell compered the function. Mr. Alan Rodrigues,
Principal of Vidya Vikas Academy proposed the vote of thanks.

"Building A Better Goa" SYMPOSIUM ON 24th MAY 2008

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 05:33:36 -0400

Start: 2008-08-12 13:00

Timezone: Etc/GMT

At the symposium "Building A Better Goa" organised jointly by Goa
Sudharop (GS) and Council for Social Justice and Peace (CSJP) held
recently at Caritas Hall, Panaji, eminent citizens and committed
social activists elaborated on solutions to meet the huge challenges
that the Goa of today faces. GS volunteer, Carmen Martins, who
compered the function, spoke of how Goa is today imperiled and that
rather than merely dressing the surface wounds, we need to look deeper
to heal those wounds.

In his welcome address, Ibonio D'Souza, Goa Sudharop's local
representative, said that the purpose of the symposium was to focus
attention on the mounting popular resistance across Goan villages to
unplanned mega projects, mining operations and other destructive
schemes and to press for the devolution of constitutional powers to
the panchayats. Explaining that this awakening is the result of the
hard work of many courageous Niz Goenkars, Mr. D'Souza said that
rather than fritter away this golden opportunity, we also have a
responsibility to educate, inspire, sustain and guide the movement to
achieve its desired goals.

Moderating the session, Averthanus D'Souza of the CSJP explained that
we citizens need to "share our ideas, feelings and convictions". He
touched upon the growing groundswell of action seen today where
citizens in "village after village and Gram Sabha after Gram Sabha are
demanding their rights to be heard and the right to determine their
own future".

In his talk on the Right to Information Act (RTI) and filing of Public
Interest Litigation's (PIL's), Engr. Rajan Parrikar shared his
experiences with the audience, stating that with the type of resources
that Panaji city has, its citizens could enjoy a quality of life
equivalent to world class standards. Instead, the city is today in a
state of decay. He explained how, upon his return from abroad, he was
rather disturbed that Panaji was becoming almost an "outdoor toilet".
Citing instances of open-air defecation and urination especially along
the Campal promenade, as well as gambling and encroachment of public
spaces like the Panaji Municipal garden by vagrants, he spoke of how
after exhausting all avenues, he finally wrote to the courts enclosing
some photographs. His letter was converted into a PIL, and following
some hearings, an order has recently been issued appointing an
enforcement squad to prevent such happenings. Further, describing the
basic format of an RTI application, he explained how he had used the
RTI to obtain details of several suspect construction sites, on going
through which the prima facie evidence seemed to suggest fraud on a
massive scale. He said that more of the citizenry should raise their
voices and that what is absolutely necessary now is a wellspring of
people's movement and a freeze on all constructions. He also explained
how we need to be continually vigilant since our so-called
representatives are in the habit of waiting for the storm to subside
and then going back to their old ways.

Social activist Pravin Sabnis spoke on the topic "Mobilizing People's
Power", explaining that people's movements generally start when people
realise that the problems have reached their own doorstep. When people
with different competencies participate and when there is solidarity
across the table with people working together as a team, People's
Power becomes far more effective. Mr. Sabnis also touched upon other
important aspects like public meetings and support, audio-visual
presentations, effective slogans, use of available technology, direct
contact with village groups, women power, and media collaboration.
Ending his presentation with a powerful visual, he likened Goa to a
beautiful deer that is being attacked by a canine or a leopard, saying
that it is for us the people to outrun that leopard and save the deer
that is our own Goa.

Speaking on the "Winds of change across Goa's villages", Patricia
Pinto shared her personal experiences and said that the present
uprising seen all over is a positive sign and that apart from the RTI,
the best thing to have happened to Goa was the Regional Plan 2011 when
people realised what was happening. She explained how the decline had
started way back around 1988, though hardly any one was aware then of
what was going on. Fortunately a small spark was kindled in the form
of a few people who after realising what was going on, decided to do
something about it, else Goa would have been slowly and silently
destroyed. In a rejoinder to the Chief Minister's recent remarks that
"People should not oppose legally approved projects" Patricia, citing
a couple of examples of questionable ongoing projects, asked "Are all
these projects approved properly or are they illegally illegal?" She
ended by saying that "the bubble has now burst" and that we need to
come out onto the streets till we are sure that the government is
going to govern properly.

Soter D'Souza, a committed activist with first hand in-depth knowledge
of panchayat functioning, delivered a forceful and effective talk on
the "Panchayati Raj and the role of Gram Sabhas", saying that
Panchayati Raj is all about equitable and sustainable development,
which involves a mutual respect and sharing between villages.
Elucidating further on the different schedules and amendments, he said
that the "entire democracy in the country changed in 1992 with the
passing of the 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments. Although 15
years later, local bodies continue to be strangulated by
opportunistic, political and economic forces, fortunately, they just
refuse to let go". Talking of the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Act,
Mr. D'Souza said that "over the last 15 years the Government has very
cunningly kept certain powers away from the people" and that the
outdated TCP Act has been the cause of a lot of the present problems.
The TCP Act was formulated in 1975, much before the amendments came
into being. This same TCP Act is still being implemented without
incorporating the amendments, and this is being exploited to the
maximum possible by the real estate brigade. However, the growing
restlessness seen during the past 2-3 years in the villages has
disturbed our politicians, builders and other vested
interests. Builders have even termed this uprising as an anarchy, but
all this is surely a ray of hope for the future.

A lively question-answer session followed, when several members of the
audience asked questions and requested clarifications especially
regarding problems being faced by them on related issues. The
discussions were then summarised by Mr. Averthanus D'Souza, who also
said that we need to get rid of political interference in the
functioning of our Government departments, remove dysfunctional bodies
and that the people need to be consulted before major decisions are
taken. Proposing the Vote of Thanks, Fr. Maverick of the CSJP also
informed about a forthcoming meeting at Calangute, adding that our struggles should not be in isolation, but that we need to be united and show solidarity in our bid to preserve our land.

GOA SUDHAROP ANNUAL AWARDS PRESENTATION( 29-12-2007)

Sat, 19 Jan 2008 02:25:04 -0500

Start: 2007-12-29 16:00

End: 2007-12-29 18:00

Timezone: Etc/GMT

GOA SUDHAROP ANNUAL AWARDS PRESENTATION HELD AT KALA ACADEMY (BLACK BOX HALL) ON 29-12-2007 AT 4 P.M.

REPORT AND VOTE OF THANKS BY GOA SUDHAROP’S REPRESENTATIVE IN GOA.

Goa Sudharop observed this year 2007 as the Year of the Environment. We realized the paramount need of caring and conserving our vital and fragile environment which is exacerbated with unprecedented global warming with all its devastating consequences like tsunami tidal waves, melting of glaciers, rise in sea levels, droughts, heat waves, famines, epidemics, etc. We thought of doing something in our modest way in the face of this crisis by creating awareness and urgency for conservation of the environment at the very grassroots level by engaging and involving schools, students and teachers all over Goa. Accordingly we conducted during the year several programmes like power point presentations on topics like pollution, garbage management, bio-diversity, wildlife, man-animal conflict etc. for school-groups in different places in association with Green Cross NGO, inter-school multiple environmental competitions in association with Vidy Vikas Academy, Margao, a rain water harvesting workshop for high school teachers in association with Botanical Society of Goa, sponsored the website of cartoonist Alexyz on the environmental theme, prepared Goa-specific environmental standards for the building industry in association with environmentalist Eric Pinto, and promoted several other private initiatives with a view to create the much needed environmental awareness with a stress on urgent conservation measures.

Launch of Cartoonist Alexyz Website

Thu, 18 Oct 2007 00:23:40 -0400

Start: 2007-03-18 08:00

End: 2007-03-18 13:00

Timezone: Etc/GMT

ENVIROZEST 2007

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 23:54:14 -0400

Start: 2007-08-28 09:45

End: 2007-08-28 13:30

Timezone: Etc/GMT

ENVIROZEST 2007

SHARADA MANDIR

VIDYA VIKAS ACADEMY

MAHILA & NUTAN EXCEL!!!

Keeping the all round formation and holistic development of the individual, in mind, Vidya Vikas Academy took up the project ENVIROZEST- 2007 in collaboration with Goa Sudharop Community Development Inc., U.S.A. , a volunteer non-profit diaspora NGO working for the betterment of Goa and Goans worldwide under the leadership of their local representative Mr. Ibonio D'Souza. The word ENVIROZEST, itself brings about the enthusiasm, drive and determination to build a cleaner, greener, healthier and friendlier surrounding.

ROCK 'n' ROLL HALF MARATHON SAN JOSE

Mon, 27 Aug 2007 02:16:41 -0400

Start: 2007-10-14 08:00

End: 2007-10-14 18:00

Timezone: Etc/GMT

ROCK 'n' ROLL HALF MARATHON SAN JOSE
OCTOBER 14, 2007, SUNDAY, 8AM

The Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon San Jose, California is quickly approaching and we are happy that a few of our San Francisco Bay Area Goan community are joining the event. There will be 14,000 runners and walkers, all running for various charities and various reasons. Our Goa Sudharop team is running to raise money for environmental issues in Goa in connection with the GOA SUDHAROP theme for 2007 – YEAR OF THE ENVIRONMENT. It is not too late to register and raise some money while you have fun. Please contact Acaria Almeida at jarks@comcast.net.

Goa Sudharop Lifetime Achievement Awards

Mon, 27 Aug 2007 02:09:43 -0400

Start: 2006-12-20 09:00

End: 2006-12-20 14:00

Timezone: Etc/GMT

Percival Noronha, the founder of the Association of Friends of Astronomy in 1982 which now maintains the only Public Astronomical Observatory in Goa. A staunch activist for the protection of Goan buildings and monuments, he was instrumental in 1983 for launching the Goa Chapter of the Indian Heritage Society in order to awaken the Goan people to the diversity and richness of our Art, Architecture and natural resources. A well known and sought after authority on Indo-Portuguese history, tourism, heritage conservation, architecture, furniture and urbanization, Percival has several papers to his credit and was invited by several foreign universities to lecture on topics related to Goan culture and heritage.

Goa Sudharop Fellowship 2004 Awards

Mon, 27 Aug 2007 02:06:27 -0400

Start: 2004-12-15 09:00

End: 2004-12-15 13:00

Timezone: Etc/GMT

Presented at the Caritas Complex, Panjim, Goa on 18th January 2004 * Govind Parsekar, of Mandrem, for opening a new chapter in organic farming in Goa by converting a 15,000 sq. mtrs. plot, in Mandrem Village, into an organic paradise, thereby proving that total organic farming can succeed in Goa. * Nisarga Nature Club, an environmental group active in Goa, for its mission to plant a million trees in the new Millennium and for making tree plantation a key ‘movement’ by instilling in the common man the essential value of ‘tree culture’. * Sarena Mascarenhas, for founding AL-ANON(Goa) 18 years ago, and for functioning as a strong support group for the families, relatives and friends of alcoholics, over the years.

International Goan Youth Appreciation Day is August 17, 2003

Mon, 27 Aug 2007 02:01:54 -0400

Start: 2003-08-17 09:00

End: 2003-08-17 16:00

Timezone: Etc/GMT

International Goan Youth Appreciation Day is August 17, 2003

Our Goan children are the future. Let us honor, encourage, motivate, thank and celebrate our Goan youth for their academic achievements and accomplishments.

Do not disappoint your children and our youth by missing this important event. Let them cherish this great day. Support our Goan youth, come to the International Goan Youth Appreciation Day on Sunday, Aug 17, 2003.

August 2002 Inauguration of GoaDESC

Mon, 27 Aug 2007 01:59:01 -0400

Start: 2003-07-31 09:00

End: 2003-07-31 16:00

Timezone: Etc/GMT

August 2002 Inauguration of GoaDESC e-Documentation center and website, by George Pinto, President of Goa Sudharop Community Development, Inc.

Fellowships 2003

Mon, 27 Aug 2007 01:54:04 -0400

Start: 2003-03-06 09:00

End: 2003-03-06 18:00

Timezone: Etc/GMT

Presented at the Caritas Complex, Panjim, Goa on 6th March 2003

* Gurunath Kelekar of the Movement for Amity towards Roads in Goa (MARG), for his public spirited work over the decades, especially his recent work towards making Goa's roads safer places to travel on.
* Isabel de Santa Rita Vas of the Mustard Seed Company, for her role as catylist in giving young people hope and an avenue to discover and express themselves creatively in community, and the performing arts.
* Rajendra Kerkar of the Mahadei Bachao Abhiyan for transforming personal efforts to save the Mandovi river, into a people's movement.
* Subhas Naik Jorge of the Kamgarancho Ekvott for his silent yet consistent defence of workers' rights over the years, and and for his role in building the workers' movement in Goa.
* Afroze Shaikh of Bailancho Saad for promoting the economic independence of rural women and for organising people across communal lines, around rights' issues.
* Paul Fernandes of the Gomantak Times, for his quiet but persistent pursuit of those social issues that impact the common person and for boldly writing about them.

Goan New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner and Dance

Mon, 27 Aug 2007 01:51:39 -0400

Start: 2002-12-31 00:00

End: 2002-12-31 09:00

Timezone: Etc/GMT

December 31, 2002 Goan New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner and Dance
100% of net proceeds to benefit charities in Goa.

AFellowships - 2002

Mon, 27 Aug 2007 01:48:22 -0400

Start: 2002-05-04 09:00

End: 2002-05-04 17:00

Timezone: Etc/GMT

AFellowships - 2002
Presented by Albertina Almeida, on behalf of Goa Sudharop, at Kala Academy, Goa in December, 2001:

From left to right: Award winners: Dadu Mandrekar, Vijay Lotlikar,representative of Rene Barreto,Florian Lobo,Patricia Pinto, Mario Mascarenhas, Auda Viegas

* Auda Viegas - for social justice. Founder of Bailancho Ekvott, Margao. She has consistently and fearlessly worked with women on various issues. She continues to take up a steady stream of individual cases of women in distress
* Patricia Pinto - for social and environmental justice. For solid, consistent work among Panjimites as member of the People's Movement for Civic Action (PMCA). Worked tirelessly on the Plastic Free Goa Campaign in many parts of Goa
* Vijaydatta Lotlikar - for promoting the entrepreneurial spirit. A young teacher who makes coconut shell handicrafts. More importantly he sees this craft as a source of employment and conducts training classes to spread the trade
* Dadu Mandrekar - for civil rights . Based in Mandrem, Pernem Taluka, Dadu is one of Goa's frontline activists for Dr.Babasaheb Ambedkars vision of a just society. An award winning writer of three books he has played a pioneering role in promoting the rights of the Dalit community in Goa. He is the Convenor of the Ambedkar Social Research Academy and an active member of the Yuganayak organisation
* Rene Barreto - for for efforts at promoting cultural development and his tireless efforts to promote Goa and Goans, most notably through Goa Day
* Floriano Lobo for environmental justice and his efforts to reduce noise pollution