Press

PRESS RELEASE A two days Panchayati Raj Worskshop for women on the topic 'Empowered women for Effective Local Self-Governance' was held on 31st January and 1st February 2009 at the Peaceful Society campus in Madkai. The Workshop was organised by the Centre for Panchayati Raj and Grameen Mahila Manch - Peaceful Society in association with Goa Sudharop. The Chief guest Mr. Ibonio D'Souza, Chairperson of Goa Sudharop Trust  inaugurated the workshop.Addressing the women participants at the Workshop, Mr. D'Souza deplored the state of governance in Goa as being non-people friendly, irresponsive and the cause of  chaos thereby forcing the people to come to the streets to demand their basic needs. "Democracy is name sake as free and enlightened participation of the people in governance is absent", exclaimed Mr. D'Souza. He recalled Mahatma Gandhi's demand for democracy in the Panchayati Raj system so that the villages prosper and reminded the participants that Panchayat Raj system was an ancient holistic concept of governance which ensured peace, tranquility and holistic development. "Panchayati Raj respects the uniqueness of the individual", said Mr. D'Souza. While pointing out that for the success of Panchayati Raj devolution of powers must take place, Mr. D'Souza lamented that women are not given encouragement and whatever is being done in this regard is not enough. He further said that he felt proud to state that the Centre For Panchayati Raj has played a major role in bringing much needed awareness to the villages which every 'true Goemkar '  must acknowledge and needs to support such initiatives. Assuring that Goa Sudharop desires to work in coordination with like minded NGO's, Mr. D''Souza informed that Goa Sudharop having dedicated the year 2009 for the Youth, several workshops, seminars and other events would be organised in the course of this year to help develop leadership among Goa's youth. He exhorted the women to utilise every minute of this workshop to know about Panchayati Raj and develop their confidence, knowledge and power.

Goa Sudharop Community Development Inc. a Goans diaspora, non-profit, volunteer NGO working for betterment of Goa and Goans worldwide, had  their Annual Awards  Presentation at  Mandovi Hotel, Panjim on Tuesday, 6^th January, 2009 from 4 p.m.  to 6.30 p.m. Mr. George Pinto, Goa Sudharop’s USA-based co-founder and Director was the Chief Guest.

Three cash awards were given to the winners of the essay competition: “Education in Goa: What is needed?” held for heads of schools in Goa. Two scholarships to financially deserving and meritorious Hindu girl and Christian boy were awarded. Shri Udaya Venkatesh Ballikar was honoured with Goa Sudharop Fellowship for his lifelong, dedicated and inspiring work in education. So also donations were made to several deserving educational institutions, homes for the aged and sick, and to several NGOs serving public causes. (See attachment for details).

Teacher Workshop on Discipline without Tears at GVM's College of EducationIn an era where the individual emotions of children need to accommodated, the Extension Service of GVMʼs College of Education, Ponda, organized a day's workshop entitled "Discipline without Tears". The workshop was in view of the need felt to enable the teachers in equipping themselves with the skills of classroom discipline. Dr. Nandita de Sousa, from Sethu Centre for Child Development  and Family Guidance, Altinho, was the resource person for the day and the programme could see the light of dawn, thanks to the wholehearted support and assistance of Goa Sudharop which sponsored the programme.

Teachers Training Workshop held at Cuncolim.

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Goa Sudharop Community Development Inc. USA in association with Rotary Club of Cuncolim, organized a day’s teachers training workshop “Effective Discipline in Schools” for South Goa school teachers on  25^th September, 2008 at Cuncolim.

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, and 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 types of educational programmes being conducted by Goa Sudharop this year.

20^th August 2008

Teachers Training Workshop held at Margao.

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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 9^th August, at Vidya Vikas Academy, school hall, at Comba, Margao.