The NRSTC morning Centre at Zuarinagar, South Goa has re-started on 19th June 2023.
30 children were mobilised from the Zuarinagar area and are attending the classes, which begin at 8:45 am and end at 12:30 pm. There are two Teachers at the Centre teaching the children competencies in English & Maths and Kannada. The children are also provided with a nutritious snack at the end of the class.
A Parents’ meeting was held on the 3rd of July, which was attended by our Executive Director Fr. Joel D’souza, along with the two Teachers and the Supervisor of the Centre. It was a productive meeting with positive feedback from the parents. The children are very excited to begin the new academic year at the Centre.
As the new academic year 2023-24 has commenced from the month of June, we also have begun preparing for the DISAC project which is aimed at bridging the ‘digital divide’ in the capacity which we can do so. This year at the request of Connexus we have introduced the basics of Coding in our syllabus for which we conducted 2 full days of training for the teachers. The Training was held on the 10th & 12th of June 2023. Mr Clinton Fernandes was the Trainer for both the days.
Day 1 began with Jose(Project Coordinator) welcoming the teachers after the summer break. This was followed by our new Executive Director Fr Joel D’souza leading all of us in prayer and addressing the Teachers. He encouraged the teachers to give in their best and put in efforts in all that they do.
Mr Clinton conducted the first day’s training on Scratch Programming which is a block based form of Coding. The Teachers were eager to learn and picked up the concepts quite well. The training for the day ended at 5pm.
Day 2 started with a Prayer led by Mrs Nirmala Rebello from the KDS Team. Ma’am Nirmala spoke to the teachers on the importance and the need for practice what the teachers were learning through the training. Mrs Rebello also suggested that subsequent to the training we have exercises put up on the google drive which each Centre had to complete for the day and upload back on the drive, which was a very fruitful exercise.
Mr Clinton spent the next couple of hours with revision of Day 1 and solving any doubts / difficulties which the teachers had to clarify. He then introduced the teachers to the next Coding software called Kojo which is a text based Coding program. He explained the concept of the Coordinate System. The day ended with an activity on Tangram (origami paper + graph paper) which was a good way to understand the coordinate system to build various designs(shapes). The training was well conducted by Mr Clinton who extended his support even after the training to checking the exercise files uploaded by the teachers and guiding them with their practice.
Konkan Development Society brought our Partners, Well-wishers, Staff and Beneficiaries together at the Ravindra Bhavan, in Margao to share the stories of our outreach and to express our gratitude to those who have walked with us on our journey with the marginalized and the less privileged.
Our Patron, St. John Bosco, famously said: “The ultimate test of your greatness is the way you treat every human being.” So, at Don Bosco’s Konkan Development Society there is only one border and that is Humanity!
Mr. Agnelo Fernandes, Dy. Collector South Goa, was the Chief Guest, while Mr. Nick Daly, Mr. Ravi Rebello of Commscope; Mr. Cedric Menezes of Schiffer and Menezes; Mr. Sarvesh Parab of Colorcon Asia Pvt. Ltd. Anil Gole, Duraline India, Edgar Melo Furtado, Savio Carvalho of MacBrout Engineering, Blaise Costabir, GMI Zarak moulders and Charlotte Newnes were the Guests of Honour along with other distinguished guests. Mrs. Jan Bacon, from the UK, who was instrumental in raising the bar in our two Primary Schools, through the Jolly Phonics programme, was also present.
The programme began with a Welcome by our Provincial, Fr. Felix Fernandes, followed by the lighting of the Lamp by the Dignitaries and representatives of KDS.
The evening was filled with songs, dances and tributes by our children from the various Projects, as well as testimonies from individual beneficiaries, who had been part of our Projects in the past. A Food Hamper was auctioned, consisting of snacks made by the women from our Self-Help Groups.
Our newest Project, the 24-hour children’s Helpline, called CHILDLINE 1098 was unveiled. Konkan Development Society is the South Goa Collaborative Partner of the parent NGO, Childline India Foundation. We work in tandem with the North Goa Collab. Partner, Caritas Goa. Dr. Rita Paes, the Nodal Director of Childline Goa and Sr, Divya Raphael, the Nodal Coordinator of CHILDLINE Goa, were a part of this ceremony.
Our Executive Director, Fr. Laurence Monteiro shared the progress of the various Projects and their Budgets, along with plans for the future.
Nicholas Daly, a dear friend and a very generous benefactor, with his family, had come all the way from the UK to be with us! Nick, as we affectionately call hm, shared the story of his long and loving association with KDS.
The Show Stopper of the evening was none other than our Goan Singer Sensation, Sonia Shirsat, best known for her rendition of the beautiful Portuguese love songs, Fados, who regaled the audience with some of her special songs!
Mr. Virendra Pereira from Team KDS said a heartfelt Thank You to all those who were present, as well as those who have been a great help to us but were unable to attend the function.
Artists for a Cause, under the banner “Different Strokes,” in collaboration with Don Bosco’s “Konkan Development Society” got together for the fifth successive year, to showcase their God given talent at an Exhibition cum Sale of drawings, paintings and photographs.
These Goan artists are from varied backgrounds: doctors, busy housewives, professional artists, photographers and students. The exhibition held at the Sanskruti Bhavan, Patto on the 8th, 9th and 10th of December 2018, showcased different genres of art: abstract, figurative, folk art, pen and ink works, water colors, miniature styles and more. Their sole purpose was to use their innate talents to educate a child, add a smile to a young face, feed a hungry stomach, or help a child in distress.
The Artists who participated in “Different Strokes” are: Mohan Naik, Harshada Kerkar, Suhas Shelkar as also Damodar Madgaonkar and Sandesh Gaundalkar, who have won laurels at the recent Goa State Art Exhibition, together with Dr. Aparna Pradhan, Nandini Raikar, Wilson D’Souza, Jyoti Mehta, Anita Kubal, Abeline Fernandes, Shamina Pereira, Vaishnavi Shalkhwalkar, Vasant Hede, Vatsala Kamat Hede, Stacy Rodrigues, Steishan Fernandes, Sunil Shirodkar, Jolene Pereira, Daniel de Souza, Clarence de Souza, Sherwin Pereira, Merwyn Caldeira, Deanne DSouza, Dale Dias, Alvito D’Costa, Shailesh Dabholkar, Bazil Mota, Sarita Sawant, Stephanie de Sousa, Genevieve DSouza, Pooja Bel, Simona Fernandes, Jasmine Rocha, Rubina DSouza and several others.
The exhibition was inaugurated by Mr. Edgar Melo Furtado and his wife Edith, who are long time patrons of Konkan Development Society.
Many art lovers and well wishers of KDS came for the exhibition, appreciated the beautiful works on display and were pleased to contribute towards the uplifting work that KDS does with needy children.
On 27thJanuary 2018, a beautiful function was organized by KDS at the Institute Menezes Braganza in Panaji, Goa to bring together like minded people who believe that they can make a difference in the lives of the marginalized and the underserved. The invitees included Industrialists, Hoteliers, Bureaucrats and Alumni of Don Bosco all of who were a mix of existing and potential Partners on our journey.
Mr. Michael Lobo, the Dy. Speaker of Goa Legislative Assembly, MLA and Chairman of NGPDA was the Chief Guest at the function. The Provincial of INP Province, Fr. Felix Fernandes, along with other Fathers of the province, graced the function.
There was a lot of bonhomie and camaraderie enjoyed by existing and potential benefactors at the function, amidst the cultural items staged by the beneficiaries of the various Projects of KDS.
Auctions of food items and handicrafts were held, as part of the fund raising activity at the venue. These items were prepared by the Self Help Groups and the Children that are benefiting from our projects across the Province.
Mr. Michael Lobo applauded the work done by KDS and stressed on the point that the ‘Right advice at the right time shapes a child’s future.’ He also launched the Donation Box that will be placed at vantage locations at tourist hotels and reception areas.
The main agenda of the get together was to unveil the Projects for 2018- 19 and the budgets thereof.
