Prutha Goa

How would you feel if you discovered that you were being lied to constantly? That the products being advertised via various media may not be exactly what they are portrayed to be? And that often you are a victim of outright chicanery? Walter Vieira, Chairman of the Consumer Education and Research Centre , Ahmedabad, spoke on consumer awareness, the outrageous claims made by the manufacturers of products and what people can do to take the deceivers to task. Mr Vieira delivered his talk at a lecture session titled ‘When will consumers wake up and protect themselves?’ at the International Centre Goa. The consumer awareness talk was co-organised by GoaCAN (Consumer Action Network) and the International Centre Goa . ‘The cheating that is going on in the country…with products, with services, with what have you, has reached phenomenal proportions,’ says Mr Vieira. The simplicity of the advertisements of the yesteryears cannot be denied. The Amul girl, for instance, was an integral part of t

Education has become the means of producing inept, unhappy, unimaginative and directionless individuals. This statement would be very true of the present educational system in Goa and India at large. Albert Einstein said: ‘Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.’ So just what is our educational system doing for our young people besides undermining and suppressing any category of intelligence and skills it does not include in its quota of valid abilities and intellect? Mr Manguirish Pai Raiker, who is a prominent businessman and the former president of Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has much to say about the educational system in its current avatar of leniency in examination corrections and promotion to higher classes. It is evident by the quality of students that pass out of university every year that all they ever do is learn enough by rote to pass exams. Since they lack the understa

By Maya Lin Noronha (Counsellor) Children spend a considerable amount of time (about 14 years) of their young lives in school. Therefore, it is important to understand the environment in which they learn. The school system includes children, parents, teachers, community and school administration of which teachers and students are the two major players. A school environment conducive to learning, helping a child make a smooth adjustment to the system and bringing about the all-round personality and mental development of the child, is the need of the hour in this time and age. Young adolescents need a nurturing and secure environment at school, accompanied by adult guidance. If problems are not prevented in these years, there may be significant social consequences. As they move into middle-grade, students experience school competition, social comparison, and self-assessment. The school emphasis on discipline and teacher control, and its limited opportunities for student decision making,

It began with a dream in his boyhood, which impelled John Bosco to work towards alleviating the distressed condition of the youth of his time. A dream at the age of nine revealed his future as a great educationist and transformer of young lives. The mystical experience was eventually transformed into a tangible one through his tireless efforts. The religious order conceived by this Roman Catholic saint, better known as Don Bosco, has spread his ideas and educative methods far and wide through the world. It is by means of reason, religion and loving kindness that they endeavour to mould morally upright and intellectually able individuals who would contribute in the best way possible to the betterment of society. In Goa, the Salesians of Don Bosco continue his good work, having made their entry in India in the year 1906. They are not just involved with mainstream educational institutes but special attention is given to marginalised classes that are in utmost need of aid. The Don Bosco Ko

by Savita Rao Helping disadvantaged children to bloom and blossom is at the heart and soul of The Mango Tree Trust. The Trust is based at Mango House, Karaswada in Goa. It works with around hundred and sixty children and families living in the slums around Karaswada as well as local children in need. The main objective of the Mango Tree is to help children to access school and to support and encourage them to remain there. The Trust hopes to help keep children away from child labour and to ensure they enjoy a safe and sound childhood by working with parents, who themselves are often uneducated. This is accomplished by providing the parents with counselling sessions about the importance of allowing their children to gain an education. Recently the Trust, headed by Miss Savita Rao, the managing trustee, took another successful step by opening a pre-primary school on their very own campus at Mango House. The fine inaugural function was held in June 2013. The pre-primary school has a tota

The Story of Light Festival is the story of the educative amalgamation of science, art and philosophy. Conceptualised by Jaya Ramchandani and Nash Paul D’Souza, this festival was inspired by UNESCO’s presentations on the International Year of Light 2015, at a conference attended by Ramchandani. At the end of 2012, Nash, Jaya and their friends from all over the world communed in Goa and developed the spark into a concrete plan. Nash, a freelance graphic and web designer, and Jaya, who has studied physics and astronomy, have been long-time friends. Jaya has worked for many astronomy outreach programmes and is the co-founder of a language solutions company for researchers called Sirius Interactive Limited. The duo provided an example of interactive learning by converting Nash’s house into parts of the digestive system and demonstrating through play how a pão is digested. Although the initial idea was to set up the festival on a small scale in Nash’s house, the enthusiasm that resonated a