Prutha Goa

The devastation caused by the recent flooding in Kerala has left many bereft of hearth and home and even life. The land of lush greenery, welcoming people and numerous historically significant and scenic sites has suffered the onslaught of the fury of nature with an increase of 41.44% rainfall this year. Recorded to be the worst flooding in a century, the crippling inundation has also been reported to be the cumulative result of unchecked mining, quarrying, development and construction, besides other alleged immediate factors. Many people now find themselves in relief camps faced with the long-drawn process of rebuilding their lives. The threat of disease is widespread and rehabilitation, which is a slow and exhausting process, will require a considerable amount of aid in the form of monetary funds, supplies related to daily life, food items, household fixtures and furniture, volunteers and so on to restore God’s own country to its former glory. NGOs, locals, the armed forces, national

  The Giver is an art exhibition that will be held from the 16th to the 18th of March at Kala Academy, showcasing choice works by artists Clarice Vaz and Stacy Fernandes. The exhibition is a statement on the environmental exploitation that is rampant in these times, especially in Goa – we should be giving back to nature since she is the mother whose unconditional love nourishes us in a myriad ways. The paintings and charcoal sketches on display reflect the self-taught artists’ love for nature. The exhibition will be graced with the presence of cartoonist Alexyz as the guest of honour and Governor Mridula Sinha as the chief guest. Part of the proceeds will benefit the National Association for the Blind-Goa (NAB). Stacy Rodrigues has proved her mettle as an artist who has overcome her battle with Stargardt disease, or juvenile macular degeneration, which causes progressive vision loss, to achieve the status of Goa’s only visually impaired artist, and presently, after the demise of Binod

Artist Rubina De Souza and her partner artists in Artists for a Cause, are a happy reminder that where there is compassion, there is hope, and where there are artists, truth and reason make their appearance, acting as a conscience for the people. Artists for a Cause was started by Rubina De Souza with about 10-12 other artists in 2013. Since then the group has had four exhibitions with the aim of providing funds to give education to underprivileged children and youth in rural areas. Working in tandem with Don Bosco charities, the artists hope to provide this essential resource of education to bring value and a sense of purpose to the lives of these young ones. This year over 30 artists will be exhibiting works that will be sold to favour the Don Bosco charities with the resulting income. Rubina, whose brother, Fr Allwyn De Souza (Sulcorna), and son, Fr Royston De Souza (Kudal), are both Salesian priests, was inspired by the work done by the Salesians to change the lives of these rural

Lupin Limited is an excellent example of how CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) activities should be carried out to bring about the betterment of society. The multinational pharmaceutical company was founded by Dr Desh Bandu Gupta in 1968. Guided by the principle of charity and the ideology that one must give back to society in gratitude for what one has received, Dr Gupta, who is still chairman of Lupin Limited, established the Lupin Human Welfare and Research Foundation (LHWRF) in 1988. Moving on from working in 35 villages in Rajasthan, LHWRF now has an outreach in 3463 villages in 8 states of India. LHWRF’s holistic approach to rural progress encompasses economic, social, and infrastructural development. This includes agriculture, animal husbandry, and rural industries under economic development; women empowerment, education, and health under social development; and rural infrastructure and water resource development under infrastructural development. The winner of numerous awar

By Richard Lees, MD of Volunteering Goa LTD and International Consultant for Prutha Goa Any observer of the media today, be it newspapers, radio, TV or online media, could be forgiven for thinking that we are living in a very terrible time for humanity. We are fed with endless stories of war, corruption, natural disasters, terrorism, suicides and more. Even our modern obsession with celebrities seems more often than not to focus on their falling from popular favour, be it sporting heroes who are found to be taking drugs or politicians, singers, actors, etc who are caught having affairs. We even enjoy our stories of bad luck – the millionaire who lost everything in a stock market collapse seems to be a popular news story too. Is it true that the world is just getting worse and worse? Surprisingly, actual data does not support this view at all. Max Roser is an economist at the Institute for New Economic Thinking at Oxford University. He makes his data available freely through the website

It is extremely easy to extend sympathy and kind words to someone who is differently abled and believe one’s duty is done with regard to society. A certain amount of courage and motivation is required to be able to take up arms for those in need of support. In Goa, for years, a physical disability was looked upon as a punishment for iniquities and sins of ancestors. We may have moved long past that attitude but there is still apathy and lack of consideration many a times. The differently abled saw it fit to put their foot down and join forces against the dismissive treatment meted out to them. In October, 2003, DRAG or the Disability Rights Association of Goa came into being to ensure that the Persons with Disabilities Act 1995, was applied necessarily. There was the need for resolving issues concerning the differently abled and so it was decided to bring under one banner all such persons and have them work towards a common goal. The NGO was founded by Victor Fernandes, Loretta Velho,

 by Tanya Pinto Everyone has a mission to complete in one’s lifetime, but only a few actually have the courage to take it up at an early age. Beena always had an affinity towards helping the poor and needy, even in her childhood. Having been brought up in a home that always had its doors open to the hungry and poor, Beena learnt compassion and generosity at a very young age. True to her passion, she founded the Bethesda Life Centre with her husband, Martin. The aim of the establishment was simple – to provide shelter and support to orphan and needy children. BLC Team The ambitious project is presently a resounding success, helping over 150 children to become independent adults and lead respectable lives. However, Beena and Martin have faced their share of challenges in the beginning. It all started with an unwed mother who sought help and shelter at their home. As this young girl had been tested positive for HIV, no one was willing to help her out. Though Beena and Martin did not have

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

Mr Bijon Shaha, engineer and polyglot, introduced his topic of discussion, the history and growth of Esperanto - the universal auxiliary language, with much enthusiasm at the Xavier Centre of Historical Research. ‘How many of you would you like to learn a language that is an all-purpose international language, that is super easy to learn and master, that is super convenient to use, that is super creative to express your ideas, that is super-efficient for everyday use and that is super neutral, not being part of a particular group of people or country?’ queried Mr Shaha. The answer is Esperanto, which means one who hopes. The world’s most widely spoken constructed language derives its name from the pseudonym of its creator, Dr L L Zamenhof. Though the world claims universal brotherhood, we know this to be far from true. Blood is shed daily on the basis of race and religion, wealth and social status, and one of the primary culprits to stir turmoil along with these factors is language. It

This is the experience of a girl who had the gumption to explore unfamiliar territory, notwithstanding her disability. She stumbled upon an India so far removed from the vision of the Father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi. Stacy Rodrigues is a visually impaired artist and writer. She has surmounted her own travails and can be considered a heroine in her own right. When she is not lost in the comforting brush strokes of art or the soothing therapy of poetic lines, Stacy keeps herself engaged tutoring students in the English language. It so happened that some time back she had the opportunity to teach a young man from Uttar Pradesh. He described an India foreign to her knowledge. She was intrigued by his stories and decided to pay his village a visit. On her arrival at *Ameerpur (name changed) she was scrutinized by the people, especially the women, like a novelty. They began touching her, feeling the texture of her skin and her clothes in naïve fascination with this visitor who seemed st