Caritas - Goa 3.14

I - Projects for the empowerment of Women:

1. St. Bridget’s Institute of Home Science:
Situated in Aldona, Bardez, this Institute aims to empower women through skills of self employment and management of homes. The Institute conducts long term courses in Home Science. Preference is given to school drop-outs and the economically backward girls. The Institute provides boarding facilities and caters to women of all religions. For the time being, 1 year Certificate Course in Home Nursing approved by the Human Resource Development Foundation, Govt. of Goa, is being conducted.

2. Caritas-Goa Training Centre for Women:
Housed in “Instituto de Nossa Senhora de Piedade, Panjim, the Centre is open to young girls and women who are trained in hand and machine embroidery (preparing bed and table linen, centerpieces, etc.), stitching garments, church vestments etc. who bring in articles prepared by them for sale and also come to be employed in this Centre to produce articles that are ordered by customers. It is related with an outlet named “Café Amor” where articles, goods, food stuff, etc. prepared by Self Help Groups and Individuals who are economically disadvantaged are being marketed. This provides marketing facility for the various Self Help Groups or individuals which Caritas-Goa assists.

3. Self - Help groups:
Caritas-Goa strives to reach out to women at the grass roots by establishing Self Help Groups (SHG’s) in predominantly OBC / Scheduled Tribe populated areas. Awareness programmes, seminars, training sessions are conducted to help women get organised and use their own resources and efforts to become self-reliant. They are also helped financially through Micro Credit System.

4. Lar de Sta. Terezinha: is an orphanage for girls and women situated in Pajifond, Margao. The Archdiocese has recently (2006) requested Caritas-Goa to take charge of this orphanage. At present there are 75 girls/women (children and adults) who are being taken care of through the services of the Carmelite Fathers in Margao.

5. “Obra de Proteccao a Mulher” (OPM) (Service for the protection of Women.)
This Institution is functioning in a house at Nachinola, Bardez. The aim of this programme is to meet the needs of the unwed mother and to offer care and protection to her child. The Women are counselled, given medical attention as required, hospitalized and are taken care after the delivery. Thus they are protected from social criticism and ostracization. During the time that these women are in the house they are given opportunities to acquire some vocational skills which helps them in their future life. The Archdiocese entrusted the running of O.P.M. to Caritas-Goa in 1981. Every year an average of 20 unwed mothers are admitted at the Institution and they remain in the Institution upto 3 months after their delivery.
This house is also open to other women with difficulties.

6. Guardianship of Relinquished Babies/Children.
Caritas-Goa is an approved Adoption Agency by CARA (Central Adoption Resource Agency) for placing of Babies/Children in Guardianship for both Indian and Foreign Guardians. This project is a sister project of O.P.M. The Organisation follows the procedures and rules laid down under the prevailing Guardianship Acts(1890,1956).This project brings happiness both to the concerned adults (adoptive parents), and the babies/children, ensuring a safe and fruitful future for each baby/child. On an average 20 babies are relinquished by the mothers and they are given in guardianship to Indian and Foreign couples every year.

II – Projects for the empowerment of the Disabled/Differently Abled
1. Saint Francis Xavier’s Centre for the Differently Abled-Old Goa:
This is a project, which comprises:
a) St. Xavier’s Academy: This is a Special School, recognized by the Government of Goa, striving to cater to the holistic development of the Differently Abled. Classes are conducted for the Hearing Impaired, Slow Learners, Orthopaedically Disabled, Mentally Challenged, Learning Disabled and children with autism. The students are given opportunities to an all round development. Our students have brought laurels to the Centre and the State by winning prizes, trophies, medals at the State, National and International sports events. They are also very good at Art. Hundreds of disabled children have benefited at this Academy.
b) National Institute of Open Schooling: St. Xavier’s Academy is accredited by the National Institute of Open Schooling, New Delhi, in two sections (A) Academic and (B) Vocational. Students who successfully complete their Std. VIII, and are capable and desiring to pursue in studies, are given the opportunity to complete Std. X and Std. XII. This facility is also open to normal Children/School dropouts. There are many who avail this facility, thus facilitating the inclusion of the children with disabilities. Last year a little over 300 other students were registered through St. Xavier’s Academy.
c) St. Xavier’s Vocational Training Centre: Depending upon the interest of each, the Children are given courses in Art, Painting, Handicrafts like making Paper Bags, Envelopes, Greeting cards, Hand embroidery, Crochet designing, Cane technology, Candle making, Tailoring, Bakery, Carpentry, etc.
d) St. Xavier’s Shanti Niketan: Residential facility for students from distant places.

2. Prosthetic and Orthotic Centre:
This centre meets the needs of the physically disabled for mobility equipment. The centre provides Artificial limbs, Crutches, Calipers, etc. with the grant received from the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment through the Scheme of Assistance to Disabled persons for purchase/fitting of aids/appliances.

3. Christ the King Physiotherapy Centre:
This Unit renders service to the Orthopaedically disabled/affected and also to others. The Unit has facilities for postoperative therapies. A large number of patients are treated at this Centre. An average of 400 persons take advantage of this Physiotherapy Centre every year.


4. Dr. Graciano Ribeiro de Santana Empowerment Centre:
It is an Empowerment Centre for all with special emphasis on Women and the Differently Abled. This ambitious project, located in the ancestral Mansion of Dr. Graciano Ribeiro de Santana family, at Porvorim, seeks to equip people specially Women and the Differently abled youth/adults with skills for self-employment. Various courses like cookery, bakery, tailoring, bag making, flower making, secretarial courses etc. are conducted.


5. Other Services to the Sector of the Disabled:
a) Caritas-Goa is the State Partner of the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) and National Disability Network (NDN).
b) It works in close collaboration with the Directorate of Social Welfare, Govt. of Goa.
c)It has been instrumental in getting all Institutions and NGO’s in Goa working for the interests of the Disabled to network as one unit called “Goa Disability Network”.
d) It promotes employment to the Disabled and provides sheltered employment.

III – Projects for protection of Health:
Community Health is one of the issues taken up in the Social Apostolate in Goa. Caritas-Goa is a member of the Catholic Health Association of India and has been instrumental in activating the Goa Unit. One of the important aspects of concern is the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Shelter to and Care of People Living with HIV/AIDS
Caritas-Goa is running two Community Care Centres:
a) ASRO-Tivim is taking care of children (mostly orphans). The Care Home for HIV/Aids at Tivim, Bardez is under the supervision of a doctor. At present, 23 children are being taken care of. Since the number has increased considerably, there are grave difficulties that are being faced by the children and therefore Caritas-Goa is in the process of setting up a new larger home for these children with HIV/AIDS. The construction work is going on in full swing as the home is required to provide appropriate residential facilities to the children. This project is being supported/financed by people/corporates of goodwill. Anyone who would like to join hands with Caritas-Goa in supporting these orphan children with HIV/AIDS are most welcome especially at this time when the new Home is being set up.
b) ASRO-Cavelossim is the Community Care Centre at Cavelossim that takes care of adults as well as children, male and female. It is under the supervision of a doctor. National Aids Control Organisation (NACO) renders 80% support to this Project through the Goa State Aids Control Society (GSACS).
c) Home Nursing Training at Aldona: Caritas-Goa conducts a Certificate Course in Home Nursing of 1 year designed for training boys, girls, men, ladies, particularly for assisting Senior Citizens at home and in hospitals. This course is approved by the Human Resource Development Foundation and is conducted at St. Bridget’s Institute, Aldona nurse. The admission is open to 20 students.
d) Centre for Responsible Tourism (CRT)
The church in Goa is always alert to the impacts of tourism and has campaigned to protect local livelihoods, and culture.

The Centre for Responsible Tourism-Goa (CERT- Goa) took formal birth in July 2007 to examine how the church must respond to the fallouts of tourism and reverse the impacts in ways that would bring a human face to tourism and result in the benefits of tourism reaching local communities and to affirm the need to study how tourism planning and management could be effectively brought under community stewardship and management.

The office of the Centre for Responsible Tourism has been established in Colva geared to being a resource centre for tourism activists in the state and an 'encounter space' for visitors and local groups. The centre houses magazines and information from around the world and, it is hoped, that it will soon turn out to be a vibrant rallying point for training local activists and concerned tourists about how we may take forward notions of 'responsible tourism'.

The Centre for Responsible Tourism has established 18 community/village groups all across the coast stretching from Mandrem and Morjim in the North to Palolem in the South and each of these groups serves as 'Tourism Monitors' based on studies and analysis of the actual impacts of tourism on their coastal stretches.

Tourism Impact Assessment Studies are being carried out and accordingly activities such as:
Combating child abuse
Fighting the exploitation of women
De-commodifying culture
Water abuse
Campaigns for environmental protection are being taken up

A Coastal Sarpanch coalition is also formed to facilitate the co-ordination of the various plans of action.

CRT – Goa has taken initiative to organize the various sectors such as the Shack Owners, Taxi associations, Vendors, Small and Medium Guest Houses and Hotels.

f) Mobile Healthcare Project: Faith Works India in collaboration with Caritas-Goa has initiated a Mobile Healthcare Project called ‘Healing Touch’. It is about to start a Mobile Clinic which will visit the various far flung villages in Goa. A dentist, ophthalmologist and a general practitioner will be available in this mobile bus. Caritas-Goa will utilize the services of the members of the Conference of St. Vincent de Paul to organize these mobile clinic visits at the village level.

IV - Projects for service to Prisoners:
Prison Ministry: A team of people comprising of Religious men/women, Diocesan Clergy and Laypersons have volunteered to take up the responsibilities of rendering service to Prisoners. Caritas-Goa is animating and co-ordinating the Prison Ministry in Goa. They have undertaken the following activities:
1.visiting Prisons (with due permission of relevant Authorities), counseling Prisoners, conducting Inter-religious Prayer Services on National days and other festivals and conducting classes for them in literacy, art-craft, music, etc. The response has been very enthusiastic and Prisoners have prepared cards, wall hangings, paper bags, the sale of which has been used to procure basic material. The team visits prisons/lockups at Aguada, Sada-Vasco, Panjim, Margao and Mapusa.
2.visiting families of Prisoners, counseling them, helping the Children in their school and attending to their welfare with assistance from Caritas-Goa where necessary and assisting them to avail of the Government schemes.
3. helping to rehabilitate released Prisoners with the funds of Caritas-Goa as well as assist them to use Government schemes.

OTHER PROJECTS

V- Relief Work after Calamities:
Caritas-Goa co-ordinates the relief operations for victims of calamities like Earthquakes, Prevention against plague, Cyclones and Floods, etc.

VI – Relief to Needy Individuals:
Caritas-Goa gives financial assistance to poor families for nutrition and health. It also gives assistance to purchase medicines and for other medical surgical specialized care. A number of poor people are given assistance for repairs of their houses. Caritas-Goa also assists persons with part subsidy and part loan to start small business so that they can earn their livelihood. Women in distress who come to Caritas-Goa are given monetary help to maintain themselves and their children. Last year the total amount spent in such assistance is Rs. 1,30,000/-

VII - Scrutiny and Recommendation of Projects:
Another service Caritas-Goa renders in the Archdiocese is to process all Social Welfare and Animation Projects to be recommended to Funding Agencies, with due approval of the Ecclesiastical Authorities. It also sees to the finalization of the Projects and submission of Reports and Audited Accounts to the respective Funding Agencies. This responsibility is undertaken by the Diocesan Projects Selection Committee.

VIII – SUPPORTING PROJECTS:

Caritas Complex:
Centrally located in St. Inez, close to the capital City of Goa, this Complex has the following facilities:
a) Caritas-Goa Holiday Home: The complex provides clean and safe accommodation to Tourists at a reasonable rate. Run by the Goan Catholic Charitable Trust, the project aims at generating employment to the Differently Abled within their capabilities and to other qualified/competent unemployed persons. The fund that is generated is utilized to carry on the charitable activities of Caritas-Goa and other charities of the Goan Catholic Charitable Trust.
b) Conference Hall: This spacious and well-equipped Hall is a good facility for seminars, workshops, and meetings.
c) The terrace garden also serves as a good place for small gatherings / celebrations.