For a better tomorrow

Konkan Development Society has made its presence felt in many spheres of social transformation, empowering the marginalised and enabling them to be productive stakeholders in their own lives. THE GOAN looks at DBKDS’s journey since 2005

BHARATI PAWASKAR | JANUARY 28, 2018, 03:51 AM IST
For a better tomorrow

Leading the marginalised sections in the community in their journey towards a better tomorrow, Don Bosco’s Konkan Development Society (DBKDS) has touched and transformed the lives of thousands of persons in Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra since 2005.   

“We learn to look at life differently and deal with life situations in our daily family life and other people we interact with. We have also gained insights into how to deal with our emotions according to different situations and people,” admits Sandip Gaonkar, a beneficiary of DBKDS that has been focusing on creating a just and equal society, inculcating respect for human rights and human values and empowering the poor to become self-reliant and self-sustaining.  

With its extensive support services to grass root organisations in the areas of education, health, skilling youth, empowering women etc, DBKDS provides non-formal education to out-of-school children, drop-outs and less privileged kids. “We aim to rescue children from the vulnerable situations they are being caught up in. The migrant and non-migrant children are taught in a way that is practical, basic and simple,” says Fr Jose Sequeira, director, DBKDS that takes care to see that a child enjoys an all-round development - be it emotional, psychological or physical by implementing innovative methods of education. Special cases are given special attention. DBKDS provides special training to the volunteer educators associated with the project so as to understand and work best with these children.  

Holding a master’s degree in social work from Mumbai University, Fr Sequeira is the recipient of an award for innovative projects from Salesians of India in 2012 for prevention of child labour and Devadasis. He had also represented NGOs of Goa at national workshop in New Delhi in 2013.   

An initiative of the Province of Panaji (INP), DBKDS has made its presence felt in many spheres of social transformation. From drawing street children into the educational process, skilling the youth and providing care and shelter to the abandoned, to enabling women to be productive stakeholders in their own lives, DBKDS has sought to empower the underserved rather than give them charity.  

“I firmly believe that the hallmark of a truly civilised society is the development and progress of all, without bias or discrimination, says Fr Laurence Monteiro S D B, executive director, DBKDS, adding, “We seek to invest our efforts and energy in bringing about this progress, development and balance through education for underserved children, skilling the youth, empowering women and making positive changes in the lives of marginalised people in Goa, south Maharashtra and North and Northwest Karnataka.”  

Don Bosco’s society works under provinces and each province has a provincial or head of the region. In India there have 11 provinces, the first being in South India at Thanjavur which began operating in 1906. Each province has social development office which takes care of education for the marginalised, offering them skill training, livelihood and women empowerment. The skill training included formal and informal. In informal training school dropouts of age 18 and above are trained under three months programmes and 75 per cent of the trainees from each branch have to be placed. Under education, there are four sections – adult literacy, day care centre, special training and remedial teaching.  

Jugend Eine Weit (Austria), Don Bosco Mondo and Don Bosco Missions (both Germany), Don Bosco Tech India Network, Don Bosco Action India Network, BOSCH India Foundation, Assistencia Goa, Fomento Resources, Taj Group as well as individuals like Hubert Saldanha, Ramola Antao, Nick Daly, Paul Cunha, Sharmila Seth, Basil D’Cunha and Charlotte Newness have remained the society’s loyal supporters over the years. “We are looking forward for like-minded people to come and join us in our mission of transforming lives for a better tomorrow, be it as volunteers, partners or sponsors,” appeals Fr Sequeira.  

DBKDS project also provides recreational activities like picnics, outings, sports and games. Sports days and annual functions are held every year for the children, special attention is given to the health of a child. Periodic dental camps and general health check-ups are conducted.  


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