BRIEfnCOUNTERS: It's all on at the Don Bosco Oratory, Panjim FN
IT HAS been just a few years, or so it seems, since the Salesians in Goa decided to go into overdrive. They seem to be working to use the resources they have to the optimum, and thus reaching out to many more whom they otherwise could have worked with. Their centre at Loutolim, targeted entirely for drop-outs, could be very useful to many in today's Goa. If only more could see this as a useful option. Correct me if I'm wrong, Ariosto. Or does one just notice such things when one's kids are in that age-group? In this case, *such things* refers to a program that could be of interest to many in middle-class Goa. It was a pleasant surprise to see the Don Bosco grounds in Panjim teeming with life on Tuesday. They've started what they call their "great mega event". It's a mix of "the best in education, sports, music, spirituality and extra-curricular activities". It is open to all, regardless of which school you're studing in or what's your religious background. This summer holidays, Don Bosco's will offer training in Basic English for primary students (the ban-English bigotedness at this level of schooling makes such an attempt useful), tutions for Std X students prior to going in for one of the most stressful exams in their lives, and public-speaking for high-schoolers. There will also be seminars: on teenagers' problems and how to face them, a leadership course, and even *how to make the best of your brains*. With all the untapped talent here in Goa, we could do with a lot of that! For higher secondary students, collegians and adults, there will be seminars on how to read what you read (Alexander Barbosa), education for what and where is it heading (Avertano, is it Averthanus, D'Souza), globalisation leads to marginalisation (by Don Bosco Childline director Francis Silveira, sdb), how to use your money (accounting, saving, banking... by financial experts Clifford Antao and Sanjay Lahiri) and on Goa's environment: our responsibility (A. D'Souza again). But this is not all about serious stuff. For those interested there is coaching in football (from March 29, by Raposo/Celvin, Monday to Friday), cricket (by Narayan Kambli, ditto), hockey (by Victor of the National Institute of Sports, in the evenings), basketball (by Sandeep and Anu of NIS, alternate-day batches), volleyball, athletics, gymnastics, boxing, taekwondo (Osler) and martial arts (Joaquim Fernandes), Karate (Joe Rodrigues), Judo (Dias), Badminton (Luciano/Thomas/Roy), table-tennis (Reegan Pinto/Joshua Monteiro), skating (Navin Acharya, Tue-Thu-Sat mornings). In the field of music, the menu offers organ/keyboards (Mouline, Mon and Thu mornings), guitar (Brian Gomes; Mon, Thu forenoon), violin (Manisha Fernandes), and voice training (Mouline). There's even Western dance (Jason & Silvia, Mon-Fri, forenoon), Bharatnatyam (Rachel Rodrigues, Tue & Fri evenings), stage acting and singing (Ann Barretto), flower making, glasspainting/canvas/cloth, soft toys, and veg carving (all handled by Mrs Borkar). My daughter, aged five, wanted to know if those attending could actually eat the pastries and cakes after learning to make them. There's a session on ice creams too "to be decided with the participants". Vocation-boys and altar-boys are promised education, spirituality, sports, music, trekking, camps... "join now, before it is too late". In the computers section, classes for those in the 5-10 years bracket will focus on typing tutors, games, Windows, MSPaint, and MSPower Point. Those from 11-16 will learn Windows, MSPower Point, MSWord, MSExcel and learn the Internet "online". Late teens and adults are promised applications like Windows, MSWord, MSExcel, Adobe Photoshop, Foxpro, and the Internet. Being fanatical about GNU/Linux and Free Software myself, one's only regret is that there are a whole lot of Free Software options (not to be confused with "freeware"), which could help youngsters learn at a far more deeper level than what proprietorial software would allow for. Nonetheless, check all this out if interest. It's still not too late to join. The Rs 375 fees (including registration) shouldn't be too much of a barrier for most with the leisure and time on their hands and searching for something to keep busy with. FN ########################################################################## # Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts # # More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ##########################################################################
