GLOBAL GOENKARS IN FOCUS
Bella Fernandes while compering a show in the UK.
LONDON
To be closely involved with one association after work and on holidays can be demanding, but consider a Goan woman in the UK who had been an active member of four different associations, in addition to a full-time job and managing a family.
And there’s more. She is also an emcee as well as a director, actor and singer in Konkani Tiatrs.
Meet Bella Fernandes of Surrey-UK, a multifaceted personality who has been involved in teaching, accountancy, acting, singing and social work.
PERSONAL, WORK LIFE
Bella is the eldest child of Robert and Liberata Da Cunha. Although her father is from Paroda-Quepem, Bella and her siblings were born and brought up in Margao.
“My mother was the only child and so, we were raised in Margao. I don’t know much about Paroda except when we visited our grandparents or spent some holidays with them. My father worked at Mormugao Port Trust as a Crane Operators Supervisor and was also a union leader,” said Bella.
Bella studied at Fatima Convent High School (Margao), and went to completed her teacher’s training in Acdil-Teacher’s Training College in Borda-Margao.
“I taught for two years while training as a teacher at St Anne’s School in Borda. I then left for London in the late 1980s when I married a Kenya/Nairobi born Goan, Luis Fernandes.”
Bella proceeded to London as a young teenager and found her first job as a junior accounts clerk at the Royal Society of Medicine.
“I got training from the company and progressed. After a few years, I had my first son but kept working and also went to the Accountancy College in London to study CAT (Certified Accountancy Technician). I progressed in my career and am presently an accountant for a high-end fashion company,” Bella added.
“Luis and I are blessed with two sons, and we reside at Walton-on-Thames in Surrey.”
As an accountant, Bella has worked for the Royal Society of Medicine, Barclays Bank, a high-profile diamond company in Hatton Garden (a world-famous street for diamonds, gems and jewellery) and another Canadian diamond company.
SOCIAL, CULTURAL LIFE
Bella began her social work as a volunteer for the Goan Community in 2000, when they founded the ‘Goan Cultural Society’.
“I am a founder member of the ‘Goan Cultural Society’, which was registered at the Companies House under my home address. We started doing Konkani Tiatrs, Konkani musical shows, Konkani pantomimes, and children’s musical shows. There was no other Goan organisation in the UK like ours and Goans appreciated our shows,” recalled Bella.
Bella Fernandes along with the Prime Minister of Portugal Antonio Costa for the Goan convention at Lisbon-Portugal in May 2017.
“We brought new directors, singers and artistes on stage and promoted them. Today, they are world-famous because we gave them a platform to perform or direct their shows. I also acted and sung in those Tiatrs and always did the leading role.”
“We ran this organisation till 2014, after which Tiatrs began coming to the UK from Goa. The demand for Tiatrs from Goa was higher than our local Tiatrs and that’s when we stopped doing our shows,” she said.
Bella said she was the first lady director of Konkani stage in the UK and also took her Tiatr to Frankfurt, to perform for the German Goans.
She was also founder member of the Margao Union UK, which was started in 2003.
“I have been associated with Margao Union till date without missing even one celebration. I now head the Margao Union,” said Bella.
Bella was then elected as PR and Social Director for the Goan Association UK six years ago.
“I worked hard to organise many social activities for our Goan community, which included the GOA UK’s annual pilgrimage. I have done a lot of PR and social media work to promote GOA UK and its activities, much to the appreciation of the Goan community,” said Bella.
“I have recently completed my term and a replacement is in place.”
Bella has also been supporting the North London Goans and Nanjgel in social activities, which includes celebrating the St Francis Xavier feast on December 3.
Besides her involvement in associations, Bella is also an emcee at shows.
I have compered and hosted many events over the years with different organisations, private birthday parties, christenings, etc. I have also raised the toast at a few weddings,” said Bella.
LOVE FOR GOA
Bella insists that her love for Goa, its culture and traditions have never left her even though she left Goa in the 1980s.
“My passion for Goa will never fade away. I will continue to work for our Goan community as long as I can. You will definitely see more of me in the near future as I am not settling down just yet. Goans want me and I want Goans. Let’s keep the flag of Goa flying high and let’s be proud to be Goan,” said Bella.
