The Goa Sudharop team along with the Goa Star Women Award 2023.
Goa Sudharop, a Goan diaspora volunteer non-profit organisation based in California-USA, has been awarded the prestigious Goa Star Women Award 2023 (NGO category).
The award was accepted by Goa Sudharop Executive Director Verma D’Mello and Trustees Zita D’Mello, Fatima Dias and V Fodnekar at a function organised by the Goa Panchayat Mahila Shakti Abhiyan and Rebuild India Trust in association with the Directorate of Panchayats, Government of Goa, in Dona Paula on May 14.
“Goa Sudharop has been actively working in the field of social work for the betterment of Goa and Goans worldwide without fanfare or calling attention to our work since it was founded in 2000. Therefore, it came as a pleasant surprise this month when we won the prestigious Goa Star Women Award 2023 (NGO category). We were recognised for our hard work on the ground towards the empowerment of women, an award which salutes women achievers in various fields,” said Harriet Ferens, US-based President of Goa Sudharop.
Expressing gratitude to the organisers for recognising the Goa Sudharop team and their work for the underprivileged, Ferens said: "The entire organisation of volunteer staff, donors, supporters and well-wishers are extremely pleased with this award. We will strive to further our efforts with many activities in the future."
Goa-based Goa Sudharop Executive Director Verma D'Mello said the team has strived to host many training programmes for underprivileged women to raise their employment potential. “We have a strong team behind Goa Sudharop and we always look to see how we can contribute back to society,” said D’Mello.
During the pandemic, Ferens said Goa Sudharop reached out to the needy and medical community with important medical supplies, meals, etc.
“In addition, we launched a project to revive the Kunbi sari, a project which has received worldwide acclaim and allowed Goa Sudharop to single-handedly restore pride in this lost Goan fabric/symbol.”
“Since 2000, Goa Sudharop has conducted various workshops related to education, the environment, children/women rights, gender sensitivity, etc. and projects related to carpentry, pottery, painting, farming and much more.”
“Each project is designed to provide low-income people (primarily women) an opportunity to learn new skills and earn an income, achieve self-sufficiency and economic independence. More details of our activities are available on our website (goasudharop.net),” Ferens added.
