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YOUTH CONVENTION

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SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT

International Goan Youth Convention

The International Goan Youth Convention, which evolved from the Toronto International Goan Convention, was held at the Kala Academy, Panaji, Goa from December 17-27, 1990, with Adv. Herculano Dourado serving as Convenor.

Activities at the 10-day Convention included Inter-Religious Prayer; Meetings and Presentations; Workshops; Midnight Mass in Old Goa; and a Farewell Dinner and Dance.

All in all, the gathering represented an opportunity for Goans to come together and formulate plans to keep the World Goan Family "In Touch" through Exchange Programs; Investment Opportunities; and Cultural Exchanges.

International Academic Conference "GOA- Continuity and Change"

(Co-sponsored by the University of Toronto and the IGO - March 14-17, 1991)

This conference, co-sponsored by the University of Toronto, South Asian Studies, and the IGO was held in Toronto, and examined the emigration experience of the Goan community in the various lands of its adoption.

A publication (available from the University of Toronto Press) entitled: "Goa - Continuity and Change" and which included highlights of the proceedings from the Academic Conference was launched in 1995. It contains Papers presented by Professors John Correia Afonso S.J.; John Hobgood; John M. de Figueiredo; Peter Nazareth; Eusebio L. Rodrigues; Arthur Rubinoff; David Higgs; Randolf G. S. Cooper; Janet Ahner Rubinoff; Narendra Wagle and Jose Pereira; writer Lino Leitao; educator Zulema de Souza; and four Toronto Goan youth: Jennifer Noronha; Lola Vaz; Sharon de Souza and David D'Silva.

Prof. N. Wagle, University of Toronto; Prof. G. Coelho, University of Maryland; and Prof. R. Da Costa, University of Ottawa served as Co-Coordinators of the Conference.

The Conference served to enhance the sense of the Goan Community's unique cultural identity and the traditional and transformational aspects of their participation in the modern world.

Indo-Canadian Enterprise Exchange Program

Planning:
The Indo-Canadian Enterprise Exchange, conducted in 1993, was spearheaded by the International Goan Organization and co-sponsored by the University of Toronto Centre for South Asian Studies. The objectives of the program were to:

• Transfer know-how, intellectual expertise and technical assistance to India.
  
• Train professional managers and entrepreneurs in international business.
  
• Build and maintain business networks that lead to new strategic business alliances and investment opportunities.
• Broaden delegates' understanding of western management principles and generate appreciation of culture and business environment through better communication.
  

The goal was to select five candidates from Goa, India, although other delegates from India would be admitted if nominated and sponsored by Canadian firms. Selection criteria for the delegates included:

Ability to conduct business discussions in the English language;
Knowledgeable of elementary concepts of western market systems and management;
Empowered to engage in negotiations on their employer's behalf.
Applications from candidates were reviewed and English language comprehension tests and personal interviews conducted.
The selected delegates provided the cost of return international airfares to and from Toronto. The International Goan Organization arranged and financed accommodation, local travel and meals. The estimated cost to the IGO was $70,000.

Implementation:
In the summer of 1993, Xerox Canada agreed to become the corporate sponsor. Xerox Canada developed a four-week business program which covered Xerox's philosophy, ethics, values, principles and business priorities. Leadership through Quality courses offered by Xerox included a New Employee Workshop, New Employee Quality Training, and a Process Management Workshop. These Quality Specialist Workshop Tutorials ensured delegates' comprehension of the concepts presented and hence develop the appropriate business and management skills.
The Academic Program offered by the University of Toronto integrated theory with action, with the objective of expanding delegates' understanding of western market concepts and management principles thereby enhancing their ability to organize and conduct business negotiations. The goals of the program included:

An understanding of market forces and their influence on management decisions
An overview of the major functions of management as they related to entrepreneurship concepts, opportunity recognition, network building and accessing resources.
Using the aforementioned eligibility and selection criteria, five delegates arrived in Toronto on November 16th, 1993, as listed below:

Norma Collaso, BA in Economics and Masters Degree in Management Studies specializing in Marketing. Norma trained with Cadburys in India, an advertising agency and was the owner of a newspaper. At the time of her participation in the exchange program in Toronto, Norma was working with a computer training institute called Datapro Information Technology. She was in charge of their training center and her duties involved administration, formulation of business promotion plans, market research and marketing.

Allwyn D'Costa, Master's Degree in Commerce specializing in Business Studies from Goa University. At the time of his visit to Toronto, Allwyn managed his family's agricultural business featuring rubber plantations. Allwyn was married and the proud father of a baby boy.

Stanley Dias, recently acquired his Bachelor's Degree in Commerce.

Bosco Rodrigues, Bachelor of Science from the University of Bombay. At the time of his visit to Toronto, Bosco was employed with the Goa Urban Co-operative Bank. He was also the equivalent of Mayor of the village of Cavelossium which is a popular tourist destination. He is the founding member of the Lions Club of Cavelossium and involved with the Santa Cruz of Cavelossium which promotes sports and cultural activities.

Salim Kazi worked as Manager with the Economic Development Corporation. This organization was involved in the promotion of industries by way of financing and equity participation, as well as working with aspiring entrepreneurs.

Indicators of Success/Outcomes:
All five delegates successfully completed both the academic and business programs. Each of them was asked to focus on one project which they would implement on their return to Goa. Using the Strategic Management Process, they made a presentation on their respective Business Plan, in addition to providing a report.

On their return to Goa, all delegates set a goal for themselves:

• Norma Collaso felt enriched by acquiring skills and knowledge which she would be able to apply to her current role and responsibilities;
  
• Allwyn D'Costa planned on setting up and managing a plastic container manufacturing business;
  
• Stanley Dias moved into the management of his family's real estate and farming business;
  
• Bosco Rodrigues decided to establish an aqua culture business specializing in tiger prawns; and
• Salim Kazi planned on establishing a Business Incubation Centre modeled on the Toronto equivalent which he visited and which boasts a 70% success rate.
  

Valuable linkages and partnerships were developed and strengthened. A total of 86 people were mobilized to assist in the project. Cellie Gonsalves, Director of the IGO and Project Manager for this initiative, extended the IGO's deep appreciation to the following:

• Mr. Len Cardozo and Mr. Tenio Evangelista from Minister of Immigration, Hon. Sergio Marchis' office, and Ms. Sue Hutchinson from Minister for International Trade, Hon. Roy McLaren's office for their assistance, without which the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi would not have reversed their decision to deny the delegates their visas.
  
• A sponsorship arrangement was negotiated with Xerox Canada. Mr. Richard Barton, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Xerox Canada, Mr. Peter McCulloch and the entire Xerox team designed a program which provided intensive, customized training and the Job Shadow program.
  
• A partnership was established with the University of Toronto. Mr. Dobri Stojsic developed a valued academic program which integrated theory with action learning called the Strategic Management Process. This expanded the delegates' understanding of western market concepts and management principles and equipped them with the knowledge to prepare a strategic plan and participate effectively in the business negotiation process. Professor Wagle obtained approval by the University of Toronto to endorse the Indo-Canadian Enterprise Program.

Left to Right - Myra Tavares (Director IGO), Bosco Rodrigues (Delegate), Cellie Gonsalves (Director IGO), Stanley Dias (Delegate), Hon. Sergio Marchi (Minister for Immigration - Gov. of Canada), Al Mathias (Director IGO); Norma Collaso (Delegate), Allwyn d'Costa (Delegate), Salim Kazi (Delegate), Zulema de Souza (President IGO)

The success of the Indo-Canadian Enterprise Exchange Program and the efforts of the International Goan Organization were well recognized and published in the Gomantak Times on October 20, 1993, the Herald on October 18, 1993 and in the Navhind Times on October 19, 1993.

The IGO of Ontario opted for a project of this nature because it believes that enhancing the intellectual capacity of our young entrepreneurs in Goa and providing them with an opportunity to gain exposure to western business and management practices will enable them to be a catalyst for sound business and economic growth on their return to the motherland.

Health Services Project

Planning:
The International Goan Organization of Ontario decided to ride the opportunity presented by the restructuring of health services in Ontario, which involved closures of hospitals and disposal of related surplus medical equipment, with the goal of transferring this surplus equipment and supplies to targeted charitable health organizations in Goa.

Eligibility criteria for receipt of medical equipment and supplies was established by the IGO. The consensus was that the health services organizations in Goa must be operated exclusively on a charitable basis; must provide care and services to poor and disadvantaged children, seniors, individuals suffering from infectious diseases or those terminally ill; and must be able to effectively use the medical equipment and supplies donated. Cellie Gonsalves, Director of the IGO visited Goa and met with management personnel of various missionary/charitable institutions, all of whom were overwhelmingly receptive of the project. They subsequently submitted their requests for hospital equipment and supplies to the IGO.

Cellie Gonsalves, Director of the IGO and Project Manager for this initiative, visited each selected health facility to ensure that they met and complied with the established eligibility criteria and to ensure that they would be able to use the donated medical equipment and supplies effectively. The following organizations were selected:

• St.Francis Xavier's Vocational Rehabilitation Centre for Disabled Children, Old Goa
  
• Christ the King Physiotherapy, Artificial Limb Centre, Santa Inez, Panjim
  
• Nirmala Mary Hospital and Dispensary, Cavelossim
  
• Shanti Avedna Ashram - Palliative Care and Cancer Treatment Center, Loutolim
  
• Missionaries of Charity (Mother Teresa) Maternity and Old Age Home, Panaji
  
• Lokvishwas Pratishthan's School for Handicapped Kids, Ponda
  
• Porvorim Lions Charitable General Hospital, Siolim
  
• Rotary Club of Panjim Charitable Hospital, Panjim
  

In order for the IGO to meet its objective, it had to ensure effective receipt and distribution of the medical equipment and supplies in Goa. To this end, Msgr. Alberto Luis, Executive Director of Caritas in Goa, was appointed to assume leadership of the IGO Health Services Quality Control Team in Goa.

The IGO developed a budget aimed at covering the cost of collection, storage, shipment of medical equipment and supplies to Goa as well as maintenance and distribution costs in Goa itself.

Implementation:
Intense and extensive networking was conducted with a number of hospitals and health services facilities to ensure the effective distribution and receipt of the pertinent medical equipment and supplies, while in Toronto arrangements were made for the storage of these resources pending shipment to Goa. Concurrently, several fundraising events, including a boat cruise, were held to raise funds for the project. The support received, from far and wide, in terms of both physical and financial resources, was very much appreciated and without which this project could not have been brought to fruition.

Indicators of Success/Outcomes:
Two shipments of medical supplies and equipment worth a total of $100,000 were sent and received in Goa. The first shipment included 75 wheelchairs, 95 walkers, 154 boxes of catheter units, 410 boxes of various athletic supports, 4110 syringe units, audiogram, hearing aids, crutches, angio sets and blood pressure sets. The second shipment included 64 wheelchairs, 81 folding aluminum walkers, 40 rollator walkers and other medical and health care equipment. Delivery and receipt of these resources was published in the Navhind Times on February 4, 1999 and the Evening Times, Gomantak on January 27, 1999.

Letters of thanks were received from Msgr. Alberto Luis, Executive Director of Caritas, Goa who coordinated the IGO efforts in Goa, as well as from receiving institutions and individual recipients of the donated resources. Contents of these letters including the following verbiage:

• It is only because of philanthropists like you (IGO), this institution is making headway for the upliftment of handicapped children in society and is creating self-reliance in their life".
  

Conclusion
The IGO Health Services Project served to affirm that numerous individuals' hearts are in the right place, in that, when approached, a number of individuals and organizations dug deep and donated funds, medical/health care resources and, most importantly, countless man-hours to make this project a success.

Stretching out our hands to bring comfort and assistance to the truly needy in our motherland was a source of great pride and satisfaction to the many individuals who were involved and is in line with the overall thrust and mission of the International Goan Organization of Ontario.

Best of Both Worlds