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April 25, 2010 marked a significant chapter in the 21 year history of the International Goan Organization(Ontario) - IGO.

The founding president, Zulema D'Souza and several long serving and dedicated Directors turned over the affairs of the IGO to a new group of volunteers. Their mandate:

"to enhance the collective capacity of Goans to meet the social, economic, cultural, educational and communal challenges that face Goans in Goa and in the lands of their adoption through special projects, information dissemination and emergency assistance, as and when required.”

- IGO Constitution, 1989

The new team met on several occasions and developed an Action Plan to fulfill this mandate.

Our first and most immediate task (2010-2011) is information dissemination. A re-vamped IGO website and a blog will be launched this Fall to facilitate internal and external communications.

Our second task (2010-2014) is to sustain our advocacy work on behalf of Canadian-Goans having trouble obtaining visitor visas and Overseas Citizenship of India identities. Links to the latest requirements are available by clicking on the large NEWS FLASH button on the home page of the current IGO website:  www.igo-ontario.com

Our third task (2012-2014) is to undertake special projects that will: 

1. enhance education and engagement (eg. study exchanges, knowledge transfer, books for schools);
2. raise awareness and help resolve environmental issues (eg. over-development, garbage and recycling, mining); and
3. build relationships with stakeholder groups, the Government of Goa, Indian embassy and consular officials, and federal and provincial government officials in Canada.

IGO’s actions will be guided by that which is realistic and doable and we will strive to keep you apprised through our website, special forums and meetings.

Would you like to get involved? Do you have some thoughts you’d like to share? Can you help us with a donation? Become a “Friend of IGO.” Please write to me president@igo-ontario.com

Yours truly,

Ludovic D'Souza