Mangalore: KCO Abu Dhabi Distributes Student Scholarship Worth Rs 10.17 Lacs
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
Mangalore, Aug 21: For Konkani Cultural Organization (KCO), Abu Dhabi and its members it is like an annual feast back in Mangalore to distribute scholarship to needy students of the community to help continue their education. They look forward to this annual feast with renewed enthusiasm and to feel the joy of witnessing their contribution going for the noble cause of educating the needy students.
Continuing this righteous cause with the same moxie with which KOC was established in Abu Dhabi in 1995, scholarships worth Rs 10,17,000 were distributed today to 155 needy students of the community in a glittering function held at the Milagres Senate Hall, Mangalore. The programme was held in coordination with “Samanvaya”, Mangalore and the 155 beneficiary students were chosen by KCO and Samanvaya after careful scrutiny of their applications for approving their names for the scholarship.
No doubt it has taken months of hard work for KCO and Samanvaya to pick the final beneficiary of 155 students. But the smile on the beneficiary students said it all - they were grateful for their generosity. And the KCO members were happy realizing that all the painstaking efforts and their contribution were being utilized for the worthy cause of the higher education of students.
Rev Fr J B Crasta, Director of St Joseph’s Workshop, Jeppu was the chief guest of the function and Rohan Monteiro of Property Infra Tech was the guest of honour. Fr Crasta inaugurated the student scholarship distribution function by lighting the lamp along with other members on the dais. Rev Fr J B Crasta, Rohan Monteiro of Property Infra Tech, Leo Rodrigues, former and founder director of KCO, Robert Rego, President of KCO Gerald D’Mello and Leena D Souza distributed the scholarships to students of the community belonging to the Mangalore diocese.
In his message to the beneficiary students Fr Crasta described KCO as a Good Samaritan and congratulated them for their generous contributions to help educate the students and thus strengthen the society. He requested KCO to continue the good work and extend further help to the students by arranging coaching to enter into Civil Service and other highly competitive examinations in the coming years. For the students he said “the future of the society depends on your young shoulders. We (KOC and Samanvaya) can only give you inspiration but the next step towards success must be taken by you. You must day-dream to realize and to fulfill your dreams. You must work with a focused mind and with solid determination. People have trust on you and by taking this inspiration you must work hard to make a success of your life”.
Fr Crasta also called upon the students to evince interest in various educational schemes introduced by the central and state governments including mid-day meal, compulsory education, Sarva Shikha Abhiyan and other similar schemes and make the best use of them. He further added that continuing in the same footsteps KCO and Samanvaya have come forward to help needy students towards their educational expenses. Quoting the bible he said “what you have done to others you have done to me. KCO and Samanvaya have followed this to the core by providing financial assistance to the students”.
Guest of honour Rohan Monteiro said it was his desire to see the students get financial assistance to continue their education. He further said “KCO members have sacrificed a lot to contribute to the KCO Trust and their sincere efforts to provide scholarship must be utilized fully for the purpose by the students”.
Former President of KCO Winston D Souza talking about the success of KCO has achieved said KCO which was a small plant a few years back has grown into a big tree and the fruits of the tree are being distributed to the young students in the form of scholarship. He however, called upon the beneficiary students to give back to Samanvaya for the help they received by contributing whatever they can once they start working, so that Samanvaya can extend the scholarship benefits to other needy students.
In his motivation speech founder President of KCO Leo Rodrigues urged the students not to fall prey to the various destructive and dreadful habits like use of drugs and also asked them to help those students who have become slaves of drugs to get rid of “Sadly, many youngsters these days have fallen prey to drugs and bad habits. You must not only keep away from such bad habits but also help bring back those druggies to the mainstream”, he stated.
For the parents he said that they have to keep a constant watch and monitor the performance and behavior of their children. He pointed out that KCO members have contributed their hard earned earnings to provide scholarships and asked the students to remember and pray for its members. “Students must work hard and improve their performance and try to bring forward the community through education. When you perform well we will be highly inspired to work with renewed vigour and determination and help more students to get scholarships”, Leo Rodrigues explained.
President of KCO Gerald D Mello stated that distributing scholarship “is a matter of immense satisfaction to all the members of KCO”. Emphasizing on the importance of education he said “education plays an important role in the development of the country. Higher education is essential as it is the gateway to greater success”. He recalled that KCO was born by the sweat and hard work of the members who worked in the sweltering heat of Abu Dhabi but thought of extending a helping hand to those needy students back home. “This scholarship is the result of the hard work and good thinking of the members of KCO. You should not disappoint them and allow their efforts to go in vain”, D Mello stated.
Along with Chief Guest and guest of honour Michael D Silva, Robert Rego, Franklin D Cunha, Winston D Souza, Leena D Souza, Bennet D Mello, well known compere Leslie Rego, Archibald Fernandes and Felix D Silva were also present on the dais.
The programme began with a prayer song by the students of Samanvaya. Rev Fr Ronal Cutinho, Director of Samanvaya, who also compered the programme, welcomed the guests to the dais. Rev Fr Dr Pius Fidelis Pinto, Manager of Samanvaya, welcomed the guests and introduced the Chief Guest Fr J B Crasta to the assembled gathering. Robert Rego proposed the vote of thanks.
The student scholarship distribution programme was followed by a scrumptious lunch.