Media Release
Dubai, Oct 5: The 15th anniversary celebration of St Mary’s Konkan Community (SMKC) Dubai, will be held with a spectacular and attractive 'Grand Konkan Showers 2015' event on Sunday December 6 from 6 pm onwards at St Agnes Special School Grounds, Bendore, Mangaluru.
SMKC Dubai, a premier philanthropic association in the UAE and back home in Mangaluru will also be organizing a special 'Wilfy Nite' show filled with new concept of rhythmic peppy songs and dances along with standup comedy.
Bishop Dr Aloysius Paul D'Souza
Bishop of Mangaluru, Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, who has supported and encouraged SMKC Dubai throughout the years to continue such selfless services to the poorest of poor from the community, will be presiding over the event on December 6. He has always encouraged and admired the good works towards the diocesan charitable projects and has sent his blessings and good wishes for this event.
The amount raised from this event will be disbursed for the following projects:
• 'Tanzania Mission' towards the poorest of the poor children and people of God, where the bishop of Mangaluru diocese has set up a project working closely for the upliftment of the society.
• Top up 'SMKC Dubai Education Trust Fund' established at Bishop’s House, Mangaluru, so as to empower many more underprivileged families of rural areas by educating deserving candidates as engineers, doctors, nurses and other professions.
• Top up 'SMKC Dubai Health Care Fund' established at St Anne’s Friary, Capuchin order, Mangaluru, to provide medical assistance for very low income families.
The SMKC Education Trust Fund established in 2004 at Bishop’s House, Mangaluru has so far contributed Rs 63,61,500. SMKC Dubai was the only Association in the Middle East to have assisted students in professional courses from 2004. So far, the below have benefitted from this fund.
24 engineering students at Rs 2 lacs each = Rs 48,00,000
2 MBBS students at 2 lacs each = Rs 4,00,000
2 MBA students at 1 lac each = Rs 2,00,000
38 students of nursing course = Rs 5,90,000
5 Students of Technical course = Rs 55,000
3 students of teaching course = Rs 40,000
Total = Rs 60, 85, 000.00
The students who have benefitted from SMKC Education Trust Fund are from very poor family background belonging to dioceses of Mangaluru and Udupi. Currently four engineering, one MBBS, one homeopathic, one business hotel management students are pursuing their studies.
Fr Cyprian D'Souza
SMKC Dubai has continued these outreach services to the poorest of poor from Konkan community due to its founder spiritual director Fr Cyprian Peter D’Souza, superior of St Anne’s Friary, Bejai, Mangaluru who has been the guiding force and inspiration to SMKC Dubai ever since its inception on October 22, 2001.
The SMKC Medical Trust Fund was established in 2012 at St Anne’s Friary, Mangaluru with the starting amount of Rs 10 lacs. This fund is managed by the founder spiritual director Fr Cyprian D’Souza The interest accruals have been used to assist the medical expenses of a few of the poorest families of the district.
Noel Mascarenhas
Founder president of SMKC Dubai Noel Mascarenhas says, "SMKC Dubai has always aimed at being unique in all its endeavors and is considered to be one of the most versatile and generous associations by our community, not only in the Gulf but across the entire Konkan belt." SMKC Dubai has had generous and supportive backing of benefactors/donors belonging to the Konkan community along with dedicated and active members who stood together through rain or sunshine. In a span of 14 years, SMKC Dubai has contributed Rs 1.55 crores towards the community welfare projects.
SMKC Dubai is expecting a large crowd for the annual celebration. Entry is free and free transport is arranged after the show to major stops in Mangaluru city.
Watch this space for more announcements in the coming days. Daijiworld is the media partner for this event.