HAPC (Goa) in the News
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16th December 1993
The fate of unfortunate families the world over keeps worsening year by year, as the international economic conditions deteriorate with resultant rise in prices and the lowering of living standards. It is a matter of grave concern that these are the families with the largest number of children and it is the children who suffer the most. Being brought up in unhealthy conditions, with lack of basic amenities these children form the highest percentage of school drop-outs and they face a clouded future.
It is a matter of pride that we have in Goa an absolutely voluntary group of concerned citizens trying to alleviate some of this unfairness meted out to children in increasing number of hapless families. When one views Goa with a jaundiced eye, one sees only the proliferation of 5-starred hotels, the entry of Japanese golf courses, the wealth coming in from Gulf countries. One fails to see the increasing numbers of the unemployed, the reckless destruction of natural resources and the steady increase in the ranks of those falling below the poverty line.
HAPC (Help A Poor Child) is the name of the small organisation endeavouringto bring public awareness of the plight of the poor children and where possible to do something about it. In 1980, a group of NRI young Goan professionals, lead by Mr Derrick Pereira originally from Tivim, met in London and started this charitable institution with the purpose of providing funds for needy children irrespective of caste and creed in various parts of India.
Soon the idea caught on and in Bombay, Madras, and Calcutta similar voluntary charitable organisations were setup, and today good work is being done among needy children. It was inevitable that this charitable movement deeply rooted in Goa should have a branch here and in May 1992 a dedicated group from Corlim started the Goa branch of Help a Poor Child.Since then these voluntary workers have done commendable work but the scope for child welfare in Goa is vast and many more volunteers are required in the field.
Last year HAPC (Goa) organised a musical evening at Clube Tennis da Gaspar Dias where many musical groups performed free of charge. More than half of the proceeds from this function were donated to Peace Haven the Handicapped Children’s Home at Caranzalem in order to repair a wall that had fallen during the monsoons.
A successful games morning was held for poor children of the Corlim area andprizes distributed. At the Bal Niketan Remand Centre a party was held for the children. HAPC works for all poor children irrespective of caste or creed.
HAPC hopes to open a Distribution Centre at Panjim. This will greatly facilitate their work of distribution of clothing, food, stationery, etc, to really needy infants and school-going children. It will also serve as a convenient centre where requests for help can be brought, discussed and processed. Finally the centre hopes to attract volunteers to participate in the noble task of uplifting the conditions of hapless children. This is the ideal voluntary work for socially-minded school and college students.
By Lloyd Rodricks for The Navhind Times –
Goa
Thursday December 16, 1993