All posts by Jason Fernandes

25Oct/24

THIS IS MARIE / FAUSTINA A POOR ETHNIC HOMELESS GOAN LADY WITH SEVERE MENTAL DISABILITIES

Updates
24.10.2024. 8pm IST
This is MARIE / FAUSTINA a poor ethnic homeless goan lady with severe mental disabilities.
For 15+ years what I can remember her , always sitting outside NAVTARA RESTAURANT Panjim Goa.
Aggressive, unclean , abusive , suffering from severe mental disabilities.
Night time all 12 months be it cold, rain , winter used to sleep in old abandoned vechiles in the city.
From 2017 when I started the shelter homes I had an eye on her.
From Dec 2017 till Feb 2024 , numerous Inspectors were appointed at Panjim Police station but again not sure why she was still on the streets. 
Finally a genuine friend of the homeless street people in Goa, Inspector Mr Vijay Chondankar was appointed INSPECTOR of Panjim Police station in Feb 2024.
We requested PI Vijay to help get Marie / Faustina off the streets of NAVTARA Restaurant Panjim & he consented.
PSI Allaudin Khan was entrusted the job by the PI & Psi Khan did a good job by physically being present when Marie / FAUSTINA was taken off the streets and admitted into IPHB.
Thanks to all the Doctors @ IPHB who did a wonderful job in stabilizing Marie / FAUSTINA over a period of 6 months.
But along with severe mental disabilities Marie/ FAUSTINA is also suffering from a life threatening sickness.
Inspite of both complicated sickness we have taken her into our shelter Home yesterday after IPHB discharged her and Panjim Police requested us to care for her as she can't live on the streets again. 
Waiting for the order from Director of WCD, 
Mr Barretto to admitt her into our home.
It's a sad state of affairs in Marie / FAUSTINA case .
So many religious people , politicians, activists, NGOs like me also , Inspectors & Dysps , business people, etc over a period of 15+ years saw her but all did nothing or nothing much was done to get her to a home permanently.
It's a shame that our own goan people are homeless and left to fend on the streets till they die, as all departments are just too busy doing everything else than providing shelter to these genuine goan homeless.
Like Marie / FAUSTINA there are another 50 to 60 plus genuine ethnic poor abandoned people goans in need of shelter but who cares ?
We are trying but it's too stressful and expensive as most homeless are having mental disabilities with other Complicated health issues.
Departments like Social Welfare Department &  EMPOWERMENT of Persons with Disabilities Department need to pull their socks up and focus more on people with mental disabilities also.
We have a down to earth Minister for both the above Departments Mr Subhash Phal Dessai and two energetic Directors for  
Social welfare : Mr Ajit Panchwadkar 
EPwd : Mrs Varsha Naik
And all the above 3 are attempting to get things moving for people on the streets with mental disabilities but it's happening at a slow space and i am a man in a hurry.
The WCD department under The Director of 
Mr Manuel Barretto is working tirelessly to provide as much support as required to women on the streets through grants as well as through paperwork and we are grateful to him.
Last but not the least we thank The Hon CM of Goa for atleast giving us an opportunity to raise our grievances and understanding the issue of homeless goans aa well as non goans on the streets with mental disabilities. 
Sorry to write this and be rude but the truth is this ” Government through all departments is 
not / may not be keen to put down money / grants/ resources on people with mental disabilities as the returns are ZERO , where as Government through various departments especially Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Department is doing alot for peoole with physical disabilities which is good sign “.
The % of Persons with mental Disability as compared to physical disabilities is 70 : 30 or say 60 : 40 .
It hurts me that after following up non stop with WCD last 2 years , I am now forced to follow up with Social Welfare Department & EMPOWERMENT of PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES for grants towards shelter homes for homeless beggars & homeless goans on the streets with mental disabilities like MARIE / FAUSTINA.
Most Directors and top government officials in all departments want to help but the systems are just not moving fast and on the other side the demand for care and rehabilitation is rising quickly and fast.
Hon CM Mr Pramod Sawant and Social Welfare Minister Mr Subhash Phal Dessai should do something quickly for homeless beggars and poor homeless goans on the streets with mental disabilities. 
Incase anyone recognizes MARIE / FAUSTINA & knows her family please let me know through whatsapp messages only .
I am aware she is / was having a house on chorao island.
All communications strictly through whatsapp messages only on 8380097564
God bless you all
Donald Fernandes 
8380097564 / 7020314848
19Oct/24

HELP US TO BUILD NEW HOMES THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON AND GIVE A NEW LIVE TO THOSE IN RELIEF CAMPS.

Updates
19.10.2024  8pm IST
Help us to build new homes this Christmas season and give a new life to those in relief camps.
The festival of Christmas is just a few weeks away and the festival of Lights Diwali is just 2 weeks away and it's all excitement for all of us celebrating Christmas, Diwali or any festival.
Internally displaced people are already staying in camps last 18 months and one Christmas festival is over and the next one is approaching.
Recently we built a new home for a family in Singat , Churachandpur and we learnt that alot more families are In need of homes.
Watch this link of the 1st house built by us.
Each home is Rs 5 lacs only and our NGO has a list of about 10 families who need to get a home.
Christmas is about Birth of Christ in a stable when all the INNS refused the parents a place.
This is how the people in Manipur are suffering and if we can get togther and provide a home, our Christmas will be one of the best to have ever experienced.
Families and friends can get togther and contribute togther to fund one home.
We can even put up the name of the benefactor on the home and you can be satisfied that due to your sacrifice a family got a home.
Let's not ask why the authorities are not doing this but let's ask ourselves CAN WE BUILD A HOME through my family members/ friends circle ?.
Criticism of the authorities is no benefit in crisis but action is something which is the need of the hour.
Last 18 months we are continously working across many districts of Manipur and we are doing the little we can to help the poorest of the poor.
If a small NGO like us can build one home surely many can donate a home to help these poor people in Churachandpur.
To build this one home last 12 months we cut corners and kept aside a fixed amount of money so that when it reached Rs 5 lacs we paid for this home.
It's all about giving and giving cheerfully.
Recently in Goa last 3 months we have built / renovated / upgraded,  4 homes of our poor ethics goans and a couple of more families are being helped to get their homes repaired.
As we approach Christmas, please Put aside a little, try to cut the costs planned for Christmas, be little generous towards those in need and join in with us as we attempt to build homes for those in relief camps.
Be a blessing if you can afford and get blessed by those whose blessings will reach you spiritually.
God hears the cries and prayers of the poorest of the poor.
All communications strictly through whatsapp messages only on 8380097564
God bless you all
Donald Fernandes 
8380097564 / 7020314848
15Oct/24

STREET PROVIDENCE MANIPUR REACHES OUT TO 4 SCHOOLS ACROSS 4 DISTRICTS OF MANIPUR TOWARDS DISPLACED CHILDREN , WITH DRY RATION & STATIONARY

Updates
15.10.2024. 8pm IST
STREET PROVIDENCE MANIPUR for the month of September 2024 reaches out to 4 schools across 4 districts of Manipur towards displaced children , with dry ration & stationary.
Thanks to generous benefactors we were able to reach out to children in 4 schools.
☆ 1. For the 4th month in a row our benefactor
Mr Brian donated Rs 50k worth of Dry ration to :
St. Joseph’s school , Singngat 
Churachanpur district .
☆ 2. For the 3rd month in a row a leading goan vegetarian restaurant chain donated Rs 25k worth of dry ration to :
St. Anthony’s school, Machi.
Tengnoupal District.
☆ 3. A retired lady SBI Employee from Margao branch donated for the 1st time Rs 50k worth of Dry ration to :
St Vincent boarding, Pangmoul, 
Kangpokpi District
☆ 4. Miss Chanda Chaudhary a middle aged lady from Delhi, based in Nagali hills , Dona Paula was kind enough to provide donation Worth Rs 25k towards stationary to :
Holy Cross school, Kakching Khunou, 
Kakching district.
Life is difficult and tough for the poor and especially school children right across all districts of Manipur as economy is totally on a slow side.
Rising prices is something which always happens in any area suffering from calamity or conflict.
Winter is just creeping in so another requirements for blankets and other warm accessories.
It's all not happy moments at all across so many schools as it's over a year that the turmoil is going on and no one knows when it's going to end and when they all can go back to their normal lives in their own homes.
We are trying our little we can with the donations we receive from kind hearted benefactors who respond to our social media posts.
Without benefactors it's not possible to continuesly work in Manipur for over 18 months & counting.
Many many requests are coming especially for dry ration to children in boarding schools as non of these children parents can afford the fees as they are displaced.
Parents will be in other places and children in other places.
It's really really heart breaking to see the plight of the poor and suffering and the only solution is providing aid through the little you and I can afford.
All communications strictly through whatsapp messages only on 8380097564
God bless you all
Donald Fernandes 
8380097564 / 7020314848
04Oct/24

FOOD BANK SANGOLDA GOA COLLECTS 34 TONNES OF EDIBLE FOOD LAST 6 MONTHS FROM 9 FACTORIES IN VERNA INDUSTRIAL ESTATE

Updates
3.10.2024.  5pm
FOOD BANK SANGOLDA GOA collects 34 tonnes of edible food last 6 months from 9 factories in Verna Industrial Estate ie April 24 to Sept 24.
For this same 6 months period our overall total food collection was close to 40 tonnes.
I am repeating all Verna Industrial Estate factories are throwing out close to 3000 kgs on a daily basis good Cooked extra canteen food.
Food bank Sangolda on a daily basis is just collecting on a average 250 kgs to 300 kgs from these 9 factories.
Ultimately the extra food reaches the recycling plants instead of reaching the poor and hungry.
If we are to reduce the wet waste, Government of Goa should encourage & support,  by instructoring all Factories across GOA , to give away excess good canteen food to Food Bank Sangolda as we are the only food bank collecting food on a daily basis and feeding the poor and hungry.
All this 40 tonnes of food is collected in Food grade recyclable containers.
And in this manner we are not only reducing the wet waste but also avoiding the use of plastic bags.
Running food banks requires volunteers, feeders & most important TIME MANAGEMENT as food can't be stored but has to be moved out to the poor through feeders.
The credit for collecting these 34 tonnes of cooked food from Verna Industrial Estate goes to :
☆ Factory & Boilers, Secretary, Sanjit Rodrigues IAS 
& Chief Inspector of Factories and Boilers, 
☆ Mr Anant Pangam, who got this concept into the minds of the officials of these 9 factories,  that their canteen food instead of being thrown out can be used to feed the poor and hungry.
We thank the management of these 9 companies @ Verna Industrial Estate namely 
》 Sanofi
》Teva / watson
》Markson
》IFB
》Commscope 
》Cipla
》Siemens 
》Lupin 
》Microlabs
Our Food bank has a dedicated food bank truck which is fully refrigerated with the temperature going down to minus 2 degrees and we take utmost care with high level of cleanliness.
If there are other factories In Verna Industrial Estate who would like to donate their excess cooked food for the poor and hungry , then please get in touch with Mr Anant Pangam.
All communications strictly through whatsapp messages only on 8380097564.
God bless you all
Donald Fernandes 
8380097564 / 7020314848
03Oct/24

STREET PROVIDENCE GOA, WOMEN RESIDENTS SUFFERING FROM CHRONIC MENTAL DISABILITIES VISITED THE HON CM OF GOA

Updates
2.10.2024. 7pm IST
STREET PROVIDENCE GOA, women residents suffering from chronic mental disabilities from our 3 shelter homes visited The Hon CM of Goa at his official residence at Altinho Panjim Goa and thanked him for the UNWAVERING support.
In December 2023 we had visited The Hon CM as our grants for 21-22 , 22-23 & 23-24 of various shelter homes from WCD was delayed
Immediately in January 2024 , 5 shelter homes grants were released.
Again in Early March 2024 , we were forced to visit The Hon CM as the financial year was ending & our two grants were not being released.
Immediately after the visit to The Hon CM, the two balance grants were released before March end.
But the issue has been, that these grants are calculated and designed in the year 2007 where as we are in 2024.
Basically it's Rs 4500 / Rs 2500 per person per month which WCD was paying us till March 2023.
Which absolutely not possible in today time.
Basically our struggle with the department has been to revise the shelter home rate to the current  year  ie 2024 which was just not happening.
Excuse is finance is not approving the budget.
When I approached Finance dept , the reply was proposal sent by WCD is not proper.
So the only option was close down or Approach The Hon CM. 
Again, meeting and finally The Hon CM as the Finance Minister looked and agreed to most of the practical difficulties faced by us in our shelter homes for women & assured all support.
Now WCD just can't complain FINANCE dept not co operating.
1st time from 2007 , WCD dept increased the budget which was calculated in 2007 after we approached The Hon CM and this year 40% of grants were released in 2 parts. 
There is another file to be signed by The Hon CM once it reaches him as The WCD Secretary , the ever smiling and ever helpful Mr Arun Kumar Mishra , IAS has moved a file to the finance dept for increase in budget / amendment to the budget which covers another 60% of what we are expecting.
In July 2024 orders for 3 homes  and 30th Sept 2024 orders for other 3 homes were released.
With these 6 orders the grant per person per month is Rs 9700 which one checks @ 8% inflation per year which is at 2012 year.
But to get even this money In advance was only possible because of The Hon CM of Goa who is now understanding fully the issues in Caring for goan homeless women & poor goan women with chronic mental disabilities.
It's a really happy and proud moment for Street Providence that after a long struggle, numerous morchas to WCD , Constant social media posts,  non stop follow ups every alternate day last 1year at WCD office – we have reached some where.
And that's because of The Hon CM of Goa Who looks at these ladies his sisters or as his mother.
Although the grant is for 60 goan homeless women with mental disabilities and poor goan women with mental disabilities we are doubling our beds from 60 to 120 ASAP.
With undoubted support from The Hon CM of Goa we are determined to see that no poor goan lady with mental disabilities is denied the right to live with dignity and for that our shelter homes will take them in.
I have one habit  : 
You trouble me at the NGO I will upload and spill out the frustrations I go through
You solve my problem :  I will publicly thank you.
And so this post is to Thank The Hon CM of Goa as I am very happy.
After months if not years of just being given excuse after excuse for the dirty & difficult work our NGO does which should have been done by the Department and The Government , finally we see the light at the end of the tunnel.
All communications strictly through whatsapp messages only on 8380097564
Please no negative comments on this post.
God bless you all 
Donald Fernandes 
8380097564 / 7020314848
28Sep/24

WE LAUNCHES A FREE TRANSPORT FACILITY FOR WHEELCHAIR CHAIR BOUND  PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND FREE BIRTHDAY CAKE FOR ANY SENIOR CITIZEN AGED 70 YEARS & ABOVE STAYING ALONE AT HOME IN 6 VILLAGES IN GOA

Updates
28.9.24.  4pm IST
STREET PROVIDENCE GOA launches on 29.9 24 a Free transport facility for wheel chair bound  people with disabilities in 6 villages in Goa which are :
☆ Saligao
☆ Sangolda
☆ Guirim
☆ Pilerne 
☆ Nerul 
☆ Reis Magos 
Recently State Commission for Persons with Disabilities Goa had given our NGO a FREE 
E-Rickshaw with a ramp facility where by a wheel chair bound person can be comfortably be wheeled into this E-Rickshaw.
Now instead of using this E-Rickshaw only for our shelter homes we decided that since there are numerous wheel chair bound poor persons in all villages of Goa , why no put to use this 
E-Rickshaw for society when not in use for shelter homes starting with the above 6 villages on a trial basis.
And so Mario Cordeiro from Saligao our volunteer from 2018 took upon himself to drive any poor wheel chair bound person from these villages of the above 6 villages.
I am from Saligao , our NGO is registered in Sangolda , we have 3 women shelter homes in Guirim for those with disabilities and who are homeless, our 1st day care Centre for senior citizens is starting in Pilerne & naturally we felt we should launch this facility in our own backyard before going across to other parts of Goa.
It's a Free service with certain small regulations to avoid the facility being misused just because it's free or just because the beneficiary is wheel chair bound.
To access the facility of the wheel chair one will need to take an appointment well in advance and whatsapp the voting card to the no 7385487281.
No demanding transport last minute as one needs to keep the driver ready.
Max one will be transported in your own wheel chair , with your own family member in tow upto 7 to 10 kms one way from the point of pick up.
Max time is 2 hours within which one will be picked up and dropped back.
Our Rickshaw driver will only drive the rickshaw and will not be involved in the wheel chair bound patient being taken out from the home , wheeled to the rickshaw and then wheeled out of the rickshaw to the point of the destination.
Incase the road is not motorable then the rickshaw will stop at the nearest point and the family will have to get the wheel chair bound patient to that point.
One family member has to accompany and move the wheel chair patient at all times.
Food Bank Sangolda launches on 29.9.24 
Free birthday cake for any senior citizen aged 70 years & above staying alone at home in 6 villages in Goa which are :
☆ Saligao
☆ Sangolda
☆ Guirim
☆ Pilerne 
☆ Nerul 
☆ Reis Magos 
This service too will be handled by Mario Cordeiro who will personally deliver the birthday cake to the door step of the senior citizen aged 70 years & above and staying alone.
All one needs to do is 7 days before the birthday whatsapp the voting card to Mario on 7385487281 and provide the Google map or exact address so that the Cake can be delivered. 
Both these services can be accessed by WhatsApp Mario or calling Mario on 7385487281
We intend to expand the Free birthday cake facility to other sections of Society with priorty being the poor suffering from disabilities with proof of either a disability Certificate or a UDID CARD initially in the above 6 villages only.
Anything Free is always exploited and we would like to be clear ” No pressure to be used as I am not a member of any Political party nor is both these programs Government funded “.
Follow the system/ rules and we will provide the free services.
Remember both these Free services are not Government funded but it's a 
STREET PROVIDENCE & FOOD BANK SANGOLDA initiative.
Through both these small projects we are reaching out to senior citizens staying alone as we as wheel chair bound persons with disabilities.
Once again we are Happy that Mario Cordeiro our volunteer has taken upon himself to implement both these projects along with our NGO.
All communications strictly through whatsapp messages only on 8380097564
God bless you all 
Donald Fernandes 
8380097564 / 7020314848
26Sep/24

STREET PROVIDENCE MAHARASHTRA IS STARTING 2 HOMES FOR POOR MEN & WOMEN WITH MENTAL DISABILITIES IN SAWANTWADI & IN KANKAVALI.

Updates
26.9.24. 7pm. IST
STREET PROVIDENCE MAHARASHTRA is starting 2 homes for poor men & women with mental disabilities In Sawantwadi & in Kankavali.
Friday ie tomorrow 27th Sept is the innaugration of our women home in Sawantwadi which can accommodate 12 women.
♡♡♡ Bishop Allwyn Barreto , Bishop of Sindhudurg will be blessings this home .
♡ Hon Minister Shri Deepak Kesakar &
♡ Hon Minister  Shri Ravindra Chavan ,
both Ministers Government of Maharashtra will be present for the innaugration. 
Our good friend Shri Crispin Sequeira is invited as a special Invitee.
1st week of November we intend to start the men's home in Kankavali.
Basically last few months we are only accepting Goans either homeless or those with mental disabilities in our 11 homes in Goa.
We require your help to set up and get this home up and running at Sawantwadi.
A list is attached which we need to get this home up and running.
Currently we have purchased new bunker beds as the rooms are small and two single beds would not be possible in the rooms.
Other items can be second hand but we will accept only once we are sure it can be used and it's in usable condition. 
Many poor homeless people are in Goa who are from all states including Maharashtra in need of care and rehabilitation and we call them beggars/ outsiders/ etc living on the streets.
Due to they living on the streets they develop mental disabilities and then either create a nuisance which makes the police admitt them into IPHB or other Government hospitals.
Once discharged they again reach the streets and the same cycle continues till the police stop picking them up as it's a waste of Government funds or they just end up dead on the streets as unclaimed.
Soon the tourism season will start and the Exposition will commence & I am sure that the Goa Police and The State administration have not made provision to tackle the beggars menace.
Through social media we are informing the Goa state administration that if they really want to reduce Beggars and the homeless in Goa then these two homes are at their disposal through Street Providence. 
Anyway, Goa is one of the States in India which is yet to have a beggars home and we are often called up by Goa Police to shelter & rehabilitate beggars/ homeless.
But we can't rehabilitate non goans on long term basis and the only option is to send them back to their families through repatriation process and that's why we are opening homes across India in different states.
Plenty of non goans in IPHB , GMC , DISTRICT HOSPITALS even in the JAIL who are from different states who need to go back once they get discharged or are set free but due to shame or no motivation stay back in Goa & ultimately reach the streets.
Government of Goa is spending huge amounts of resources on these people which can be reduced if sent back to their state.
Since Sindhudurg district does not have a psychiatric institute like Goa there are many poor people suffering from mental disabilities who require care and rehabilitation and we intend to also use these homes for these poor people, instead of they either being abandoned or they not receiving care.
Consistently i have been addressing various  problems which the state government has failed to even visualize let alone implement and working towards the solutions.
Our NGO was the 1st to open homes in Goa for the homeless , the beggars, those poor goans  with mental disabilities not having a place to rehabilitate.
Now we are the only NGO from Goa who has opened homes in Maharashtra & Jharkhand for those living on the streets of Goa who should be repatriated back to their state.
We 1st work and then make noises when Government refuses to acknowledge our work.
Before I end I want to state we will care and rehabilitate the poor , the homeless & those with mental disabilities in their respective states by opening homes for men & women.
In Goa its only going to be Goans in all our Homes who will be rehabilitated and cared for.
All communications strictly through whatsapp messages only on 8380097564
God bless you so much 
Donald Fernandes 
8380097564 / 7020314848
24Sep/24

STREET PROVIDENCE MANIPUR CONSTRUCTS OUR 1ST HOME FOR A DISPLACED FAMILY IN, SINGAT,  CHURACHANDPUR

Updates
24.9.24. 7pm IST
STREET PROVIDENCE MANIPUR constructs our 1st home for a displaced family in, Singat,  Churachandpur in association with The Archdiocese of Imphal which was handed over to the family recently.
The house consists of a :
☆ small sit out / Veranda
☆ Small hall 
☆ One bedroom
☆ One Indian washroom.
And an open space around the house which is demarcated with wooden poles.
This huge plot was donated to the Archdiocese of Imphal by a family whose daughter is a nun in a congregation in Churachandpur. 
A total of 100 such houses can be constructed on this plot and as of date 50 houses have been constructed with another 50 houses yet to be completed due to the want of donations.
Beautiful scenery , sun kissed clouds , cool breeze, lush and quite environment.
Breath taking view.
How do I know?
Well I have been to this place and we are planning our 2nd women rehabilitation home just next to this plot of land.
We have been working consistently in Manipur over the last 1 year with the support of generous benefactors, (95% have never seen/ met me ) and we have shared the benefactors donations to the poor people displaced due to the violence.
Our projects as of date :
☆ 1. Four 32 ft truck load of relief material from Goa to Churachandpur.
☆ 2. Huge qty of medicines sent from Delhi to Churachandpur & Kangpokpi 
☆ 3. Purchased locally dry ration in Manipur month after month last 16 months.
☆ 4. Paid fees for 110 displaced school children.
☆ 5. Set up a 15 bed shelter home for men with disabilities in Imphal
☆ 6. Acquired a Registration certificate from The Government of Manipur as an NGO valid for 5 years from The Social Welfare Department. 

☆ 7. And now WE HAVE built a small brand new home for a displaced family worth Rs 5 lacs.
The link and the video will explain about this home and the scenic location.
Life is difficult, economy is slow or stopped, prices are rising, people are suffering from anxiety and stress, future is bleak for those whose homes are destroyed and so many other issues which poor displaced people in both communities are facing.
You too can join in with our NGO if you have seen the video and link in building a few homes which can benefit a few more families on whatever capacity one can afford.
Our future projects :
◇ 1. A women shelter home in Churachandpur for twenty ladies suffering from mental disabilities 
◇ 2. Providing poor families live stock like chicks , duckling, and other animals so that they earn a small livelihood by rearing them for eggs and food in the future.
◇ 3. Providing needle work and crotchet items as well as sewing machines so that the finished items can be sold locally for their survival.
◇ 4. Building atleast 10 more homes so that 10 families get a roof over their head.
It's a real nightmare for the poor and those with sickness & disabilities across Manipur.
I have spent 5 days across different districts of Manipur and it's sad to see people suffering from both communities.
It's unimaginable & unbearable to understand what it means to be a displaced person in a camp where sanitation, privacy, education, nutrition etc is pathetic if not a living nightmare.
Everybody wants PEACE & NORMALCY & the poor , the children, the elderly, the people with disabilites, the youth with no jobs are all waiting to go back to their homes and their lives.
We who have jobs, education, homes, medical facilities, good infrastructure, entertainment etc should thank God for all these blessings.
Before I end I must say ” it's been a wonderful experience in the last 1 year + working in Manipur through our volunteers ” and I have never experienced so much pain and disappointment among the poorest of the poor.
Street Providence Manipur will continue to assist people through the little we can.
You too can join in and play your little part.
All communications strictly through whatsapp messages only on 8380097564
God bless you all 
Donald Fernandes 
8380097564 / 7020314848
22Sep/24

LAST 10 YEARS A PARTICULAR POOR GOAN CATHOLIC FAMILY IN TUEM SKIPPED BRINGING OUR LADY STATUE TO THEIR HOME

Updates
21.9.24. 10 pm IST
If you are a Roman Catholic and you r from Goa then we have a Religious ceremony called ” OUR LADY ” or ” SAIBIN ” where the Statue of Our Lady visits each catholic house for 24 hours.
Rewind 10 -15 years back and almost the entire vaddo in a village in Goa from all communities would be present for SAIBIN.
Prayers , Holy Rosary , then a small fellowship meal where BOILED GRAMS , cake & other goan sweets would be given to all who attended the SAIBIN. 
But last 10 years a particular poor goan catholic family in TUEM consisting of elderly mother & her son with disabilities skipped bringing Our Lady Statue to their home.
Reason ? 
Watch the video in the link attached to this post and leave your comments.
So what changed,  that after 10 years , this elderly mother yesterday brought The Statue of Our Lady to her small and simple home ?
Well last 7 months our NGO volunteer
 Mr Arturo Dsouza has been providing monthly dry ration &  a small monthly allowance to this poor goan family at TUEM.
A local young Hindu man Mr Chandrashekar from TUEM Village has been keeping in touch with the family & our Volunteer Mr Arturo.
Mr Arturo visits the family once a month as a courtesy gesture for their ”  KHOBOR ” which made the elderly lady belive that some one cares about them.
This small gesture every month was the turning point as the elderly mother believed That Mother Mary heard her prayers & as a sign of gratitude the elderly mother last month made up her mind to bring SAIBIN home.
Just imagine this, if you were in her place :
》You are 85 years old,
》No money, so expenses for SAIBIN who will pay,
》Your only son is person with disabilites,
》Stressed & disappointing at a bleak tomorrow,
》Rising inflation,
》Low morale,
》No motivation.
But then Mr Arturo pops in March 24 & keeps coming month after month. 
Not to forget Mr Chandrashekar the local who is keeping an eye on them & helping them.
The elderly mother now feel :
》Some cares about her,
》Her living expenses are met ,
》Her motivation is back,
》It's time for Thanksgiving to Mother Mary.
Actually for me it's more of doing a little good to some elderly Mother who I never knew & never met.
One needs to see such elderly poor goan mothers with compassion as Mother Mary too would feel happy that a mother is comforted & at peace.
Remember:
The goodness you do to others, comes to you & to your family.
Rituals , traditions, ceremony to the poor and the last section of society means nothing because of poverty, isolation , despair , that sense of no one wants me , I don't belong to this society.
But now you can see in this video the  :
Joy, peace & love on the face of the elderly mother.
All communications strictly through whatsapp messages only on 8380097564
God bless you all
Donald Fernandes 
8380097564 / 7020314848
22Sep/24

A HOMELESS LADY WHO MIGHT BE A MOTHER / GRANDMOTHER   / AN AUNT / A SISTER BUT ABANDONED , WHY & BY WHOM IS A QUESTION WE DON’T HAVE ANY ANSWERS.

Updates
9.9.2024. 8pm. IST 
This post is about a homeless lady who might be a mother / a grandmother  / an aunt / a sister but abandoned , why & by whom is a question we don't have any answers.
Festivals & Feasts are always looked forward too by one and all.
In GOA, Hindus are  celebrating the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi and Catholics just celebrated the birthday of Mother Mary.
Once we finish celebrating any Festival / birthdays & Feast what next ?
What happens to the remaining days of the year till the next festival / birthday and Feast arrives ?
In our shelter homes we celebrate each and every resident birthday as well as all festivals.
This homeless lady FATIMA who is non goan but for surely is a mother,  was sitting at CHINCHINIM CHURCH  under the trees until we rescued her about 6 years back.
( link of when we picked her up 6 years ago )
Was Very aggressive , would wear very less clothes, suffering from stress and depression which I conclude was due to her being abandoned and who knows what else she suffered.
Worst part was & is SHE DOES NOT SPEAK HINDI but ASSAMESE only.
Anyway two to three years we had a tough time stabilizing her and teaching her ethic , table manners & orhers habits,  through sign language only.
Alot of care givers, drivers and other staff took alot of patience in dealing with her.
At IPHB FATIMA was diagnosed with PARKINSON'S & yet we still took care of her.
She is a lady who needs care but most of all she is a mother.
Today after 6 years Fatima can understand Hindi, is cool and calm, no aggressive nature, wears clothes and a few days back got a professional Haircut by a professional hairdresser fron Taj Holiday Village Sinquerim & her joy & expressions were beyond our dreams.
We have about 40+ such abandoned mothers, majority Goans rescued from the streets of Goa & still a huge no of abandoned mothers are waiting for you and me to help them reach a home from the streets of Goa.
We also care for 35+ abandoned men & women suffering from Dimentia & Parkinsons disabilities.
All religious heads & the government needs to focus on women abandoned on the streets who ultimately will be diagnosed as person with disabilites due to stress and physical & mental torture as well as hunger and loneliness.
Not many want to dirty their hands caring for people with mental & intellectual disabilities especially the homeless mothers/ ladies but all types of celebrations related to mothers / ladies are celebrated.
Our state & our country has officially put out figures at 15% of the population suffering from disabilities and this is rising fast.
In our country of 1.4 billion there are only 450 psychiatric hospitals and less spoken about
half way homes / mid way homes / rehabilitation homes the better it is.
Society needs to support NGOs doing this work as Government has failed across the board & religious heads needs to address this issue seriously,  either by opening their own rehabilitation homes or tying up with NGOs running such homes.
Birthdays / Feasts / Festivals come every year but the poor mothers on the streets as well as  ladies and the marginalized children are never ever part of such events as no one is bothered about them.
We are blessed that we were able to rescue & rehabilitate FATIMA inspite of her Parkinson disabilities and we are ever ready to double our intake of homeless mothers and ladies on the streets.
All communications strictly through whatsapp messages only on 8380097564
God bless you so much 
Donald Fernandes 
8380097564 / 7020314848