All posts by Street Providence

05May/25

 WE ARE LAUNCHING 3 PROJECTS WITH THE SOLE INTENTION OF A BETTER GOA FOR GOANS, AS WELL AS TO GENERATE INCOME FOR OUR SHELTER HOMES

Updates
12.12.2024. 8pm IST
STREET PROVIDENCE – GOA is launching 3 projects with the sole intention of a better Goa for Goans, as well as to generate income for our shelter homes in which we provide free rehabilitation to poor people living on the streets with mental disabilities. 
 
Our 3 planned projects are :
 
☆ 1. Retainership for providing services to safeguard your property in Goa.
 
☆ 2. Increasing the agricultural produce in Goa by  growing barren fields across Goa.
 
☆ 3. By providing job opportunities locally to students from ITI’s in Goa.
 
Our 1st project is in collaboration with RETIRED POLICE OFFICIAL WELFARE ASSOCIATION OF GOA.
 
RETIRED POLICE OFFICIAL WELFARE ASSOCIATION OF GOA, is headed by Sir Ramesh Gaonkar, Retd DySp of the Goa Police.  A down to earth Police officer, Sir Gaonkar joined the the Police force as a constable and rose up the ranks to retire as a DySp due to his honesty and integrity. .
 
Their association has 375+ members and in the last 7 years of their existence it attracts only the upright and honest officials whose mission is to give back to Society.
 
At the moment we are focused on Goans living abroad who are having their properties, houses & land in Goa but are unable to be sure if there are any encroachments, illegal tenants, illegal grabbing of their property due to the absence of the owner in Goa.
 
We keep hearing that property is grabbed of owners living abroad or owners who are abroad are  intimidated to sell even if they don't want to sell.
 
Through this project we intend to reduce the sale of Goan properties, by  safe guarding your property while you are abroad for a RETAINERSHIP FEE.
 
If all start selling their property in Goa and start migrating then there will be nothing left of GOA and Goans.
 
With the help of Retired Goan police personnel and the man power at our shelter homes who have been rehabilitated having been taken off the streets , we will be able to provide numerous services incase any Goan abroad is keen to avail of such services.
 
A retainership fee will be applicable which covers the basic transportation cost of moving to the property to oversee the security against encroachment and illegal activities.
 
Why RETIRED POLICE OFFICIAL WELFARE ASSOCIATION OF GOA ?
 
The Retired Police personal are based across Goa and getting them on board is a win win situation for all.
 
1. They are across Goa.
2. Logistics is quick and reduces transport costs.
3. Familiar with the locality.
4. Since they are Retired, they are willing to act and do their bit.
5. After retirement they bring their expertise to a worthy service 
6. A small source of income to keep them motivated.
7. With a wide range of networking and ground contacts of their years in service,  these retired police officers are a strong position to deal with the situation at hand based on the requirements of the customers.
 
We have planned to increase our shelter home capacity currently from 250 beds to 500 beds and that will require resources and finances.
 
With a huge manpower at our disposal, we will be able to put this manpower to use in the homes which we intend to undertake as a retainership supervised by the retired police personal from this ASSOCIATION.
 
Also the revenue we intend to generate will be used to run our homes and help us  increase the beds from 500 to 750 .
 
Looking at the high level of Goans reaching the streets we are convinced of the need to take in more such needy goans and provide them food clothing shelter & medicines.
 
We are aware that there will be various queries , views, thoughts, which are but natural as no NGO in the past has ever ventured into these areas.
 
◇ 1. When we started the food bank in 2017,  no one believed we would succeed, but today we save 8000 kgs to 10000 kgs monthly of wet waste reaching the dumps by feeding the poor people across Goa.
 
With our current proposal to the Government, we hope to save save 5000 kgs daily or 150000 kgs monthly of wet waste reaching the garbage dumps.
 
◇ 2. When we started the shelter homes in Goa it was assumed that only migrants are on the streets , but today of our current 180 strength we have 80% Goans- both men and women who we have rescued to live a life of dignity.
 
◇ 3. Like so many of our other programs, we provide in Goa services to many poor Goans like free dry  rations, building shelters, house repairs etc.
 
We always think ahead of the problem and our projects are in the interest of GOANS & HOW TO SAVE GOA.
 
This 1st project will be under the control & authority of two well know Goans :
Sir Bosco George, IPS Retd DIG , Goa Police &
Adv Caroline Collaso, High Court Advocate.
 
Sir Bosco George will be incharge of the operations with RETIRED POLICE OFFICIAL WELFARE ASSOCIATION OF GOA 
 
Adv Caroline Collaso will be incharge of the legal matters.
 
As for me I will be incharge of the office and other connected works.
 
For the other two projects we have another two reputed Goa Police IPS officers incharge but those projects are slated to be launched once we stabilise and get running this 1st project sometime in mid 2025 or end of 2025
Pleased be free to mail us on Street.providence79@gmail.com if you are keen to avail of our services to save guard your property in Goa.
This project is only for Goans who are abroad initially.
God bless you all
Donald Fernandes 
8380097564 / 7020314848
05May/25

JUST THE RIGHT TIME TO PROVIDE WARMTH TO THE POOR CHILDREN WHO MIGHT JUST BE IN NEED OF A BLANKET OR A MONKEY CAP.

Updates
9.12.2024.  9pm IST 
🌲🌲🌲Christmas is around the corner as well as winter temperatures are dropping across North India.
And just recently Pondicherry & TN faced a cyclone.
Just the right time to provide warmth to the poor children who might just be in need of a blanket or a monkey cap.
Check the weather on Google about the drop in temperatures across North India.
In Jharkhand surrounding our shelter home we have 4 schools In the vicinity with a combined strength close to 1500 children who most of them walk kms to come to school including the winter.
In Delhi & Haryana we have decided to do something this Christmas for Street children & children with disabilities.
Pondicherry & TN , went thru a severe cyclone last week and we havd identified 175 poor families living in pitiful situations and the least we can do is provide them bedsheets, towels & blankets.
Infact our volunteers are shortly driving to Pondicherry & TN to hand over the relief material.
In Jharkhand we have already distributed 500 blankets thru Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas.
Another 1000 blankets & 1500 monkey caps go out this week thru Bishop Theodore. 
In Delhi we have a nun who is on the job.
In Haryana we have a school teacher helping us.
In Pondicherry we have a Goan priest Fr Nathan co ordinating with the local nuns in whose area these 175 families are temporary sheltered.
In Manipur we have just built our 2nd home and another 8 homes are committed.
If your views are in Sync with my views then it's time to donate whatever you can towards poor children across so many states.
Ultimately Christmas is a time of giving & giving to the poorest of the poor.
All communications strictly through whatsapp messages only on 8380097564
God bless you all
Donald Fernandes 
8380097564 / 7020314848
05May/25

BEING A LADY, ABANDONED AND SUFFERING FROM PHYSICAL & MENTAL DISABILITIES IS SOMETHING BEYOND YOURS AND MY IMAGINATION.

Updates
7.12.2024. 6pm IST 
Being a lady, abandoned and suffering from physical & mental disabilities is something beyond yours and my imagination.
Add : homeless and unwanted by society.
On International Disability Day we had a small but awesome program for 65+ lady residents, all on Severe psychiatric medication, reassuring our motto : ENDING HUNGER and HOMELESSNESS.
The YouTube link of 75 min will leave you enlightened about our NGO , our work, our team, how we treat and care for people with mental disabilities, etc.
We also launched our 2nd edition book on the work we do. This is the link of of E Book.
We have numerous teams & volunteers and each one play their part, synchronizing with the other teams to keep the residents up and running.
☆ Team 1 :
The 3 hours program held on 6th Dec at Silver Bells Sangolda was meticulously planned by my trustee & sister Joanita Pinto & supported by my brother in law John Pinto and both are senior citizens along with our office staff.
Joanita is the incharge for all office work , social media, documentation and over all co ordinator between the manager and the residents.
☆ Team 2 :
The transportation of these 65+ lady residents from 6 homes of which 10 of them are wheel chair bound due to old aged and due to physical disabilities is the responsibility of Our operation manager Sapnesh Salgaonkar and his team who did a fantastic job of moving the residents to & fro along with the drivers and other staff.
Sapnesh is the hands on man for our entire operation across Goa, for anything and everything.
☆ Team 3 :
To our dedicated Volunteer Sir Bosco George IPS , who post retirement, is the MC for all our programs and the man who is there always,  brightening up the lives of people with disabilites.
Sir Bosco George also is our trouble shooter between me and the authorities especially the government departments.
☆ Team 4 :
To Joseph Fernandes our volunteer who makes it a point to cover all our programs and capture these events on his camera.
☆ Team 5 :
To our care givers from Jharkhand who take alot of trouble living in the homes and caring for these ladies, is something not easy to handle.
☆ Team 6 :
To our Physiotherapists, counselors, art teacher, Vocational teacher and our Resident Doctor, who play their part 24 *7 , 365 days, we thank you.
☆ Team 7 :
Consists of other silent volunteers across Goa who perform free of cost the duties assigned to them without any expectations and publicity.
We appreciate the attendance of :
♡♡♡ Sir Sanjit Rodrigues IAS,  
Secretary Factories & boilers, Government of Goa and 
♡♡♡ Sir Manuel Barretto,  Director Women & child Department, 
who experienced 1st hand, many goan ladies with mental disabilities and shared their views about their approach towards ending Hunger and homelessness. 
The resident ladies were thrilled and excited to be recognized by the audience for the performance they put up.
We also had a small exhibition on their art craft and drawing work done in the last 2 years and each Invitee was asked to pick any item and take home as a remembrance of the lady residents in our homes.
You need to see their art work in this you tube link attached.
With out The Favour of God and good health it's next to impossible to do what we do.
It's very stressful , complicated and pulls you down as dealing with mental disabilities residents is not easy plus dealing with landlords as everyone today thinks feels and understands that NGOs make alot of money.
It eats me up at times when I see and am told about so and so suffering on the streets due to mental disabilities & I just can't help or do anything.
A few of these ladies are very very aggressive in nature and anything small is enough to kick, hit , pull hair of others, use sharp objects to injure their own self and others, attempt to harm or run away.
But it's a great satisfaction that we are able to do this little without any formal training or any specialized courses.
This is where I  see Jesus Christ in people with mental disabilities, the homeless & the hungry.
For Jesus Christ as a Roman catholic is not in any church , structure or any formality which I have been told or taught about.
This is my Bible, my church , my retreat , my prayers, my recollection, my religion.
My motive is to do good to those who I don't know and who will never ever come back to thank me or ever be able to help me.
If I only help those who I know or who will help me back then that's not Jesus Christ teaching to what I learnt.
Although I never or very seldom visit any shelter homes yet I aware of everything that goes on in all our Homes.
It's their disappointment of residents with mental disabilities living in a shelter home which upsets me as LIFE IS MEANT TO BE HAPPY & CHEERFUL & then I get stressed and upset as I see 1st hand that they want to get better but their medication is such that they just can't do much alone outside in this COMMERCIAL LIFE.
The worst part of mental disabilities is that SOCIETY cares a DAMN starting from the Government and going up to all religious heads including my religious head Cardinal Ferrao.
The demand is so high for rehabilitation for the poorest of the poor and our own ethnic goans  that everyone is just is closing their eyes and pretending or assuming some one else will do this service.
Our shelter homes cares for Catholics, Hindus & Muslims.
Our staff is predominantly Hindus , but we also have Catholics , Muslims and Tribals , both men & ladies working in our homes.
Once you see the entire link of 75 minutes & feel yes ” its time to be a volunteer or a benefactor then please whatsapp me your views on 8380097564 “.
All communications strictly through whatsapp messages only on 8380097564
God bless you all
Donald Fernandes 
8380097564 / 7020314848
05May/25

CHRISTMAS IS A SAD SEASON FOR THE POOR

Updates
2.12.2024.  6pm IST
Christmas is a sad season for the Poor.
Christmas should be a celebration of poverty because it acknowledges the plight of the poor and God's decision to side with them. 
But read on till the end, then decide if the starting of this post is reality or not.
As we enter ADVENT, we @ Street Providence, Goa, appeal to our benefactors to support our work across different states where we work in really difficult areas along with local communities for the uplifting those in hunger, poverty & homeless.
Ultimately Christmas is that time of the year where we all want to give & we offer you many projects where you can help us by giving.
◇◇◇ Our projects start :
☆ A. In Goa & we have decided to admitt into our homes as many as possible goans suffering in the mental hospital from mental disabilities especially 5 young men whose families are either gone untraceable or their families are not interested or just can't manage them at home.
These 5 young men are in the age group of 24 to 35 years and have been inside for over a few months if not over a year and beyond.
All these 5 have stayed with us but once better than they get too smart and wish to go away but ultimately land up back in the mental hospital. 
It's really irritating to go on picking them up and getting them into the home but then it's CHRISTMAS. Time to give another chance.
I have the space, I have the set up , I have everything needed to accommodate them so this is my resolution to readmitt them into our homes.  3 are Catholics, 1 Hindu & 1 Muslim.
☆ B. In Goa We are also serving free breakfast 
8 am to 9 am daily and dry mid day meal 1pm to 2pm daily till 5th Jan 2025 @ Old Goa for The St Francis Xavier Exposition.
☆ C. In Manipur & last few months the situation is getting or rather got out of Hand that last many weeks internet is banned so you can imagine the plight.
We ask for help to build homes in Churachandpur area each costing Rs 5 lacs.
Already one home built and handed over to a family.
Second home getting ready only amount is to be paid.
If you feel that Yes you can pitch in an amount then this Christmas,  8 more families will get a home this Christmas.
This is the second year that Christmas fevour will be absolutely low key or just negligible for the poor and displaced in many districts especially in Churachandpur.
Currently winter is on and temperatures can drop to 3 to 4 degrees at time.
☆D.  In Jharkhand & the winter is just starting and recently Bishop Theodore distrubuted 500 blankets 1st round to school children around our shelter home costing Rs 250 each.
About 1500 + monkey caps @ 78 each is being planned for distribution in the coming week.
Temperature here dip between 6 to 8 degrees and these are children who walk kms on foot to attend schools.
We intend to provide another 1000 blankets once the monkey caps are distributed to another 1000 poor school children.
We @ Street Providence work on the ground 365 dsys , 24* 7 , in Goa, Jharkhand, Manipur & Sindhudurg  with the poor , the hungry and the sick,  especially those with mental disabilities and festivals of all religions are no big deal to those in poverty and sickness.
It's something which just gets worse year by year as poverty is increasing due to high prices and constant trend of upward inflation.
Every year we read , hear and are told that  Christmas is about the birth of God's Son – Jesus. 
It is about how he came & to give us love, hope and joy. 
That message doesn't change from year to year.
But Year after year I observe that the lights , decorations, pomp gets fancier and fancier for places where the GDP is high but it's getting darker and darker in so many other parts of Our country 
Ultimately we forget that Baby Jesus was born in a manger without any comfort and pomp but the celebration is just the opposite.
All communications strictly through whatsapp messages only on 8380097564 
God bless you all
Donald Fernandes 
8380087564 / 7020314848
05May/25

OVER 12 YEARS THIS SAME LADY DUE TO MENTAL DISABILITIES LIVED ON STREETS, SLEPT UNDER TREES AND ON FOOTPATHS  

Updates
28.11.2024. 8pm IST
This goan lady now lives in a home, sleeps on a bed , sits on a chair and eats meals on a table; has a bath daily, changes her clothes daily, replies to questions when asked.
So what's the big deal ?
Well for over 12 years this same lady due to mental disabilities lived on streets, slept under trees and on footpaths , ate food from unhygienc places, always wore only 1 red saree, no table manners & totally aggressive and disoriented.
But with 18 months of rehabilitation, medication, care , monthly follow ups and blood tests , today she is much cooler , calmer and oriented but has may be early stages of Parkinsons.

That's what STREET PROVIDENCE homes are all about.  
DARE TO DREAM the impossible.
Image the hurts , insults, abuse, loneliness she went through for 12 long years where I assume her emotions took a hit very badly.
Only solution is shelter homes/ half way homes/ mid way homes.
If not brought to us by Goa Police today this lady would have still been on the streets or would be Permanently locked up in the mental hospital.
☆ Her only fault : poverty and death of her husband many years back which made her loose her peace of mind.
☆ Result : today she can't be left by herself as she has to be monitored and given her daily psychiatric medication.
☆ Future : Hon CM needs to understand that there are many Goan ladies like her turning up homeless on the streets due to mental disabilities.
☆ Need of the hour : state government needs to address this issue on a war footing.
◇◇◇ We request you to come forward and provide help to women on the streets suffering from mental disabilities by complaining to the nearest police station & putting pressure on the local MLA to see that such ladies are taken off the streets.
Not an easy task at Street Providence but some one needs to do this service when the Government pretends to look the other side .
It's really tiring, expensive, complicated, difficult but yet achievable and we need your help to help so many in the streets of Goa who just might be waiting for a second chance to get off the streets
All communications strictly through whatsapp messages only on 8380097564
God bless you all 
Donald Fernandes 
8380097564 / 7020314848
05May/25

ONCE BED RIDDEN & WHEELCHAIR BOUND,  TO NOW WALKING FIT & FINE – ALL WITHIN ONE YEAR.

Updates
27.2.25.  7pm IST 
Once bed ridden & wheel chair bound,  to now walking fit & fine – all within one year.
Mr Punappa is a middle aged man from Karnataka who while working in Goa on a beach shack in Candolim lost his mobility and was in a situation where he was bed ridden.
Possibility excess of alcohol or substance abuse but was not able to stand let alone walk.
Dr Roshan from Candolim health centre requested us to rehabilitate him but his condition that day as seen in the video was pathetic.
Goa Police issued the NOC to get him admitted into our home.
Arturo Dsouza was deputed with our team to candolim to pick him up.
Physiotherapy, hospital trips , medication, nutrition, motivation etc was the way to get him up and walking.
Takes alot of time and resources as Punappa may be suffering also from some sort of memory losses due to may be his past history.
Otherwise, does the work given to him but still on treatment.
Like Punappa there are 100's of such men & ladies on the streets of Goa looking for a second chance to start life again.
The problem is last 7 to 8 months we are not taking people off the streets as we just can't foot their bills.
Non Goans we have completely stopped taking as they have to go back to their respective states
Because we are not taking, Government hospitals, mental hospital and cities of Goa are having huge no of homeless street people including those with disabilities.
Already like Punappa we have in our homes
 40+ men & 20+ ladies who are on way to recovery but it's not happening the way I intended it to happen.
Many times people call us and when we express our inability to oblige them, they take offense and troll us and write nasty things on social media.
It makes no difference to me as I know how difficult it is to care and look after such complicated people.
I feel bad to refuse admission but on the other hand where r the funds ?
SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT & 
PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES DEPARTMENT, actually for the full year have not supported our men's home and that's why we are in a big financial crunch.
We will be in the coming week hitting the streets of Panjim followed by a visit to The Hon CM official Bungalow with our resident men who 80% are ethnic Goans and no grants till yet given either by :
Social Welfare Department or 
Persons with Disabilities Department. 
Women & child Department is providing resources for our women homes after many years of struggle mostly on the streets.
Inflation besides petrol is killing us.
Donations are slowing down due to the inflation rise which our benefactors who may be also feeling the pinch.
Without Government funding it's next to impossible to look after homeless people.
To care & rehabilitate one homeless person who is surely carrying along a huge bag of sickness for a month our costs are nothing less than 
Rs 20k to Rs 25k.
☆ Daily we have to provide 3 meals to 175+ residents along with 40+ full time staff.

☆ Our total staff strength is 75.

☆ We have 30 full time lady care givers in our 7 women homes.
It's not a joke, everything in the last 6 months has increased almost 20% .
Schemes are announced in plenty but nothing to our NGO with regards to men.
Small example : Margao city has anywhere between 300 to 500 homeless of which 50 + are our own goans.
We require your help to help young men like Punappa to get a second chance and go back to society.
Your support is what we require.
Summer is around the corner, heat is rising , the old and infirmed on the streets need help.
☆ Our Total bed capacity 250
☆ Currently Occupied 175
☆ Balance 75
But Government has to give us our dues else we can't do much at the moment.
All communications strictly through whatsapp messages only on 8380097564
God bless you all
Donald Fernandes 
8380097564 / 7020314848
05May/25

OLYMPIC DREAMS FROM STREET PROVIDENCE GOA IS AIMED AT ENCOURAGING TALENTED GOAN CHILDREN

Updates
20.2.25.  8pm IST
OLYMPIC DREAMS from Street Providence Goa is aimed at encouraging talented Goan children who have the potential to reach the Olympics in the future with focus on individual sport.
One form of disabilities is too much of screen time which is slowly cropping up in young children.
Today children are more on screen time and it's time to get them to the ground and arena.
Today young girls are diagnosed with thyroid at early ages.
Young boys are turning mobile mania as too much of screen time.
Outdoor activities are slowly getting pushed away & sports is one way to get children to play , sweat , exercise and be refreshed both at studies and sporting activities.
Goa and Goans are hardly competing at International events especially OLYMPICS & it's time to revive our sporting legacy which once Goans shined in the past.
Children if tapped at a young age and spotted at a young age can be molded into future champions.
In 8 years from now or may be 12 years from now , we can try to get our Goans to compete at the Olympics – possible & achievable hence the project name – OLYMPIC DREAMS.
Where there is a will there is a way.
Everything starts with a seed and I myself have planted a small seed in my 9 year old son about 2 years back by introducing him to Archery.
Due to Sir ZITO who spotted my son talent at his school , today we see a dream of him competing at the OLYMPICS.
Many children either with disabilities or from rural parts of Goa or from economical poorer sections of society etc may be good in sports but no one to support their dream.
We through our project OLYMPIC DREAMS will step in.
If I can do it for my son , i can do it for other children who might not have the opportunity especially those :
▪︎Who are with disabilities 
▪︎Who are coming from SC / ST ▪︎communities 
▪︎Who are from rural Talukas of Goa &
▪︎Who are economically backward sections
We are looking to help children in individual sports only and we will attempt to provide :
☆ Sports equipment,
☆ Nutrition,
☆ Jerseys & training kits,
☆ Participation at various tournaments by covering the transport & lodging costs 
☆ Etc.
Just like we have projects like :
》Shelter homes for people with disabilites,
》Food Banks to feed the poor,
》Physiotherapy units for the homeless,
》Free cake for senior citizens with disabilities,
So also we now have OLYMPIC DREAMS.
Street Providence has recently sponsored a school in rural south Goa for a HOCKEY PROJECT which is the only group sport we are undertaking :
◇ 50 new hockey sticks 
◇ 30 new hockey balls
◇ 1 full set of hockey goalkeeper uniform.
With a commitment to back this school up every month through a hockey project being launched on 24th Feb 25 through our Goan OLYMPIAN MrJoaquim Carvalho , former captain of our Indian Hockey team.
Sports and music are two activities which will play a big role in the coming years in avoiding children or teenagers from developing disabilities due to excess screen time. 
We require your support to make OLYMPIC DREAMS a reality for children who have the potential but not the resources.
Join us as we reach out to those deserving. GOAN children who can one day make GOA & GOANS proud by delivering on the international stage.
It's not much but it has to be on a monthly basis over a period of time.
All communications strictly through whatsapp messages only on 8380097564
God bless you all
Donald Fernandes 
8380087564 / 7020314848
05May/25

STREET PROVIDENCE GOA CONDUCTS ART CLASSES IN ALL THE LADIES HOMES FOR WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES.

Updates
18.2.25. 8pm. IST
Where there is Art , there is Hope 
Where there is Hope , there is Life.
Street Providence Goa conducts ART classes in all the ladies homes for women with disabilities.
Huge untapped talent and this talent is beyond yours and mine imagination.
Of the 60+ ladies In our homes, 90% of them are always looking forward to drawing, sketching and coloring.
This small video attached with this post says it all.👇
Thanks to the Art teacher who has been consistently coming daily to all our ladies homes last 2 years.
All communications strictly through whatsapp messages only on 8380087564.
God bless you all 
Donald Fernandes 
8380087564 / 7020314848
05May/25

STREET PROVIDENCE GOA CONDUCTS VOCATIONAL TRAINING SESSIONS TO THE LADY RESIDENTS IN ALL OUR HOMES.

Updates
15.2.25. 8pm IST
STREET PROVIDENCE GOA conducts Vocational training sessions to the lady residents in all our Homes.
One of the ways to keep these lady residents active & peaceful as most are suffering from serious chronic mental disabilities.
It's all about putting their skills to use and making them belive they can do it.
Taking care of ladies with severe mental disabilities is not a joke and it's hard work with alot of risks involved.
90% of our lady residents are goans who are abandoned or can't be managed at home due to mental disabilities. 
☆ Cooking
☆ Craft 
☆ Paper bag making 
☆ Beads etc
Are some of the Vocational sessions we conduct.
Teachers & counselors are daily visiting each of the homes to conduct these classes.
The short video says it all.
Watch & share 
All communications strictly through whatsapp messages only on 8380097564
God bless you all
Donald Fernandes 
8380087564 / 7020314848
05May/25

AT STREET PROVIDENCE SHELTER HOMES FOR THE HOMELESS & PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN GOA PROVIDE ALOT OF FACILITIES ESPECIALLY FOR WOMEN RESIDENTS.

Updates
11.2.2025.  7pm IST
We at street Providence Shelter homes for the homeless & people with disabilities in Goa provide alot of facilities especially for women residents.
Some of the facilities are:
◇ Physiotherapy for men & women,
◇ Art classes for women ,
◇ Craft & Vocational training for women,
◇ Cooking classes for women.
This post is about physiotherapy sessions.
Well 60% of residents in all our Homes are suffering from walking ailments due to living on streets and also men consuming alcohol who loose their strength as alcohol has eaten into their bodies.
90% of our residents are totally suffering from severe mental disabilities with heavy doses of psychiatric medications already prescribed to them by IPHB to keep them in control.
With so much medicine already entering their bodies daily, physiotherapy was the only solution to help these residents get up from their wheel chairs and solve their walking issues as well as reduce their pains in the necks , backs , legs & arms.
With huge support both from Government of Goa , through Social Welfare Department till 31.3.24  & from 1.4.24 , thru the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Department, we have managed to run 3 physiotherapy units ie
@ Cavelossim for 2 shelter homes 
@ Quepem for 1 shelter home 
@  North Goa for 8 shelter homes.
Government of Goa has been generous in providing our homes grants upto Rs 5 lacs per unit to purchase the equipments as well as generous benefactors who initially donated to start these units.
We have 4 Physiotherapists on board to cater to 180+ residents with disabilities & the Government at the moment reimburses us 
Rs 10000 a month Salary towards two of these Physiotherapists of two units.
☆ Our total Salary costs per towards four  Physiotherapists is approx :
Per month Rs 60000 or
Per year.    Rs 720000

☆ Government of Goa reimburses us 
Per month Rs 20000 or
Per year Rs 240000.
Remaining amount we raise thru donations.
But irrespective of the costs ” we feel satisfied that hundreds of residents last 4 years with close to 300 sessions per month taking place,  numerous residents irrespective of their mobility at the time of their admission, has got up and walked, all by their selves “.
With these physiotherapy units running close to 4 years, alot of improvement has taken place in all our Homes.
Today due to physiotherapy sessions we hardly have any senior citizens using Pampers in our homes except those senior citizens either those undergone surgery or those who are having urinary issues.
Well,  why & how we got these physiotherapy units running for the residents when they are poor and homeless?
Initially when i started the NGO in 2017 , alot of work & pressure was on me as we did not have much resources to employ staff. 
All that hard work and stress in 2020 took a heavy tool as a result I was in terrible pain and many times I used to crawl on the mat in agony as I just could not get up for hours at times.
Then I met Dr Ashton a young handsome Physiotherapist from St Cruz, who would regularly come daily to my home at night and it was covid crisis yet he would treat me.
Slowly from daily sessions we did 3 times a week to 5 times a week to every 15 days and so on and this went on for months.
That's the time I got a thought from Holy Spirit 
” since you could afford you are treating yourself to Physiotherapy which has benefitted you , what about people in your homes who suffer but can't tell their pains or even if they express their pains they are given pain killers ?”
We also care for 25+ persons with severe stroke sickness or partially stroke symptoms and physiotherapy is must for their recovery. 
Besides some stroke related residents are also suffering from mental disabilities.
Immediately I got on the back of the Government to start these physiotherapy units in our homes.
And that's how we are the most blessed NGO to have Government grants for all 3 units.
Hon Minister for Social welfare Shri Subhash Phal Dessai has played a crucial role in seeing that we got the grants through his Department and infact 2 of the 3 units were innaugrated at his hands which makes operations transparent.
Social Welfare Department headed by Director Sir Ajit Panchwadkar too has supported our units till 31.3.24 along with Asst Director Mrs Marathe and the staff Mrs Trupti who we are indebted too.
From 1.4.24 , Director of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Department,
Mrs V Naik has extended wonderful support towards our physiotherapy units. 
The previous Social Welfare Director 
Mrs S. Kamat to was very helpful & supportive when we had started our 1st physiotherapy unit in 2021.
Usually one finds NGOs always criticizing the government departments for delay of grants but I am happy that our NGO has been always being given 1st preference at Social Welfare Department and now Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Department for so many physiotherapy units as well as other grants.
Yez the grants are calculated at 2007 rate but something better than nothing is always welcome and appreciated.
Imagine one NGO getting 3 grants from one Department without any hassle and bribing or even any demands under the table.
We are constantly attempting to access government funds towards our shelter homes as these are people who live on streets and are brought to our homes by the state police and this work has to be done by the Government.
 One can never depend alwsys on donations as donations are never steady to run such homes as benefactors too have their own issues to solve daily.
A small video of a few of our patients getting physiotherapy sessions in our shelter homes.
All communications strictly through whatsapp messages only on 8380097564
God bless you all 
Donald Fernandes 
8380097564 / 7020314848