Goa Outreach's New Home | Govt School (Standards 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10) receiving t-shi | Students in association with childline came to entertain the | Peoples High School Receiving Donated Shirts | Funcraising By DMC College, Assagao, Mapusa | Donated Shirts to Mental Health NGO | Giving Out Donated Football shirts to Roadworkers and their chidlren

Towards the end of 2017 our landlord of 10 years dropped a bombshell on us by saying that he was providing all of his apartments to the Vision Hospital (2 minutes walk away) for their nurses, so we as well as the other tenants beneath us had to arrange new accommodation. We had always got on really well with the landlord but when the other tenants moved out and with some nurses already moved into the apartments below, we were getting a little worried that we wouldn’t find somewhere suitable in time.

Our main issue is our accommodation needs to be something big enough and close enough for the kids to reach. Over the next 3 months we looked at so many places and found a few that were good but not on an easy bus route for the children or were in a great location but far too small. It was really difficult to find a good match. Our place was a generous size and over the years we have grown into it. This now made most other places feel cramped for all our tables, chairs and storage boxes.

After a month of searching we found an ideal apartment, it was perfectly located, just a minutes' walk for some of the children and was so very bright and airy that it would be ideal for tuition and stitching classes for the children though the direct sunlight might make the rooms too hot. There would be a lovely breeze with the large windows opened on each side and we were hopeful the breeze through the property would cool everything sufficiently and provide a balance. The building work needed completing and the lift was not working and there were a few minor issues with the finishing touches, but when we spoke with the builder he would say it would take just a few more days to put right. Days turned into weeks which then turned into months. Two properties in the same building were available but both had the same problems.

Christmas was getting closer as we ran into December and our workload increased and every minute of the day was spent either sorting out presents or packing them, along with searching for 'emergency properties' if this one fell through. In the end we decided to look further a field so that we could make sure we had a base before the nurses were scheduled to move in. After a long search we found a new apartment; we started moving in the day after we first saw it. It was not as close as we wanted but it is bright and airy and a similar size to our original one so all our tables actually fitted in with enough room to walk around which is a bonus. The apartment would only be a temporary home while we searched for something more appropriate. Several of the properties we saw were still under construction so we hoped once they were finished one would be suitable for our needs.

Moving day was upon us and the moving day turned into a week as we transported all the books, tables and other items to the new place: 5 trips by van and even more by car and bike but we finally made it with the help of some of the older children (Thanks guys and girls). The new apartment was really nice but it was obvious it was too far away for the kids, although they did still come and see us. We had planned to stay for a maximum of 6 months but after just two months we found a lovely Portuguese house that was close enough and big enough. It was all very exciting for us. We got in touch with the owners and arranged for viewing. Yallama and Robert met up outside and were very excited to see the well maintained house.

The new house, which we have named 'The Brown House' looked ideal and although we hadn't really gotten over our first move, we really thought it would be a perfect home for the charity. We struck a deal and asked if we could start moving straight away.

Robert started making lots of trips by bike taking anything and everything that would fit on his bike, and you’d be surprised how much stuff can go on the bike. Nearly half the items ended up being transported by bike. Thankfully most of the recent football shirt donations had already been given out, but there was still so much to move.

Acchelal, one of the eldest students was on hand to keep Robert working hard. Acchelal knew someone who lent us a van for the day which allowed us to move the remaining large items (tables, chairs, fridge etc). Several trips later and that was it.

The next two weeks were spent organising and sorting, trying to get the perfect layout which would be good for the classes with resources at hand when we needed them. Now a month later everything is pretty much settled, although we have picked up quite a lot of second hand clothing which all needs to be sorted into appropriate ages and separated for boys and girls. The children have started arriving and it already feels like a home and we are already getting new families who want their children's names adding for the next school year. We rarely get a free moment, but it's all worth it.

We continue to distribute the T-Shirts and Football Jerseys that were donated to us in January. A couple of weeks ago we visited two government schools after writing to the education department for permission. The Education Department based in Mapusa were a great help and gave us a personal note to the headmaster of the got school, just incase there were any problems (which there weren't).

The headmast at the first government school was very helpful and we were able to give out an astonishing 500 shirts! to children from 5th to 10th standard. One of the teachers came to the centre to pick the shirts up in a small car (as we don't have our own transport yet (if anyone would like to donate a second hand maurti van we would be deligted!). Thank you to education department, staff and children for their help and of course to Blurbfor providing the shirts.

*UPDATE : A Couple of days later we provided them with a few footballs and it was great to see them a few weeks later in the play ground playing with the balls.

Thanks to Blurb Goa for the shirts and balls

At the ned of January we were happy to be contacted by Childline Goa who had arranged two groups of volunteers from Margao.

The volunteer students came to meet the children at their homes and to put on a small informal get together which included games, songs and lots of fun. The two groups had around 30 children each and spent over an hour with the children.

A huge thank you to all the volunteers and Childline - Caritas Goa for organising the event

Goa Outreach provided 100 shirts (50 T Shirts and 50 Football Shirts) for the children of 9th and 10th Std at People's High School, Camurlim, peoples high shool is a smaller school and a few of the children we help attend. It was lovely to see all the children stood together in their new shirts. An extra 20 football shirts were given to the school for sports activities and a couple of footballs so the children can have a kick around during break.

Thanks to Blurb for the shirts and balls

In the last week of January we were invited to see a fundraising inititive conducted by Dnyanprassarak Mandal's College - Assagao, Goa in aid of Goa Outreach. The strudents and proffessors of the BBA put on an Exhibition / Sale in aid of Goa Outreach at the Kala Academy in Panjim. There was a great collection of artwork and ceramics on view. The show was a great success and a total of Rs 90,628 rupees were raised.

We are always delighted and moved by the local community taking an active role in supporting the work we do at Goa Outreach helping children into and keeping them in full time education. Thanks to all the team who participated from DMC college.

As you might have guessed by all the photos in the last few weeks we have been donated quite a few shirts, I think getting onto 2500 shirts in total (we are still sorting them into bundels of 20 and sorting by style!!!).

As some of them are adult sizes we have been looking for good organisations and places to donate them to. Today we gave out around 100 shirts to the Chaitanya Institute which helps in the field of mental health and addiction. In the photo are a few staff receiving the shirts, * UPDATE : A few weeks later we returned and gave another set of shirts and a collection of footballs to the centre. They really appreciated them as the patients go out on trips and it helps havig all the patients in the same style/colour shirts.

Thanks to Blurb Goa for the shirts

Blurb Goa donated 1000's of football shirts and it has been a large task to find homes for them all. As most of the shirts were on the larger size we have given many to the working men and women that spend their days working in the blistering sun at the side of roads in Goa. Here is a photo from one group of workers.