Tag: Caritas Goa

Events in Goa

ART STORIES: An Exhibition Where Art, Healing and Inclusion Come Together

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

ART STORIES is an evocative exhibition of paintings that brings together creativity, healing and inclusion through art. The exhibition showcases artworks by persons with disabilities and participants of the course Art as a Healing Tool, offering unique visual expressions inspired by everyday thoughts, emotions and experiences. Rooted in the belief that “every person is an artist” and echoing Joseph Beuys’ idea that art can reshape society for the better, ART STORIES presents art as both personal expression and social engagement.

The exhibition is a collaborative effort between artists with intellectual disabilities from Divya Sadan, a project of Caritas Goa in Porvorim, and St Francis Xavier Vocational Centre, an education and vocation centre for children with disabilities in Old Goa, along with participants of the Art as a Healing Tool course organised by Caritas Goa in Panjim. All the artists were guided by artist and art facilitator Ms Lioba Knepple, whose approach focuses on creativity as a therapeutic and empowering process.

Curated by Samira Sheth, ART STORIES opens at 12 noon on Sunday, December 14, and will remain on view until December 21, 2025, outside the rehearsal room at Kala Academy. The exhibition is organised under the banner of the Serendipity Arts Festival 2025 and is open to the public with free entry, although prior registration is required.

Beyond the exhibition itself, ART STORIES carries a deeper purpose. Proceeds from the sale of paintings and other products will go towards supporting initiatives for persons with disabilities. Through this exhibition, Caritas Goa continues its commitment to working with the needy, the marginalised and the oppressed, using art as a powerful medium for healing, dignity and social change.

Social

DRAG & Caritas Goa Launch ‘Freedom from Physical Inaccessibility’ with YES TO ACCESS App

Tanisha Cardozo

Goa takes a major stride toward accessible public infrastructure with the launch of the ‘Freedom from Physical Inaccessibility’ campaign.

On the sidelines of a State-Level Advocacy Programme on Deafblindness, the Disability Rights Association of Goa (DRAG) and Caritas Goa launched the Freedom from Physical Inaccessibility campaign on August 14th, 2025. The highlight of the event was the official launch of the YES TO ACCESS mobile application — a digital tool empowering citizens to rate the accessibility of public places across Goa.

The app was unveiled by Ms. Varsha Naik, Director, Directorate of Empowerment of Persons with Disability, Government of Goa. The launch marks a significant moment for accessibility advocacy in the state, putting power directly into the hands of the people — both disabled and able-bodied — to assess and demand accessible infrastructure.

“Accessibility is not just a right, it’s a necessity for an inclusive society,” said Avelino de Sa, President of DRAG.

The YES TO ACCESS app is available on the Google Play Store and allows anyone to:

  • Conduct access audits of public and private establishments.
  • Rate facilities based on accessibility for persons with disabilities and the elderly.
  • View ratings to decide whether a place meets accessibility standards before visiting.
  • Drive social accountability for establishments to comply with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.

Under the RPWD Act, it’s mandatory for all public spaces — including private establishments — to ensure accessibility, yet implementation remains inconsistent. This app serves as a grassroots-level enforcement tool.

Also present at the launch were:

  • Ms. Shruti Singh, Sense International
  • Ms. Mriselda Monteiro, Deputy Director, DEPwD Goa
  • Fr. Maverick Fernandes, Director, Caritas Goa

The event signals a major push toward inclusive development in Goa and sets a precedent for civic-driven accessibility movements in India.

📲 Download the YES TO ACCESS app today and be a part of the change.