Tag: #inspiration

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GCCI Women’s Wing and DRDA South Host ‘Swasth Mahila, Saksham Mahila’ Program Focused on Mental Wellness

Tanisha Cardozo

In a significant stride toward holistic women’s empowerment, the GCCI Women’s Wing, in association with DRDA South, organized a powerful program titled “Swasth Mahila, Saksham Mahila – Mental Health and Well-being for Women” on September 26, 2025, at the Mathany Saldanha Complex in Margao. The initiative brought together over 130 women from across South Goa to focus on a crucial but often overlooked aspect of empowerment: mental health.

The program commenced with a traditional lamp-lighting ceremony, symbolizing the beginning of an enlightening evening. Chairperson of the GCCI Women’s Wing, Mrs. Sandra Fernandes, welcomed the participants with a compelling message on the importance of emotional and mental wellness in a woman’s journey. She aptly stated, “When women are mentally strong and emotionally balanced, they can truly flourish in every role they play.”

Mrs. Deepali Naik, Project Director of DRDA, addressed the gathering and praised the Women’s Wing for continuously leading meaningful initiatives that cater to the real needs of women in the community. She emphasized how collaborative efforts like this can leave a lasting impact.

The heart of the program was a keynote session by well-known psychologist Ms. Neha Khaunte, who took the audience through a practical and reflective journey on stress management, emotional balance, and mindfulness. Using relatable examples and interactive exercises, Ms. Khaunte encouraged participants to acknowledge their mental health challenges while equipping them with everyday strategies to manage them. Her session was a refreshing blend of awareness, empowerment, and connection.

The event was compered with grace and clarity by Mrs. Gouri Joshi, a member of the GCCI Women’s Wing, who ensured a smooth and welcoming flow throughout the program. Mementos were distributed to the speakers and contributors, acknowledging their role in making the event a success.

The program concluded with a heartfelt Vote of Thanks delivered by Mrs. Poonam Ajgaonkar, Co-Chairperson of the GCCI Women’s Wing. She expressed deep gratitude to all the dignitaries, the enthusiastic participants, and especially to the resource person for facilitating such a vital conversation. Special recognition was also given to Ms. Melane Rodrigues, Assistant Director at GCCI, for her behind-the-scenes coordination that ensured the event’s seamless execution.

“Swasth Mahila, Saksham Mahila” was not just an event—it was a movement in itself, a reminder that true empowerment stems from nurturing not just skills and careers, but also the emotional and mental well-being of women. By offering this safe, inclusive, and engaging platform, GCCI and DRDA South reinforced their shared commitment to building stronger, healthier communities—one empowered woman at a time.

Spotlight

Dr. Sushila Fonseca: A Life of Healing, History, and the Written Word

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo

Dr. Sushila Fonseca’s life is a compelling blend of science, literature, and social empathy. Born in Margao, Goa, and raised partially in Mombasa, Kenya, her journey began against the backdrop of India’s freedom movement—her father himself was a part of it. She pursued medicine at Topiwala National Medical College in Mumbai, where she later earned a post-graduate degree in Pathology and served as a resident doctor.

Her career brought her to Goa Medical College, but in 1983, she chose a different path: establishing her own private diagnostic laboratory in Fontainhas, Panaji. While her lab still serves the community, Dr. Fonseca has also carved a respected space in the world of Indian literature.

As an author, Dr. Fonseca writes both fiction and non-fiction, often weaving together her medical expertise with her desire to inform and inspire. Her books like What I Should Know About HIV/AIDS and Good Health Practices for the Family are written in an accessible, reader-friendly tone aimed at public health awareness. Her fiction, meanwhile, delves into more layered territory.

Rebecca’s Inheritance (2002) explores the devastating impact of alcoholism in families, Touched by Love addresses the emotional toll of HIV, while Invisible Currents highlights the drug trap. She’s also tackled themes of equality, cancer, and societal judgment—always grounding her stories in the realities of human health and relationships.

More recently, her work has gravitated toward historical fiction—driven by her passion for Goa and its past. Books like Against the Tide…47 Men…, Antonio Sequeira – His Quest for Goa’s Freedom, and When Faith Divides reflect her effort to turn historical events into engaging, emotional narratives.

She believes fiction has the power to reshape how we understand history—not through dates and declarations, but through human experience. “Historical fiction encourages readers to empathize with the people who lived through events and see the emotional and societal impact of decisions made by those in power,” she explains.

In When Faith Divides, her latest novel, she not only tells a story but also raises crucial questions about identity, belief, and societal manipulation—making it particularly timely in today’s socio-political climate. “I hope Goans will read it with an open mind, especially the youth,” she says, noting a concern that fewer young people today read books or engage deeply with history.

Dr. Fonseca’s creative process is driven by curiosity. She approaches each story with the attitude of a student—researching history, human psychology, and geography. When faced with writer’s block, she steps back and reflects, sometimes using it as a sign that the story needs a new direction.

When she’s not writing, she reads widely, across genres. She values feedback, especially when it’s personal—like the elderly reader who wept after reading When Faith Divides, or the young girl who connected so deeply with one of her characters that she mimicked her in daily life.

Dr. Sushila Fonseca writes for the sheer joy of it. “It’s a hobby,” she says. “But one through which I keep learning—whether it’s about medicine, history, or human nature.” If she had to describe her journey in one word, it would be “enriching.” And her writing certainly continues to enrich the literary and cultural fabric of Goa.

IFFI 2024

“Failure is an Event, never a Person” – veteran actor Anupam Kher at IFFI 2024

allycaralgoa

Students and Delegates were enthralled by a hypnotic masterclass by one of the finest actors in Indian Cinema,
Shri. Anupam Kher in Kala Academy, Panaji, Goa, today on Day 4 of the 55th International Film Festival of India
(IFFI).


Shri Kher started the session on the topic ‘Power of Failure’ by revealing, “I think I am the success story of my
own failures.” The entire session was indeed a masterclass on Life lessons, packed with numerous stories from
his personal life adorned by his characteristic wit.
Anupam Kher said his story began in Shimla where a joint family of fourteen members spent their life in a single
room with his father being the only earning member. In his words, they were poor, but surprisingly happy with his
grandfather remarking that, “When people are too poor, the cheapest thing to them becomes happiness.”

The enormously experienced actor recollected the first time he acted a part in a school play while in class 5 saying
he was miserable when he failed to secure even a consolation prize. “‘Failure is an event, never a Person’, my
father taught me that day.” In his next outing, the budding actor made 27 mistakes in 2 lines of dialogue assigned
to him in the play ‘Merchant of Venice’ by William Shakespeare!
Cut to the time when the National School of Drama (NSD) Gold Medal winning young actor came to Mumbai for
the first time. Kher said, “I had the confidence to conquer the City of Dreams at the very first chance since I was
already an NSD Gold Medallist.” But within a couple of months, he had to shift to Bandra East Railway station to
live for 27 days.
But after many ups and downs, Kher was rewarded with the movie ‘Saaransh’. Shri Kher fondly remembered it
was in 1984 when he first visited IFFI for that film in Delhi. This year with this masterclass it has become 40 years
since his first visit to IFFI.

Life continued to be a rollercoaster ride for Anupam Kher. But in every downfall, be it the time when he met with
facial paralysis during the shooting of ‘Hum Aapke Hain Koun’, or when he became nearly bankrupt in 2004; each
time, he adhered to the lessons he derived from his father and grandfather.
The audience was lost for words listening to the turbulent life journey of Shri Kher. But with his magnetic
personality, deliberation and acting, the sixty-eight years old veteran actor, effortlessly administered the entire
audience with tonic of his life philosophy, ‘NEVER GIVE UP’!

#AllycaralWednesdayWisdom 👒

Don’t You Give Up

allycaralgoa

We come across several circumstances in Life, there are moments of failures and disappointments, but who doesn’t fail. Stick around for some more time, things are getting better. #Don’tGiveUp

#AllycaralWednesdayWisdom 👒

You know what’s Today’s biggest To Do List? 😀

allycaralgoa

Our Life’s have always been so challenging. But, there has been a huge change that we have noticed in us and our lives, over the past couple of days! They say change is good but learning to adapt to it can be a little disturbing and demanding. Today, this post plans to add the top most priority of the day in your To do List – which is nothing but – Date : Today and To Do : Be Happy.

The smallest Quote ever, but this is something we are forgetting getting too much involved into what’s happening around us. give time to everything. Everything is happening in your life at the right time, don’t force anything. Forcing something simply, let me put up a simple example : You have a pen which has a pointed buckle and not a flat one, no matter how much you try the pen will not stand, if you force it to it will often fall because that is absolutely not it’s work. It’s work is to be held and written on blank papers.

Same way, in your life, don’t force things. Things that flow works out way better than the ones that you force. And Remember in this all, Be Happy not for anyone else but for yourself.

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