Chetna charitable trust is registered NGO in Goa with a mission to empower, protect and educate the Special Children, so that they can enjoy healthy and independent living. Founded in 2009 (Reg. No 266/GOA/09) the trust has been a front runner, dedicated to humanitarian activities for overall development of special children. The mission is to develop appropriate opportunities, skills and capacities thus enabling them to realize their potential and latent talents. Also, creating awareness and sensitizing the masses about the importance of empowerment of such children and help in every way possible to give them an equal status in society like any other normal child.
SANKALP THEATRE CULTURAL INSTITUTION, Curchorem Goa – India , an organization constituted by few likeminded theatre lovers, with a sincere vision to work for theatre field and now working for past 15 years with a remarkable contribution in the field of theatre Art, Cultural, Social work, education, medical and sports activities. A 12 day long All Goa Konkani Drama Festival is annually conducted by Sankalp. We have participated in prestigious competitions at Goa and All India level drama competitions and have secured top most prizes every time. We have also presented our shows in different parts of Goa and the funds collected through such activities are used particularly for social causes. We conduct medical camps, blood donation camps with voluntary blood donors, provide ambulance service for last 15 years, adopted and maintained a male ward from Upgraded Health Centre, Curchorem, distribute educational aids to needy students, honour meritorious students and schools by bestowing Gurukul award, organize theatre workshops for amateurs and students, inter collegiate one act play competition, Sankalp Idol singing competitions, organize chess tournament and other sport activities.
We may specifically mention that Sankalp Theatre used to be very close to the local school students from Curchorem, for differently abled children who used to participate in our programs and present their talents as we had regularly provided a platform for these students to present their art and skill.
While working with them closely we keenly felt that a lot can be done for these children and the urge of establishing Chetna Charitable Trust emerged in our mind due to continuous interaction with these differently abled children of God. We further realised that, as per the census records 2011 there are around 1141 differently abled people in surrounding(Sanguem and Quepem) Talukas and most of them are deprived of facilities they deserved. It was quite sure that out of 1141 people there were minimum 200 children, which had to be identified as most of them were unfortunately not exposed to the society for various reasons. With the vision of treating such children equal with normal children, we visited some such schools in neighboring states, went through many a book on the subject, collected important information from internet and decided to construct a sophisticated school and rehabilitation centre with hostel facility. At the first instant we decided to procure a piece of land and raised funds by presenting our drama shows, release of lucky donation coupons and purchased 10200 sq. mts. of land within Curchorem city area at a cost of Rs.30,00,000. It may be a unique example that a theatre group has accomplished this incredible achievement.
With a pious aim we planned
A state of Art School building project which included Sophisticated School & Rehabilitation centre to accommodate 350 Children and a hostel to 60 Children along with multipurpose hall. The total cost of this project works out to appox. 8.40 crores to be taken up in two phases.
We than took up the 1st Phase which had approved plan and was estimated to Rs. 5.30 crore which included Ground & First floor which comprises of classrooms, amphitheatre, games room, speech therapy, administration block, physiotherapy, kitchen, waiting room, staff room, lobby and studio room, occupational therapy room, vocational stream, Play Ground, Compound wall and multipurpose Hall.
Considering the urgency, construction of the project started in 2014. The total cost of the school project as on date worked out approximately to Rs. 8.40 crores. Through our sincere efforts and sponsorships /donations from various individuals and establishments the construction work was on going.
In the process we completed 80% of 1st Phase at a cost of 1.45 crore so that we could expedite the ground floor and accommodate our existing Children and vacate the rented premises which is now crowded, inconvenient and also denying further admissions awaiting for enrolment.
We were quite confident that the project will come up with the committed financial assistance of well-wishers of this area. However, in order to cater the special children till the premises of Chetna Trust comes up, the Trust has begun the school in rented premises from June, 2015 in association with CHETNA EDUCATION SOCIETY (Reg No. 57/GOA/2015), Curchorem-Goa, as Chetna Charitable Trust cannot run a Educational Institute as per the Rules & regulation of the Education Department of Goa, With a small strength of hardly 32 children enrolled. By virtue of our best of service towards children and due to satisfaction from parents, we have as on date (till December 2018) 101 students on role and about 21 are on wait list for want of space.