DEVENDRA KANDOLKAR - A PERSON WITH GREAT VISION
Friends,
I feel very glad to introduce Shri Devendra Kandolkar.He is native of Tuem village in Pernem taluka of North Goa district. He served as a Teacher for 18years and left the teaching profession in 2001 year with the vision to serve the society.
Since there was Earth quake in Gujarat in 2001 and lot of people were the victims of the natural disaster.He left his hometown inorder to serve the victims at Gujarat.
He visited the YOUSUF MEHERALLY CENTER at Bhadreshwar, kutch district of Gujarat state and involved himself in rescue operations.
He found that all along the coast of kutch there were lots of fisherman community on the beaches. They stay on the coast from September to May.There job is fishing and their children transport , sort and sell the fish to agents.
They stay in shelters made up of Jute bags supported by bamboos. There is no electricity and drinking water facility.
The children who enrol there names in the native village school which are 30- 40 kms away from the beach. Most of the months these children are away from the schools.
Devendra sir, started the schools in the temperory sheds with the help of local teachers in 2001.
He covered more than100 kilometers of coast line of kutch with 08 centers with the help of Yousuf Meherally Center.
His selfless service to these children educated more than 600 children and some are studying in college, and industrial training institute.
He is good writer and his book SAGAR SHALA (SAGAR MEANS SEA AND SHALA MEANS SCHOOL) won the award from various organisations.
After brief introduction, I would like to write about intersting story regarding our meeting with Devendra sir
On september 23rd,2010 which was the 100th Birth Anniversary of freedom fighter Yousuf Meherally , (freedom fighter).
Devendra sir visited Moving School and met us in the same evening. He was happy and excited about the work done by Moving School for downtrodden community for last 10 years. He also explained that some of the literacy centers are closed due to shortage of funds.
He visited Moving School with the teachers. Every body appreciated the hard work of teachers.
It was decided to start 02 centers in Gujarat by Moving School organisation .
Our centers started in the month of January2011 for 105 children.
More news follows in the next letter
with regards
Manisha Kulkarni
Project Co- Ordinator
MovingSchool, Goa |