THE GOAN NETWORK | LONDON
Europe’s first-ever Konkani Kovita Academy of UK elected its first core managing committee at a special meeting at the St Anselm’s Catholic Church, Southall, on June 4.
The managing committee for a three-year term consists of Konkani poet Mariano Lucas Diniz (President), community organiser Joyce De Souza (Vice President), a poet Steve Franky Varela (General Secretary), Creative Director of the Konkani radio show ‘Konkani Uloi London Fuloi’ Bihula Vaz (treasurer), young Goan Mark Monteiro (Public Relations Officer) and youth leader Mark Silva (Youth Ambassador).
RJ Roque Vaz, founding member, facilitated and conducted the founders meeting and a specially-drafted constitution was approved and ratified at the meeting.
The Konkani Poetry Academy, a dream project of RJ Vaz and probably the first of its kind in the whole Goan diaspora in the western world, will be supported by the Konkani radio show team from Southampton, UK and the Youth Goan Association headed by Mark Silva based in Southall. Awaaz 99.8 FM, the community radio station, will be the media partner of the Academy.
The inceptive activities of the Kovita Academy in UK will be funded and supported by its members, well-wishers, Konkani lovers and local businessmen.
"We are extremely pleased that we have begun the process of building this Academy from scratch. It will be a rugged journey ahead but our founding members are determined, dedicated and resilient personalities who will work hard to realise the aims of the Academy,” said RJ Roque Vaz, President of Golden Goa Association, Southampton and radio host of ‘Konkani Uloi London Fuloi’.
“The initial endeavour before us is to organise poetry workshops aimed at the younger generation to plant in their minds and hearts the seeds of Konkani poetry.”
Mark Silva and RJ Vaz are working closely to establish a library of Konkani books, which will be used by Goans of all ages for special activities aimed at learning and developing Konkani literature.
“We invite members of the general Konkani-speaking public, Konkani lovers from Goa, the Konkani region and overseas to donate any Konkani books to the proposed library,” said RJ Vaz.
Further details of this project are available with Mark Silva by email ([email protected]) or RJ Roque Vaz by WhatsApp (+447816195002).
