THE GOAN NETWORK | LONDON
From hosting social activities and charitable events to organising training for artistes, the Konkani Dramatic Association (KDA) UK has been focused on promoting Konkani language through performing arts and education in the UK for the past 20 years.
The KDA UK will celebrate its 20th anniversary on September 9 to mark the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Mary. A Mass will be celebrated at 12.30 pm in the hall of the St John's Community Centre, Crawford Avenue, Wembley Central.
The Mass will be followed by snacks, banquet, prizes and dancing to the rhythm of 'Treble Makers'.
The KDA was formed in 2003 as a non-profit making organisation, formed of the five Executive Committee and Twelve Management Committee members.
“We started with the feast of Mount Mary on September 8, 2002, which is celebrated every year. Our association is funded by trustee’s financial support and executive members as we report our business affairs to the UK Government,” said KDA Lead Founder Trustee Judith Francisca P Pacheco e Fernandez.
Fernandez said the KDA’s aims and objectives are to promote Konkani language through performing arts and education.
“We adopt and promote Goan fellowship, social activities, organise charitable events and interact with members of the community to support other charitable organisations. The KDA’s objectives are to promote Konkani culture and aesthetic education through concerts and drama open to all interested members from our Goan community in UK and Goa.”
“We organise dramatic productions, social functions and organising training for artistes to reach their performance abilities by promoting individual talents.”
“Our social events and activities are structured to promote Konkani language in the U.K., by provisions of training through education for performing art, for all ages and gender. KDA (UK) supports Konkani translation service for official organisations and subtitles in English for films on social media.”
Fernandez said the KDA also promotes performing artistes and musicians from Goa and other countries.
“Our productions reached Goan communities for twenty years while promoting local and international artistes, and travelled through Europe, Canada and Middle East. We have supported G.O.A (UK) and Germany for cultural events and we extended our support to promote every artiste’s talent in U.K and to reach our fellow Goans all over the world by social media,” said Fernandez.
In addition to monthly social events for Goan communities in Swindon, Southall, Croydon and Wembley, the KDA will promote a local talent show with variety performance production at Southall on December 31.
Besides Fernandez, the others in the KDA Board are Antonio Fernandes, Domacian Moniz, Francis D Silva, Johnny Alfonso, Agnes Rodrigues, Escolastica Fernandes and John Fernandes.
