He attempts to bring about a love for nature and environmental awareness in young minds.
Seby Pinto has been hosting a ‘Plant and Flower Show’ for over two decades, at the SFX School in Siolim, where he hopes to bring about a green change in young Goans
For the residents of the densely populatedvillage of Siolim, there is much to celebrate this year. Famous for its SaoJoao and St Anthony’s Church, this year the St Francisco Xavier School (SFX) celebratesits 75th anniversary. To add spice to the occasion, the schoolplayed host to the popular ‘Plant and Flower Show’ which has proved to be an attractionfor nature lovers from Tiswadi, Bardez, Pernem and Bicholim for over twodecades.
Seby Pinto, a teacher at the school said “Our showcompletes 21 years and 18 schools along with their PTAs, nurseries, bookhouses, organic manufacturers and environment activists participated in thethree day show”.
Pinto goes on to explain the shows origins, “Itwas in 1991 when plant lovers like cartoonist Alexyz, Philo and FranciscoBorges, Joel Pinto, Lorry Fernandes and Miguel Braganza conceptualised the ideaof hosting a plant and flower show and requested SFX to lend its hall andpremises. Father V D Joseph gladly permitted the green enthusiasts to do so.And so the involvement of the school began with a growing response from PTA, otherschools, nurseries and surrounding villages over the years.”
The organisers decided to gift this show tothe SFX after organising it successfully for five years. The then headmaster FatherAnthony D’Souza welcomed this move. “The school adopted the show and made it aproject. I was appointed as the permanent caretaker of this show,” says Pinto whocontinues running the programme religiously till date.
For the past five years SFX has been invitingnurseries to participate in the competition. Garden Glory, Apurbai, Vikas,Green Fingers, Shree Agri, Mahamaya and Symantak are now a part of the showalong with the zonal office of Agriculture Department in Mapusa.
Pinto speaks with gratitude of people like FrSantow John who has remained a guiding force for over nine years and Fr InacioAlmeida who did a three-day demonstration of palm oil extraction. “Our studentslook forward to their favourite event of the year and we are happy that SFX iscontributing its bit to the conservation of nature and making Goa a betterplace to live,” concludes Pinto.
