Comedy and cuisine: A celebration of food, community and hope

PANAJI

A warm feeling is in the air, and soft music plays in the background as people from different walks of life gather in Panaji for Comedy and Cuisine, an initiative by Project Hope of Caritas Goa. Caritas Goa has spent more than 60 years providing aid and support to vulnerable and distressed women. Colourful stalls are set up; beautiful art is on display and up for sale, while the rich aroma of traditional and authentic Goan food wafts through the air. Families are seen coming together to enjoy an evening of comedy and Goan cuisine. However, the women behind these stalls have a story of courage, resilience, and hope.

Comedy and Cuisine is being held at Garcia De Orta Garden in Panaji from May 28 to 31. It shall be open from 6 pm to 10 pm. Fr Maverick Fernandes, Director of Caritas Goa, and Ashton Souza, a volunteer at Caritas and the brains behind this project, had a chat with The Goan about the project, the response so far, and what lies ahead for Caritas.

Inspiration Behind the Initiative

“Father visited a place outside India and saw a pop-up market with food stalls. The stalls were so clean,” exclaims Souza. “Even after the event ended, the entire place was cleaned up. That inspired us to create something similar here,” he adds.

“As an audience, you shall see bands, comedians, and improv comedy. We also have a music performance apart from the art stall and food stalls,” mentions Fr Maverick. However, what makes Comedy and Cuisine distinct is its focus on creating lasting opportunities and support for vulnerable women through training, facilitation, and market access. He also mentions how they have brought back traditional games, like coconut breaking, for the crowd. “The thought was simple: lighten the atmosphere,” mentions Souza.

As they hope for the weather to be in their favour, they mention how they were met with a lot of encouragement for this initiative. “We did not face any challenges. Since everybody knows the work Caritas does, everyone was very supportive,” remarks Souza.

Building Sustainable Livelihoods

Caritas runs several self-help groups across Goa, through which the distressed and vulnerable are trained in micro-savings and micro-credit and also have income-generation programmes. “One of the issues was the market. In this way, we are looking forward to a more sustainable market for them,” notes Fr Maverick. This is just a stepping stone to continue their journey forward. However, creating opportunities alone is not enough; the community also plays an equally important role in helping them. “Society can help by patronising these women and supporting their initiatives,” Souza states.

Winning first place among 70 countries in an international competition was a major boost for Caritas Goa’s Project Hope. The win came as Father was taking in vulnerable youth and giving them access to markets while also skilling them. All this was done through fair trade practices, where a fair price is paid for the products. “Thus, we ensure that those who buy from these disadvantaged women don’t squeeze them,” mentions Fr Maverick.

Mission Beyond the Event

Comedy and Cuisine is far more than simply a pop-up market of food stalls. It is yet another step in a larger effort to create dignity, opportunity, and independence for vulnerable women. From self-help groups and skill development to market access and emergency support services, Caritas continues to build pathways towards self-reliance.

While the food stalls and performances may draw the crowds, the true success of the initiative lies in ensuring that the women behind them can look towards the future with greater confidence and hope.

Caritas Goa has also come up with a helpline number, 8182830405, to aid any person who is facing abuse or finds themselves in a vulnerable situation. They shall provide counselling, as well as aid distressed individuals in walking out of such situations. For Caritas Goa, Comedy and Cuisine is just one step in a larger mission. Beyond the stalls and entertainment, they hope to continue their mission of supporting the vulnerable and distressed.