23 Mar 2018  |   06:11am IST

CREST’s Okdaam 2018: Creating future entrepreneurs

 

The Centre for Research and Excellence between

Society and Technology (CREST) of Fr. Agnel College of Arts and Commerce, Pilar, organized “Okdaam 2018” its third edition recently. The event has been organized by the college for the past three years with the primary objective of acting as a wellness entrepreneurship workshop to imbibe knowledge of traditional and modern medicinal practices for the body and mind. The event was coordinated by Hegel Da Costa and Razia D’Souza.

The event began with the evoking of harmony with a prayer by the Principal of the college Rev. Dr. Frederick Rodrigues sfx, followed by a welcome song and the watering of the plant sapling by the dignitaries of the vent present in sync with the vent theme.

The event consisted of two lecture and workshop series. The Pope John Paul-II Memorial Lecture was conducted by Dr. Amit Dias on the topic “Soul Connection for a Healthy Feeling”. The other lecture which is named Fr. Inacio Almeida Memorial Lecture was conducted by Dr. Archana Dessai and her team from Goa Medical College on the theme “Preserving Healthy Habits in Modern Era”.

The Fr. Inacio Almeida Memorial Workshop began with Fr. Mario taking the students in the field area in the college campus identified as “Okdaam Fram” which will be henceforth cultivated and looked after by the students as part of practical farming activity. He along with the help of Agnelo and his assistant showed the students how tilling of the soil is done and organic manure is mixed with the soil.

It was followed by the Pope John Paul-II Memorial Workshop began with Fr. Joaquim Rebello sfx Principal, Guardian Angel Institute of Hotel Management and team which included Raymond D’souza (Head Chef), and his teams. They prepared two health conscious dishes and showed to the students. The first dish was the preparation of Salad made of Reddish leaves, glazed onions with olive oil and a hint of raw mango. It was beautifully presented as well. The second dish was a Goan Balchao of Reddish root, which was made of an appealing red paste of gram masala with garnish of graded coconut.

The Resolutions of the events were derived at the end of the event, these included: The introduction of a Short term certificate course on Farm Management under the Executive Grade Programme of the college and maintenance of the Okdaam Farm by the college students as a Practical farming activity. The other three resolutions included: Continuing collaboration with Doctor’s from Goa Medical College to disburse & implement the programmes benefits among the college neighbourhood; short term certificate course on diet & nutritious food preparation in collaboration with experts from Guardian Angel Institute of Hotel Management and counselling of the college students against the growing menace of cyber bullying by way of sessions in the student mentorship programme.

The event concluded with the Certificates was distributed to participating students at the hands of Dr. Menino Allan Tavares sfx. Razia D’Souza concluded the event proceedings by reading the out the vote of thanks.

Among the dignitaries present for the occasion were Evencio Quadros (MD: Quadros Group & Patron of CREST), Mohan Dhond (Owner of Edward’s yard), Agnelo Correia (Organic Farmer from the neighbouring area of Pilar), Xavier Gracias (Sarpanch – Agassaim), Dr. Menino, Allan Tavares sfx (Administrator: Fr. Agnel college Pilar).