Teenage Goan is India’s rep at Global talk programme

A 13 year old girl from Goa will represent India today at the Global Teenage Talk organised by the International Student Exchange Programme. Dwinnie Fernandes, an erudite eight standard student of Vidya Vikas Academy, Comba Margao will talk about her experiences as a teenager during the pandemic and how she dealt with it. This is not the first time she has caught the public’s attention. Dwinnie is an aspiring chess player who has represented the state at the u-14 school games in Gujarat in 2019. Speaking to the Café she said she had prepared her speech highlighting her experiences during the pandemic and she dealt with the fact that classes were now being conducted online and she was not able to meet her friends. Articulating her thoughts has been a problem for Dwinnie after she began writing a blog during the pandemic induced lockdown. Her blogs would be about ordinary people doing extraordinary deeds. Asked how she felt about representing her country at the online conference she said “I am nervous and a bit proud of myself because I am representing India”. Her mother, Mily Fernandes said she was approached by the founders of Global Education Leaders which is a platform for educationists across the world. She said “My daughter is academically a very good student and is also very creative. I am very happy she has been selected”. She said as a mother of a young and very talented girl she was focused on ensuring her daughter made the most of her talent. She said “I want my daughter to do what she is interested in. Just because I may want her to become a doctor or an engineer, that does not mean she has to do it. She is very good at chess or she may want to become a model tomorrow. She has to do what she feel will make her happy. It will also mean she will do it very well. It’s her life. I will always be there as a guide, friend and supporter.” Dwinnie said she was excited to be speaking tomorrow as a representative of India to young people from various countries that would also be part of the global talk. Speaking about her interest in chess, Dwinnie said she took it up when she was in class five in preparation for sports day and enjoyed it. When she represented the state, her ambitions received a boost. She has now been selected to be part of the u-15 state chess team. A huge fan of chess superstar Magnus Carlsen, she hopes to one day play the game professionally. She practices two hours on the sport every day. Today however at half past four she will be representing her country and presenting her views on Zoom. One can only wish her all the very best.