Just like a seed grows into a strong bush, a loose
organisation of foreigners living in Canacona for many years, working together
to develop the backward taluka of Canacona, has today grown into a vibrant
organisation taking up various activities. Nine months ago Friends of Canacona
was started by two German ladies who have been living in Canacona for the last
15 years along with a Goan returning to his hometown from Mumbai, namely Lloyd
Godinho, the Goan, Ute Ferrao who is married to a Goan and Tanja Hohluchte.
While Lloyd is a singer and event conceptualiser, Tanja runs a kindergarten for
foreigners’ children at Colomb and Ute runs a mini hotel with a restaurant
promoting sustainable living.
Friends of Canacona has been very active in
maintaining Canacona’s cleanliness, dealing with stray dogs, rescuing injured
animals or even garnering funds for local organisations, no work is
insignifanct for them. Helped by local NGO Goenkar, they have now also learnt
how to use the government machinery to accomplish their goals regarding
cleanliness and animal care. It would be pertinent to point out that the so
called backward Canacona taluka has become a much desired place for foreigners
particularly after the pandemic, for its quiet, serene and green ambience. This
has resulted in a number of home stays and other small business enterprises
springing up. The increase in business opportunities have brought in with it
some problems too, most vexing of which is garbage management as mixed garbage
is seen dumped at various places. Although the Canacona Municipal Council has
set up a system of daily garbage collection from households, black spots where
garbage is dumped indiscriminately are increasing every day. This led to
formation of Friends of Canacona with a primary goal of retaining the
picturesque facade of the taluka and do away with the scars left by so called
development. “We have undertaken quite a number of clean up jobs in the area
besides also conducting programmes to educate people on garbage segregation,”
said Lloyd. “We have also collaborated with local business persons to employ
garbage collectors and provide them with colourful carts and safety gears like
gloves and boots,” said Ute while adding that they have also provided separate
bins to collect broken glass. She credited Casa Jaali, Bhakti Kutir and Anand
Yoga Village for being the first restaurants to join their endeavour. “Our
future plans are to set up a small market for local produce including locally
made products,” said Tanja stressing that the aim is to maintain and share the
beauty of the area with others.
