Goan football coach and UK nationals team up to help poor people in Palolem
Goan
football coach and UK nationals team up to help poor people in Palolem
A Bhakti
Yoga teacher from United Kingdom, a Goan football coach and Englishman having
business interests in Cambodia have teamed up in the Indian coastal state of
Goa to reach out to poor families and help them with essential items during the
lockdown period on Palolem beach, in South Goa.
Bhakti Yogi
Linda Russell has been a long time visitor to India dating back to nearly three
decades while Akhil Pagui, a native of Palolem, has been a youth development
football coach for the last 12 years.
Andrew Mason,
owner of franchise Big Easy Phnom Penh and Ko Rong Samloem, Cambodia, which generates
money for charities in Cambodia, completes the circle. Mason has been extending
his charitable hand to the India project initiated by Pagui and is a major fund
raiser, said Linda.
In Palolem
Beach, one of the most popular beach in Goa, Akhil along with other local
volunteers have identified around 20 families living without financial support and
who don't have money to buy provisions for the next 15 days lockdown period,
said Akhil
“It's very challenging
to those who are daily wage earners and who have absolutely no support. We have
decided to provide them with support in the form of food packages and other
essential items. This package will contain supplies for 10 to 15 days. Supplies
will be distributed through a network of our volunteers in respective families.
Cost of each packet is ₹ 1000/,” said Akhil.
Linda, stay
put in Goa even as over 7,000 western tourists flew back to their respective
countries via the special repartition flights arranged by the respective
governments in association with their Indian counterparts.
“I have
stayed to help my Indian friend to help feed the no income families in Palolem
so they can survive this lockdown,” Linda said in response to a question.
A Bhakti
Yogi for the last 26 years has so far been helping six families in Palolem
since the nationwide lockdown was announced a 21-day lockdown on March 24 which
was extended till May 3, to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus.
Linda
describes Akhil as a ‘Spiderman’ ready to help people in need.
I have met a
young guy Akhil who has the rainbow above his head. Heartfelt kindness of which
I have not seen in such a young chap in a long time. We are collectively are on
a quiet mission here in India to help the needy. Selflessly he perseveres
quietly like Spiderman with as much aid as we can help,” Linda says.
Linda says
life has been hard for the local residents of Palolem residents, who have no
income on their own in the lockdown period and were dependent on daily wages to
keep the house fires burning.
”We shop and
distribute basic staples such as fruit, vegetable, rice, flour etc. Some
families went to the forest in search of food during the lockdown. We allocated
families with adequate food to keep them well and healthy. Toiletries and must
haves have been also been included,” she added.
“It’s a
golden opportunity to change life to think creative or do something to stay
with the family and people understand the value of food, especially the value
of farmer. Everything is going to change. It's a learning of the life. How to
leave peacefully. Here I'm helping underprivileged
people giving food and working as a social volunteer,” said Akhil.
Linda her
decision to stay back and help was with a view to pay back to India what she
has learnt over the years.
“Thank you
India for my education of 26 years to give me an opportunity to give something
good back. Love all serve all,” she adds.
She informed
that they are looking for financial aid to help the families in the long run as
they are running out of the money.
“We are
raising money from the West and appealing for financial help,” she adds.
People willing
to donate can do so . Here are the bank details. Please donate.
Mr. AKhil
Anant pagui
Branch
address nagarcem canacona, Goa
Omkar
building near KTC BUS STAND
PIN NO..
403702
IFSC NO :- SYNB0007214
Bank name :-
Syndicate Bank
Accounts
number 72142200054740
SWIFTCODE:SYNBINBB013
posted by Armstrong Vaz @ 11:14 PM
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