Montfort Academy, Corlim, which is dedicated to uplifting the youth and helping them achieve a sustainable livelihood through career-oriented programmes, will complete 25 years this December. We get more details
RAMANDEEP KAUR| NT
It’s essential to empower the youth and provide them with the necessary skills and knowledge to have a sustainable livelihood. And by offering career-oriented programmes, the Montfort Academy, Corlim, is helping to bridge the gap between education and employment, ensuring that the youth are well-prepared for the job market.
Started in 1998 to help the local youth, especially, those who are not able to pursue their academics, and create facilities for them to learn some skills, the academy is a sister concern institute of St. Joseph’s High School & Boys’ Home in Calangute. It belongs to the Montfort Brothers of St Gabriel, a French congregation, and comes under the Province of Pune which covers seven states of India including Goa.
And the institute, which will complete 25 years this December, has steadily evolved over the years. “We started in a small manner with non-formal training programmes like fabrication, carpentry, plumbing, and fitter,” says director and principal of the Montfort Academy, Corlim, Bro. Prem SG.
The academy then moved into formal technical education with NCVT and SCVT trades and also started the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), wherein dropouts from schools are trained for Class 10 and 12, and also given skill training. It also provides training for the students who fail after Class 8, provided they have a passion to learn and excel. “We have been associated with a lot of multinational corporations (MNCs) for training and apprenticeships, and also run exclusive six months, one-year, and two-year programmes which are completely job oriented,” says Bro. Prem SG, adding that they have almost 95% job placements.
The list of technical courses offered includes NCVT – Fitter, SCVT- Electrician & COPA, Automobile (Certified by Tata Motors), R&A/C (Certified by Godrej). Academic programmes include NIOS for Class 10 and Class 12 study centres. This academic year (2023-24), the academy has launched two new courses, i.e, Toyota Training Excellence Programme (certified by ASDC & Toyota) and the Yamaha Training School Programme (certified by Yamaha).
The academy also has a tie-up with SES (Senior Expert Service), Germany’s volunteer organisation, where retired experts from Germany come to the institute and train the trainers, and is also part of the Skill India International Centre (SIIC) initiative, which is initiated by the Government of India to make India as the skill capital of the world by 2030. They also have a tie-up with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in Old Goa and are part of SKIP (an All India private ITI’s organisation).
With the aim of celebrating diversity, special impetus is given to women and girls at the academy. “We also motivate girls to take up technical training. Every year on International Women’s Day we organise panel discussions, workshops on life skills and basic skills on electrical and automobile and how not to depend on someone else,” says Bro. Prem SG. “Girls are interested in learning but it is also a matter of parental support and change of mindset that is very much important.”
The academy is also working towards creating an equal platform for everyone. “We are trying to make an inclusive campus where we don’t deny students with disabilities who are fit to do technical work because the future is going to be all-inclusive education.”
Besides this, the institute has a community outreach programme called ‘Vayam’ where a group of counsellors are always there to help those who cannot afford or go for professional counselling. “We started this during the pandemic to help people who are going through depression or psychological issues. We have also counselled Goans settled in the U.K.,” says Bro. Prem SG. The academy has a hostel facility on campus and a gymnasium as well
And the academy is only working to enhance its programmes going forward. In fact, working on the concept of ‘Schooling – Skilling – Sports’ which he says is a very unique approach to integrated learning and life skills. It is all set to begin the Montfort Academy Dream Builders which includes football coaching, skating, music classes, foreign language training in German, communication skills, personality development and career enhancement. All these training programmes are open for the age group between eight to 18 and for adults as well. The programmes commence from August 28, 2023, and registrations are open till August 22, 2023.
The academy is also working to initiate programmes for boys, girls, and women in tailoring, home nursing and the hospitality sector, which are expected to commence soon. And they are closely working to have integrated vocational programmes in automobile and electrical through a bachelor in vocational programme. “We are also planning to have a tie-up with an IT company where we want to promote IT literacy and IT employment in the locality. We are also working on tying up with different MNCs where they can help the local youth to pursue their skills and get employment,” says Bro. Prem SG. And as the academy moves towards its silver jubilee year (January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024), he emphasises the institute is focusing not on quantity but on the quality of training.
“We have been in Goa for the last 35 years and in Corlim for almost 25 years. We have a very good faculty hailing from different parts of Goa. Thousands of students have passed out of this institute and are doing well in India and abroad,” he says.
Featured Events
Carpe Diem Art Gallery, Majorda, will be hosting ‘The Artist Acquaintances 2024’, a weekly artist camp cum group art exhibition till November 30.
The Waves International Short Film Festival (WISFF) will be held from December 6 to 8 in Panaji. As part of this festival, short film submissions are invited from emerging filmmakers and industry professionals. The deadline for submission is November 3. Entries are also invited for the 60 Hours Film Challenge, which will be held from November 25 to 28, 2024. Details: +918080696872.
Featured Blog
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Whirlpools, crocodiles, and more. Find out what the life of a fisherman is like.
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An eco-farm with thrills and adventure for the first time in Goa
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Traditional sweets of Goa
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A sneak-peek into life in Goa decades ago
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When a fashion designer is in lockdown…
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A talk with a lady who creates Beauty out of Waste
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A tribute to the cashew
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Beaches in Goa with less crowd
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‘Rediscover Goa’ with Airbnb and experience the true beauty of the sunshine state
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Backpacking Guide: Old Goa
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Tour Goa in a helicopter!
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Goa in 48 hours – For the Adventurous
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Delightful Summer Fruits of Goa
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An unforgettable culinary journey
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The marigold man of Goa
With a deep understanding of agriculture and a desire to bring locally grown marigold flowers to the Goan community, Amona-based farmer Krishna Sinari has embarked on the high-tech venture of marigold farming. RAMANDEEP KAUR | NT Inspired by the need for locally grown marigold flowers, Krishna Sinari, the owner of Prakriti Farm Products, has started a high-tech venture of marigold farming in a 3,000-square-meter plot. With a total of 5,000 plants, his farm boasts vibrant yellow and orange marigold flowers. The inspiration behind choosing marigold flowers as the primary crop stems, he says, is that even though Goa has a suitable environment for its growth, a majority of the flowers are brought in from other places. “Marigolds are essential for Diwali celebrations. So I chose to start my own marigold production to meet the local demand,” says Sinari, who holds a diploma in agriculture and has done various courses to enhance his knowledge in the field. Currently enjoying his first marigold harvest, the next crop of flowers will be during Diwali and later for Tulsi Vivah. After that, he will move on to the next crop. Sinari has previously cultivated hybrid chillies and lady fingers and plans to explore other […]
Goa-based musician ‘Discokid’ to perform at Serendipity Arts Festival 2023
Among the eight exceptional music artists handpicked for the B-side Music Production Residency programme, ‘Discokid’, a Goa-based musician will be performing at the Serendipity Arts Festival 2023. The 11-day workshop concluded in Olaulim recently and was organised by the Serendipity Arts Foundation. The eight artists namely Dzerouengmit Lepcha, Fatima Hakeen (Discokid), Lenix Lobo, Hasan Shahrukh, Govi, Ashel Unger, Rushaki Ghosh and Medhaj Dempo, delved deep into the intricacies of music production using Ableton Live, a digital audio workstation during the residency, which formally culminated on October 20. The residency was mentored by industry experts, including Jay Pei, Megha Balani, SHFT and Puneesh Suri. Fatima Hakeen aka ‘Discokid’ is a musician and producer based out of Goa and has been featured in well-known online music shows like Mixmag Goa and Worldwide FM. Over the eleven-day intensive program, the participants explored a myriad of techniques, from working with audio clips and MIDI basics to advanced production methods, honing their skills and collectively broadening their creative horizons. “Each participant brings a unique flavour to the table: from Dzerouengmit Lepcha’s soulful melodies to Discokid’s groovy beats, Lenix Lobo’s experimental sounds and Govi’s fusion of Carnatic vocals with indie and alternative genres. Hasan Shahrukh, with his expertise in […]
Glow of Epiphyllum – Brahma Kamal flowers of Goa
Recently, I came across a news story about a record-breaking bloom of 28 Brahma Kamal flowers in Goa. The spectacular sight of its prolific blossoms in the video took me on a trip down memory lane. We, too, had this beautiful plant in our garden, lovingly tended by my grandmother. Commonly referred to as ‘Bramhakamal’ in Goa and likely across the country, this plant is scientifically known as Epiphyllum Oxypetalum. Belonging to the Cactaceae family, it is an exotic plant native to the rainforests of Central and South America. Interestingly, it has no botanical connection to the true Bramhakamal species, scientifically named Saussurea obvallata, which is found and revered in Uttarakhand and the Himalayan regions. The slight resemblance between Epiphyllum Oxypetalum and the original Bramhakamal may explain the confusion between the two. Also known as the Dutchman’s Pipe Cactus or Queen of the Night, this flower truly lives up to its regal title. In our garden, this plant held a special place in my heart. Its slightly puffed, elongated leaves distinguished it from the other greenery. The celestial blooms appeared rarely, usually between July and September. One of the most unique aspects of this flower is how it unfurls its […]
