Project Women

St. Bridget’s Institute of Home Science

Situated in Aldona, Bardez, this Institute aims to empower women through skills of self employment and management of homes. The Institute conducts long term courses in Home Science. Preference is given to school drop-outs and the economically backward girls. The Institute provides boarding facilities and caters to women of all religions. For the time being, 1 year Certificate Course in Home Nursing approved by the Human Resource Development Foundation, Govt. of Goa, is being conducted.

Caritas-Goa Training Centre for Women

Housed in “Instituto de Nossa Senhora de Piedade, Panjim, the Centre is open to young girls and women who are trained in hand and machine embroidery (preparing bed and table linen, centerpieces, etc.), stitching garments, church vestments etc. who bring in articles prepared by them for sale and also come to be employed in this Centre to produce articles that are ordered by customers. It is related with an outlet named “Café Amor” where articles, goods, food stuff, etc. prepared by Self Help Groups and Individuals who are economically disadvantaged are being marketed. This provides marketing facility for the various Self Help Groups or individuals which Caritas-Goa assists.

Self - Help groups

Caritas-Goa strives to reach out to women at the grass roots by establishing Self Help Groups (SHG’s) in predominantly OBC / Scheduled Tribe populated areas. Awareness programmes, seminars, training sessions are conducted to help women get organised and use their own resources and efforts to become self-reliant. They are also helped financially through Micro Credit System.

Lar de Sta. Terezinha is an orphanage for girls and women situated in Pajifond, Margao. The Archdiocese has recently (2006) requested Caritas-Goa to take charge of this orphanage. At present there are 75 girls/women (children and adults) who are being taken care of through the services of the Carmelite Fathers in Margao.

“Obra de Proteccao a Mulher” (OPM) (Service for the protection of Women.)

This Institution is functioning in a house at Nachinola, Bardez. The aim of this programme is to meet the needs of the unwed mother and to offer care and protection to her child. The Women are counselled, given medical attention as required, hospitalized and are taken care after the delivery. Thus they are protected from social criticism and ostracization. During the time that these women are in the house they are given opportunities to acquire some vocational skills which helps them in their future life. The Archdiocese entrusted the running of O.P.M. to Caritas-Goa in 1981. Every year an average of 20 unwed mothers are admitted at the Institution and they remain in the Institution upto 3 months after their delivery.

This house is also open to other women with difficulties.

Guardianship of Relinquished Babies/Children

Caritas-Goa is an approved Adoption Agency by CARA (Central Adoption Resource Agency) for placing of Babies/Children in Guardianship for both Indian and Foreign Guardians. This project is a sister project of O.P.M. The Organisation follows the procedures and rules laid down under the prevailing Guardianship Acts(1890,1956).This project brings happiness both to the concerned adults (adoptive parents), and the babies/children, ensuring a safe and fruitful future for each baby/child. On an average 20 babies are relinquished by the mothers and they are given in guardianship to Indian and Foreign couples every year.