GOYAN (Goan Young Adult Network), born in cyberspace in August 1998 as Goa GenX, is a network of nearly 150 young Goans in the 18-35 age group, married or single, residing in the US or Canada. Beyond the age bar, the member turns into a mentor to "young" Goans and continues to keep in touch with GOYANkars.

The burgeoning GOYAN network revels in discussing issues relevant to ancestral Goa. Through organised trips to picturesque places like Las Vegas and New York, GOYAN members interact with each other. Come June and they'll meet in beautiful Toronto for a tete-a-tete.

GOYAN transcends vocal fellowship and ventures to help their less fortunate counterparts in Goa, particularly students who miss the means even for their elementary education. They have embarked on their first major project, to gather $3000 to enable the St. Joseph’s School for orphans to set up a computer lab. The Goa Computer for Schools Project team will implement the project in Goa.

Honest efforts never go unnoticed or unrewarded. GOYAN too has received encouraging response from local GOAs such as GOA FL, at whose Easter picnic, they swung into a fundraiser and netted donations of $580 and several pledges for computers. With the upcoming fundraisers and the August GOYAN dance in NY, the target is likely to be more than met. Any surplus will enable them to fund more schools in Goa and India.

A few motivated people have formed the admin team. They act as co-ordinators in their respective regions--New York, New Jersey (Petula/Debbie/Owen), South Florida (Marilyn), Ontario (Anthony), San Francisco (Marlon), Chicago (Julius) and Texas (Brian). They work on organizing fund raisers for projects and educating young Goans in their respective regions about GOYAN. Kevin (Website) and Daryl (Goa team co-ordinator) are also on the admin team along with this writer doubling up as the Overall Co-ordinator/Administrator.

Worldwide Young Goan Link

So far, GOYAN could not entertain requests from Goans outside North America who are eager to join the bandwagon. Therefore, during the International Goan festival in NY on July 4th, they wait to expand GOYAN frontiers, across continents through separate mailing lists. There will emerge a single global database for only members to access. It would then be possible to look up for members in a certain region for travel or other information. Once set up, GOYAN-North America, GOYAN-UK, GOYAN-India, GOYAN-Australia, GOYAN-UAE and so on will function independently to co-ordinate with each other.

The priority for GOYAN-India, covering Goa, will obviously entail fund raising efforts. The collection will be ploughed back into activities aimed at helping students in Goa. The scope of the activities could be broadened to feature international trips organized by a GOYAN in that region.

Calling for help

More hands make work light. So GOYAN feels that youth in larger numbers should join the selfless brigade. Wouldn't you encourage your friends, who qualify to join the network, to be part of the growing, well-meaning outfit? Show initiative! Or be a co-ordinator for your area, which means helping organize fund raisers in your area and informing Goans in your area about GOYAN at local Goan events. Those with talents for organising could even help in organizing social events or help lay the groundwork to go international.

^gnCedric D’Costa

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