World Environment Day being observed by SAF on June 05, 2013 at Panaji, Goa

World Environment Day

on June 05, 2013

At Kala Academy Goa 09:30 am onwards

His Excellency Shri B V Wanchoo, Hon'ble Governor of Goa,  will flag off the human chain at 12 noon at Kala Academy Goa.

South Asia Foundation is observing the World Environment Day on June 05, 2013. The Foundation has initiated a campaign “Plastic-free Goa” against use of plastics by spreading awareness through a community driven support.

His Excellency Shri B V Wanchoo, Hob'ble Governor of Goa has agreed to grace the occasion and flag off the human chain to pledge for a "Plastic-free Goa"at Kala Academy Goa, Panaji. Artisans of the South Asia Foundation, students and others would join hands with the human chain in order to support the campaign of SAF and free handmade recycled paper bags would be distributed to public. Human chain formation to commence at 12:00 noon at Kala Academy Goa and to stretch across D.B. Marg.

A drawing competition for children is also being organised with the theme “Towards a greener Goa”, free entry and for age group 5 to 16 years. All they need to do is bring their own colour pencils and gather at 09:30 at Foyer area, Kala Academy Goa, Panaji.  Each participant would be given a certificate on the spot and winners of the competition shall be announced the same day at 03:00 pm at Azad Maidan. 

The best 3 drawings adjudged on the merit basis, would be used in craft development brochure of South Asia Foundation. They will also be displayed on the website www.southasiafoundation.in the same day as well as other social networking sites. Before the commencement of the above activities, there is a formal session at Dinanath Mangueshi Kala Mandir, Kala Academy Goa, Panaji at 09:30 am where I-cards to the artisans registered by SAF,  issued by the Government of India will be distributed.

Bal Bhavan and Kala Academy Goa has extends support and join hands with SAF to observe the World Environment Day to support the initiative "Towards a greener Goa" of the South Asia Foundation.

South Asia Foundation (SAF), set up in 1991,  has been working in Goa for more than 5 years, at various villages, reaching at the doorsteps of the communities in the remote locations of North Goa. SAF initiatives in Goa aim at Branding, Marketing of the craft and effective Micro-financing to the artisans. SAF is currently providing benefits to more than 2500 artisans and has various projects in North Goa including the annual South Asian Film Festival (saff).

More information may be obtained from Ms. Akankcha Shri, Project Director by writing at safgoa@gmail.com.  For regular updates, follow us on Facebook.

 

KUMHAARGRAM Potters on a Cultural Craft Exchange programme at Australia.

http://www.craft.org.au/news/rajasthani-potters-at-northcote-pottery-supplies/

South Asian Film Festival (saff-2012)

South Asian Film Festival

                                       ...dissolving boundaries

saff-2012

October 25-28, 2012

Goa

South Asia Foundation hosts the 7^th annual South Asian Film Festival-saff-2012 at Goa with the theme ...dissolving boundaries. saff is also celebrating the remarkable journey of "100 glorious years of Indian Cinema".  This is the first ever effort to celebrate 100 years of Indian Cinema that is being celebrated at the South Asian Regional level in the presence of prominent film-makers of all the South Asian Countries. saff is all set to bring some of the finest cinema from all the South Asian Countries. Beginning on October 25, 2012, the four day long festival is one of rare festival where all the South Asian Countries film-makers join in celebrating the spirit of South Asian Cinema to promote and propagate peace and harmony in the South Asian Region with a spirit of oneness. saff is also an initiative of the Foundation to bring people to people contact through the medium of cinema where it tries to reach it to the grass-roots level also. It is also one of the most popular  non-governmental initiative, where people to people vibrant contacts are effectively made through the medium of cinema. 

South Asia Foundation has received support from the ICCR and Public Diplomacy Division of the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, to make this event a grand success.

Today,at the inaugural ceremony, Kathak recital by noted Kathak Danseuse Ms. Sharmistha Mukherjee and group and an ensemble on Bhutanese Culture being presented by Karma Deki, Actor-Director from Bhutan and to add the local flavour to the festive season, Goa's very own Sigmund De Souza would also present a cultural programme at the Kala Academy Goa's Open air Amphitheater in the evening at 6.00 pm on today i.e. October 25, 2012.

Some of the highlights:

• Script writing workshop by Shri Sanjay Chauhan was conducted on October 26, 2012 which was attended well.
•  “All I want is Everything” directed by Ms. Shital Morjaria was screened on the first day of the festival and had a wonderful response as it is being screened again today on special demand. The Producer of the film, Ms. Jhansi Laxmi who is a popular TV anchor, Telegu theatre & film actor who was present on the occasion was delighted with the kind of response they got from the audience. The film incidentally received wide spread reviews in Goan Media, as prelude to media coverage for the South Asian Film Festival much before it kicked off.
• Movies from Maldives and Nepal also had a great response. Both the country’s Directors could be seen excited by getting an opportunity to mingle with the audience and interacting with them.
• Bangladeshi movie “Uttorer Sur” directed by Shahneoyaj Cacoly had a very heart touching plot and natural reaction from the audience was visible. It not only brought people to tears, but also, had an emotional response from the audience. The Film witnessed a large number of Bengali communities from Goa in full strength including people from all walks of life turned up and the audience got a rare opportunity to interact with the promising young Director from Bangladesh.
• The Konkani film Mariola, directed by Joe Rose received an over-whelming response to a packed capacity at the ESG Auditorium. While introducing the film, Mr. Joe along with his lead actor Mr. Kevin, expressed their gratitude and appreciated the effort of South Asia Foundation to invite them for screening the first ever HD Konkani film and first ever HD film made in Goa. In an emotional call, the Secretary General of South Asia Foundation congratulated the director and actor in supporting the initiative of the foundation and joining the spirit of South Asia Foundation. He further informed the audience and the director that the foundation will try its level best to take the film to other South Asia Countries for presenting the film to a larger audience beyond India.
• The South Asian Film Festival surprisingly witnessed a huge crowd for the Bhutanese film “Seday” which normally does not get much audience because of language barrier.
• The film “Narasajjana Nursery” also received a good response from the audience. The director and actor were seen promoting their film and interacting with the audience.

The South Asia Foundation would also like to take this opportunity to thank all its supporters, sponsors and associates for making this Festival a success. 

Visit us for more details: www.saff.in

Launch of a Book published by South Asia Foundation.

South Asia Foundation (SAF) formed in 1991, day by day has gained more strength even beyond boundaries in its belief in the power of ideas and the strength and creativity of the common people. It seeks to create a network of people in the region and channelizes its energies towards building a South Asia free from prejudice and bitterness. A step forward towards this, South Asia Foundation has once more proved its versality through release and launch of a Book " Governance, Security and Development" authored by K SREEDHAR RAO, IAS (R). South Asia Foundation has published this book , in collaboration with Concept Publishing Co. (P) Ltd. We invite all our friends, colleagues, well wishers and all to grace this occasion with your presence and be a part of this thoughtful initiative of the Foundation.

Brand Building Workshop in Goa June 01-02, 2012

South Asia Foundation organises a Workshop "BRAND BUILDING OF GOAN CRAFTS" at Vivanta by Taj, Panaji on June 01-02,2012. 
The workshop aims at building up a strategic plan to consciously develop the craft of Goa where Tourism with its huge potential can play an important role.

The South Asia Foundation (set up in 1991 is )organized a Workshop on Brand Building for Goan Handicrafts on June 01-02, 2012 at Vivanta by Taj, Panaji, Goa which was inaugurated by  Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India at  11 am on Friday, June 01, 2012.
South Asia Foundation has been working among Goan artisans for last 5 years organizing them into SHGs and getting most of the artisans of North Goa registered with the O/o of Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Govt. of India as registered Artisans and working with them to enhance their productivity under AHVY Scheme of your office through a SAF initiative for Comprehensive Development of the artisans of North Goa.
The subject is “Brand building of Goan Crafts” and eminent speakers from IIT, NID and other resource persons from across the country would interact with the artisans in this Workshop that will help in brand building of Goan handicrafts. The sessions are designed in such a way that it would also help device a marketing strategy for handicrafts of Goa.
This Workshop discussed ways to tackle various issues pertaining to the artisans’ community in North Goa that helped to draw up a Comprehensive Development Plan for the artisans of North Goa. Comments, suggestions and inputs of the Industry experts, stake holders and resource persons were taken into consideration by the Foundation for a project for an over-all development of the artisans of North Goa.

India-Nepal Crafts Festival inaugurated by His Excellency, Rt. Hon'ble Dr. Ram Baran Yadav, President of Nepal

Poster released for INDIA-NEPAL CRAFTS FESTIVAL