Chicalim Youth Farmers Club Felicitates Community Champions for Advancing Sustainable Farming

Chicalim, Goa, May 14, 2025: The Chicalim Youth Farmers Club (CYFC) organised a felicitation ceremony on May 12 at Chicalim to honour individuals and institutions that have contributed significantly to the club’s mission of reviving sustainable farming in the village of Chicalim. The ceremony was held during the Goan Dance Festival, organised by the CYFC in collaboration with Igreja ward and supported by the Department of Art and Culture, Government of Goa, held at the village community hall. The event brought together stakeholders who have collectively fostered a culture of community farming and youth engagement in agriculture.

The ceremony opened with the felicitation of Chicalim’s veteran farmers—Rui Manuel da Costa Araujo, Manuel Fernandes, Inacio Caetano Fernandes, Caetano Barbosa, Prabhakar B. Gaude, and Jayshree Gaude—who were recognised for their enduring commitment to farming and for inspiring the village youth with their knowledge and dedication.

In a gesture of gratitude, the club also felicitated landowners Connie D’Costa, Antonieta Nunes, Shashikant Usgaonkar, Willie Da Costa, Jerome Martin, and Vicky Kerkar for generously offering their fields for youth-led farming activities. Their support laid the foundation for hands-on agricultural training.

Field support workers Canute Peter D’Souza, Francis Teles, Somesh Wadiyar, and Ismail Sab Itagi were honoured for their dedication to maintaining and managing the farm's daily operations, ensuring the smooth execution of various agricultural initiatives.

Two schools, namely St. Andrews ICSE School, Vasco, and Regina Mundi School, Chicalim, were felicitated for their enthusiastic collaboration with the club in the community farming initiative. Teachers and students from these schools worked alongside the youth in the fields, demonstrating true commitment to environmental education and community service.

Nine dedicated youth members—Shogun Fernandes, Valerie Afonso, Chelsea Veena Fernandes, Jerrico Vaz, Xavier Mohan, Jonas Da Costa, Pandurang Bhagat, Valisha Gama, and Alisha Pereira—were recognised for their active involvement in farming and community service, serving as role models for their peers.

The club extended special thanks to its mentors—Rev. Dr. Bolmax Pereira, Fr. Peter Fernandes, Rui Manuel da Costa Araujo, Martinha Mesquita and Antoneta Fernandes—whose mentorship has played a critical role in shaping the club’s vision and empowering the youth with the knowledge and confidence to engage in sustainable farming.

Speaking on behalf of Regina Mundi School, Class 10 student Rafaad Shaikh expressed gratitude: “This award has given me and my schoolmates a lot of confidence. Working in the fields has been a valuable learning experience. A big thank you to our Eco Club teacher Ms. Alisha and Fr. Bolmax for guiding us. Cultivating watermelon this season was especially fun. We hope to continue this collaboration with the Chicalim Youth Farmers Club for the next year too.”

The event concluded with a renewed commitment to building a self-reliant and eco-conscious agricultural ecosystem in Chicalim, reinforcing the message that farming is not just a livelihood but a legacy, a community effort, and a path toward resilience and food sovereignty.

By Fr. Bolmax Pereira