Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SB)
Mangaluru, Jun 17: Society of St Vincent De Paul (SSVP), Bondel unit, on Sunday, June 17 distributed scholarships worth Rs 4 lac to financially poor students at St Lawrence Church hall, Bondel here.
Fr Andrew Leo D'Souza, parish priest, St Lawrence Church, Bondel presided over the programme. Fr Leo Veigas, resident priest, and Fr Clifford Pinto, assistant parish priest, were the chief guests. Henbert Pinto, vice-president, parish council, Francis Veigas, secretary, Neelesh Dias, president, SSVP, Naveen Corea, Joseph and Francis D’Souza were present.
Addressing the gathering, Fr Andrew said, "In the current scenario, without education one cannot survive in the society. Education has become a mandatory prerequisite in everyone’s life. Hence, every single human being wants to get educated and settle in life. But sometimes, financial problem become a hurdle in acquiring education. SSVP tries to help students who are financially struggling to get enough education. The members of the organisation are doing a great job. They are ‘donating’ education.
"Students who get financial assistance from SSVP should remember the help and once start you earning, should think of helping others in the same manner. We cannot evaluate richness in money. One who enjoys good health, is always a rich person. With the help of education, knowledge and hard work, a person can become financially secure. So our first priority should be always to good education.
"On behalf of all the beneficiaries, I am thankful to the leadership of SSVP. They have selected students from all communities and proclaimed that education is beyond religion and communities. It is based on only humanity,” he said.
Neelesh Dias welcomed the gathering. As many as 120 students from various schools received scholarships.