Montfort Academy through its outreach programme ‘Vayam’ organized Women’s Day celebrations at Montfort Academy Campus Auditorium , Corlim on 13th March 2022 at 3.30pm. The theme for International Women’s Day as UN set was ‘Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow’. The function was inaugurated by the Chief Guest Mrs. Khairoo Andani Khavtay, Consultant Finance Industry. Mrs. Khavtay addressed the gathering by sharing 3 important mantras where women can be more assertive and more stronger in the family and the business environment . She also motivated by sharing her personal experience as a business woman. Ms. Vaishnavi the Vayam member has taken input sessions on importance of mental health for the women to face the regular challenges that they face in the male dominant society. She also insisted that women should practice the basic yoga asanas to release regular stress and tensions.
The programme included the panel discussion which aimed to bring together men and women from different walks of life to discuss their views and ideas on how gender equality can be achieved to ensure a better future for tomorrow. The panellists at the discussion included Dr. Maryanne Lobo, Holistic Health Expert, Ms Neha Anil Shirodkar, Advocate (Intellectual Property Rights), Dr. Mathala Juliet Gupta, Senior Scientist ( Agri. structures and process engineering) ICAR, Mr. Edwin Martin Gomes, Businessman and Mr. Basil D’Cunha , Philanthropist as the moderator . The panel discussions have drawn a huge applause because the sharing by the panel members was immensely beneficial and the need of the hour where the society need to respond promptly to make efforts to bring gender equality right from the family. The team Vayam and Montfort Academy recognised six eminent personalities who have contributed to the community as advocates, healthcare providers, young pilot, homemaker and entrepreneurs were felicitated during the programme. They were Adv. Lucia Fatima Fernandes, Sr.Selvi FMM , Ms. Richa Lavu Govekar, Mrs. Maria Filomena Natalia Pereira, Mrs. Laxmi Saraf and Mr.Umakant Choudhary. The programme was compared by Ms.Tania Shirodkar and the Vayam team and assisted by all the staff of Montfort Academy.