Aloysian Alumni in the UAE Contribute Towards Education Fund

Daijiworld Media Network – Abu Dhabi (ods)
UAE, Jul 15: Aloysian Alumni in the UAE recently donated Indian Rupees Five Lakhs Fifty Thousand towards their existing scholarship fund for deserving students pursuing their studies at St. Aloysius College Mangalore.
Aloysians Alumi, pioneers in forming an Alumni Association outside India contributed this amount from the Aloysian/Agnesian get-together held in February 2009 at the Sharjah Wanderers Club.
The amount was handed over to Fr. Swebert D’Silva – Principal of the college by Abdul Majeed, James Mendonca and Lawrence Mendonca – Members of the Organizing Committee during their visit to the College. Fr. D’Silva acknowledged the contribution handed over by the UAE Alumni and thanked them for their effort and generous gesture. The combined get-together was held in February under the chairmanship of Victor Sydney D’Souza and was a huge success. The Aloysian Alumni have been contributing towards various projects of the College from funds generated during their Alumni gatherings since several years.
The first alumni meet was held in 1997 - thanks to the vision of Jerome Pereira who initiated the idea of Alumni gatherings in the UAE with the support of likeminded Aloysians based in UAE and since then the event has gathered popularity and is held once in two years along with Agnesians.Since 1997 Aloysian Alumni in the UAE have contributed a total amount of Indian Rs. 17, 63,581/- towards various causes .
In a communiqué the UAE Aloysian Alumni thanked their sponsors and well wishers for making this possible to achieve their goal in contributing towards their Alma Mater for worthy causes.

UAE Agnesian Alumnae Donate Towards Education Fund

Daijiworld Media Network ABU DHABI (ODS)
UAE – Jun 28: The Alumnae of St. Agnes College – Mangalore based in the UAE recently handed over the proceeds of the Alumni gathering held during February this year.
The Agnesian / Aloysian Alumni get together was held in Sharjah - UAE on 6th February 2009, under the chairmanship of Geanette D’Souza, and the proceeds of Indian Rs. 6 Lakhs collected during the event were added to their existing education fund that they had initially established in 2001.
At a recent visit to Mangalore, Elsie Noronha and Shobha Mendonca handed over the cheque to the Principal of St. Agnes College – Sr. Marie Prem D’Souza. The Principal thanked the past students of the institution based in UAE for their love, generosity and support to their alma mater and conveyed her blessings to all.
It can be recalled that the education fund established by the UAE Agnesian Alumni today stands at INR 15 lakhs, which constitutes the total proceeds from the four events that were organised in the past.
The Alumni hold their get –togethers once every two years along with Aloysians and has become a regular feature attracting large number of past students and their families.
In a communiqué, Agnesians revealed that this fund has only been possible with the generous contribution from their sponsors who share their objective of giving back to the alma mater. They thanked them for their generosity and also look forward to their support during future events.

UAE: Young and Old Flock at Aloysian - Agnesian Reunion 2009

Report by Naveen Frank SharjahPics by Ashok Belman / Ronie Dcunha / Colin Dsouza Daijiworld Media Network - UAE
Sharjah, Feb 7: There could not have been a better day for the young and old to flock together at the Sharjah Wanderers Sports club, Sharjah UAE. A bright sunny morning and the cool weather set off the beginning of the Agnesian –Aloysian Family Day on the morning of 06 February 2009.
The reverberating voice of the well known MC Errol Goveas welcomed the gathering. Agnesians and Aloysians clad in white and blue walked onto to the centre with white flags and converged as one.
The Chair person of the Agnesian committee Ms Geanette Dsouza welcomed the gathering. In her message she said , “ we are living extensions of two great colleges of Mangalore, without walls.”
Shoba Mendonca read the message on behalf of the Principal of St Agnes College Rev Sr Marie Prem Dsouza AC. The message said, “ may all that you do today be a sign of solidarity and unity true to the spirit of St Agnes College.
Fr Swebert Dsilva SJ , Principal St Aloysius College , who graced the occasion said ,” once an Aloysian , forever an Aloysian. You are ambassadors all over the world to promote true ideals of St Aloysius College.” He said. He also updated the gathering on the college facilities including the new campus.
The respective college anthems were sung and blue and white balloons were released into the bright blue sky, officially declaring open the Family Day. A minute’s silence was observed as a mark of respect for the departed soul of Sucheta Moras who was a part of the Alumni association for many years .
Immediately after the formal function, the first surprise upset of the day was the outright win by the Agnesians who beat the Aloysians in the tug-of war game. Neville , well know MC of yesteryears made a guest appearance and joined Errol to keep the ball rolling. Spot prizes for the youngest and the oldest Aloysians and Agnesians were given away.
All the sponsors, benefactors ,donors and well wishers were felicitated.
The Ball room dance competition evoked a healthy response where the young and the not very old took their partners and swayed to the beautiful music of the Agaloy Band. Donna and Jerome were judged the best couple dancers while Joseph and Cherryl walked away with the second place. The best of it all was the fashion show with a difference, that kept the audience spell bound . Various teams brought in their best, displaying winter wear, ethnic wear, sports wear, night wear ( authentic Mangalorean blue checked lungi ) , the Indian wear, western wear, classical Indian and contemporary wear.
Prominent among them was Prasad Pereira ( the Biddappa of Dubai) , the fashion designer who had put the group together. It was a tough task for the judges Jennifer Mascarenhas, Albert Rodrigues and Rebecca to pick up the best performers. But the decisive group winners were the Sharjah Rubies. In close second place were the Dynamites .
Fr Denzil Lobo SJ and Fr Swebert Dsilva of St Aloysius college honored four great stalwarts of the UAE , Jerome Pereira, the first Chairman of St Aloysius Alumni in the UAE, Robert Rego , second Chairman and Ronnie Dcunha , former president Oswald D'Souza from Abu Dhabi, followed by Sydney Dsouza , the current Chairman for their outstanding services and commitment to the cause . Apparently it was after the second Aloysian Alumni meet that the Agnesian alumni joined together and subsequently had the joint Agnesian Aloysian Alumni association since then.
Housie housie, lucky draws, grand draws and spot prizes kept the crowd eager and alert right through the day.
The spice of Mangalore came out best when the baila was sung by the performing band. The whole crowd came up on the dance floor swaying and dancing to the tune of the band.
The sun slowly set on the west, a cool breeze blew over the Sharjah Wanderers club, a gloom cast over the faces . The obvious reason – It was the end of a memorable day.