Goemkarponn desk
Panaji: The Social Work Programme at the D. D. Kosambi School of Social Sciences and Behavioural Studies, Goa University, in partnership with the Human Touch Foundation, recently facilitated a comprehensive strategic planning workshop titled “Vision to Action: Crafting a Strategic Roadmap for the Goa Association of the Deaf.” Held on September 14th at Goa University, the workshop aimed to guide GAD in developing a strategic plan to enhance advocacy services, community engagement, and social inclusion for the hearing-impaired community in Goa over the next two years.
The workshop, led by Assistant Professor Peter F. Borges and supported by the Human Touch Foundation team and MSW students, marked a significant step towards empowering the hearing-impaired population in Goa. Community members, advisors, and Indian Sign Language Interpreter Josefina Fernandes actively participated in the event. Discussions focused on five key thrust areas critical to the community’s development: Advocacy & Rights, Education and Skill Development, Employment and Livelihood, Health and Social Well-being, and Organizational Strengthening and Sustainability.
Participants engaged in sessions on strategic visioning, stakeholder engagement, and a detailed SWOT analysis. These interactive sessions provided a platform to explore GAD’s strengths, challenges, opportunities, and potential risks. The collaborative environment fostered active participation and led to the development of a comprehensive strategic framework. The resulting plan includes a refined vision and mission statement for GAD, a strategic framework with clearly defined goals and priorities, and a roadmap for improved service delivery, advocacy, and sustainable growth. Additionally, the plan outlines strategies to strengthen GAD’s organizational capacity, broaden outreach, and enhance advocacy efforts to ensure the social inclusion and empowerment of the hearing-impaired community.
Prasad Joshi, General Secretary of the Goa Association of the Deaf remarked, “This workshop has been a pivotal moment for GAD. It has given us a clear direction and the tools we need to effectively advocate for and support the hearing-impaired community in Goa. We are grateful for the collaboration and expertise provided by Goa University and the Human Touch Foundation.”
This initiative underscores the Social Work Programme’s commitment to promoting social justice and inclusion. By supporting the hearing-impaired community through this strategic planning exercise, Goa University, the Human Touch Foundation, and GAD are contributing to the creation of a more inclusive civil society in Goa. This collaboration highlights the effectiveness of partnerships between academia and NGOs in advancing social inclusion and empowerment for marginalized communities.
