Friends of Canacona: Migrants unite for clean, green taluka
Canacona: Just as a small seed grows into a strong tree with a broad trunk, a group of foreigners living in Canacona for many years has turned it into a vibrant organization dedicated to the development of the rural taluka of Canacona. Established nine months ago, “Amigos de Canacona” was started by two German women, residents of Canacona for the last 15 years, and Lloyd Godinho, a Goan, who had returned to his native city from Mumbai. A Lloyd, singer and organizer of events, among them Tanja Hohluchte, who directs a nursery for children of foreigners in Colombia, and Ute Ferrão, who is married to a Goana and manages a mini-hotel and restaurant. Which promotes a sustainable life.
Friends of Canacona has actively participated in initiatives such as maintaining the cleanliness of Canacona, solving street dog problems, rescuing stray animals, and raising funds for local organizations. The organization considers small things as unimportant. With the help of local NGO Goenkar, they have learned to manage the government machinery to achieve their objectives related to animal hygiene and care. It is worth noting that the so-called Canacona has since turned into a haven for international visitors, especially after the pandemic, due to its cool, calm and green environment. This has given place to the rise of a chain of residences in private houses and the rise of other small companies.
The increase in business opportunities has also brought with it some problems, the most worrying of which is waste management, that is, the thrown garbage ends up at different places.
Although the Canacona City Council has established a system of daily garbage collection from households, black points increase every day where garbage is collected indiscriminately.
This led to the formation of Amigos de Canacona with the main objective of preserving the picturesque aspect of the taluka and eliminating the scars left by so-called development.
“We have carried out a number of clean-ups in the area, as well as run programs to educate people about waste separation,” Lloyd said.
“We have also collaborated with local entrepreneurs to hire garbage collectors and supply colorful garbage collection cars and safety equipment like gloves and shoes,” Ute said. He said they have also provided separate containers to collect broken glass.
He credits Casa Jali, Bhakti Kutir and Ananda Yoga Village as the first restaurants to unite their efforts.
“Our future plans are to establish a small market for local products, including locally manufactured products,” Tanja said. He highlighted that their aim is to preserve the beauty of the area and share it with others.
