WE NEED TO MOTIVATE AND INSPIRE EACH OTHER

By Rajesh Ghadge

S a n g i t a ' s h u s b a n d g o t transferred to Pune for official deputation and there she found a new opportunity to become self-reliant. “In Pune, I started working for the Kidzee School that had a Daycare centre. I started developing an interest in this field of work and after one year when we came back to Goa, the concept of daycare school remained interesting to me. Since I too had a toddler, working in the daycare centre in Goa meant that I could take care of my daughter along with the other kids. I joined the Nursery Teachers Training Institute and a Montessori Teacher Training Institute named Bharat Sevak Samaj in Mushtifund High School Panjim where I completed my diploma.” provide a trustworthy and safe environment to the little ones. I also juggle between my home life and career just like any other working woman The toughest challenge faced by me was dealing with the little ones and handling a group of toddlers' needs, was a lot. They really tested my patience and was a real task in the beginning, but now we are at the perfection level and can handle toddlers at ease”. Speaking about dealing with the day-to-day task Sangita said that it is not a job for her as she loves to work with children. “Each child's eyes sparkle have something to say. In the same way, all my staff too are passionate and dedicated towards their work. Dealing with students a little more with love and care makes them comfortable with the environment which helps them to gel well and adapt to the school environment faster,” she added.

Sitting idly at home was not a part of Sangita's DNA and she that daycare was the best option to keep herself busy. “During those days there were no daycare units in Mapusa and Thivim area and I grabbed that opportunity and finally after a period of 3-4 months, I s t a r t e d a d a y c a r e & playschool on 29 September 2009. Initially, we had only 14 students enrolled with us and as of now, we have 80 s t u d e n t s e v e r y y e a r associated with us. I am not looking for a big number of students as I want to provide proper care and education making every child a confident and self-dependent child,” she said.

The dream venture of Sangita, Kid's Palace Preschool & Daycare Center started on 29th September 2009 with just a daycare centre that had a common class for all.

A BCom graduate, Sangita had done her diploma in the aviation industry from Frankfinn Institute of Airhostess Training with the dream of flying high in the skies but her father got her married and all those came to a halt. However, she continued to work in the travel field and was a reservation agent at Air Travel Agency. Then she became pregnant and gave birth to a baby girl and that changed her life from a working lady to a busy mom. This may sound like just another story of a woman who in the end settles down in the family giving up all her dreams, but that is not the case here and this story has much more to it so let's look at the journey of Sangita.

Sangita enjoys her work to the core. “Each day is beautiful in the company of the little ones, although I do face problems just like in any other business such as dealing with parents. As we run a daycare too, a few parents take us for granted and treat us like their servants, whereas my whole idea of starting the daycare was to

“We started with a playgroup class for toddlers aged 2 to 6 years. Now we have upgraded from daycare to Preschool and have an activity centre for students in age 2 to 10 years. Other than academics we have extra co-curricular activities available for students such as yoga, gymnastics, singing, dancing abacus, phonics etc. I have faced ups and downs, but I never gave up on anything. It is our duty to take responsibility for taking care of children, inculcating good habits in them and making them selfreliant.”

Sangita relays that many daycare centres had been closed down during Covid but her love for the little ones and p a s s i o n f o r i m p a r t i n g education kept her going during the most challenging times “We had faced a financial crisis during Covid just like any other business. But I kept going constantly working on new ideas to promote online learning and m a k e o n l i n e l e a r n i n g interesting. Students aged 3 to 6 get distracted very quickly so engaging them in an online class was a real issue for us! T h e r e a r e m a n y o t h e r preschools that had asked their staff to leave or take a b r e a k b e c a u s e o f t h e financial crisis but I never laid off a single staff member.. Despite the financial situation during covid, we managed to adjust to the scenario and manage everything the right way. I thank the almighty God a n d m y h u s b a n d f o r supporting me in the toughest times.”

Speaking on future plans, Sangita said that she wants to focus on education of young minds. “I plan to focus on my journey and help these little ones grow into smart and confident children. Looking at the competitive world we need to shape each of our students wisely and into responsible and good human beings. I have found my inner flame and power and I have no intention of letting it go out. As an early childhood educator, I am a member of a beautiful community, that constantly thinks of these young kids and their needs.”

“Looking at the present scenario where nowadays we see one in ten children who are found to be a special child or child with a disability. A special child can be more specified as a hyperactive child, an introvert, or an autistic child. Soon, I would love to work for all children with disabilities or for special children.

Children who have difficulty communicating and caring for themselves are the most likely ones to be out of school, regardless of education level. It's sad that these students are also been excluded from society in a way that no child ever should be. What I believe is exclusion or excluding students with disability is often t h e c o n s e q u e n c e o f invisibility. If we fail to count or consider and consult these children, we are failing to help them to reach their vast potential.”

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Sangita said, “Every woman has her own skills Every woman is good at something or the other. Women who want to stand strong in life have to mould her future by using her skills and talent. Do not let it go in vain. Make use of the same so that you will never have to look back or depend on anyone else. But while you do this also remember to be grounded and down to earth. Many parents have told me that I inspired them. I'm glad if I have done so but I'm not great. We should motivate and inspire each other to be something in life. Let's do it with a true heart- everyone has to find their own sky which has no limits. Society has set an ideal that a woman can stand on her own feet by taking care of her home and life, taking full advantage of her skills, learning, education and knowledge.”

POSEIDON’S COVE - A FLAGSHIP SEAFOOD RESTAURANT OF PLANET HOLLYWOOD

Head Chef Yogender was kind enough to accommodate us and provide us with information about the restaurant and how he has been an integral part from its very inception, in the year 2018. The C h e f h i m s e l f h a s b e e n instrumental in forming the c r e a t i v e t e a m o f a l l t h e restaurants under the Planet Hollywood Beach Resort Uttorda property.

The name “Poseidon’s Cove” is derived from the majestic Greek God of the Seas combined with the beautiful beach café-shack t h e m e d d é c o r a n d s t y l e d interiors. Poseidon’s Cove has a really classy selection of signature and unique dishes for you to spoil yourself with. There is something for everyone to suit every taste. Other than being a culinary delight in terms of menu options, this place specialises in authenticity, chopsticks were provided to eat them with.

Poseidon’s Cove has a live sushi counter where you can see what’s being cooked in front of you allowing you to add personal inputs on what suits your taste buds more!

Next, we moved on to the grills section where we tried the broccoli, cherry tomatoes and mushrooms. This dish was the highlight of our day with the preparation being very flavourbased whilst still maintaining a grilled aesthetic of the same. sushi, grills and continental and tandoor styled dishes that just hits the right spot.

An honourable mention goes out to the innovative pine nut gallouti that really had a very unique and distinguished taste to it, and this dish is a must-try for all you vegetarians out there. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed!

At Poseidon’s Cove, each dish is served exquisitely with different and interesting plating styles. For someone who loves the taste-toaesthetic combination of food, they really hit it out of the park on that front and the dishes are truly Instagram worthy!

No meal is complete without a dessert, and Poseidon’s Cove have a fantastic array of them. We tried the Tiramisu served with creamy mascarpone custard and Biscotti, which was really rich but light at the same time. Lastly, we tried the hot chocolate fudge cake which was served with a side of vanilla ice cream, and let me tell you- this dessert really just melts in your mouth with every bite you take! True heaven!

We tried the prawn tempura and the asparagus and avocado tempura sushi which were delectable and really set the tempo for what the restaurant was known for. They were served alongside some wasabi and for

Mediterranean chicken wrap served alongside fries and a side of coleslaw and murgh tikka which was cooked to absolute perfection and had a really rich yet subtle smoky tinge to it.

We rounded off the same with a main course of grilled sea bass (chonak) which was served with a side of mashed potatoes, grilled

Poseidon’s Cove really leaves no stone unturned in the culinary innovation department with arguably the best looking beach restaurant/shack aesthetics in South Goa It’s a beautiful sundowner spot too Evenings and dinner dates at this place are really something special! You truly are missing out on a good time if you don’t visit this place today.

HOLIDAY INN GOA CANDOLIM - A PREMIUM LUXURY BUSINESS LEISURE HOTEL

Situated in the heart of the city, on the Candolim Sinquerim main road, Holiday Inn Goa Candolim is a premium luxury Five Star Property providing a warm and friendly atmosphere to its guests. Holiday Inn Goa Candolim is an upscale hotel located in a serene, green, and relaxing setting of Goa. The hotel offers a relaxing haven for business or leisure t r a v e l l e r s s e e k i n g l u x u r y accommodation with all the comforts

Holiday Inn Goa Candolim is situated just 5 minutes' walking distance from Candolim Beach. It is located on the main road to Candolim Beach, a short drive from world-famous beaches along the west coast of India including Anjuna and Vagator. The hotel has all you need in order to make your stay a memorable one. The hotel features facilities that include a large swimming pool with sundeck and shell bar alongside. Other dining facilities also include Viva lounge & bar and bakery to fulfil all your taste buds. Holiday Inn Goa is a fine diner, where you can enjoy all the local delicacies Whether you ' re looking for a romantic getaway or an upscale place to hold an executive event, Holiday Inn Goa Candolim is where you need to be. With over 105 total rooms, one being the presidential suite with jacuzzi, Coral – Banquet hall, Pearl –Boardroom, gym facility and

SeaSalt spa by Senses and Elements we are confident that you will find what you need at our hotel

Holiday Inn Goa Candolim is an ideal destination to stay in Goa. It has the most spacious and comfortable rooms with a f a b u l o u s a m b i e n c e a n d impeccable service. It has special attention to detail in all its classes of accommodation, making it an ideal choice.

Amenities & Services

The Holiday Inn Candolim also has a fully equipped fitness centre, located amidst the green foliage, and it is the perfect option to give a boost to your health goals the best thing is, it operational 24X7. The fitness equipment available in the gym are, Elliptical Machines, Free Weights, Rower, Stationary Bicycles, and Treadmills.

For the people who are on the move and don’t stop doing business even while on vacation they have a fully equipped business centre which is open 24 hours a day with all the facilities such as computers, printers, scanners and copy machine. The other facilities provided by the hotel include Housekeeping & Laundry, Same-Day Dry Cleaning, Emergency cords/Button in Bedrooms, Concierge Services, Wake Up Calls, Foreign Currency Exchange, and Doctor on Call.

Akshata

HALARNKAR