The Outreach and Extension Cell of St. Joseph Vaz College, Cortalim, conducted its first on-site outreach activity of the Academic Year 2026–27 at its adopted village, Dabolim ward no.2, on 19 th August 2026.

The programme was compered by Mr. Ludiloy Pereira, Library Staff, who welcomed the members of the Dabolim village community, staff and students of St. Joseph Vaz College. The programme began with a prayer service led by Ms. Rosaliana Antao, Library Staff, seeking God’s blessings for the activities of the Outreach and Extension Cell and for the continued relationship between the college and the Dabolim community.

The Convenor of the Outreach and Extension Cell, Ms. Manali Acharya, addressed the gathering and spoke about the Cell's efforts to strengthen its engagement with the adopted village through meaningful and community-oriented activities.

A major highlight of the programme was the prize distribution for the photography contest, “My Dabolim Through My Lens.” The photography contest, organized to mark World Photography Day on 19th August, encouraged participants to showcase the beauty, heritage, natural surroundings, and unique spirit of Dabolim through their photographs.

A total of 18 entries were received for the contest. Jerrico Camilo Vaz secured the first place, while Sameer Sherigara and Neriah Da Gama jointly won the second place. Prisly Dsouza secured the third place. The winners and all participants were congratulated for their enthusiastic participation. The prizes were presented by students Jessiah Guru, Aditi Redkar, and Nagina.

An interactive session was also held with the village community, providing residents with an opportunity to share their views, suggestions and ideas for future activities. The interaction helped the Cell understand the interests and needs of the community and encouraged greater participation in upcoming outreach initiatives.

The programme concluded with a Vote of Thanks proposed by the Co-Convenor, Dr. Aureen Gomes, who expressed gratitude to the staff, students, community members and all those who contributed to the successful programme.

The activity also featured the “Library on Wheels” initiative of St. Joseph Vaz College. Books were made available for the children of the village, who could select books to take home and read until the next visit. The initiative aimed to encourage reading habits among children and bring library resources closer to the community.

The programme was a meaningful platform for interaction, community engagement and knowledge sharing, and helped strengthen the bond between St. Joseph Vaz College and the Dabolim village community.