On July 13, 2026, Gabriel Pereira, Organ Donation Ambassador from the MOHAN Foundation, was invited by the Rotary Club of Panjim Riviera to deliver an awareness talk on organ donation to the students of Corner Stone High School, Karaswada, Mapusa.
Addressing the young audience, Gabriel encouraged 150 students to become ambassadors of organ donation by taking the message home and discussing it with their parents and family members. He explained that while the students may be too young to pledge, they have the power to spread awareness and inspire conversations within their families.
During the interactive session, Gabriel explained the difference between organ donation and tissue donation. He informed the students that a person who dies at home may still be able to donate tissues and the whole body. In contrast, a person declared brain dead, often due to a road traffic accident or severe head injury, may become an organ donor, subject to the consent of the family.
He emphasised that in India, where extended families often play an important role in decision-making, it is essential for individuals who pledge to donate their organs to communicate their wishes with all close family members. Such conversations help ensure that a person's final wish to save lives through organ donation can be honoured.
To keep the session lively and engaging, Gabriel asked students questions about organ transplantation in Goa. Those who answered correctly were rewarded with pens, making the awareness programme both educational and interactive.
He informed the students that currently only kidney and cornea transplants are performed in Goa, while around 88 patients are awaiting life-saving organ transplants. He also highlighted that tissue and organ donation have the potential to transform and save many lives.
Beyond organ donation, Gabriel encouraged students to adopt healthy lifestyle habits. He urged them to remind their parents to always wear helmets while riding two-wheelers and seat belts while travelling in cars, stressing that road safety saves lives. He also advised students to make good use of the nutritious midday meals provided by the school and avoid excessive consumption of aerated drinks, explaining that maintaining good health today could enable them to become future blood and organ donors.
Concluding the programme, Gabriel thanked Mr Joel Dias, the Headmaster of Corner Stone High School, Mrs Colin Sequeira, the President and Mr Joshua D’ Mello, the Treasurer of Rotary Club of Panjim Riviera, for inviting the MOHAN Foundation to conduct the awareness session. He appreciated the opportunity to address young minds, describing them as the future of Goa and the nation, and expressed hope that they would carry forward the life-saving message of organ donation within their families and communities.
-ACT,-2011.gif){kind=spacer}
