On July 18, 2026, Gabriel Pereira, an Organ Donation Ambassador from the MOHAN Foundation, was invited as the guest speaker at the Parents Teachers' Association Annual General Body Meeting of St. Thomas Higher Secondary School, Aldona, Goa. The awareness session aimed to educate parents about the importance of organ donation and dispel common myths surrounding it.

Introducing himself, Gabriel shared the personal journey that inspired him to become an Organ Donation Ambassador. He explained that witnessing kidney failure within his own family motivated him to dedicate his time to creating awareness about organ donation and transplantation.

During his presentation, Gabriel clarified the difference between organ donation and tissue donation. He explained that a person who passes away at home due to circulatory death can donate only tissues, such as corneas and skin, and may also choose to donate their whole body for medical education and research. Organ donation, however, is possible only in specific circumstances, primarily when a patient is declared brain dead in a hospital, and all legal and medical criteria under the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act are fulfilled.

Emphasising the importance of road safety, Gabriel urged everyone to always wear helmets while riding two-wheelers and seat belts while travelling in vehicles, noting that many brain deaths result from severe road traffic accidents. While no one wishes for such tragedies, these precautions save lives and reduce the risk of fatal injuries.

He also informed the gathering that July is observed as Organ Donation Month, culminating in National Organ Donation Day on August 3. Gabriel explained that the day is commemorated to honour the first successful deceased-donor heart transplant performed at the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, following the implementation of the organ transplantation legislation in India. He highlighted how the day serves as a reminder of the thousands of patients awaiting life-saving transplants and the need to increase public awareness.

Parents were guided on how they could pledge to become organ donors by registering online. Gabriel reminded them that signing a pledge or carrying a donor card alone does not guarantee organ donation. The most important step, he emphasised, is to inform one's family about the decision. Since Indian families are often close-knit and extended family members are involved in important decisions, discussing one's wishes in advance makes it easier for loved ones to honour those decisions during a time of grief.

Around 300 parents attended the PTA 

At the entrance of the auditorium, Gabriel had arranged frequently asked questions (FAQs), informative flyers, and stickers with the organ donation and transplantation helpline number. Parents were encouraged to collect these educational materials and scan the displayed QR code to register their pledge as organ donors.

Concluding the session, Gabriel thanked Sir Daryl for coordinating the programme and expressed his sincere appreciation to Principal Mrs Angelica Fernandes for inviting the MOHAN Foundation to address the PTA on the vital subject of organ donation. He also encouraged every parent to continue the conversation at home, reminding them that one informed family discussion today could one day help save multiple lives.