Goa Outreach

Goa Outreach Support Disadvantaged Children and Young Adults in India with Education, Health Care & More JOY HOME FOR CHILDREN
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER
1131247

Goa Outreach is a working name for "Joy Home For Children" a Children's charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales.

Yesterday marked the official first day of school for most of our students, and the centre has been a whirlwind of excit...
07/06/2026

Yesterday marked the official first day of school for most of our students, and the centre has been a whirlwind of excitement, new uniforms, and backpacks!

There is nothing quite like the "New School Year" This year, our students are heading into class fully equipped with:

• Backpacks : Our kids got to pick their favourite styles from over 30 different designs. Its great for the children to choose their style, or just choose the same as their best friend.
• Academic Essentials: We’ve distributed a mountain of stationery and books—including many of the 1,000+ notebooks we go through annually.
• Dressed for success : Many students have been given freshly tailored uniforms to make sure everyone starts the year looking their best.

Since the start of school coincides perfectly with the arrival of the monsoon, rain protection is the name of the game right now! We’ve been handing out raincoats and umbrellas to keep everyone dry during those famous Goan downpours. We are also currently in the middle of a dist4ributing sandals, ensuring everyone has rainy-day footwear that can handle the puddles and sudden downpours!

This year, we are supporting 95 amazing students. While this is slightly down from last year, the reality is that ever-increasing prices for essentials like soap and notebooks mean we have to be more strategic with our funds to ensure every child gets the high-quality support they deserve.

Education remains the "passport to the future," and we are so proud to be supporting them as they start their next chapter. Thank you to everyone who helps us give these kids a "childhood worth remembering" and the tools they need to break the cycle of poverty.

Wish them luck for a fantastic academic year!

Thank you to IHelp Foundation, Micheal and everyone who has donated items for the new school year – It all helps!!!

04/06/2026

Over the past month, our centre has felt a little brighter thanks to the wonderful company of Aleena, who has been interning with us as part of her Social Work Bachelor’s degree from Bangalore.

The highlights didn't stop there! Aleena’s university friend, Aaben—who is currently interning with the IHelp Foundation here in Goa—decided to bring some extra magic to our kids. As part of his placement, he teamed up with IHelp and six enthusiastic interns from St. Xavier’s College, Mapusa, to organize a truly unforgettable day of activities and donations.

The day kicked off with a vital (and highly engaging) workshop on Cyber Safety and Security. Through interactive games, our children learned the best practices for staying safe online, understanding how to protect themselves, and recognizing the digital red flags of online scams.

Of course, no special day is complete without treats! The kids fueled up on delicious snacks—juice, patties, and chocolates—before enjoying a hearty lunch together.

Once they were fully energized, it was time to get moving. We warmed up with a lively game of Dumb Charades, which served as a fantastic ice-breaker. The kids and interns had a blast using creative gestures and hilarious body language to act out movie titles, fostering some wonderful teamwork and laughter.

Following the charades, everyone headed outdoors. The children and interns dove into a high-energy game of dodgeball, which was an absolute hit, filled with endless laughter and cheers. We wrapped up the afternoon with some fast-paced word games, sparks flying in a friendly but fiercely competitive showdown between two teams!

Before saying their goodbyes, the team went above and beyond by donating raincoats and sanitary pads—essential supplies that will be an incredible help to our children as the monsoon season approaches.

By the end of the day, the interns had dedicated five hours of pure joy, mentorship, and education to our children. A massive, heartfelt thank you to the IHelp Foundation for their wonderful donations, and to every single intern who brought so much heart and energy to our centre. You truly made a difference! 🌟

Empowering our girls, one step at a time! 🌸Following up on last week's wonderful and informative session with a gynaecol...
31/05/2026

Empowering our girls, one step at a time! 🌸
Following up on last week's wonderful and informative session with a gynaecologist on menstrual health and hygiene, we received an incredible surprise this week!

A huge thank you to IIMUN for their generous donation of extra sanitary pads for our girls. Your thoughtful support ensures they have the resources they need to stay healthy, confident, and comfortable.

We are so grateful for your continuous support! 🙏✨

Crafting Magic: When Concentration Took Over the Room!After an action-packed morning, the second half of our activity da...
18/05/2026

Crafting Magic: When Concentration Took Over the Room!
After an action-packed morning, the second half of our activity day with Running Wild called for a change of pace. It was time to escape the midday sun, step inside, and tap into a calm, artistic mindset.

I’ll admit, I originally thought the younger ones would be the most into this. But boy, was I wrong! When I walked into the older kids' session, I was greeted by absolute silence. Girls and boys alike, from our 8-year-olds right up to the 17-year-olds, they were completely locked in. Every single ounce of their energy was channelled into their designs.

We were incredibly lucky to have three wonderful workshop helpers on hand. They were absolute rockstars, guiding the kids on how to maximize their designs, helping them execute their visions, and showing them just how limitless their creativity could be. To see every single child so utterly engrossed in their creations was fantastic.

Of course, creating masterpieces takes energy! A massive thank you to the teams at Running Wild and The Wineyard for taking such good care of everyone throughout the day.

The kids were thoroughly spoiled with:
• Morning Fuel: Samosas, spring rolls, chocolates, and drinks.
• The Wind-Down: A delicious lunch to wrap up all the activities.
• The Grand Finale: A massive goodie bag packed with educational goodies and snacks to take home!

A Huge Thank You! To everyone who made this day possible, and to the kids for bringing their energy and imagination - thank you! We can't wait for the next adventure.

Warning: Bouncy Ball Mayhem Ahead!We were back at it again! The fantastic crew from Running Wild treated our kids to an ...
17/05/2026

Warning: Bouncy Ball Mayhem Ahead!

We were back at it again! The fantastic crew from Running Wild treated our kids to an absolute banger of a sports session, and this time, they took over the gorgeous grounds at The Wineyard in Merces.
We Introduced the kids to Spikeball, Not heard of it? We hadn’t either, but its a wildly popular sport that is best described as volleyball meets four-square, with a healthy dose of pure chaos thrown in.
So, How Does This Crazy Game Work?
For the uninitiated (which was all of us about twenty minutes ago), here’s the breakdown:
• The Setup: Two teams of two stand around a mini, trampoline-style net on the ground.
• The Action: You smash the bouncy ball down onto the net so it ricochets up at your opponents.
• The Rules: The other team has up to three touches (bump, set, spike!) to control it and smash it back onto the net.
• The Best Part: Once the ball is served, there are no boundaries. Chaos reigns. Players can run, dive, and hit the ball from literally anywhere.
Points are scored when a team misses the net, hits the rim, or lets the ball bounce on the ground. Simple, right?
From Confused to Champions (In 15 Minutes Flat)
Look, it took about 15 minutes for the kids to actually grasp the concept. But once it clicked? Game on. They were absolutely crushing it.
Of course, a few of our younger, "rebellious" spirits decided standard Spikeball wasn't dynamic enough. They completely threw out the rulebook and invented their own version of the game. Honestly? The Running Wild team was thoroughly impressed by the sheer creativity (and loopholes) they came up with. Future lawyers, the lot of them.

To Be Continued... 🤫

The sporting madness was actually only one part of our epic day out. What else did we get up to? Well, you’ll just have to wait until tomorrow for the juicy details...
A massive, THANK YOU to the entire Running Wild team for such a wonderful day, and to our incredibly gracious hosts at The Wineyard for keeping us all fed, watered, and happy throughout the day.

Huge congratulations to our incredible 10th-grade class!We are so proud to announce that 8 of our students officially sm...
27/04/2026

Huge congratulations to our incredible 10th-grade class!

We are so proud to announce that 8 of our students officially smashed their board exams this year!

A massive shout-out to our 6 superstars (girls) and 2 champions (boys) who passed with flying colours! We’ve watched you grow, struggle, and ultimately triumph—and we couldn't be more thrilled for each of you!

To our 2 students who didn't quite get the result they wanted this time: take a deep breath. "Needing improvement" is just another way of saying "your comeback story is going to be epic." We believe in you just as much today as we did yesterday, and we are right here with you to help you cross that finish line next time. Every champion has a few hurdles!

Thank you to all our students for your hard work, your laughter, and for making us so proud. Onwards and upwards to the next big adventure!

Here's a group photo of several of the children when they we just starting their educational journey with outreach.

The anticipation has increased as we countdown the final hours! Tomorrow, April 26th, at 5:00 PM, the wait is finally ov...
25/04/2026

The anticipation has increased as we countdown the final hours!

Tomorrow, April 26th, at 5:00 PM, the wait is finally over for 10 of our dedicated students—7 girls and 3 boys—who will receive their 10th standard (SSC) exam results.

This milestone is a pivotal moment in their lives. At Goa Outreach, we firmly believe that education is the "passport to the future" and the most effective way to break the cycle of poverty.

These students have spent months focusing on their studies, and these results will determine their next big step: choosing which "stream" to pursue for 11th & 12th standards, whether it be Science, Commerce, Arts, or Vocational.

We are incredibly hopeful for this year’s students, especially following our record-breaking success in 2023, where all 14 of our students passed their SSC exams, and in 2024, when all 9 of our candidates were successful. Seeing our students advance through these academic milestones is a testament to their resilience and hard work.

Whether they were "toppers" like Savita and Anita in previous years or students who have overcome immense personal challenges to stay in school, we are proud of every single one of them.

Please join us in wishing these 7 girls and 3 boys the very best of luck! Fingers crossed for a 100% pass rate tomorrow!

A Busy SaturdaySaturday was a total whirlwind, filled with everything from nervous school interviews to official visits ...
13/04/2026

A Busy Saturday
Saturday was a total whirlwind, filled with everything from nervous school interviews to official visits and a quick trip to the hospital.

Big Steps for Our Girls
The day started with two of our girls headed to St Mary’s School for admission interviews. Moving from a government primary school to a larger institution is a significant transition with a very different teaching style. Despite the very stiff competition, the girls gave it their best and our fingers are crossed for them as they start this next chapter!

Collaborating for the Children
In the afternoon, we welcomed the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) to our centre. It’s no secret that we can be quite vocal when it comes to advocating for our children—especially when ensuring the "Principle of Best Interest" is being followed. It was a great opportunity to show the Committee around the centre and demonstrate the day-to-day impact of our work. The visit went well, and we would be delighted for the to visit again.

A Long-Awaited Visit to GMC
Once the CWC concluded their visit, it was straight to Goa Medical College (GMC). I was able to provide a lift for the mother of one of our students so she could visit her daughter, who had been re-admitted for a small procedure.
After nearly a week of restricted contact, it was a relief to finally see the girl in person. While she appeared a bit frail, her spirit remains strong—we even managed to share a few laughs. Seeing her resilience is a constant reminder of why we do what we do.

Supporting the Blood Bank
While at the hospital, the medical team asked for a family member/friend to donate as they needed to keep their A+ blood stocks up as a precaution. Since I’m a match, I headed up to the blood bank to help out.
Even though it was past 6:00 PM, the staff were incredibly welcoming and efficient. Having been a regular donor back in the UK, I found the experience at GMC to be very professional and straightforward. It’s a simple process that can make a big difference, and the team there took excellent care of me—plus, you can’t go wrong with the juice and biscuits afterward!

Address

85 Hamilton Avenue
East Molesey
KT67PS

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