Daijiworld News Network - Mangalore (MB) - with inputs and pics by Praveen Tauro Kulshekar

Mangalore, Apr 9: The Sparsha Counselling Centre, true to its name intended to touch to lives of thousands of youngsters at the crossroads of life and in need of guidance and counselling, was inaugurated at its premises on the inner side of the entrace of the Infant Jesus Shrine in Bikarnakatta here on Saturday evening.

The assembly of about 500 young persons gave it a look of a youth convention. Presence of youth from Shirva, Udupi, Bantwal, Kasargod, Moodbidri, Kinnigoli, besides Mangalore city, was conspicuously striking. It added significance to the first-ever counselling centre meant exclusively for the youth of today.

The programme began with an invocation by Neermarga parish priest Fr Charles Menezes. Alongside, Ronald Colaco inaugurated the Konkani Yuva Avaz office. Bendur parish priest Fr Peter Noronha blessed the premises. Konkani Yuva Avaz president Roshan Castelino welcomed the gathering.

Keynote address on Sparsha's aims and objectives was delivered by Dr Edward Nazareth. District deputy commissioner Dr H V Parshwanath inaugurated the Sparsha Counselling Centre. Konkani Sahitya Academy president Eric Ozario was also on the dais.

The counsellors were felicitated. The Sparsha Counselling group will consist of:

Judy Pinto (president and general counselling)
Dr Edward Nazareth (sex problems)
Prof Norbert Lobo (career guidance)
Ashok D'Souza (general)
Link organization (addiction problems)
Dr Satish Rao (psychiatry)
Sr Mariola BS (teenage counselling)
Fr Alban - Pakshikere (spiritual)

Yuva Avaz secretary Denis D'Silva proposed a vote of thanks. Arun Ajekar compered the programme.

Sparsha, located at the entrance of the Infant Jesus Shrine, has a natural advantage of thousand of youth visiting the shrine every week.