Media Release

Abu Dhabi, Jan 22: Successful Mangalurean entrepreneur, philanthropist and community leader Leo Rodrigues was elected the president of Konkani Cultural Organization (KCO) during their annual general body meeting. The AGM was held at the Cristal Hotel, Abu Dhabi, on January 18. Sandhya Vas was elected as General Secretary for the second consecutive year and senior member Frankline D’Cunha was elected the treasurer of the premier Konkani organization. All the office bearers were elected through secret ballot. KCO Abu Dhabi was the brain child of Leo Rodrigues and he was also the founder president of the organization was that came into existence on February 13, 1995.

President Leo Rodrigues, is well known for his philanthropic works in UAE as well as back home and is a strong Mangalurean Konkani community leader and supporter. He has been successfully running his business Al Mazroui & Clevy Auto Services LLC in Abu Dhabi for the last three and a half decades. Being a Mangalurean, he has encouraged and supported various organizations, NGOs and other brethren, irrespective of caste, creed, language or religion. With Leo at the helm of affairs, KCO is sure to reach new heights during its silver jubilee year.

Secretary Sandhya Vas is a trained physiotherapist and presently working for Corniche hospital Abu Dhabi for over 12 years. She has been in UAE for the past 17 years and hails from Angelore parish, Mangaluru, and residing in Kinnigoli. She is an excellent sports person and has led the KCO throwball team as the captain couple of times. She has also previously worked as the sports secretary for KCO, assistant general secretary and general secretary in the previous years.

Treasurer Frankline D’Cunha who hails from Bajpe parish in Mangaluru and residing in Abu Dhabi for the past 39 years has led KCO’s various co-committees and also served as the treasurer of the organization in the past. He was the scholarship and medical aid disbursement committee coordinator during in the preceding year and was in charge of all the disbursements undertaken by KCO Trust ® Mangaluru in the year 2019-20.

Other nominated committee, selected by the elected members are as follows:

Vice President: CA Valerian Dalmaida
Assistant General Secretary: Claudia Lydia Lobo.
Entertainment Secretary: Bennett D'Mello
Assistant Entertainment Secretary: Vivek Serrao
Sports Secretary: Sabastian Pais
Media Coordinator: Valerian Fernandes
Auditor: Sunil Pinto
Scholarship and Medical Aid Disbursement Coordinator: Amitha Costa
Silver Jubilee Committee Convener: Dolphy Vaz
Event Coordinator in Mangaluru: Gerald D'Mello
Assistant Coordinator: Melville Pinto
Advisory Committee members: Michael D'Silva, Leena Dsouza and Richard Castelino

KCO has been growing in popularity year after year and has become a household name not only in Abu Dhabi but entire UAE. For the past 24 years KCO has been involved in various social, cultural and religious activities in Abu Dhabi.

During the AGM, the outgoing president CA Valerian Dalmaida thankfully expressed his gratitude to all the office bearers and committee members for their tremendous support during his tenure as president. Newly elected president Leo Rodrigues also thanked everyone for reposing faith in him and electing him as a president of KCO for the Silver jubilee year. He promised that with the support of all the members, KCO will be holding many activities in the Jubilee year 2020 with two mega events being planned one in Abu Dhabi and one in Mangaluru.

About KCO

Konkani Cultural Organization (KCO) is well known in UAE, GCC and in India for its benevolent work in helping the needy and deserving students. They initiated several scholarships through Samanvaya of Mangaluru and also been helping scores of people suffering with critical illnesses. KCO has been recognizing and supporting many NGO’s back home who are working with distressed, downtrodden and the needy in UAE and in and around Udupi - Dakshina Kannada districts.

White Doves, Snehasadan, Jeevadhaan, Samanvaya, Saanidhya-Ganesh Seva Trust, Shanti Kiran Technical and Sneha Charitable Trust are the few names of NGO’s though with KCO has provided socio-medical help to the needy in the past. KCO has been continuously sponsoring community marriages of underprivileged for the last few years.

With the enormous support from sponsors and benefactors KCO has managed to carry out their noble mission within UAE and India. It has also transformed itself as a mirror reflecting the culture, tradition and upholding the values of our great ancestors and has turned out to be a focal point for the Konkani community in Abu Dhabi.