Constructing an Extension for a local Orphanage
When Bethesda Life Centre (BLC) in Santa Cruz, Goa wanted to expand their orphanage, Putzmeister was happy to construct one. Putzmeister used in-house expertise with that of external consultants and had the new structure ready in just 3 months.
The expansion will help to add 50 more beds to the 100 already available. Elevating the structure gives children at the orphanage a sheltered place to play outside during the monsoons. On 16th of March 2018, the Managing Director of Putzmeister India, Mr. Wilfried Theissen and the MLA of Santa Cruz,
Mr. Tony Fernandes inaugurated the extension. Speaking at the inauguration, Mr. Wilfried Theissen said, “It gives us great joy to support Bethesda Life Centre in their continuing commitment to shelter children in need.” Thanking Putzmeister, Mr. Martin Philip and Ms. Bina Martin said “Over the years Putzmeister consistently supported over 100 distressed children under the care of Bethesda Life Centre.
Thank you for building a new big dormitory for our boys. Thank you for your priceless partnership extended toward BLC since the year 2014” Putzmeister has been supporting BLC since 2014 under its CSR programme, and has been providing support in the form of monthly rations, bunk beds, mattresses, clothing, birthday and Christmas celebrations and in many other ways that help make the children feel loved and comfortable.
Towards a Litter-Free Goa
Yellow, red, purple, blue – 1,50,000 discarded plastic bottles, painted colourfully and crafted to look like flowers covered a field of 2,000 square meters and shone in the brightest colours. The installation called “Carpet of Joy”, was put up in the village Saligao in North Goa from April to May 2017.
The project was initiated by the Director of the Museum of Goa, Dr. Subodh Kerkar. He was inspired by a similar installation by the Israelian artist Uri de Beer, who had worked with painted bottles on a smaller scale. Putzmeister India organized the collecting, cutting and painting of the bottles. A part of them got painted at the Putzmeister factory in Verna in South Goa by employees who worked on the project in their free time. The project did not stop here. Together with the village council of Saligao, Dr. Kerkar set the goal to make Saligao litter free within two months. “For this cause, we went from house to house to show people how to separate garbage correctly. The response was tremendous” said Eknath Oraskar from the village council of Saligao.
Around the installation and all around the village, waste bins were put up. Dr. Kerkar hopes that Saligao will become a role model for other villages to join the environmental health campaign. His aim is a litter free Goa. Putzmeister India will continue to support the environment project. Ms. Beaula Knauf, PR Consultant at Putzmeister India underlines: “It is not a project, but a movement.”