On February 17, 2025, Mr. Gabriel Pereira, an Organ Donation Ambassador from the MOHAN Foundation, conducted an awareness session on organ donation at the Institute of Hotel Management, Catering Technology & Applied Nutrition, Porvorim, Goa.

The session began with Mr. Pereira introducing himself and the MOHAN Foundation, highlighting the organization’s long-standing commitment to organ donation through a compelling video presentation. He shared how his personal experience with transplantation in his family inspired him to become an advocate for organ donation in Goa. Encouraging the students to extend the conversation beyond their college walls, he urged them to inspire their families and friends to support this life-saving cause.

To actively engage the audience, he posed questions about transplant hospitals in Goa and the most commonly transplanted organs.

Using a PowerPoint presentation, Mr. Pereira covered key topics, including:

• Circulatory and brain-stem death

• The organ and tissue donation process

• Organ allocation and the role of green corridors

• How to obtain a donor card

He provided practical guidance on becoming an organ donor, explaining how individuals can scan a QR code on the MOHAN Foundation’s website or opt for organ donation while applying for a driver’s license.

A highlight of the session was a testimonial by Mr. Advait Kelkar, a heart transplant recipient and a student of the institute. Mr. Pereira had previously met him at NoMoZo 5.0, a motor-free street event. Mr. Kelkar’s story of resilience and a second chance at life deeply resonated with the students.

The session was attended by approximately 30 students, with 5 students taking the organ donation pledge.

To reinforce his message, Mr. Pereira recommended watching "Aye Zindagi," currently streaming on Zee5. The film is based on the true story of Vinay, a software engineer diagnosed with liver cirrhosis, and his emotional journey with grief counsellor Revathy Rajan. The character of Revathy Rajan is inspired by Ms. Lalitha Raghuram, Country Director of the MOHAN Foundation, who, along with her family, made the courageous decision to donate her son’s organs after his passing.

Mr. Pereira concluded the session by thanking Mr. Advait Kelkar and the student members of the Rotaract Club for their efforts in organizing this impactful awareness talk in collaboration with the MOHAN Foundation.