With the Writers & Readers Festival taking place for the first time in Goa, we at Goa ForGiving were very delighted to be a part of this festival as the beneficiary organization. Having been closely working with the kids from the St. Inez settlement, this festival has given us an opportunity to take some of the renowned authors like Kirsty Murray, Stephen McCarty, Ken Harper, and journalist Rahul Jayram to the slums to impart the importance of reading to them.

Besides taking these writers to the settlement, we also had the privilege to mingle with author Thomas Kennelly, author of Schindler’s Ark, on which the epic historical drama Schindler’s List was based. It was an honor to have him over at our home and discuss his next book. We also had an early 79th birthday celebration for him, at which he cut 8 cakes, egging him on to be in Goa for the 80th birthday the next year. Partnering with the Writers & Readers Festival, Goa was a great experience for us at Goa ForGiving, as we have carried a lot of memories back with us, and we look forward to the next.