Udupi: Konkan Overseas Returnees Welfare Association (KORWA) on Saturday June 4 distributed school bags to needy, deserving children in a simple ceremony at Milagres School hall at Kallianpur.

The school bags were distributed to 650 under privileged school children of St Joseph Higher Primary School, L.V.P. Higher Primary school, etc at Kallianpur, Udupi district.

Sr Susheela Monteiro UFS headmistress of St Joseph Higher Primary school welcomed the gathering.

Addressing the students, Louis Lobo, president of Korwa said, "KORWA is an association formed by a group of people who have returned from the Gulf region, for the welfare of Gulf returnees and needy people in their homeland. After returning from abroad in order to give something back to society, we formed this organization. Students should work hard and study well in order to succeed in life."

Fr Stany B Lobo, rector of Milagres Cathedral was the chief guest. In his address, he said "KORWA has taken this initiative to support the children in their education. The best way to pay KORWA back is to study well and score good marks in exams. If you don't do well in your studies then their efforts will fail. So I advise you children to study well so that their efforts bear fruits. It is wonderful to see that the members of KORWA are doing a marvellous job and I appreciate their noble work of donating school bags to children."

Students offered prayers during the assembly and expressed their happiness for getting the school bags and appreciated KORWA members with gratitude.

Florine Mascarenhas, headmistress of LVP. Higher Primary School proposed vote of thanks. She also expressed her gratitude to KORWA for donating the school bags for students.

KORWA's Jessy Pinto, Ronald Gomes, David D Souza, Lawrence Lobo and Vikram Cutinha and others were present.