Goa Sudharop Community Development Inc., a U.S. based Goan Diaspora Volunteer Organisation, a non-profit NGO working for the betterment of Goa observed the year 2007 as "Year of the Environment". The organisation recently presented the 7th Annual Awards to various organisations, schools and students who participated in events held to protect Goa's environment, at a simple ceremony held at Kala Academy, Panjim on Dec 29, 2007.

For this year's main award, they selected 14 orphanages and old age homes spread across Goa. These institutions shared the prize amount of Rs. 2,50,000 and Rs. 1,00,000 respectively for their untiring work in giving succour to abandoned and destitute children and elderly people.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Guest, expressed his support for developing Goa and empowering its people. He acknowledged the work by Goa Bachao Abhiyan, Fr. Bruno and others in protecting Goan land.

A number of competitions and programmes were conducted by Goa Sudharop in coordination with NGOs working at the grass root level in different fields. In the Inter-School Eco-Clubs Competition, the First Prize was bagged by New Era High School, Margao. Anupa Pramod Gaunkar, a student of A.J. Almeida High School, Ponda finished first in the Essay Competition for Std. IX students on the theme "Living in harmony with nature".
Sharada Mandir's Angel Kalra won the Essay Competition for Std. VIII on the theme "Clean Goa - Green Goa".

The success of any project depends on the people's participation and it is here that Goa Sudharop has developed a close association with a number of Goan NGOs, confirmed Ibonio M. B. D'Souza, the local representative of the organisation.

Besides the award ceremony, a short seminar on "Goa Vision 2020" was organised in which architect Ritu Prasad, Fr. Maverick Fernandes and Soter D'Souza, three prominent personalities in forefront of anti-SEZ movement, deliberated and discussed different issues facing Goan land use, which was moderated by Minguel Braganza, President of Botanical Society of Goa.