Who We Are
About NAKA
North American Konkani Association (NAKA) was formed in 1998 when Ms. Nina Padukone,Damodhar Baliga, Vasanth Bhat, and (Late) M. Vasudev Nayak saw a need for an all-encompassing national organization to help unite the North American Konkani community, intending to preserve our language (our means of communication), showcasing our culture, and nurturing our customs and traditions.
With this vision guiding us, NAKA strives every day to serve as a resource, provide a helping hand when needed, and create a national presence for the Konkani Community.
What We Do
A central resource for the whole community.
NAKA was created to be a central resource to provide support to regional planning committees through its board members’ vast experience in planning Sammelans.
Since its inception, it has served in financial, charitable, and informational capacities for Sammelans, youth conventions, and other ventures.
Aside from Sammelans, our goal is to support the youth conventions, local Konkani organizations throughout North America, and most importantly, to unite Konkanis throughout North America.
1
Language
Preserving Konkani — our means of communication for children born and raised in North America.
2
Culture & Heritage
Showcasing our art, music, theatre and cuisine through Sammelans and regional programs.
3
Customs & Traditions
Nurturing the customs and traditions that carry our identity from one generation to the next.
4
Networking
Creating opportunities for families, youth and young adults to connect across the continent.
Corporate Match
Double your impact — many North American employers will match your gift to NAKA.
Why NAKA
Why does the Konkani community
need NAKA?
Worldwide, the Konkani community is very small. A fraction is in North America, widely spread across the U.S.A. and Canada. Several Konkani regional associations have been catering mainly to the cultural and religious needs of local Konkanis.
With changing demography, especially the growing sector of youth born and raised in North America, Konkanis have slowly started drifting away from our culture.
New immigrants’ outlook, needs, and expectations differ from those who came just 10 to 15 years back. The community’s needs are also changing fast. To keep our community together and strong, there is a definite need for an umbrella organization.
We are working on several ideas in (1) promoting our culture, heritage, and language, and (2) creating more networking opportunities for the Konkani community, including youth and young adults.
NAKA is an effective mouthpiece for the Konkani Community of North America on all matters that affect our community’s betterment. NAKA is also a vehicle to keep a strong bond and relationship between the Konkani communities in North American and other countries, including our motherland, India.
Get involved
How can the Konkani community
help NAKA?
An umbrella organization is only as strong as the community holding it up. These are the
most direct ways to keep our language, heritage and networks thriving across North
America.
Become a member
Every family that joins strengthens the umbrella. Membership sustains programs, publications and community support.
Volunteer your time
Regional committees, youth conventions and Sammelans run on volunteers who share their skills and experience.
Bring the youth along
Encourage young adults to lead — youth conventions and forums are where the next generation of Konkani leaders begins.
Give and endow
Donations and endowment contributions fund charitable assistance, NAKA Cares and long-term cultural work.
Help us keep the Konkani community together and strong.
Live from the Community
Voices, moments, and updates.
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