Message from the Director
Dr. (Fr.) Lawrence Correa, SVD
Director, UCDC
Message date: 8th June, 2024
Urban Community Development Centre (UCDC) is a Non-Profit Organization (NPO) and is the project of the Society for Community Development in India, a Registered Public Trust (Society Reg. No. BOM 58/71, GBBSD Public Trust Reg. No. F2189) having its office at Bandra, Mumbai. The Centre came into existence on February 19, 1971, and has completed more than 50 years of service to the people, especially the slum dwellers and the migrants, mainly in and around Bandra.
The old building on 14th Road was demolished as it was old and in a dilapidated condition. A new building is constructed by the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) on the same plot of land, and the 3rd, 4th, 6th and 7th floors are given exclusively to UCDC, to re-establish and carry out its various activities and programmes. Thus, in more than one sense, we have begun a new chapter, having completed 50 years of service and re-establishing ourselves in a new and spacious building.
The new building is named ‘SVD Centre-UCDC’. It is blessed by Rev. Fr. Tomy Thomas SVD, the Provincial Superior of INM Province and inaugurated by Mr. Johney Joseph, IAS (Retd.) and former Municipal Commissioner of BMC, on 8th June, 2024. We are grateful to Society of the Divine Word (SVD) for providing us space to carry out the activities and programmes.
However, the process of re-establishing ourselves on the designated floors in the new building involves a lot of expense to be borne by UCDC. The floors need to be partitioned and furnished to cater to the various medical, educational and social/empowerment programmes and activities and offices. The total cost of this is estimated to be Rs. 60,00,000/- (Rupees Sixty Lakhs only). Many of you have come forward with donations and sponsorship.
Moreover, we need to build our Corpus Fund, the interest from which will be utilized to run various programmes, activities and pay the salary to the employees and take care of the repairs and maintenance of the equipments and outgoings. On behalf of the Centre, I appeal to you to continue contributing by way of general donation or donation towards Corpus Fund. You can also volunteer to teach the children and/or assist us in our programmes and activities.
The work of partitioning and furnishing of the designated floors is going on in full swing. Hopefully, we will be able to formally start functioning from this place, latest by July end, 2024.
Together, let us make a difference in the lives of the poor, the marginalized and the migrants in and around Bandra, and beyond.
Dr. (Fr.) Lawrence Correa, SVD
Urban Community Development Centre
Plot No.104/B, 14th Road, T.P.S. III
Bandra (West), Mumbai-400050
Tel.
Office: 9869501282
Email: ucdcpradeep@gmail.com