About the Author
I, Dora D’Costa, was born in Nairobi, Kenya, East Africa. My mother, Alice da Costa and my father, Manuel da Costa, immigrated to Nairobi after their marriage.
Mum and dad worked hard to see us through our school days and we were privileged to be attending the best schools. We were six children well brought up and well trained to accept and love all.
In 1963 the whole family returned to Goa, India, due to the unrest caused by the freedom fighters to gain independence from the British.
We fortunately had an ancestral home to return to. I completed my last two years of school in Goa and later completed my graduation and Teacher’s Training to be a teacher. Finally, I post graduated.
In 1998 I visited Melbourne for a holiday where I met my husband, Raymond Amos, who also is a teacher.
I have enjoyed many years of teaching. At the end of 2014, I retired from teaching.
Teaching has taught me to deal with various kinds of students and situations.
I miss teaching a lot. I have kept myself busy with writing, painting, reading, cooking and stitching.
I often sit back and muse about the students whom I have taught and come to love.
My Book
Good values are relevant in any era, are character building and are conducive to building a better society.
Values, that will enable the reader to emulate and pass on to others, have been selected.
Stories inspire people of all ages to critically think about their own behaviour and that of others.
Then people can objectively evaluate these behavioural patterns and improve where necessary.
What my book readers are saying
The book “Igniting Values” is inspiring and thought provoking; providing events that appeal to young people and leave indelible impressions on them that sometimes translate into efforts to emulate these experiences.
I therefore recommend the book as very useful, easy reading and relatable to young and old alike.
JANE DA COSTA
When reading the book, “Igniting Values” what struck me immensely was the use of the word “ignite” and not “instil” or “inculcate”.
“Ignite” implies that goodness is innate in children but it often becomes obscured or even sidelined as they grow up and other considerations assume greater importance.
I also felt from my own childhood experience that even the naughtiest child secretly yearns to be good. The little anecdotes highlighting politeness, honesty, truthfulness, striving for excellence, accepting personal responsibility
and welcoming other children from different cultures and creeds would appeal to the little minds and motivate them.
LINDA FROIS
Having read the anthology “Igniting Values”, I would like to elaborate on my observations.
The title “Igniting Values” highlights the author’s twin aims:
(a) To resurrect implicit beliefs and propagate them through humanity.
(b) These life styles and philosophies are central to certain faiths and beliefs and practices around the world.
These values must be such that countries with differing social, cultural and political systems can safely incorporate these values into their life styles without causing enmity amongst certain sections of the populace.