Don Bosco, Egmore

There are 8.3 million children out of school in India today. If, with 74% literacy and 7% of young
people going to college, India has reached where we are today, imagine where we could be if we
had 96% literacy and 28% going to college! You can help us get one more child into school. Do it
today. Let us, together, take our country where we would like it to be.
- Don Bosco, Egmore
Vol, 1 No.4 July - September 2011
FROM MY PERSONAL DIARY
Fr. M.C. George
Mr. DJV Raja
Ms. Kaningjeiliu Pamei
Ms. Rima Beri
If you wish to harvest in a few months’ time, plant some vegetables, paddy or
wheat, but be ready to replant soon after. If you wish to harvest in a few years’
time, but not have to replant for a few decades, plant some trees. If you wish to
harvest after a decade or two and keep harvesting year after year without having
to replant at all, plant people – educate children.
Mr. Shinto Jose
Mr. Sijo Mathew
Mr. Sachin Baby
It is not difficult to count the number of seeds in a fruit. No one can calculate how
many forests there might be in a single seed.
Mr. Kalu Paul Ningthoujam
Ms. Biji Reji
Ms. Paosiiru Rosemary
In my childhood years a lot of beggars used to come around from house to house in our rural area.
Some of them came once and were never seen again, a few would be there once a week, some every
fortnight, some once a month, .....
Ammachi (my mom) never sent anyone off without something to eat, and at least a coin. “We are
having dosas today. You want some?” she asked a beggar one day. “Thank you, madam,” she replied.
“I’ll be glad to have anything to eat.”
As she sat there on the verandah digging into the dosas, ammachi chatted with her. The beggar
gradually came to understand that we were a family of 12 (twelve) children! “Ma’m,” she said, “are you
sure you have enough to spare for me when you have to feed all that crowd?”
“No,” replied ammachi, “Illanjnittalle tharunnathu. Ondakil tharuo? I don’t. That’s why I am giving you.
If I had, would I?”
A paradox, but how true! It is those who have little that understand the need of those who have even
less, and give of the little they have! Those who have, only want more!
Fr M C George Menamparampil sdb
The influence of a teacher is eternal – it goes on and on, year after year, decade
after decade, century after century.
These are not original thoughts of mine. They are paraphrased from great thinkers
of the past.
Most founders of religious societies, and other leaders, built schools and colleges.
One might have wondered what their real motive was. Were they trying to ensure
the economic security for themselves and for their society through the income
from these schools?
If this were the case, they would have been very selective in locating their schools
and selecting the category of people they served. If the vast majority of their institutions are located in rural, underdeveloped areas and caters to weaker sections
of society, their motive must have been a nobler one – a long-lasting change in the
quality of life of a whole community.
Don Bosco was born in 1815 – almost 200 years ago. He died in 1888. His influence goes on and on and on in the lives of millions of people right round the globe.
He was a great teacher and he has fathered thousands of other great teachers in
the Salesian society
Purno Sangma in his childhood sat on a buffalo tending his father’s cattle in a
little tribal village of Meghalaya. He was picked up from there and made to sit on
a school bench in a Don Bosco school. He went on to teach in one of our schools
while doing his higher studies as a private candidate, and then entered politics. He
served as a cabinet minister in the central government. Finally, he sat in the chair
of Speaker of the Lok Sabha. His daughter, Agatha, is a minster today in the central government. The fruits of this investment in a human being will go on and on,
and we can never say when or whether it will ever end.
The relics of Don Bosco are on a pilgrimage around India today. At the national
level inauguration of this pilgrimage in Imphal (Manipur) on 1 May 2011, Purno
Sangma was proud to be present and humble enough to narrate to the entire
crowd the contribution Don Bosco had made to his success in life.
There are numerous children and young people at one or other stage of life that
Sangma went through. Don Bosco is busy even today taking little Sangmas from
the back of their buffalos and putting them on school benches.
Fr. M.C. George Menamparampil sdb
HOW TO DONATE
Send a Money Order to Fr. George Menamparampil, or, send cheque:
if you live in India, please make out your crossed cheque to BoscoNet.
1. Don Bosco - Egmore
2. Schools for the Pahans
3. Ashalayam-
Dream home for street children
4. Total Revolution
5. Three Musketeers of
Hyderabad
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Enclose the following with your donation:
............................................................................................................................................................
Please find enclosed my contribution of Rs...........................................through cheque /
draft no........................................ to support your work in favour of the poorest childrean of
South Asia. I would like this money to be used for: (You may specify the purpose for which
you wish your money to be used.)
Please pray for the following intentions of mine and my family’s:
DON BOSCO - EGMORE
One school, many alumni - some famous, all noble.
F
our famous alumni of Don Bosco,
Egmore, came together in 2010
to encourage our students and alumni
– actor YG Mahendra (1965), tennis champion Vijay Amritraj (1968),
actor Venkatesh (1978) and Union
Minister Dayanidhi Maran (1985).
Chess wizard Viswanathan Anand
and tennis player Anand Amritraj
could not make it on this occasion.
Vijay Amritraj explained how the
values he had learnt brought him
success: the five Ds - Desire, Dedication, Determination, Discipline
and Divine Intervention. Venkatesh
spoke of the acting he did at school
and how being at peace with his inner self enriched his life and his career. Dayanidhi Maran said his experiences at school helped him face
challenges in his political career.
The batch of 1989 set up a scholarship of
YG Mahendra acknowledged that it
`15,000 to a deserving student of class XII.
was at this school that he developed The alumni create occasions to Photos by: Don Bosco Egmore Archives
his sense of humour and creativity. help the needy.
At Diwali they served a
meal to 100 night school
students and provided each
of them with a stationery
kit. At Christmas 100 inmates of Bosco Illam in
MKB Nagar enjoyed a
similar sumptuous dinner.
The batch of 1989 set up a
scholarship of Rs 15,000 to Mr. P. Chidambaram honoured DB Alumni with
his presence for a Parents’ Day celebration
More than 225 Don Bosco Egmore Alumni attended be awarded annually
Photos by: Don Bosco Egmore Archives
the DBPPA-ETA Star Wisdom Keys event that took (from the bank interest on a
place at Taj, Mount Road.
fixed deposit) to a deserv- The story goes on .....
Photos by: Don Bosco Egmore Archives
ing student of class XII.
Values, as explained by tennis champion
Yet another VIP visitor to Vijay Amritraj and P. Chidambaram, are
the school was the Union what make Don Bosco different. To inHome Minister, Mr. P. culcate empathy in the present students,
Chidambaram, F/o Mr. the present principal, Fr Stanley Ignatius,
Karthi Chidambaram, of sent them to visit Marian Orphanage,
our 1989 batch. He was our Don Bosco Beatitudes, Missionaries of
chief guest on Parents’ Day. Charity Sisters, Seva Samajam, Mercy
He expressed his appre- Home, Wisdom Town Old Age Home,
ciation for the great values Sishu Bhavan, Pope John`s Garden LepVenkatesh (1978), Dayanidhi Maran (1985), YG
his son acquired at school. rosy Centre, Mithra and Little Sisters of
Mahendra (1965) and Vijay Amritraj (1968)
Photos by: Don Bosco Egmore Archives
the Poor. They shared their love by presenting the inmates laughter and gifts.
All alumni of all Don Bosco institutions are invited to join the Salesian family The students now appreciate better what
to fulfil Don Bosco’s mission to educate the children of the needy. Write to
they have and empathise with those
Fr. M. C. George, at the address in this newsletter.
who are less fortunate than they are.
bosconet
July - September 2011 3
SCHOOLS FOR THE
PAHANS
A
school where students pay `40 to
`90 a month as tuition fees! This
is in 2011. Till the last year the
fees were even lower!
This is the story of Garigaon, a tribal
village right within the city of Ranchi,
the capital of Jharkhand. It is, in fact
less than a km away from the Khel
Gaon where the National Sports Meet
was held in 2011.
The fees are low, but the standards
are high. The results are excellent.
The first batch in 2006 had 18 regu- For six years, children learned under these trees. Now they could get to sit under a
lar candidates for the Matriculation proper classroom. (Photo by: Fr. M.C. George)
examinations. One of them passed in
the first division and all the rest in the
Year
1st division 2nd division 3rd division Failures Total
second, with no one in the third division and no failures. That quality has
2006
01
17
0
0
18
been maintained till now.
There are 18 candidates this year and
good results are expected.
The fees have been kept low because
the school serves the Pahans, a scheduled tribe of Jharkhand.
2007
0
07
0
0
7
2008
0
24
0
0
24
2009
07
25
0
0
32
2010
01
17
0
07
25
Sharnas and can neither be sold nor
given away. For six years the classes
were held under the trees. In 1992,
they allowed a single story building to
be built.
Of the 650 in the school, 180 are
Christians and the rest follow the indigenous tribal religion. The fees were
kept low seeing the genuine difficulty
of the people, but Don Bosco paid just
wages to the teachers thanks to the The school cannot be recognized till
generosity of donors and benefactors. it owns its own land. Don Bosco has
now acquired a small plot next to the
A second reason for the low fees is that communal property to put up the ‘ofthe people here are daily-wage earners ficial’ school on it.
– when they do find work! Early every morning, they gather at crossroads
within the city, hoping for someone to
pick them up for a day.
The land on which the school stands
belongs to the Sharnas, the tribal
priestly class. By customary law the
land is the common property of the
4
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July - September 2011
All these 25 years, from 1986 to 2011,
the children sat on the floor for their
classes. The efforts of Fr. Thankachan
are bearing fruits now; desks and
benches will be provided this year.
It is a happy sign that girls outnumber boys in the school. Unfortunately,
though the school is up to class X
now, there are no separate toilets
for the girls. It is not easy to use the
“I wish our children had a hockey ground,”
muses Mr. Simon Mara, a former national
player who was in the Indian team at the
world cup in Mumbai in 1980 and in the
Asiad in Delhi in 1982. He won awards
from the hands of Neelam Sanjiva Reddy,
Giani Zail Singh and Shankar Dayal Sharma. He is in charge of sports and discipline
in the school.
of instruction, but can
compete with any English medium school.
These children have won
13 awards in the recent
Boscoree in Dimapur,
were judged the top dancing team in Ranchi in
2004, earned medals in
Karate in 2009 at Jamshedpur and in athletics
and neighbours, as well as anyone else in the Delhi Province meet in 2009.
I can contact anywhere in the world.”
Then, with a mischievous twinkle in Those who study here go on to build
his eye, he adds, “Perhaps BoscoNet successful careers. The culture of
.....”
keeping track of the alumni is developing only now, and complete data
Due to numerous such problems, for are not yet available. However, we do
many years this was just a primary know that at least three from the first
school. Most children dropped out after batch are in the army, one works in
class V and went to work. Six batches the animal husbandry department and
have now appeared the Matriculation three are completing their ITI as elecexaminations and the numbers are be- tricians and fitters. To how many more
can we give a brighter future?
ginning to pick up in each class.
“I am proud to be the Headmistress of
this school,” says Mrs Anna Munda. “Our
children lack opportunities, but they are no
worse than any other child anywhere else.”
Mrs. Anna Munda, Mrs. Rosalia Tigga and
Mrs.Teresa Hemron have served this school
all of 25 years, starting from its birth in
1986.
toilets that the school does have because of the scarcity of water. The possibilities for rainwater harvesting are
being studied. The finances for the infrastructure are, however, a worry.
The little children of the kindergarten
are also hoping for a children’s park of
their own.
It is difficult in today’s world to imagine a high school without a library,
laboratory, and computer lab. “We are
not unmindful of the genuine needs of
our children,” asserts Fr. Thankachan. The school uses Hindi
“I am constantly on the lookout for re- as the medium
sources – locally, among our friends
Rurumcocha
The circumstances of the school here are almost identical to
those in Garigaon, except that the school was only up to class
VI till now and in this year proceeding to class VII. 400 students study here paying `30 to `80 a month. There is also
a boarding here, with 28 boys and 32 girls contribing `500
a month. 80% of the students belong to the Munda tribe, the
rest of them being from families that are leather-workers,
basket-makers and weavers. They now have electricity in the
school – since the last six months.
Children from this village are learning how to read and write and
one day, they will stand on their own feet, being empowered, and
will re-build the society (Photo by: Fr. M.C. George)
To help these two schools directly, send your donations to:
Don Bosco, Khoratoli, Kokar, P.B.201, Ranchi, Jharkhand 834 001 OR Don Bosco Youth Centre,
Hatia P.O., Ranchi, Jharkhand 834 003
To support similar work in any part of South Asia, send your MO/cheque/DD/Direct Deposit to:
BOSCONET, Acc No. 15450100015254 in The Federal Bank Limited, Dwarka Branch, New Delhi
110 075. (IFSC: 000FDRL1545)
OR
BOSCONET, Acc No. 0359053000013067 in The South Indian Bank Limited, Janakpuri Branch,
New Delhi (IFSC: SIBL0000359)
bosconet
July - September 2011 5
ASHALAYAM
Peter Ki
Dream Home for Street Children
A
kash Kumar (11), a class four
student, wants to serve the
country when he grows up. Nothing unusual here except that, not so
long ago, Akash used to be on the
platforms of New Delhi railway station. Now he stays at Don Bosco
Ashalayam and attends the prestigious Don Bosco Hr. Sec. School at
Alaknanda. Thanks to Ashalayam,
many children on the streets of Delhi
are beginning to realize that they, too,
have a future.
And that is just the first step of this
magical dream! Pankaj Kumar
Bharti (17), studies in class eleven.
This is their home - Children of Ashalayam, New Delhi (Photo by: Peter Ki Maram)
A good dancer, he says, “I dream of
becoming a professional dancer.” He
was also a member of his school’s
Throwball team which won first prize
in 2007 and 2009 and second prize in
2008 in tournaments held in Bhopal.
rom the railway platform to one lodged here and attend various schools
Another student, Harsharan Singh
of the top schools of New Delhi – in the city. The only condition to get
(15), wants to become a teacher when
Parents
who have tried to admit their into this ‘Home of Hope’ is to be a
he grows up.
children in Don Bosco Alaknanda will child with very special needs. The inShawaj (13) is so grateful, he is de- appreciate this giant leap for a desti- mates are mostly kids who have run
termined to serve in Ashalayam itself tute child. This is made possible be- away from home, living in railway
once he has made something of him- cause Don Bosco is a network and cares stations, bus stands, streets and slums;
self. Sonu Singh (14), in class nine, for children from all strata of society. children from broken families; refugees; and marginalized children. (Girls
is interested in becoming a school
have a home of their own – Auxilium
Ashalayam
shelters
children
in
need
Physical Training Instructor.
of care and protection. 120 boys are Snehalaya, located next door.)
Home of Hope – Home of realized dreams
F
It’s a process
C
hildren on the streets and railway stations enjoy total freedom and, despite some unpleasant experiences, they like it. They
do not easily accept the discipline
of a regular school. They have
to be weaned off their street life.
In the first step, the staff of Asha
6
bosconet
July - September 2011
layam befriend the children where
they are – the streets. In the
second step, they are invited to
a temporary night shelter in a
little facility set up in the compound of Don Bosco Technical
Institute, Okhla – another link
in the network of Don Bosco.
They learn at ease – a guide to help them when
Here they find food and lodgthey need – children of Ashalayam. (Photo by: Peter
Ki Maram)
ing. They have fewer learning experiences and maximum of freedom.
At the third stage, when the children
have got used to some level of discipline, they move to Ashalayam.
Once in Ashalayam, children prepare
to enter a regular school through a special course of non-formal education.
Eventually, they join nearby schools,
government or private – several of
them in Don Bosco Alaknanda.
vocational training. Those who are
capable of it do an ITI course like the
four in Don Bosco Technical institute
at Okhla. Others do non-formal courses
like those in Don Bosco Youth Centre
at Najafgarh – yet another link in this
All this is done in consultation with
beautifully choreographed network for
the Child Welfare Committee as per Where formal education in schools is children and youth. The rest go to other
the Juvenile Justice Act.
not feasible, the youngsters receive vocational training centres.
Success
F
r George Nadackal, the director, introduces some of the
dreamers under his care. Jai Shankar who joined Ashalayam in 1999 is today the manager of the housekeeping section of the Grand Hyatt in Dubai. Shiv Kumar, who was
picked up from New Delhi railway station is an employee of
an NGO (Humana People to People) – and these are just two
of the many dreams fulfilled.
Records show that over 4000 children and youth have so far
been enabled to dream dreams and get them realized through
Ashalayam’s street contact, shelter, non-formal education and
vocational programmes.
No more running away – children at Ashalayam, showing off their skills in reading (Photo by: Peter Ki Maram)
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bosconet
July - September 2011 7
Consistent follow-up, says Fr. Edward Sacrawat, the
deputy director, is the key. Following Don Bosco’s
preventive system, the children are encouraged to pursue their hobbies of interest: from music and dancing
to computers and sports. During holidays, camps are
organized. Skits and cultural programmes motivate
them to develop their talents. A full-time staff nurse,
Marykutty James, takes care of the children’s health.
Slum schools
N
ot content with all this, Ashalayam also conducts classes in
six places in the city – in slums, under trees in parks and near the railway tracks. A totally new facility is
under construction in Passor, just
across the state borders in Haryana’s
Jajhar district. It will accommodate more of such children in need.
The priority is, of course, the repatriation of run-away kids back to
their own families, whenever that
is possible, again, in collaboration
with the Child Welfare Committee.
Ashalayam serves as the nodal
agency of ‘Childline’ for West
Delhi. Ashalayam also hosts the office of the national co-ordination of
Don Bosco’s work for street children and child labour in 92 towns
across India. All of this weaves,
indeed, into a dreamland the underprivileged children of this great
nation are invited to step into.
Slum children and children of migrants attend classes at one of six
non-formal centres of Ashalayam in parks and other public places.
(Photo by: Peter Ki Maram)
For more information, log on to http://www.dbasha.org
To support the work of Ashalayam, Delhi, send your donations to: Don Bosco Ashalayam, Palam
Gaon, New Delhi – 110 045
To support similar work for street children/Child labourers in any of 92 towns in India, send your
MO/cheque/DD/Direct Deposit to: BOSCONET, Acc No. 15450100015254 in The Federal Bank
Limited, Dwarka Branch, New Delhi 110 075. (IFSC: 000FDRL1545)
OR
BOSCONET, Acc No. 0359053000013067 in The South Indian Bank Limited, Janakpuri Branch,
New Delhi (IFSC: SIBL0000359)
8
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July - September 2011
TOTAL REVOLUTION
“T
he arrival of the Salesians in Thope resulted in
a revolution in the life of the fisher-folk from
Tangasseri to Eravipuram,” says Mr. A.Andrews,
the secretary of the Kerala Matsya Tozhilali Federation.
In this process they learnt that a revolution may not require a lot of blood, but does demand buckets of sweat!
Education is a fundamental step towards a revolution.
Getting a child into school is not so difficult. It is not
so easy to KEEP him there! At Thope, near Kollam in
Kerala, there was 100% enrolment in the first standard;
however,70% of them would drop out without completing even primary schooling.
An arm-chair social worker would think all that is required to change this situation is to work on the children
and the schools: improve the quality of teaching; provide mid-day meals and free evening coaching classes;
help to pay the tuition fees; etc.
Women actively participating in a meeting discussing educational
issues for their children in one of the meetings held regularly at
Thope. (Photo by: Don Bosco Thope ARchives)
The reality is quite different. The
whole community needs change. Let’s
take a look at the reality of Thope in
1975:
The people are poor, small-scale fisher-folk. They can work only a few
months of the year due to the monsoons and frequent inclement weather.
Mr. A. Andrews, Secretary, Kerala Matsya They use crude fishing gear. They are
Tozhilali Federation. (Photo by: Don Bosco
exploited by middlemen. They are
Thope ARchives)
Children attending summer class were encouraged by a father at Thope
(Photo by: Don Bosco Thope ARchives)
almost totally illiterate. This results
in their being frozen to their outdated lifestyle and in unwillingness to
change. They have no savings and
are cheated by moneylenders. Their
poverty drives them to seek solace in
alcoholism. Women step out of their
homes only to go to the temple or
church.
A total revolution was needed if
children were to be kept in school.
This is what the Salesians set out
to do, and, THEY SUCCEEDED.
If the revolution has not attracted a
lot of attention, it is because it has
been a tedious process starting from
1975 and going on even now. Dozens
of seminars, hundreds of meetings of
various groups, thousands of house
visits – in short, the gradual, steady,
patient, repetitive work of a lot of
people and the democratic participation of every family and individual
over 35 years lie at the root of this
revolution.
bosconet
July - September 2011 9
Today, only 6.25% of children
drop out of school. 12 free
tuition centres cater to 432
children studying at the lower
primary level in five different
schools. They have special
classes during holidays. 90%
of parents attended 18 meetings to discuss educational
issues. Two seminars for parents every six months; and another two for teachers to improve their teaching methods;
practice exams, model exams,
camps on examination techniques, etc., have all helped
to keep children in schools.
300 children develop their 30 orphans are looked after in the Don Bosco Boys’
talents through the Balavedis. Home at Thope. (Photo by: Don Bosco Thope ARchives)
Sponsorship is not limited to primary
and secondary education.471 young
people are today being sponsored
for their higher studies : +2, graduation, post-graduation, B.Ed., M.B.B.S,
engineering, nursing, TTC, etc.
The fishermen now have savings of
over Rs. 23 lakhs. The rise in income
has been due to several initiatives of
Don Bosco: auctioning of the catch;
loans to purchase better boats and
nets (700 persons have taken loans);
Don Bosco Fish Marketing Centre .....
“I am a teacher now
because I received
free tuitions and
generous financial
assistance from Don
Bosco, just as many
hundreds of others
continue to receive
even today.”
Miss Mini
“The Salesians transformed
the lives of fishermen by uniting all of them in one strong
union. They now have just
prices for their catch, scholarships for the education of their
children, assistance at times of
injury or death through accidents, pension and several
other benefits. Their life is no
longer the same as it used to
be.”
N. Tomy,
Corporation Councillor,
Kollam Corporation.
10
bosconet
July - September 2011
One of the 12 free tuition centres catering to 432 children (Photo by: Don Bosco
Thope ARchives)
Women are no longer hiding away in their
homes. The Theeradesha Mahila Society
(TMS) has drawn them out and made them active agents of change. 120 Self-Help Groups
with over 3,000 members made savings and
internal loans of over Rs 78 lakhs. The Fixed
savings Scheme of the TMS has 312 members
with savings of over Rs 2 lakhs. 393 members of a third organisation, the Credit Union
have taken loans between Rs 2,000 and Rs
10,000 at a time and repaid them. The people
of Thope are not at the mercy of moneylenders any longer!
All this and a lot more have been achieved,
but there is yet a long way to go – permanent
houses, access to safe drinking water, total
prevention of dropping out of school, microcredit to the unreached families, ... The revolution goes on. We look for partners in this
process from any part of the world.
Family visit (Photo by: Don Bosco Thope ARchives)
“Born the son of a poor
fisherman, I am doing my
final year of MBBS today.
Thank you, Don Bosco,
for making me what I am
– and so many others who
are in TTC, Engineering,
nursing, MBBS, Hotel
Management and other
professional courses.”
A. Charles
Members of a Self-Help Group learn to make a fancy necklace. (Photo by: Don
Bosco Thope ARchives)
To support this work for the orphans in the Boys’ Home, the fisher-folk and poor families in Thope,
send your MO/DD/Cheque to: Don Bosco Boys Home, Mundachal West, Kollam, Kerala – 691 001
To support similar work in any part of South Asia, send your MO/cheque/DD/Direct Deposit to:
BOSCONET, Acc No. 15450100015254 in The Federal Bank Limited, Dwarka Branch, New Delhi
110 075. (IFSC: 000FDRL1545)
OR
BOSCONET, Acc No. 0359053000013067 in The South Indian Bank Limited, Janakpuri Branch,
New Delhi (IFSC: SIBL0000359)
bosconet
July - September 2011 11
THREE MUSKETEERS OF
HYDERABAD
Balakrishna
W
ho likes to be beaten up, even if
it is by a member of the family!
At the age of 12 Balakrishna ran away
from his elder brother – 12 years his
senior – who punished him cruelly for
not being regular at school.
Balakrishna admires the patience of
Fr. P. Francis. “Who would allow us
to keep shifting our training from
trade to trade?” he asks. “I tried my
hand at carpentry and welding, but
was not happy with either. He then allowed me to stay in Navajeevan and
go out to learn motor-mechanics.
He hopped onto a train and landed up
in Secunderabad station. He roamed
around looking for something to eat.
In five days he had one good meal, offered by a passerby who saw his pathetic condition.
“Now I am happy. I completed that
course. I work as an apprentice in a
showroom of Hero Honda along with
my friend Amit who is also in Navajeevan. I already earn `2,000 a month.
I will soon be a regular employee
and earn well. What more could I ask
for?”
On the fifth day a member of the staff
of Navajeevan met him and invited
him for a bath and a change of clothes.
Once there, he was told he could stay
on, if he liked to. He is 17 today.
Bilal or Shahid?
Well, he was Bilal in Navajeevan. He
is from a decent family that owns two
shops. His father died, but his three elder brothers are well educated and they
run the shops. Bilal himself studied
only KG class. He was short in stature
and they thought he was unfit to study.
In 2004 they found some mistake in
the cashbox and they beat him up. He
ran away from home.
He was hardly an hour in Hyderabad station before he was picked up
by Navajeevan staff. After 7 years of
study he will this year attempt class
his is no Bilal. He is Shahid!”X exams through NIOS. In the mean
said the well-dressed gentle-time he also learned baking, and
man. “You think I wouldn’t know mystitching sportswear. He earns `1500
own brother’s name?”
a month in cash as an apprentice in
“T
12
bosconet
July - September 2011
the workshop of Navajeevan itself, in
addition to his food, accommodation
and stationery.
Two of his brothers came last year to
find him. They were the ones who declared him to be Shahid and not Bilal.
The boy had given a false name for
fear of being sent back home. They
wanted to take him and he unwillingly
accompanied them a part of the way
and then escaped again and came back
to Don Bosco.
“This is the only place I feel at home,”
says the young man. “Don Bosco is
good. He gives new life to the dead
– like me! I will one day be a businessman in sportswear.”
V. Kishore
I
n 1999, at the age of eight, Kishore
made a mistake – a mistake most
of us make one day or another in our
childhood; he stole from his father’s
suitcase. He was beaten so badly that
he ran away from home. He survived
two months on his own in Secunderabad.
retired because his eyesight had failed.
He lives all on his own. Kishore has
finally put his anger to rest and sends
money back home to support his father.
A kind gentleman took him to Vijayanagar where he had a hostel for 20
destitute children. He stayed there two
years. When his benefactor died in
2002, seven of the boys were accepted
by Navajeevan.
He completed class X this year. He
runs Navajeevan’s bakery, producing all the bread and biscuits the three
centres need. He also teaches baking
to his juniors.
F
It took the Salesians 11 years to
persuade Kishore to contact his
family. In 2010 he visited his village and found that his mother had
died. His father, a bus driver, had
“The Fathers are strict; but they are
understanding. I learned baking first.
Then I changed to printing because
the bakery was closed. I didn’t like the
printing so much; so they allowed me
to work in a bakery outside, returning
here for the night. When our bakery
was re-opened I became the official
baker and the instructor, too!”
Kishore is a confident young man today.
About his future plans he said, “Three
years – I will get married after another
three years.” Way to go, Kishore!
r. Francis, the principal, is very
cool about his wards’ admiration for him. “We are only adjusting ourselves to the needs and circumstances of each youngster,” he
explains. “It’s all part of a process
we have developed over the years.
There is smooth co-ordination
among our three centres to serve the
best interests of the children.
have one living parent or some relatives; 3) orphans with no known relatives.
“Here is our system: From 6.00 am
to 6.00pm every day, our staff are
in the railway stations, bus stands,
dumping grounds, etc. Every child
we find is invited to our ‘Shelter’ in
Navajeevan Secunderabad. Some
of them come only for a meal or a
bath and then leave. Those who
wish to stay on are welcomed. 60 of
them can be accommodated at that
centre.
moved to the home in Navajeevan “If they complete class XII and do
Nampally. We accommodate up to not want to return home, we insist
that they work for a year. They pay
120 children there.
the fees for their higher studies. We
“Those who cannot or do not want to provide them with food, lodging and
go to a regular school are taken to Na- stationery, but not the fees.
vajeevan Ramanthapur. Here they “As for those with no one, We allow
learn a trade. They can choose from: them to go for graduation right away.
carpentry, welding, plumbing, plas- We accommodate 40 graduate stutic moulding, embroidery, tailoring, dents in Nampally.
sportswear, hospitality, driving, baking, printing and electricals. We also “Since 2004, about 50 of our former
persuade them to complete their high ‘street boys’ have graduated. There
are six engineers, 2 MBA, several
school through NIOS.
Master Tailors, etc. Some work here
“We have three types of children: 1) itself as, for example, Mr Balu who is
those who have families, but have deaf and dumb, but teaches carpentry
run away from home; 2) those who to our inmates.”
“Our first effort is to reunite them
with their families.
“If that is not possible, after two to
four weeks at the shelter, those who
can attend regular school are
“We care for the first two categories
till they complete class XII. We encourage them to go home during their
holidays. We do not compel them to.
Some of them get reconciled with
their family and do not return.
bosconet
July - September 2011 13
Letters
Dear Rev.Fr.George,
every year they leave behind numerous orphans. The
Catholic church does a lot for the welfare of these people. Praying and wishing you all a very Holy and Joyful Easter. Tamil Nadu is having a lot of vocations and
if some priest could volunteer for African missions it
will be wonderful as Swaziland have no vocations to
keep the church going. Welcome to Swaziland mission.
I was really thrilled to read through
the new journal which you have
initiated on behalf of the Deserving. Fabulous that is exactly
how I would like to describe the
Sr. Elsa
contents. I am sure it will give
a boost to the numerous individuals (Salesians and
non-Salesians) who are involved in works of mercy.
I take this chance to wish you all the best in this new
venture.
Fr.Tomy Kuruvilla.
Dear Rev. Father,
Thank you very much for the magazine. I was
simply in amazement when I saw that. It was so
beautifully done and with all the information.
I am extremely grateful for allotting one entire magazine for our centre. Thank you so much. I am sure all
our efforts for the welfare of these poorest of the poor
will be blessed by our Lord and by our Blessed Mother.
Thank you Father,
Rev. Fr. Edwin Vasanthan sdb
Rector & Director
Don Bosco Beatitudes
50, Sundaram Street
Vyasarpadi,Chennai -600 039.
South India
Ph: 044 - 25514287, 25514929
www.donboscobeatitudes.org
Change of Address
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location is a part of life. Please let us know when
you shift to a new location and give us details of
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Are you, by mistake, getting two or more
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need? Please send back to us the address labels
of all of them and we shall remove the extra
addresses from our mailing list. Thanks!
Dear Father,
Thank you for the lovely news and congratulations
for the wonderful work which you do for the people
of the area. May the good God bless all your efforts.
We the MSMHC sisters work in Africa, Swaziland
together with the SDB fathers. We are engaged in
the field of HIV AIDS and terminally ill clients.
Swaziland being highest in the world for HIV AIDS,
14 bosconet
July - September 2011
When we give to the poor, the Lord
considers it as precious as a valuable
ring. Human kindness is as precious to
him as life itself.
The Bible, Sirach 17:22
FROM MY PERSONAL DIARY
Fr. M.C. George
Mr. DJV Raja
Ms. Kaningjeiliu Pamei
Ms. Rima Beri
If you wish to harvest in a few months’ time, plant some vegetables, paddy or
wheat, but be ready to replant soon after. If you wish to harvest in a few years’
time, but not have to replant for a few decades, plant some trees. If you wish to
harvest after a decade or two and keep harvesting year after year without having
to replant at all, plant people – educate children.
Mr. Shinto Jose
Mr. Sijo Mathew
Mr. Sachin Baby
It is not difficult to count the number of seeds in a fruit. No one can calculate how
many forests there might be in a single seed.
Mr. Kalu Paul Ningthoujam
Ms. Biji Reji
Ms. Paosiiru Rosemary
In my childhood years a lot of beggars used to come around from house to house in our rural area.
Some of them came once and were never seen again, a few would be there once a week, some every
fortnight, some once a month, .....
Ammachi (my mom) never sent anyone off without something to eat, and at least a coin. “We are
having dosas today. You want some?” she asked a beggar one day. “Thank you, madam,” she replied.
“I’ll be glad to have anything to eat.”
As she sat there on the verandah digging into the dosas, ammachi chatted with her. The beggar
gradually came to understand that we were a family of 12 (twelve) children! “Ma’m,” she said, “are you
sure you have enough to spare for me when you have to feed all that crowd?”
“No,” replied ammachi, “Illanjnittalle tharunnathu. Ondakil tharuo? I don’t. That’s why I am giving you.
If I had, would I?”
A paradox, but how true! It is those who have little that understand the need of those who have even
less, and give of the little they have! Those who have, only want more!
Fr M C George Menamparampil sdb
The influence of a teacher is eternal – it goes on and on, year after year, decade
after decade, century after century.
These are not original thoughts of mine. They are paraphrased from great thinkers
of the past.
Most founders of religious societies, and other leaders, built schools and colleges.
One might have wondered what their real motive was. Were they trying to ensure
the economic security for themselves and for their society through the income
from these schools?
If this were the case, they would have been very selective in locating their schools
and selecting the category of people they served. If the vast majority of their institutions are located in rural, underdeveloped areas and caters to weaker sections
of society, their motive must have been a nobler one – a long-lasting change in the
quality of life of a whole community.
Don Bosco was born in 1815 – almost 200 years ago. He died in 1888. His influence goes on and on and on in the lives of millions of people right round the globe.
He was a great teacher and he has fathered thousands of other great teachers in
the Salesian society
Purno Sangma in his childhood sat on a buffalo tending his father’s cattle in a
little tribal village of Meghalaya. He was picked up from there and made to sit on
a school bench in a Don Bosco school. He went on to teach in one of our schools
while doing his higher studies as a private candidate, and then entered politics. He
served as a cabinet minister in the central government. Finally, he sat in the chair
of Speaker of the Lok Sabha. His daughter, Agatha, is a minster today in the central government. The fruits of this investment in a human being will go on and on,
and we can never say when or whether it will ever end.
The relics of Don Bosco are on a pilgrimage around India today. At the national
level inauguration of this pilgrimage in Imphal (Manipur) on 1 May 2011, Purno
Sangma was proud to be present and humble enough to narrate to the entire
crowd the contribution Don Bosco had made to his success in life.
There are numerous children and young people at one or other stage of life that
Sangma went through. Don Bosco is busy even today taking little Sangmas from
the back of their buffalos and putting them on school benches.
Fr. M.C. George Menamparampil sdb
HOW TO DONATE
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Dream home for street children
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Enclose the following with your donation:
............................................................................................................................................................
Please find enclosed my contribution of Rs...........................................through cheque /
draft no........................................ to support your work in favour of the poorest childrean of
South Asia. I would like this money to be used for: (You may specify the purpose for which
you wish your money to be used.)
Please pray for the following intentions of mine and my family’s:
There are 8.3 million children out of school in India today. If, with 74% literacy and 7% of young
people going to college, India has reached where we are today, imagine where we could be if we
had 96% literacy and 28% going to college! You can help us get one more child into school. Do it
today. Let us, together, take our country where we would like it to be.
- Don Bosco, Egmore
Vol, 1 No.4 July - September 2011