FOCUSING ON CHILDREN'S RIGHTS

Johnson Kshirsagar, Sdb and Jason Pinto, Sdb

PUNE-MAHARASHTRA, NOVEMBER 20, 2012 :   As part of Children’s Day celebration and  with the aim of making the children aware of their rights, Don Bosco Youth Centre, Pune in collaboration with Cinemax Pvt. Ltd., India screened ‘Jab Tak Hai Jaan’ at Cinemax, Pune for a group of more than two hundred children followed by a two day box cricket tournament on 17 and 19 November 2012.

 
Welcoming the kids Fr. Barnabe D’Souza, Sdb the director of Balprafulta, Mumbai said, “Just like any other human group we too, as children have our own rights, which we need to be aware of.” The Salesian community of Don Bosco Youth Centre, Pune under the able guidance of Br. Leon Rodrigues, Br. Ajay Shelke and Br. Shekar Maria Das coordinated this venture. After the movie the manager of Cinemax – Pune, Mr. Amar Rizwi personally addressed the children. He appreciated the Salesians for such a venture and promised his wholehearted cooperation for such initiatives in the future.

The Don Bosco Young at Risk National Forum along with Cinemax Pvt. Ltd. has planned a similar venture across ten cities all over India on November 26, 2012 on the occasion of International Children’s Day. “This is an excellent and innovative way of making the children aware of their rights”, said Br. Austin the brother in-charge of Solapur Bazaar Parish.  The children too, enjoyed the story line and the songs in the movie. “It evoked a feeling of patriotism and self-sacrifice” was the comment made by Salim, one of the beneficiaries of this event.

The next highlight was the Box Cricket Tournament on the Don Bosco Youth Centre grounds for boys under the age of fifteen. About nine teams from Kalyani Nagar, Koregaon Park and Yerwada participated. The team ‘Chanchal Eleven’ from Koregaon Park won the Tounament.  Rev. Fr. Nelson Carvalho, the Rector of DBYC, Pune was the Chief Guest.

The other nine cities where the movie is planned are Mumbai, Nashik, Delhi, Guwahati, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai and Cochin.

ECOLOGICAL CENTRE LAUNCHED AT KARJAT

DBYS- KARJAT, NOVEMBER 6, 2012:   It was the golden letter day for Don Bosco Yuva Sanstha, Karjat. With immense pleasure and joy, the opening of our prestigious Eco Centre: Don Bosco Nisarg Dhara was announced at Karjat.

This Ecological project  was blessed and inaugurated by the provincial Rev. Fr. Michael Fernandes, sdb on November 6, 2012. Among those present were the staff and the students of Don Bosco Yuva Sanstha, Karjat, the benefactors and sponsors of the project and other well wishers.

The various eco friendly  models like bio gas plant, bio compost grey water recycling, paper making, charcoal and briquette making, tapping solar energy, use of innovative chulas, bottle garden, growing vegetables in sacks, garbage garden are displayed in this innovative eco garden.

The praise goes to the team of Fr. Xavier Devadas for the excellent work they have done within such a short span of time. The layout and the landscape of the eco garden left those present spell bound. The eco garden is now open and ready to receive regular visitors.

CAMPAIGN TO STOP CHILD MARRIAGE IN KAPADVANJ BLOCK

KAPADVANJ, NOVEMBER 01, 2012 :An awareness campaign is being organized in three villages of the Kapadvanj block to stop  child marriage. The youth themselves are involved in this campaign in their own villages with the help of DRISTI Don Bosco, Kapadvanj.

DRISTI took the initiative to train few youth. Accordingly four youth together with DRISTI staff were sent to Delhi to equip themselves with the knowledge and methodology to abolish this social evil which in turn leads to other major problems for society and the young couples themselves.

After receiving the training in Delhi, these four youth have decided to organize signature campaign in their own villages. Thus on 13 October 2012 in Navamuvada, 14 October 2012 in Hadmatya and 20 October 2012 in Bapujinamuvada, youth of the village came together under the leadership of Ms. Sangeeta in Navamuvada, Master Kishan in Hadmatiya and Master Vijay in Bapujinamuvada.

In all these villages around Sixty five youth were gathered.  After imparting information and enumerating the evils of child marriage, the youth of these villages were convinced and asked them to be part of the movement.

Mr. Sanjay Parmar DRISTI Staff and Fr. Mayank Parmar told the group of youth leaders about DRISTI activities and offered them our backing with all the expertise of DRISTI to help the youth of the villages in choosing the career for their future. The youth were enthused and agreed to join the signature campaign and promise under oath that they will not marry until they attain the legal age of marriage and also convince others to do the same.

At the next meeting that is to be held at Don Bosco Kapadvanj, the youth leaders have on their agenda  the drawing up of a concrete plan to abolish child marriage in the coming year.