MARCHING AHEAD

Plus Two Students

                                                    

March is a month of examinations. It is the way also at Don Bosco Sneha Bhavan. All our children and youth who are studying are into examinations. Examination is a time to put into paper the knowledge he/she has gained throughout the year. On the basis of the acquired knowledge, a child is promoted to a higher grade. Xth grade and XIIth grade important stepping stones to higher studies and a better future for every student. Basing on the performance at these levels choices are made for higher studies and branches of study. The choice of stream of study will always depend upon the level of performance and aptitude of each student.


This year we have ten inmates who are marching into the tenth grade examinations and seven youth who are rallying into the twelfth grade (Plus two) examinations. We wish them success in their efforts and hope this be a step forward in reaching greater heights in academic excellence, thus becoming successful and responsible citizens of our society.

Xth Standard Students

Home is where you belong! (A Travelogue)

Barsha with her parents and siblings

Barsha, a ten year old child was rescued by the police of Perumbavoor while she was trying to run away from her uncle’s home together with the Uncle’s three children. Barsha hails from Orissa. She was brought to Kerala (Neriyamangalam) by her maternal uncle who is settled there with his Keralite  wife and three children. The police found the children travelling in a bus.

Barsha was admitted to Valsalya Bhavan on 24^th March 2010 at the instruction of the Child Welfare Committee. She is a smart child. She is affectionate. She has been attending Christ King Convent School in Ponnrunny , Wytilla  and is in 1^st Standard.  She had a photo album with few photos of her parents and siblings. Her contact telephone number was found in the album. We contacted her parents. They wanted to see the child but did not have money to travel. We assured them that the child would be home placed. Barsha has forgotten her mother tongue and is unable to converse with her parents. Through the help of a navy officer we talked to her parents and got the direction to reach her home town.

The Homelink net work which is dedicated to ensuring the restoration of children back 'home' and assist in tracing lost or missing children, the local unit of which has been functioning from Don Bosco Sneha Bhavan, collected more information about Barsha  and is trying to find a residential school for her in her home town which is supposed to be in Balasore, Orissa. We contacted her parents and made arrangements to send her back home.  On Feb 13^th  2011 we (Ms. Beena from  Don Bosco and Sr. Mary from Valsalya Bhavan)  took her home. Our stay and repatriation process were conducted from St. Vincent Convent, Balasore. They helped us a lot. They gave food and accommodation.  Because of their help we could trace Barsha’s home without delay.

When we arrived at Barsha’s home, her parents were overjoyed to welcome us. They were extremely happy to see their daughter. All the neighbours had gathered to witness the event. We put up Barsha with her parents and sibilings for two days. Barsha needs to live with her parents. But the problem is that, there is a child labour case filed against the person who forced the child to work. She is the eye witness to one abuse case . Another thing is that we need to find a place for her to study as her parents cannot afford the expenses. We collected Barsha’s birth certificate from home.

Barsha’s family is very poor. Her father and mother are doing manual labour. She has four siblings. Barsha is the eldest one. So she has to help her family also. Because of that her education may not be given sufficient importance. So we need to find better options and then we can give Barsha to her parents.

We came back from Orrisa and reached Ernakulam on 18th, February 2011. Barsha is very eager to get back to her home. We hope to place her back home in two months with a place for her to stay and attend school.

Linking children back home to the parents and dear ones who lost them is an all important mission of Don Bosco Sneha Bhavan. The smile on the face those lost and found can never be wiped off from memory…

Barsha with neighborhood children

January Diary: Don Bosco, Palluruthy

CHILDREN BATTLE IT OUT IN THE DON BOSCO JUNIOR CUP AT THE SNEHABHAVAN GROUNDS

The 62^nd Republic day turned out to be a joyous sporting occasion for the children of five orphanages in Ernakulam District. Complete with essential footballing gear, around 60 young players pitted their skills against each other for the Don Bosco Junior Cup at the Snehabhavan ground in Palluruthy .The one day event was inaugurated by the  Municipal  Councillor of Palluruthy Shri  R. Thayagarajan . Each goal was celebrated with gusto and each miss drew bursts of anguish. Apart from the hosts, the under 13 single day festival event had teams from Balanagar Orphanage (Mookannur), Janaseashishubhavan (Aluva), Mattanchery Muslim Yatheem Khanna and Snehakoode Aluva, vying for honors. The teams played each other once in a nine-a-side matches of 30 minutes duration, with the top two teams on points playing in the final. In the title clash, Janasevashishubhavan beat Snehabhavan 2-1. The trophies were  awarded  by Mr. George, Suprendent Relief  of Settlement Palluruthy, Fr. Kuriakose Pallikunnel, (The Executive Director of  Snehabhavan Project), Fr. Sunny Thomas Uppan, (Director of  Snehabhavan) and the  former International footballer and coach C . C Jacob also spoke on the occasion. The tournament received a good response with many institutions showing interest to participate in the coming year.

 

DON BOSCO YOUTH CENTRE TAKES OFF IN PALLURUTHY

Don Bosco youth centre has become a dream come true in Palluruthy on the joyous occasion of the feast of Don Bosco. The ceremony was inaugurated by Fr. Kuiakose Pallikunnel along with the presence of other Salesians and pastpupils of our project. Fr. Manuel Gilton Rodriguez, the Youth Centre Director gave an orientation to the young people about the functioning and the policies of the youth centre. The youth too shared their expectations. The presence of large number of salesian co-operators also added color to the event.

CONVOCATION OF HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT

The first batch of the trainees of the hospitality management in the house keeping domain had their convocation day with a very colourful ceremony. The event was held after the trainees had successfully completed their six months course both in theory in our centre  and practicals in the five star hotels of Kerala. The course was in collaboration with DB Tech India and MORD project in association with the Taj Group of Hotels. The first batch consisted of 33 students, both boys and girls. Mr. Prakash Nair, General Manager Learning and Development, Taj Group of Hotels gave away the certificates in the presence of dignitaries from the hotel industry, the Rotary club and the Salesian cooperators. All the trainees have already been recruited by the 5- star rated hotels.