by Father Bento D'Souza
KARJAT, JULY 26, 2017: Twenty-two electricians, aged between 18 and 25, completed their short-term course on the basics of electrical management, which included practical 
hands-on training from April to July at Don Bosco Yuva Sanstha, Karjat, in an effort to have a livelihood skill for job employability in industrial and civil society.
The three-month course taught the young electricians about the basics of electricity, electrical accessories, circuits, wiring, electrical meters, earthing, home appliances, inverters and handling of electrical tools.
The youth, all of whom were from low-income families, hailed from Kolam, Panvel, Neral and Khopoli. The course, now in its 23rd edition, has trained a total of 462 electricians. Ninety per cent of these young electricians were placed in Pune and Mumbai after completing the course.
Father Montrose Rodrigues, Director of Don Bosco Yuva Sanstha said, "Three months ago when they arrived the electrical students were so afraid of even reading marathi and when it was their turn to speak in public during the morning assembly, they would not come to school, but now they have changed."
"In my last three years here, no group before has thought of gifting us something. This time we were gifted with a beautiful wall clock to show their gratitude and appreciation for our service in empowering their lives. This is a significant gesture from this batch of students who leave us at DBYS, Karjat, for job placements," Father Rodrigues added.
Ganesh Bhopi, the center coordinator, said, "All the boys were day scholars and were slow to imbibe the discipline, but slowly they began to follow the rules and guidance. They took part in community service, planted two hundred tress and helped to mobilise the next batch of fifteen new day scholars. "
Sachin Farat, the new teacher-in-charge, added, "Only three students dropped out, the reason being that the drop-outs started attending regular college studies. After a course like this, it is assured that the students will not starve of hunger and have a regular source of income. Any electronic equipment needs the use of electricity. Insisting on safety-first is the top-most priority in this field of work."
"It was a learning experience that I will never forget. I made a lot of new friends in the process," Tushar Patel, a student said. Other's echoed a similar sentiment saying that the course would help them to secure a brighter future.