by Brother Mukesh Garasiya
MUMBAI, NOV 21, 2017: Bosco Boys Home (BBH) based in Borivli, marked Youth at Risk (YaR) Day on November 19 by organising a gathering entitled 
'Caring for the Earth- Our Common Home' at Don Bosco School hall in Borivli, to make youth from the streets of the city feel loved and to instill in them love for mother earth.
Nineteen game stalls, alongside a stall for mehendi and nail art, technical displays, gift stalls and a theme stall, focusing on the theme of the day, made the youth feel special. At the registration desk, the youth were given coupons for games and meals.
Thereafter, the boys were served breakfast and were directed to the hall for the inauguration ceremony. The compere for the event, Rolin Furtado, welcomed the gathering and invited all to take part in the prayer service. Eustace Fernandes, social staff at BBH, then read a short introduction followed by the lighting of the lamp.
The compere then invited Nandkishore More, assistant commissioner of police, Dhanjay Lingade, inspector, MHB police station, Zara Ujwala, principal of Sheth Gopalji Seth Hemraj High School, Doctor Merlyn Mendis, Karuna Hospital, Borivli, Father Flovi D'souza, principal of Don Bosco High School, Borivli, Father Gregory Almeida, YaR coordinator of Mumbai province and Father Lloyd Rodrigues, administrator of BBH, to light the lamp.
Thereafter, Brother Mukesh Garasiya read a Bible passage and Father Solomon Rapol, Rector of BBH, spoke to the children and asked them, "To help someone or make someone smile."
The boys from BBH presented a prayer dance on the song-'Who am I?' by Casting Crowns. Youth headed to the game stalls and participated in drawing and poster making competitions. Two clowns and mascots were present for the event who entertained the children throughout the programme. The Bosco Boys presented a flash mob dance on a fusion of old and new tunes.
A cultural programme followed in the school hall, with youth participating in group dance, choral singing and solo singing competitions. Youth from Shivaji Nagar, one of the BBH outreach centres, then presented a skit on the theme – 'Water, Hygiene and Health'.
The boys of Bosco Boys Home presented a musical drama to show how children in difficult situations were helped by Don Bosco institutes. The display was choreographed by Mayuri Raj, coordinator of Bosco Boys Home. The winners of the various competitions were announced and Father Savio Silveira, Vice Provincial of Mumbai Province, Pooja Dixit, a television celebrity, and Kishan Agarwal, a poet, distributed the prizes.