BIS #5735 DON BOSCO’S LOVE AND CARE FOR STREET BOYS

by Priya Sahdevan

MUMBAI, JAN 22, 2019: New Year started with the remembrance of Saint John Bosco and his work at Shelter Don Bosco, Wadala, with the organisation of the monthly 'mela' for street boys on January 20. Around 55 youth from the age group of 10 to 30 years participated in the mela from different areas of Mumbai and Thane.

The day began with registration and welcoming the street boys with breakfast. This was followed by activities like colouring competition, key chain making, hair cut, bath, and clothes distribution for the youth.

Father Gregory Almeida, Director of Shelter Don Bosco, gave the boys an introduction to Don Bosco’s work with the Young at Risk; how his love and care changed the boys from wolfs to lambs. Arthi Jadhav from Niramaya Foundation coordinated an awareness programme on the prevention of HIV/AIDS which was organised by TATA Power.

The presentation was given by Arajit Singh, a social worker working with drug addicts and HIV/AIDS infected people. He succinctly made the boys aware of HIV/AIDS through case studies. The boys were given time for interaction with the speaker to clear any misconceptions like mosquito bites, eating together, sharing clothes cannot spread HIV.

After the interactive session, lunch was served to the boys, following which a movie was screened for them. The mela wound up on a cheerful note with the street boys expressing their gratitude to the staff of Shelter Don Bosco for the care and love meted out to them.