Meryl Misquitta
MUMBAI, JULY 23, 2008: On July 19 and 20, the children and staff of Shelter Don Bosco Mumbai organized a prelimi
nary event as a run up to “Udaan 2008” (A Don Bosco Enterprise) at the National Level for the YAR, scheduled to be conducted at Don Bosco, Matunga on October 24 and 25 for street and marginalized boys; and for girls at Auxilium, Anmol. Wadala on Ocotber 26 this year. This national event will now take the place of the Annual Diwlai Mela of Shelter. The theme for this July mela was ‘Shram aur Parishram.’ As part of the pre-mela preparation the staff invited 10 other NGOs in Mumbai to participate in the event. Staff and children from different NGOs were able to benefit from the presentations made by persons from different sectors. The children were oriented to jobs in the retail and hospitality sector. Practical demonstrations on screen printing and welding were well received by the children who attended the mela. Starting on the 19th evening a variety of employment options and entrepreneur workshops were showcased. With people from different industries sharing personal experiences in the field, the rapport between the boys and the guests was established. Many of those who came in for the day said that they would like to continue their association with the organizations in order to ensure a better future for the boys. The use of motivational videos created a receptive atmosphere for the sessions on jobs in various sectors that were to follow. Children from both the outreach centre and the residential home actively participated in the event. While some prepared eatables for sale and 
tested out their entrepreneurial ability, others performed a skit to demonstrate how important it was to have a congruence between education, interest and ability. This would lead to successful job choice and help sustain them in the job market. Shelter staff also took on the process of preparing the curriculum vitae for groups of boys. In addition to the focus on careers the children availed of the other regular features of the Mela which include food, entertainment, medical assistance, haircuts, bath, washing clothes, etc. As in every mela, the doctors from Sion Hospital provided medical assistance to about 300 boys. Sarha TV network covered the mela extensively that day.. The aim of these Monthly Melas is to motivate the street children to give up their life on the streets and get into a settled life with a stable job.
nary event as a run up to “Udaan 2008” (A Don Bosco Enterprise) at the National Level for the YAR, scheduled to be conducted at Don Bosco, Matunga on October 24 and 25 for street and marginalized boys; and for girls at Auxilium, Anmol. Wadala on Ocotber 26 this year. This national event will now take the place of the Annual Diwlai Mela of Shelter. The theme for this July mela was ‘Shram aur Parishram.’ As part of the pre-mela preparation the staff invited 10 other NGOs in Mumbai to participate in the event. Staff and children from different NGOs were able to benefit from the presentations made by persons from different sectors. The children were oriented to jobs in the retail and hospitality sector. Practical demonstrations on screen printing and welding were well received by the children who attended the mela. Starting on the 19th evening a variety of employment options and entrepreneur workshops were showcased. With people from different industries sharing personal experiences in the field, the rapport between the boys and the guests was established. Many of those who came in for the day said that they would like to continue their association with the organizations in order to ensure a better future for the boys. The use of motivational videos created a receptive atmosphere for the sessions on jobs in various sectors that were to follow. Children from both the outreach centre and the residential home actively participated in the event. While some prepared eatables for sale and 
tested out their entrepreneurial ability, others performed a skit to demonstrate how important it was to have a congruence between education, interest and ability. This would lead to successful job choice and help sustain them in the job market. Shelter staff also took on the process of preparing the curriculum vitae for groups of boys. In addition to the focus on careers the children availed of the other regular features of the Mela which include food, entertainment, medical assistance, haircuts, bath, washing clothes, etc. As in every mela, the doctors from Sion Hospital provided medical assistance to about 300 boys. Sarha TV network covered the mela extensively that day.. The aim of these Monthly Melas is to motivate the street children to give up their life on the streets and get into a settled life with a stable job.