-BISMumbai Correspondent
The Don Bosco National Forum for
the Young-at-Risk [YaR] commenced its 14th National Seminar on 18
September 2019 at the Don Bosco Provincial House, Matunga-Mumbai on the theme ‘Imagine
YaR Ministry: Journeying Together into Tomorrow.’ A total of 114 participants
comprising grassroots activists, trainers, mobilisers, and coordinators from 180
Don Bosco YaR centres across India have congregated to enquire, reflect, study
and plan the way forward.
The Inaugural ceremony in the Father Bianchi
Hall at the Don Bosco International School Campus witnessed a short cultural
programme, followed by felicitations, introductory speeches and the keynote
address. Father Savio Silveira, the Provincial of Salesians of Mumbai [INB]
welcomed and invited the participants to understand the complexity of the 4th
phase of the Industrial Revolution, the age of Artificial Intelligence [AI]
saying, “We should work for children, the young-at-risk as persons and not as
mere cases or projects.” 
Father Thomas Koshy, Executive
Secretary of the DB YaR, spoke of the ‘Why’ to Imagine YaR Ministry,
emphasising the need to contextualise and adopt a specific roadmap which will
eventually help the services, interventions and centres to better engage with
the young-at-risk. 
Dr Henry Rosario, Director of
Exodus Research and Development Private Limited, the key resource facilitator
for the seminar, presented ‘The Emerging Patterns of the Young-at-Risk,’
delving into the Dynamic Context of YaR; Relevance and Effectiveness in Today’s
Context; Missing Out within Emerging Trends; and Pointers to the Future: Where
We Should Be in 2025. Dr Rosario said, “It is important to understand
critically evaluate our Resources, Programme Models,
Parternerships/Collaborations with sincere reflection, trying to arrive at a
consensus that will help formulate a common roadmap with renewed vision across
India.”
The participants then dispersed
into six groups for an entire afternoon and evening dedicated to intense study,
analysis, discussion, dialogue and debate ending Day 01 with a simple, yet
sumptuous dinner. The proceedings continue on Day 02 picking up pointers to
forge ahead for and with the young-at-risk.
Father Gregory D’Almeida, the
Youth-at-Risk Sector Head of the Mumbai Salesians said, “This is a large
gathering and involves plenty of logistical accuracy. Our team- Fathers George
Miranda, Corlis Gonsalves, Xavier Devadas, Banzelao Teixeira – have ensured
that things are in place. The most important aspect however, and my sincere
hope, is that in this seminar we emerge with a common roadmap to ensure
improved and better interventions in accompanying the young-at-risk all over
India.”
