Don Bosco Community

Anand Melo: Finding JOY in little things at DB Kawant

On the 30th of January 2012, the VEP day (Village Education Program) was held at the premises of Don Bosco Kawant for all the VEP centers of Don Bosco Kawant Institution. There were about 280 children (from 10 centers) who participated in this event. This event was co-ordinate by the Fr Gregory D’Almeida and the VEP in charge, Mr Arvind.
The day started with registration and distribution of coupons for all the little children from our VEP centers. After a while there was a prayer service in honor of Don Bosco animated by the Hostel boys of Don Bosco Kawant. During the Prayer Service the Chief Guest Fr Ranald Lopes motivated the children with his little story, on how it’s important to take the first step in doing something good even though you’d not be the one to bear the fruits. The story was about the old farmer who planted a mango tree at the edge of his field. At the end of the prayer service Fr Gregory D’Almeida welcomed the gathering and thanked each one present for the event.
The fete games were organized by the Scouts of Don Bosco Kawant for the VEP children. The children were thrilled as they around playing different games and so also winning gift coupons.
After the fete games there was the distribution of prizes. From each center there were two prizes given. One for attendance and the other for good performance in their exams. There was also the distribution of prizes that was won by them during the fete games
Following that was lunch and then a cultural program. Each centre contributed two items to this cultural program. For many children it was their first time coming up on a big stage and so they were thrilled. The children enjoyed the program as they witnessed different dances, plays, songs and mono acts that were performed.
With the end of the cultural program we came to the end of this beautiful day. The children were indeed glad and happy. Some of them were looking forward for the next time we would meet again. The next important event would be a Picnic to Baroda.
It was a beautiful experience for us, who organized this event. It made us aware of finding joy in little things as we saw in them.
Cl. Shaun D’Lima sdb

NUTURE, EMPOWER, CELEBRATE

Disha Don Bosco Kawant celebrated Women’s Day on March 7, 2011 at Don Bosco, Kawant. More than five hundred women were present for the event. Practically all from the Disha Self Help Groups. The day began with the registration, followed by fete games organized by the Scouts and Guides of Don Bosco School. The women thoroughly enjoyed the games. The most interesting part of the fete games was that the women who were not ambitious in winning the game got the maximum prize coupons.
Simultaneously, Disha Don Bosco organized Sickle Cell Awareness Programme for all the women. Three hundred and eighty women volunteered to do the blood testing for the Sickle Cell. At 12.15 p.m an Awareness Programme was held in the school hall for all women on Sickle Cell by Mrs. Sunita P, head of the Sickle Cell Awareness Programme for Kawant Taluka. The cultural programme was held after the awareness programme with the distribution of the prizes for the Best Self Help Group and the Best Adivasi Group Dress. The winners for the Best Self Group were Gayatri Self Help Group from Jamli and Ramdevpir Self Help Group from Limdi. Best Adivasi Group Dress went to Geeta Self Help Group from Nanichickli.
The chief guest for the occasion was Mr. Milind Gupte (NABARD: Regional Director from Vadodara district), who gave away the prizes and gifts for each of the self help groups. He encouraged women to come forward to learn different types of courses that NABARD has introduced in these last few years with the help of Disha Don Bosco and be empowered in all possible ways. He gave examples of great women in India who are holding high position today in this competitive world. Women should not feel shy but come forward to be leaders and take advantage of all the schemes and projects that the govt. and other NGO’s have introduced on a regular basis. Disha Don Bosco is the first NGO to register all the fifty SHG’s in the Mangalam Project introduced by the N. Modi in his vibrant Gujarat 2011. Women can make a difference in everybody’s life. Let’s help them to be the change we want to see in this beautiful world.

TRAINING WORKSHOP ON SOCIAL AUDITS

Disha Don Bosco organized a one day training programme on December 30, 2010, for the Vigilance and Monitoring Committee (VMC) members of the different villages in the Kawant Taluka, at Don Bosco Kawant from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., as part of the ongoing Governance Project. Of the hundred and ten VMC members who were invited for the workshop, eighty five persons were present. This relatively large turnout was a good indication that the village leaders are interested in knowing about the NREGS. The resource persons for the day were Mr. Shailesh Parmar and Mr. Sanjay Parmar from DRISTI. The topics that they covered were the roles and responsibilities of the committee members, functioning of the NREGS, Social Audits and problems related to Social Audits.

The training programme began with a video film on a Social Audit that was held at Varnagaam, Dholka Taluka. This was followed by a presentation on the roles and responsibilities of the VMC members vis-à-vis the NREGS. It was surprising to note that some of the participants were not even aware that they were members of the VMC in their respective villages and had no idea regarding their role in this scheme. Mr. Shailesh explained in detail the functioning and responsibilities of the VMC members and how they should conduct a Social Audit. He gave examples of Sabarkanta Taluka, where people took the initiative of following up the social audits with the help of NGOs and this resulted in much benefit for the villages. Problems and difficulties related to payment, muster roles, work order and job cards were expressed by the VMC members. The resource persons answered their questions and also presented them with strategies to tackle these problems. Mr. Sanjay Parmar concluded the workshop with a film on Social Audits that was held in Sabarkanta Taluka by Unnati. The participants expressed their gratitude to DISHA Don Bosco for organizing this awareness programme

Leslie: A Friend, A Coach and A Benefactor

Just few days back, I happen to see something extra ordinary about this simple man, Mr. Leslie, that my heart compels to write something about him. As Salesian, who are called to work for young people, made me feel a bit ashamed when I saw his dedication, hardwork and commitment.
Mr. Leslie has been a football coach in Don Bosco Matunga for many years and he is still faithful to his work. When Br. Ramesh D calls him to coach our rathwa boys and girls, he makes it a point to sacrifice all his works and benefits just to be with them. What is more surprising is the fact, that he doesn’t take a single pie, plus he spends his own money to come here and he gets lots of coaching material for kids. His bag is always full of clothes for the boys when he comes for coaching and he goes empty. Even at the last minute, he makes it a point to travel by general compartment, without getting proper sleep to be with us. There are other institutions who call him during the diwali and summer vacations but his heart and mind is in the mission to serve the poor tribal boys and girls. His commitment is amazing. He gets up early in the morning and coaches till 12 p.m. and then again he starts at 4 till 7 p.m. His hard work and commitment is amazing. He doesn’t make any fuss about the food or travel. Very simple and un assuming. He makes it a point to know where the boys and girls have reached during the tournament and if any material is needed for the kids, he makes it a point to send it from Mumbai. The Salesian Community is amazed at his dedication and commitment towards our Rathwa boys and girls. Praise worthy. Can we see this same commitment in our Salesian? The lay people today are really doing well without any benefits or perks. We need to learn from them and be like them. Time has come to look at the other side of life and learn from them.
Gregory Almeida sdb

Coaching camp: Preparing Tribal kids for the Nationals

In the field of sports Don Bosco Kawant has been exceptional this year especially in Hockey and Football, as our teams were the champions in the District level.
To sustain this performance of our kids there is a coaching camp held in our campus for our kids during the Diwali holidays. Our kids are sacrificing their holidays to improve themselves in skill and stamina so that one day they to may reach Delhi to play in the National’s just as their seniors did. This coaching camp was fully planned by Bro Ramesh D sdb. He makes arrangements for coaches to come and give training to our Adivasi kids who are ready and willing to learn.
We have 3 coaches that comes all the way from Bombay to train our kids, each sacrificing their time for the love of our children here in Kawant, Gujarat. They are Leslie, Javed and Michael. It is through their special guidance and presence our children have picked up the skill and insight to the game they are learning. The kids are having a good 8 hours training in the day. That is from 6:00 am till 11:00 am in the morning and then 4:00 pm till 7:00 pm in the evening. The good number of hours of training is helping our kids to gain skill, accuracy and a lot of stamina.
All the sacrifice, pain and hard work put in by our children will surely pay back in the future. We wish them all the very best as they pursue their interest in sports and for the tournaments they shall partake in the future.
Shawn D’Lima

Mini Boscoree at Don Bosco Kawant

In preparation for Boscoree, which will be held in Dimapur in the month of December 2010, there was a preparation camp held in Don Bosco Kawant, from the 30th of October 2010 till the 2nd of November 2010. 2 schools participated in this camp i.e. Don Bosco Kawant (24) and Don Bosco Chotaudepur (31).
The camp schedule was prepared according to the Boscoree schedule so that the scouts and guides familiarize themselves to the needs that are required. In the schedule there were March pass, Theme presentation, Camp fire items, Cultural songs and dance, Gadgets making, Pioneering projects and Cooking competition. The scouts and guides got a really good picture and idea on what was being demanded from them and what was going to happen in the Boscoree which will be held in Dimapur.There were 4 patrols in the camp and among them there was a really good competition in all the activities and projects that were conducted for them.
The theme of the Boscoree this year is Peace on Earth. Educating the younger generation of the importance of peace and respect for life is very important and all this is reflected through the skits and charts that are made by the scouts and guides. Through the skits and charts a lot of beautiful values were conveyed about love for life, animals, nature and one another. The camp though for a purpose i.e. preparation for the Boscoree was indeed fun and enjoyment for all, as they just finished their first term in school and they were all set for some practical activity.
The children at the very out set enjoyed themselves as they got themselves in union with nature. Gadget for all the kids were something very interesting as they were making use of all the natural resources to get themselves organized in the camp. In the hike the kids enjoyed trekking and woodcraft signs and the many games that were organized during the journey. Pioneering project in a very special way was a discovery for all the scout and guides, as all the theory of knots and lashings had all become practical. The grand camp fire was enjoyed by all the kids as they each performed contributing something that was their very own.
At the end of the camp the Lion patrol appeared to be the champions of the whole event that was held. This patrol represented Don Bosco Kawant. In the second place was the Tiger patrol representing Don Bosco Chotaudepur.
My personal experience about this camp is geared towards the motto Be Prepared and the Scout Laws. A good scout or guide who has all this in born talents or develops them within them does not make only a camp successful but also his/her life. Once a scout, always a scout.
By Shawn D’Lima sdb.