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.