Dimapur, February 20 (MExN): The Don Bosco Forum for the Young at Risk held the governing body meeting on February 7 and 8 at Institute for Development and Leadership (IDL), Don Bosco Campus, Dimapur. The Provincial of Hyderabad, all Province Young at Risk (YaR) Coordinators and the National Team members were present.
The students of Don Bosco School Dimapur and Don Bosco Tech Trainees at AIDA led the gathering into a prayer song and a cultural performance.
Father Nestor Guria, Provincial of Dimapur in his welcome address noted the key theme of the meeting was ‘Concerns and Challenges in Young at Ministry Today’ and hoped that the meeting would lead to an action plan and reflect on the works we have done so far.
The first day’s sessions were led by Munish Kaushik, who currently works as a volunteer with the government of Delhi. Earlier, he had served as country head of Cordaid, and other national and international organizations. The YaR Commission members of Dimapur province were invited to participate in the day’s sessions.
The ‘Statement’ drawn up at the end of the day’s discussions will be taken up for study and implementation by all provinces of India.
The second day was devoted to review and planning of various activities in the provinces: 18+ YaR ministry, YaR in prisons, 3rd Gender and Migrants Ministry. National level activities of the Forum were presented by the National team, including Homelink, YaR Day 2017, Participatory Action Research, Child Friendly Cities Initiative, Five-days Orientation Programme in July in Delhi for Directors and senior staff of YaR centres, and the AGM and Annual YaR Seminar on Restorative Justice and Practices, scheduled for mid-September at Don Bosco Institute, Guwahati.
According to a press release published in the Don Bosco India information service, two books were released by Father Nestor Guria: the second edition of the YaR Handbook, and a research study conducted by Father Sebastian Jose SDB and Jyoti Ahuja on ‘Street Children in Chandigarh, The City Beautiful.’
Father Thattireddy Vijaya Bhaskar, the Provincial of Hyderabad and President of DB YaR Forum in his concluding words expressed appreciation for the excellent work being carried out in the Young at Risk sector, a ministry that is so close to the heart of Don Bosco and so integral to our mission. He wished that the works develop further and reach other critical and emerging areas where young people today are at risk.
Vote of thanks was proposed by Father Thomas Koshy, Secretary of DB YaR Forum, who specially highlighted the Governing Body’s appreciation and thanks to Father Joseph Pampackal, Province YaR Cordinator Dimapur, the community of Don Bosco Dimapur, and Provincial House, Dimapur, for the arrangements and warm hospitality accorded.
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