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Begun in 1978, DBSERI is one of the most important educational institutes in the city of Calcutta. The enormous demand from youngsters who had given up school and wanted to be able to enter the work force led the Salesians to think about the best way to respond; today more than 550 youngsters are following the two-year training courses.
The educational projects provided by the DBSERI have created a process that has led to the setting up of more than a hundred small business enterprises that enable other youngsters to find work. The success of the institute is based on the conviction that all young people, especially the poorest and those most vulnerable ought to have the chance to enjoy their own rights in society, so as to be able to contribute to the development and the prosperity of the country.
“Two years before her death,” Brother Thaiparambil explains, “Mother Theresa came here to see our Centre, she wanted to understand what we were doing. It was the first and only time she came here. I took her to the classrooms, and when she saw in one or two of the rooms young girls sitting on the floor and working as the boys did she said: “but there are girls here too”. And I replied: “Do you remember when you told me once that not only boys should work?” she began to cry, and she looked at me and said: “Fratel Mathew, you have done a great thing, you have marked a change in your working methods; may God bless you!”
The DBSERI project, which has at its heart the idea of “increasing” confidence in the young, their rights, discussion and dialogue with others, has a specific programme for girls. In India, as in many other countries, women are struggling to make their way in society in that too often traditional culture assigns them a role with very little autonomy, a mentality that is very widespread especially in the poorer areas.
“Calcutta, an education for life” is the title of the video that accompanied the talk Brother Mathew Thaiparambil gave. Also produced by Don Bosco Missions – Media Centre in Turin, the video is available on the platform www.donbosco-humanrights.org
Published 13/01/2009
