The Don Bosco Ashalayam (home of hope) in Howrah, near Kolkata, coordinates 25 homes for street children with 4 Salesian priests and 170 staff and volunteers caring for more than 3,000 children. The research institute would manage the round-the-clock ChildLine counseling service, manned by professional therapists and counsellors.

The institute will also monitor various projects for street children and undertake research on child care.

Some 600 street children joined more than 500 nuns and priests for the opening of the Child Care Research Institute by state Governor Mayankote Kelath Narayanan.
Narayanan said he is indebted to Christians since he himself was educated by the Church. He urged the children to imbibe the will to succeed under “the care and love” of the Salesian priests.

The governor awarded six former and present students of Ashalayam for their exemplary performance in studies and co-curricular activities. One, Probhat Bose, 26, said he had been wandering around Howrah railway station 15 years ago but, thanks to the center, he is now a social worker. Ashalayam helped him complete a master’s degree and he now coordinates Ashalayam’s social work.

Salesian Archbishop Lucas Sirkar of Calcutta blessed the new building. “Ashalayam has reached out to over 10,000 children at risk, mostly from the streets of Kolkata and Howrah”, director Father George Chempakathinal said.

Published 16/03/2010