(ANS – Mumbai) – The Don Bosco Balprafulta Project, Andheri, organized an outreach programme from 2 to 10 May 2013, for the Care and Protection of children and juveniles in conflict with the law. These were young people from a government-run Children’s Home in Dongri-Mumbai.
 
During the programme, the children were trained in scouting and helped to imbibe values which would enable them to empower themselves to face problems, and build their inner selves. The Programme included input sessions which were conducted in four batches. The sessions were of a participatory learning activity designed to support a therapeutic process. The boys were shown the value of healing their past and encouraged to look positively to the near future.

The input sessions included a lot of drawing and art work. The children responded quite wholeheartedly and gave vent to their pent up emotions, expressing themselves freely through symbols and drawings.

The children were gradually introduced to Scouting through clippings about Baden Powell, camp life, scout prayer and song, tent pitching, use of basic knots, and scouting as a worldwide movement.  Don Bosco Youth service, Matunga, lent their scouting tents which the children pitched. They found pitching the tent very exciting.

In the activity schedule, an entire day was dedicated to the Juveniles in Conflict with the law, and activities like hula hoop accompanied with music and dancing were conducted. “Sahi Disha” (Right Direction), a movie which imparts good values that help to lead a productive life was also screened for them. The daily games, songs, yells and claps made the outreach programme an unforgettable experience for all these children.

Another part of the schedule was a haircutting session. The boys who wanted to trim their hair were given an opportunity to do so with the help of Br. Michael. Eighteen boys made use of the opportunity.

The Children were so pleased with the programme that they expressed their desire to have such programmes conducted for them again in the near future. The DBBP staff also received great insights into the hard realities of these unfortunate boys who have landed in rehabilitation Homes.

The outreach was conducted by DBBP staff under the able guidance of Br. Michael Gaikwad SDB.

Published 17/05/2013