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Hyderabad Sep. 5: Two day Governing body meeting of South Asian Young at Risk Forum was held on 4th and 5th of September 2015 at Don Bosco Navajeevan Rehabilitation centre, Ramanthapur, Hyderabad. Most of the members were present for the meeting. Hosting community Rector and province YaR coordinator Fr Bellamkonda Sudhakar welcomed all the participants and children welcomed them with band piece and through theme dance. It was much appreciated. Fr Raminedi Balaraju Salesian Provincial of Hyderabad and President of the South Asian Forum for Young at Risk addressed the participants. He said that YaR work is the work of the providence.
The President in his address went on recalling from the past Chapter documents especially mentioning of GC 21 called upon every salesian to work for the rejected and unwanted children of our society. He also mentioned about GC 23 which speaks of the Educating the young and GC 26 we are called and send to serve the Young. He further said that we are meant to serve young people especially poorest of the poor. St. John Chrysostom said “Not to share our wealth with the poor is nothing but theft from the poor” in his concluding words he asked every participants to get rid of the mental pollution and think deeply, live wisely and love generously.
National Secretary for YaR Forum, Fr Koshy Thomas also welcomed everyone for the meeting. He also presented agenda prepared for the GBM and it was passed. The main speaker of the day was Fr Joe Arimpoor who in his presentation said that we are here not to revise our method of functioning but REVIST and pass on the baton to next generation. He recalled how unassumingly 40years ago Fr Louis, Fr Varghese and Fr C. Thomas great stalwarts pioneered the work for the Young at Risk in Kerala and Andhra Pradesh and later by Fr Joe Fernandez and Fr Joe Arimpoor himself. He also said that we need to move from Children at Risk (CaR) to Young (Youth) at Risk. It is nothing but our ministry with and Services for young at Risk who are above the age of 18. This is the challenge which is ahead of us. We also had presentation and first hand information on the ministry with Third Gender, especially adolescents and young adults. Mr Vijay Nair and Mrs Arti presented a paper on the said theme. Fr Thomas Koshy also presented importance of preparing a manual on Training Young Salesians to YaR Ministry. He also presented a book written by Fr Barnebe from Mumbai Province and it was suggested some modifications and also the model of Bangalore which they are using in their province. Fr Koshy also welcome the new members of the GBM, namely, Fr Mathew Thomas though not new to YaR but he is representing as Province coordinator, Fr Daniel Sebastian from Trichy Province and Fr Gennesisus from Silchar province and Fr Luckose from Guwahati province
Fr Tony presented the paper on the child friendly initiatives by National YaR Forum. He said we may be forth Non-governmental organization thinking towards this idea. Our focus should be for the children who need our support most. Other issues that were discussed forthing Annual YaR Seminar and Annual General Body Meeting. The dates of the seminar, AGBM and GBM yet to be decided. Fr Koshy proposed the vote thanks and thanked Don Bosco Navajeevan community for hosting and making feel at home every who came for the meeting.
