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Bosco Seva Kendra, Don Bosco Provincial House, Hyderabad, September 3, 2019: Bosco Seva Kendra, the Planning and Development Office of the Salesian Province of St. Joseph, Hyderabad and its national partner, BoscoNet, New Delhi launched a kick-off workshop to develop a network of CSOs (Civil Society Organizations) across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana who share similar principles and values to advance the welfare of the poor across the region. The purpose of the program is to train CSOs in our region to help poor communities and their families gain access to government welfare schemes.
Fr Vincent Thumburaj, Assistant Director of BoscoNet, Delhi, Fr Sudhakar Bellamkonda, Executive Director of Bosco Seva Kendra, Fr Sarath Parri Assistant Director of BSK along with staff members of both organizations organized this program with a total of 31 different CSOs in attendance. Participants from all different backgrounds and different outreach activities were glad to see the efforts to bring a network of NGOs working together to advance such an initiative. Fr Thathireddy Vijaya Bhaskar, the Provincial, appreciated the initiative of BoscoNet and BSK to bring all the NGOs under one roof to plan and execute strategies to achieve the objectives our mission in the way of Don Bosco. During the workshop, Fr Vincent Thamburaj talked about the various means to come together and work together with a shared vision and purpose, and the importance of upholding and following the law as working for the welfare of the community and the people we serve.
All the participants of the program were glad and excited to meet each other and valued the work and contributions been undertaken by the two organizations to make a positive difference within the country. The kick-off workshop talked about the Rights Based approach to development, following the Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the United Nations in 2015. The workshop went into depth on the importance of how to reach a mutual consensus, work together a community and network to advance various outcomes.
Resource materials and a full outline of the CSO Program was provided to all participants, as well as numerous opportunities for each CSO to get to know each other. The various leaders of each organization, members of BoscoNet and BSK were glad to see the enthusiasm and excitement with all the participants in the program. The CSO Program is a long term initiative to develop a network of like-minded institutions committed to making a difference to the people we serve. The workshop concluded with concluding remarks from Fr Bellamkonda Sudhakar.
