HYDERABAD – DBNJ – SALESIAN PROVINCE OF ST JOSEPH, HYDERABAD

HISTORY

The story of Don Bosco Navajeevan Bala Bhavan, Secunderabad, began very early after the second Provincial Chapter of the St. Joseph’s Province of Hyderabad in 1996, brought forth deliberations to launch new ventures for the welfare of street children in the cities Hyderabad and Vishakapatnam. This good aspiration of the Salesians was further strengthened by the excellent work being done for the street children in Vijayawada by the Salesians of Don Bosco.

In April 1998, the Salesian Provincial and his Council took the decision of first starting a project for street children in Hyderabadand. They appointed Fr. Maddichetty Noel to spearhead this mission. He was sent to begin the work while also animating some of their programmes. Thus began Don Bosco Navajeevan Bala Bhavan, a “Project for Children / Youth at Risk”.

It was an uphill task to find suitable premises to establish Don Bosco Navajeevan, at Secunderabad. After months of searching, a three storied building was rented and by 15 June 1999 the boys moved to their new home and work began in a more systematic manner. Again after months of search a three floor building was identified near to the Secunderabad Railway Station and made the final agreement to purchase the same in the month of March 2000. The building was renovated and inaugurated on 24th April 2001 by Sri. Devender Goud, then Honourable Home Minister, Government of Andhra Pradesh. This would be the contact Centre and the round the clock shelter for street and working children. In May 2001, Fr. Gopu Anand was appointed as the Director of the Centre under whose guidance the Navajeevan has developed into active centers. At the request of the province the APBC gave us 3 acres of land adjacent to St. John’s Regional Seminary, Ramanthapur. In the year 2002 a Rehabilitation Centre at Ramanthapur (Formal and Non-Formal Education) was started. The residence for Don Bosco Community and Don Bosco Navajeevan Boys’ Homes was inaugurated on 22nd February, 2002 by the Archbishop of Hyderabad Most Rev. Marampudi Joji DD. Don Bosco Navajeevan boys’ home was inaugurated by the Salesian Provincial Rev. Fr. Medabalimi Balaswamy, SDB and Navajeevan Kitchen and Bakery inaugurated by Mr. Gino Prandina, the Vice-President of Frantelli Dimenticati Onlus, Italy on 8th December, 2003. Don Bosco Navajeevan Auditorium was inaugurated by Rev. Fr. Maddichetty Noel SDB, Provincial of INH Province on 24th April, 2004. The Community was canonically erected on 18th June, 2004. Fr. Anand was appointed as the first Rector with Bro. Gregory, the Press Manager, Fr. Sojan, the Principal of the Workshop and Fr. Joji, the Administrator with residence at Don Bosco, Ramanthapur.

To reach more children at Risk, Don Bosco Navajeevan started a shelter at Bazarghat, Nampally area in the year 2005 and it was officially inaugurated on 19th April, 2006 by then Assembly Speaker Mr. Suresh Reddy. Don Bosco Navajeevan Career Guidance and Job Placement Centre was inaugurated on 19th March, 2006 by Dr. Ercole Lucchini, Italy to provide guidance to the youth at risk to find their livelihood. Vidyaniketan – Mamma Margaret Home for School Going Children was inaugurated on 6th May, 2007 by His Grace Most. Rev. Marampudi Joji D.D., Archbishop of Hyderabad. Earlier children at DBNJ, who are above 14 years and opt for vocational training were sent to different Technical Schools, in 2005 Don Bosco Navajeevan has started a Technical School at Ramanthapur and officially inaugurated on 6th May, 2007. This is a Non-Formal Technical School, where we offer Carpentry, Welding, Tailoring, Embroidery, T-shirt Fabrication, Refrigeration, Electrician, Printing, DTP & Book Binding, Bakery, Computer Training trades to the trainees. In February, 2007 the District administration of Hyderabad entrusted a project to eradicate and mainstream the child labourers in collaboration with NCLP (National Child Labour Project) and ILO (International Labourer Organization) at Nampally Shelter.

Fr.Balashowryreddy Salibindla was appointed on 24th May 2007, as Rector and Director in the place of Fr.Gopu Anandreddy. On the same day Fr. Gopu Anand blessed the Hospitality Management Section with 25 rooms and a Dining Hall for the sustainability of the institution. DBNJ is very much indebted to him for his selfless service for the growth of the institution. www.homelink.in and www.missingchildsearch.net was launched in 18th August, 2007 by Ms. Christine Lazares, MLA and all the Directors of NGOs of the twin cities. In December, 2007 the local Municipality under the Patronage of Ms. Christine Lazares, MLA offered the Community Hall at Bhoiguda, Secunderabad to provide training in Computers, Tailoring, Music and Home Science. The training is provided to DBNJ boys and also to the neighborhood. Don Bosco Psycho-Social Services (DBPSS) was inaugurated on 10th December, 2008 by Rev. Fr. Maddhichetty Noel, Provincial. This centre runs under the guidance of Fr. T.D.John for the welfare of the young at risk, to provide skilled psychological support to the children and training to the staff members of all the YaR centres of the province. To have sufficient infrastructure to accommodate more machinery and to train more children in Printing Technology, DBNJ started a separate Offset Printing Press and inaugurated it on 24th August, 2009. Today, around 450 children at risk are undergoing different phases of Rehabilitation process in all the Don Bosco Navajeevan centres in Hyderabad and Secunderabad.

SCOPE

Navajeevan’s Objective is to reach out to every child on the street, school drop-outs, child labourers, orphans (Young at Risk) with love and trust while creating an environment/ habitat where the child is empowered to stand up for his rights and to face life in a positive manner.

This means :

Acceptance of the child unconditionally for what he is.
Collaboration with the child in his own initiatives to overcome deprivations of schooling
Give career guidance to the young at risk
Educate the child to stand up for his rights.
Motivating the child to go back home if there is a “Home” for him to go to. Home enquiry of the settled children.
Making every effort to rehabilitate the child.
Train the children in skill trades to earn his livelihood.
Counselling the child through DBPSS and train the staff of YaR centres of the province.
Promoting networking with other NGOs, likeminded people of all walks of life and creating social supports that contribute towards the dignity of the child.
While maintaining the scope of the house, we also cater to the need of the children in need, after care for juveniles and neighborhood apostolate.
The Land at Patancheru, to be developed as a Children’s Village.
Kachiguda shelter is for all the poor and working children and for awareness programs on HIV, especially for the young at risk. Construction of an own building to be started soon.
To train the young seminarians, religious sisters and volunteers in life situation of the poor and needy children of society.