A seminar on the Mission Poverty Eradication (MPE) initiative was held at the Don Bosco Provincial House, Hyderabad on 2 August 2025, bringing together commission heads, mission coordinators, and sector representatives of the INH Province. The session was animated by Fr. Tony Pulissery, Project Director of MPE for the South Asia region.
The objective of the seminar was to share the vision, goals, and strategic implementation plans of the MPE project and to encourage Salesian communities to align their efforts with SDG 1: Eradication of poverty. Fr. Tony began with a reflection on Don Bosco’s preferential option for the poor, followed by an in-depth presentation of the six-year project roadmap and province-specific strategies.
A key highlight of the seminar was the presentation and evaluation of data submitted by various provinces, particularly the data from the Province of St Joseph, Hyderabad. This evaluation helped to assess the current reach and effectiveness of services to the poor. Fr. Tony stressed the need to intensify outreach efforts to the most deserving sections of society.
He acknowledged that the data collected so far served as a foundation for understanding the existing processes, and announced that plans are underway to develop a more robust and advanced data collection system. This software aims to address challenges faced in the current process and ensure reliable, evidence-based assessment and planning.
Fr. Tony emphasized the importance of capacity-building, community involvement, and shifting from project-based efforts to mission-driven engagement, rooted in the Preventive System of Don Bosco.
The seminar concluded with a vote of thanks by Fr. Sarath, Director of the Planning and Development Office (PDO), who called for ongoing formation, collaboration, and a unified response to the issue of poverty. The participants left inspired and committed to becoming agents of change in the spirit of Don Bosco.
