REPORT OF THE ASHALAYAM EDUCATIONAL CAMP 2010
Don Bosco Ashalayam, being a project for destitute children many of them do not have an opportunity to go out to visit parents or relatives. An annual programme is organized in the form of camps for a change from the usual environment and routine which enhances their possibilities for personality development. During this year 4 such camps were organized for the various age groups and everyone enjoyed every bit of their “OUT STAY” as it was well planned.
1. 40 children below the age of seven reached Ferrando Institute in Bandel, Hooghly District, West Bengal, which accommodates one of the homes of Ashalayam and they were kept busy with games, good food, outings and many other activities that kept them enthusiastic and vibrant. The 400 year old Bandel Church was one of the wonders that they have seen so far. As it was conducted by some of our senior girls it was enriching and enjoyable for both the groups.
2. Environment and culture are very dear topics for all Indians with a rich heritage. The boys who completed the school finals and the seniors were taken for the said programme which gave them a taste of Indian History and appreciation of environment which leads to protection which is so very essential in today’s world.
3. Children of classes two to five were taken to Krishnanagar, Nadia District, West Bengal, the traditional city of Bengali culture. Don Bosco School with spacious building and ground was a real boon for the children for four days.
This year the motto or the theme of the camp was to make them and teach them responsible and good human beings, therefore the theme was designed as “THINK WELL OF ALL, SPEAK WELL OF ALL AND DO GOOD TO ALL”
During the camp exposure visits were made to three important places namely Shantiniketan, the home town and house of The Legend Nobel Prize winner, Kavi Rabindranath Tagore, then to Bakreshwar, a place of Hot Spring and lastly to a river dam at Massanjore.
The other activities conducted were Quiz Competition, different Group games, Adventure games, Different Cultural program competitions, Hike to Forest and lightening Tournament.
The total number of children and staff participated in the senior education camp was 250. Two Fathers and senior staff accompanied the campers.

His Excellency Mr. M.K. Narayanan The Governor of West Bengal entered Ashalayam at 05.00 PM as scheduled and was warmly welcomed by the Ashalayam Children, the District Magistrate Mrs. Sanghamitra Ghosh, Mr. Hari Kusumakar Superintendent of Police, Fr. George Chempakathinal our Director and Provincial Fr. Thomas Ellicherail. The Scout team smartly saluted the Governor as he walked past, with the colourfully dressed flower girls strewing petals in his path.

After the welcome prayer dance and the prayer of blessings the Governor inaugurated the Child Care Research Institute by cutting the ribbon. Following the inauguration Fr. Thomas Ellicherail welcomed the august gathering and outlined Don Bosco’s work for the oppressed and the underprivileged globally and nationally. Most. Rev. Lucas Sirkar Archbishop of Kolkata blessed everyone present and stated Ashalayam’s vision in protecting the children and urged the children to draw energy from the commitment and hard work of the founding members. His Excellency Shri M.K. Narayanan the Governor of West Bengal said in his inspiring speech that he was moved by life stories of Ashalayam’s children who, after battling severe adversities in life have become successful (street to PG level) and contributing members of society. He lauded the spirit and commitment of Ashalayam and urged them to work hard and earn their rightful place in society.

The Governor gave away awards to persons who have contributed significantly to the development of Ashalayam and mementos of appreciation to 6 children for outstanding achievement.

Later the Governor released the Souvenir to mark the Silver Jubilee of Don Bosco Ashalayam. Ashalayam children hosted a cultural program with Bengali folk dance, Heal the World and a dance drama. Fr. Provincial handed mementos to people who made impressionable contribution in the history of Ashalayam.

More than 600 children from 25 Homes of Ashalayam gathered for the Christmas celebrations with their colourful Christmas dress. The celebrations commenced with the Holy Mass at 3 PM . Boys and girls from 25 homes of Ashalayam enacted scenes of nativity, presented skits, dances and songs. Whoops of joy rent the air as Santa Claus entered the arena bearing gifts for all. Poor Santa had a hard time as the children especially the younger ones pushed and jostled to get close to him some even climbed on his shoulders. Later there was a gala dinner with lots of delicious preparations. After the sumptuous dinner there were scenes of jubilation as all children and staff danced with abandon. It was an enjoyable evening for the children full of fun. Ashalayam has opened its 25th Home in Bandel known as “Mayer Asha -3” for girls.

The past Pupils Meet was held on 24 December 2009. 109 past pupils of DBA gathered for the occasion. Addressing the past pupils Fr. George Chempakathinal Director, expressed his happiness at the fact that DBA has successfully entered Silver Jubilee year. They faced several impediments in the initial years but their determination and God’s blessing along with hard work, propelled them to achieve their goal.

The marriage ceremony of Jhuma Maity took place in No. 10 quarter of Gandhiji Prem Nivas, a Missionaries of Charity home in Titagrah on the 09th March 2009. The couple exchanged Vows and the Wedding Rings in the presence of close family members and friends. The ceremony was solemnized according to the Hindu religious rituals. Jhuma Maity has been with Don Bosco Ashalayam since her childhood and completed her education and vocational training in Tailoring & Knitting. She came across Mr. Hareram Das who is working in Missionaries of Charity, Premdan and decided to settle down with him in marriage. We thank all the friends and well wishers of Don Bosco Ashalayam for the support for the training of Jhuma Maity.. We wish Jhuma and Hareram a long and happy married life.

The 24th of January, 2009 was a red-letter day for the Ashalayam family as five of our children who completed their training and education from Ashalayam have found the love of their lives and settled down. The wedding reception was solemnized at the Ashalayam Home at 06.00 pm. Two boys, Neru and Sanjay are married to Sujata and Tapoti. Three girls, Kalpana, Shompa and Khusboo are married to Rajesh, Biswajit and Biran respectively. The Mayor of Howrah Ms. Mamta Jaiswal, Mayor-in-Council Mr. Gautam Rai and Councilor Ms. Pranati Pakhira graced the occasion and blessed the couples. The lucky couples were blessed by Fr. P.M. Mathew with golden rings and garlands. The children of Ashalayam put up a cultural program. It was touching moment for all when the newly married boys and girls narrated how their lives were transformed at Ashalayam. All the children, staff and the Management of DBA wish them a long and happy married life.

With a heart warming gesture of the Street Children of Kolkata offering flower to every participant, the two-day National Seminar on Emerging Trends in Child Care, began at Don Bosco, Nitika in Kolkata on 21st Feb 2008. The three day seminar, organized by Don Bosco Ashalayam, Kolkata, intends to analyse various issues of child care especially among the marginalized and street children. The seminar is planned specially for the Salesians and lay collaborators, who work for the street children in different settings of YaR. The seminar was attended by 75 participants from 51 YaR centres in India.


The inaugural session was presided over by Fr. Thomas Ellicherail, Provincial of Don Bosco Kolkata, emphasized that “in order to mould the future citizens of the nation, learning to act for social change is the crying need of our times”. Taking cue from the concluding remarks of Fr. Pascal Chavez, Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco, the Provincial reiterated the importance of “giving most to those who received the least”. He also saluted the great pioneers of the apostolate for the marginalized, for their courage that evoked the Salesians to question themselves and their traditional activities.

Mr. K.P.Sinha, Director, Department of Social Welfare, Government of West Bengal, whom Fr. George Chempakathinal, Director, Don Bosco Ashalaya, Kolkata, described as a man ‘who has a heart for the marginalized children’ stressed the need to show more concern for the marginalized among the marginalized. He invited Don Bosco Institutions to render support to the Children Homes of the Government in the areas of health care, recreation and vocational training. Fr. Maria Charles, delegate for DBYA-SA, and Fr. Mathew Thomas, Secretary, South Asia Forum for YaR, were also welcomed and honoured by the organizing committee.

The meaning of the term ‘childcare’ has undergone a metamorphosis over the last decade. Awareness on child protection and juvenile justice is growing in India. The Salesians, who are the front-runners in the fight for justice and rights among the marginalized youth and children, need to constantly understand the rapid changes and emerging issues of child care in the context of globalisation. This seminar is a concerted effort by the Young at Risk Forum of the Salesians to understand the gravity of the issue of child care in India.

The recent spate of children going missing from Pilkhana in Howrah has put a blot on Dominique Lapierre’s “City of Joy”. The people, community and the police are all concerned as to how best to take effective measures to curb this burning issue.

Don Bosco Ashalayam thus came forward to organize a community sensitization programme on 30th September 2008 to make the community aware of the issues of child trafficking, how to take preventive measures and how to maintain a good networking with the district police administration.

The sensitization programme began with a rally taken out from Golabari Police Station at around 5:30 pm and ended at Hallman High School in Pilkhana. Children from Ashalayam, Police personnel and community people from Pilkhana and around participated in this rally.

This sensitization programme, held at Hallman High School in Pilkhana from 6 to 7 pm, was inaugurated by Sri Sukesh Kumar Jain, I.P.S. Addl.S.P. (Town) Howrah-the Chief Guest for the Day . Besides him other eminent people like Md. Samim, Shri. Debasish Banerjee-I.C, Golabari Police Station, Fr. C.J.George-Director Don Bosco Ashalayam, Fr. Mathew Parakonath-Director Childline and people from the local community were present.

Fr. C.J. George Director started the programme by welcoming all and spoke that concerted effort was the need of the day to help curb this burning issue. He asked for all GOs and NGOs to come forward and work together to protect the children. Fr. Mathew Parakonath- Director CHILDLINE spoke that child traffickers need not always be outside people but might also be people residing within the community. He called for all to be more vigilant and to take more care of their children thus reducing scope for the traffickers to take a free hand.

Sri Sukesh Kumar Jain-Addl. S.P., (Town), Howrah told all present that the district police authorities were ever ready to extend their full support and had already deployed police personnel in Pilkhana area to keep tabs on the activities there. He again requested the community people to be wary of suspicious activities or strangers and to inform the local police station immediately. He also told the community to use the Childline Toll free telephone number –1098- to inform them about missing and trafficked children.

The days programme ended with a dance recital by girls from Maayer Asha-a Girls Home of Don Bosco Ashalayam in Howrah and a street drama-the theme being on Child Trafficking.

On 22nd August Hannah Bristow from ECPAT Luxembourg arrived in Ashalayam to meet the children and visit the project areas. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Government of Luxembourg and ECPAT Luxembourg are sponsoring the activities being undertaken in Kolkata unit.

During her 6-Day stay in Kolkata, she visited all the project areas funded by her organization and the Government of Luxembourg, saw the running of some of our Homes and meet the children and staff. She also took time off to visit other areas of work done by Ashalayam.

On 25th August 2008 evening, in a small but meaningful ceremony organized in Kadamtala, the children thanked her for her visit. The children from our Homes presented songs and dances and gave her mementos to remember us by.

In her speech addressed to the children she expressed her congratulations to Ashalayam for the tremendous work that was being done with and for the children. She said that she was happy with what she had seen and elated to be a part of it. She conveyed her best wishes to all to continue the good work.

Fr. George Chempakathinal popularly known as Fr. C J George was born on 5th March 1960. He hails from South India where he did his secondary schooling. In the year 1975 he joined Don Bosco School Bandel, Northern India to complete his Higher Secondary Education. As part of the Salesian Priest’s training programme he completed the Novitiate in Shillong (Meghlaya) and became a member of the Congregation on 24 May1979. Later he completed his B.A. and B.Ph (Bachelor of Philosophy) Studies in Salesian college Sonada, Darjeeling, and B.Ed. from St. Xavier’s College Kolkata. He completed his B.Th (Bachelor of Theology) from Sacred Heart College Shillong and was ordained Salesian Priest on 5th January 1989. Besides the above, his academic qualifications include degrees in M.A (Sociology) and M.Ed.

He was in Don Bosco School Liluah as a teacher for three years from 1982-85. Besides being a teacher he was an assistant and music teacher in the boarding school and he is able to manage keyboards, guitar and other musical instruments. In May 1989 he came to Don Bosco Ashalayam as Asst Director and worked with Fr. T.V. Anthony, the Founder Director of Don Bosco Ashalayam, and served ten long years (1989 till 1999).

While he was in Ashalayam he was mostly busy in buying land, setting up the various centres and homes in Howrah, Kolkata, Bhattanagar, Dum Dum, Rajarhat, Kalyani and other areas. As a result he was called the Co-founder of DBA. Most of the initiatives taken by him are effectively continued to this day: the training and housing scheme, the Monthly Mela, Annual Camps, Scouts and Cubs and many more.

In the year 1999 he was then appointed Youth Director of the Salesian Province of Kolkata and was a member of the Provincial Council. During this period he used to conduct HRD Programmes for student and teachers and coordinate various youth group’s activities of the region for the different Don Bosco centers of the Province. .

In May 2001 he was appointed, Rector and Principal of Don Bosco School Liluah in Howrah. It has 3,000+ students upto higher secondary level and has varied activities; Technical Institute, evening school, adult education centre, NIOS, a Parish centre and many more. In May 2005 he was transferred to Don Bosco School & Seminary in Bandel in Hooghly District as its Rector and Principal. On 30.07.2008 he was transferred to Don Bosco Ashalayam, this time as its Rector and Director.

He is well versed in English, Bengali, Hindi, Malayalam, Nepali and Khasi.