"When you give wings to a child's dream, you not only change their day — you change their destiny." For 25 young boys from Don Bosco Anbu Illam, Coimbatore, March 26 was not just another day — the day their dream took flight with a maiden journey from Coimbatore to Chennai.

Don Bosco Vazhikaatti Trichy, a pioneering institute in career guidance, training, and placements in the Province of Trichy, conducted a unique orientation program at Don Bosco Care Home, Nilavarapatti. The program focused specifically on supporting students in Child Care Institutions (CCIs) under the Aftercare Program.

A beautiful, modern, and well-equipped Social Work Coordination Centre for the state of Kerala and Skill Training Centre, DB Veedu, was opened in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, on 26 January. A project of BREADS (Bangalore Rural Educational and Development Society) with financial assistance from JuWe, Switzerland, was inaugurated by the Provincial of the Salesians of Bangalore, Dr. Fr. Jose Koyickal, and blessed by Most Rev. Thomas Netto, Archbishop of Trivandrum.

The Chennai Province (INM) ‘Young at Risk Day’ was celebrated with great enthusiasm at Don Bosco Beatitudes, Vyasarpadi, bringing together 296 participants from various organizations dedicated to the welfare of vulnerable children. Representatives from Don Bosco Anbu Illam (Chennai & Kavarapettai), Don Bosco Beatitudes (Vyasarpadi), ANBAGAM – Pope John’s Garden, ANAT Farm, WeLive Foundation (Chennai), St. Thomas Orphanage by SMA Kakkanjinagar, and Marialaya (Chennai & Pothur) joined hands to mark the occasion.

The Digital Innovation for Enhanced Documentation Training Programme took place from January 20 to 22, 2025, at Don Bosco Media House, Trichy. Organized by the Don Bosco Young at Risk (YaR) Forum, Delhi, and hosted by the INT Province, the program brought together 33 participants, including Homelink Hub Directors and Coordinators from eight provinces, to enhance documentation processes and decision-making using the Homelink DIGI platform.

The United Nations founded the Child-Friendly Cities Initiatives (CFCI) in 1996 to respond to the challenges of realizing children's rights in an increasingly urbanized and decentralized world. The Salesians of Don Bosco adopted this initiative with the project name Strengthening Social Participation and Promotion of Children's Rights. The project is carried out in collaboration with Don Bosco Project Development Offices in the Salesian Provinces of Dimapur (AIDA) and Shillong (BIDS), while the Don Bosco National Forum for the Young at Risk (YaR) provided technical support.

On October 25, 2024, a one-day orientation on the Young at Risk (YaR) and Migrant Ministry took place at the Provincial House in Dimapur, Nagaland, aimed at revitalizing these critical ministries. Resource persons Father Francis Bosco and Father Joe Prabhu from the Don Bosco National Forum for Young at Risk, Delhi, led the program, engaging 52 participants, including Rectors and In-charges from the Dimapur Province.

On October 11, Don Bosco Anbu Illam, Salem, in collaboration with the District Child Protection Unit of Salem, commemorated the International Day of the Girl Child under the global theme, "Girls' Vision for the Future."

The Don Bosco Young at Risk (YaR) Forum recently concluded its Annual Seminar 2024 on the theme "Empowering Families and Communities Towards Caring for Children and Young at Risk." The two-day event, held on October 3-4 at the Alpha Pastoral Centre in Kochi, Kerala, brought together child welfare experts, policymakers, and stakeholders to discuss innovative approaches to family-based care for vulnerable youth.

The Don Bosco National Forum for the Young at Risk (DB YaR Forum) launched its new campaign on "FAMILY is where I BELONG" during the annual YaR Day celebrations and the conclusion of the "Healthy Mind, Healthy Life" campaign in Delhi.

The second day of the National Migrant Workshop, held in Mumbai on August 17, organized by the Don Bosco for Migrants (DB4M) network partners, saw a collaborative effort with the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI), Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) and other organizations. Together, they drew a comprehensive roadmap for enhancing migrant services, including shelter and basic needs, source and destination services, emergency helplines, data collection, networking and advocacy, workers' collectives, and social integration.

The three-day YaR Leaders’ Orientation 2024 took place from 29^th to 31^st July, at the Provincial House, New Delhi. Participants from 10 provinces of India and National office staff, totaling to 38 and 7 resource persons attended the programme.

In the heart of Guwahati, amidst the tranquil beauty of the Brahmaputra river, a beacon of hope shone brightly on a crisp March morning. Organised with meticulous care and dedication, a one-day seminar on mental well-being with the theme “Healthy Minds, Healthy Lives” unfolded at the esteemed Don Bosco Institute, Kharguli, Guwahati. The event drew a diverse crowd, including priests, religious, teachers, university students, youth leaders, staff, and lay leaders from various parishes and Salesian centres. Led by Fr. Marcus, the Youth Commission delegate of the Province of Guwahati, the event commenced with an aura of warmth and reverence as distinguished guests and esteemed resource persons were welcomed with traditional ‘phoolan gamochas’ and bouquets.

Father Rafael Bejarano Revira SDB, overseeing Social Works within the Youth Services Department of the Salesian Congregation in Italy, Rome, visited various Young at Risk (YaR) centres in the Salesian Province of Bangalore (INK). He was accompanied by Father Joseph Prabu, Executive Director of the DB YaR Forum in Delhi, and Father Francis Bosco, Joint Secretary of the Migrant Ministry within DB YaR Forum, Delhi.