We have taken up quite a few initiatives for the less privileged people in the Province which must be appreciated. More confreres need to get interested in the works of the Province like the work for street children, work for migrants, work for the young released prisoners, HIV affected and infected children, Thurumbar community and Tribals.
DBSARC has been spearheading many initiatives to animate our institutions on the need for social responsibility. The new initiative taken up to educate people in all our presences on the rights-based approach is a way forward. The evaluation made by a team of experts on the VIA project in Polur is highlighting the need for revamping all our Self-Help Groups in the Province.
DBSARC has also plans to conscientize people on the need for exercising the right to vote with discretion so that we can get a good and clean government that will give good governance. This is also a challenge to all of us to be examples of good governance in our own settings where we have democratic style of functioning, transparency in dealings and consultation for making decisions, and always on behalf of the poor.
Our ministries for the YAR sector are expanding with the street children, slum intervention, village animation, young prisoners, migrants, HIV infected and affected people, Tribals etc. With the rights-based approach, we can conscientize all our students on the social responsibility they have towards the marginalized. This might help in educating our students to give a greater contribution to the well-being of the nation at large.
The Province of Chennai is known for its multifaceted social ministry reaching out to diverse vulnerable and marginalised communities such as the Dalits, Tribals, Thurumbars, Irulars (Tribals), and Gypsies. Among these target communities, special focus is given to the women, youth, children, persons with disability and persons in particular situations. The Social Ministry works towards the holistic and sustainable development of the target communities by engaging with them in a participatory approach.
The target groups are reached out through the 17 Social Service Centers in the Province namely;
1. DISHA Andamans
2. Don Bosco Gedilam
3. Maranodai Mission
4. Tribal Mission, Jawadhi Hills
5. Rural mission, Jolarpet
6. Tribal Mission, Thalavadi
7. Tribal Mission, Kadambur
8. Tribal mission, Kotagiri
9. Rural mission, Pavunjur
10. Village Integral Animation, Polur
11. Village Integral Animation, Veeralur
12. Rural mission, Thennangudi
13. Rural Mission, Thirukazhukundram
14. DBSARC, SIHARAM, Thiruvannamalai
15. DB Centre, Thirupattur
16. T.K Puram Mission, Vellore
17. Thurumbar Mission, Gingee
18. CBO
DBSARC the Social Action center of the province, was set up in the beginning of last academic year in Don Bosco SIHARAM, Thiruvannamalai, permanently with adequate staff and infrastructure. The budget for social action ministry was revised in this academic year. Since August 2023, individual desks have been established at DBSARC namely; Dalit, Thurumbar, Tribal, Irular and CBOs Desks. These desks have been specified in the INM Social Directory Policy Pg. 76 and are in operative mode at the province level. These desks are in their initial phase and are in the process of taking a definite shape.
In 2023, the DBSARC research desk undertook a study titled “Women and Youth of Irula and Thurumbar Communities in Northern Tamil Nadu – A Situational Analysis.” Based on the findings of the study, the province will prepare a Comprehensive Action Plan to address the challenges faced by these vulnerable communities on a priority basis.
In its social action dimension, DBSARC works toward General Elections 2024 targeting and animating all first-time voters of our Salesian presences by imparting awareness on the constitutional values and motivating youth to save democracy.
DBSARC continues to focus on promoting constitutional values in all our Salesian presences as its priority mission. The INM province supported the Social Action mission of DBSARC by providing permanent place at SIHARAM Don Bosco, Thiruvannamalai as a Social Action Centre. The current academic year the province supported with revised the budget to set up and function three desks (Tribal Desk, CBOs Desk and Thrumbar Desk).
Besides regular program whenever the budget proposed for any province level program the province always responds positively and support for the mission.
The province also supports through PDO (SURABI) with projects pertaining to the target communities. DBSARC has executed four projects in the past three years.
Don Bosco Foundation was created for the purpose of reaching out to poor children and youth and empower them through education. Under the title ‘Educare’ every year considerable number of children were supported through scholarship programs in our institutes as well as children who are recommended by others. Besides this project, sponsorship of ‘Salesian students of theology’ is being carried out by the support of benefactors mainly from Tamil Nadu as well as from other states.
From June 2023 onwards educational support to Orphans and Semi-orphans is introduced to this Educare project. From all our presences of the province, nearly 1600 students are being supported by Don Bosco Foundation and this number is likely to touch the number 2000 children very soon as the demand is on the increase. The support for Orphans and Semi-orphans is one of the priorities of the province, and DBF will concentrate in this project by introducing different activities that will provide mentorship to this target group in order to provide dignity and standard life situation to the target group.
As this project is very dear to our Charism, I would exhort the entire province to participate in this project by introducing new benefactors, past-pupils and parishioners etc to DBF…to provide hand-holding accompaniment for these DB children. The present number of benefactors are not sufficient to mitigate the demand arsing from this noble project and DBF will probe into new avenues to generate local fund towards this project.
Besides supporting the educational project, DBF also involves itself in the relief services arsing due to natural disasters and reaches out to the affected people.
The DB YaR National Seminar held on September 20th and 21st, 2023, focused on enhancing the mental well-being of young individuals at risk. The seminar aimed to equip participants to deal effectively with the mental well-being of the young at risk.
1. Don Bosco Anbu Illam – Park Town, Chennai
2. Don Bosco Anbu Illam – Kavarapettai
3. Don Bosco After Care Home – ANAT Farm, Mathur
4. Don Bosco Beatitudes – Vyasarpadi, Chennai
5. Pope John’s Garden (Anbagam) – Madhavaram
1. Don Bosco Maranodai – Gedilam
2. Don Bosco tribal society centre – Jawadhi Hills
3. Don Bosco Migrant Services, DB ILLAM Peravallur
SURABI (Strategic Urban Rural Advancement Backing Institute) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization affiliated with the Salesian Province of Chennai. Established in 1993, it focuses on socio-economic, cultural, and educational development in rural and urban slum areas. Registered with various certifications, including FCRA, 80G, and PAN, SURABI collaborates with local, national, and international partners to lead marginalized communities towards sustainable development.
The organization's vision is to build a just and peaceful civil society, particularly emphasizing prosperity for the poor and abandoned populations, with a special focus on youth. SURABI operates across thematic areas such as children, youth, women, green alliance, vulnerable communities, humanitarian response, and climate action. Their initiatives encompass education, gender and development, water sanitation and hygiene, livelihood, nutrition, disability, and humanitarian responses. Noteworthy projects include the Green Alliance initiative, addressing climate change impacts on farming communities, and various humanitarian responses like food aid, medical support, and online counseling. SURABI's holistic approach aligns with the Salesian philosophy, aiming to break the cycle of poverty and empower individuals and communities toward self-sufficiency.
• Children Educated – 57,579
• Youth Skilled – 10,402
• Women Empowered – 15,715
• Farmers Equipped – 25,671
• Livelihood Opportunities Created – 8,765
• Individuals Responded – 1,05,151