BIS Mumbai
BOSCO INFORMATION SERVICE # 3476
SERVICE IS JOY
By : Geeta Menezes
BORIVLI-MUMBAI, APRIL 03, 2013: For the year 2012-2013, the Salesian Cooperators assisted by two parishioners, undertook a project of teaching 
English to the boys of Bosco Boys Home in the morning and evening four days a week, Monday to Thursday. In the evening classes, the Cooperators also taught the boys Catechism besides English. The Cooperators undertook this task with firm commitment and dedication right from the time of commencement in October 2012 to the end of March 2013.
These boys, who have dropped out of school from various grades, are undergoing technical training at Bosco Boys Home in various categories: two wheeler, four wheeler, refrigeration, air-conditioning, etc. They also study Computers and Life skills at the institute. Some boys are day scholars while others are boarders. Few cooperators taught the day scholars while few other cooperators taught the boarders. The boys were taught English speaking, reading, grammar, good manners, and letter writing. The English studies concluded with oral and written tests. The cooperators observed that the boys had made good progress over the last six months.
On March 25, 2013, all the boys with the help of the priests of Bosco Boys Home : Fr. Santarita, Fr. Jeffrey and Fr. Baptist organized a function to felicitate all the teachers who taught the boys. All of us assembled in the hall and the function commenced at 11 a.m. with Fr. Baptist informing that the boys wanted to express their gratitude to the teachers and prepared an entertainment programme which they wished to showcase.
Several boys came forward displaying their talent in singing, playing the trumpet, saxophone and dancing (Shiamak Davar style). It was evident that the boys had taken a lot of pains to practice and they were so very eager to please. We very much appreciated their efforts in organizing, compering and performing.
Father Santarita then addressed the gathering and thanked the teachers. He invited the cooperators to speak a 
few words as well. Geeta and Milton then addressed the boys informing them that it was a pleasure to teach them, appreciating their efforts to study, advocating them to continue to work hard to be successful, and wished them the best in life.
Fr Jeffrey enthusiastically clicked photographs of his boys performing. Photographs were also clicked of teachers with their respective batch of students. The boys met the teachers individually and thanked us profusely for our efforts of coming and teaching them. The programme concluded with a round of refreshments.
As we took our leave, we also took with us a basket of fond memories. Teaching the boys was a learning experience for us too. We felt we were rewarded with a sense of fulfillment and joy.