By C V Joseph –
Bengaluru: Don Bosco Church Lingarajapuram here celebrated the Children’s Day with the children of the migrants from Bellary, Gulbarga and the children of fortune tellers from Tamil Nadu besides the poor children of Janakiram Layout near here on November 14.
November 14 which is celebrated as the Children’s Day all over the country could be just yet another ordinary day for so many poor children of our motherland. But it was not so for the migrant children here, said Fr Aloysius Santiago, the Parish Priest. For them it was an extraordinary day that was made so bright and colourful by Don Bosco Church, he added and said Don Bosco Church organized this memorable day with the generous help from Rotary Kalyan, BREADS (Bangalore Rural Educational And Development Society), HUG (Humane Universal Good) Deed Network and Rahul Malhotra, a teenager.
The children’s day celebration was conducted in two phases: one in the migrant colony near Kachakaranahalli and the other in Maruti School, both within the city.
Don Bosco Youth Group (DBYG) under the leadership of Fr. Aloysius reached the migrant colony (Kachakaranahalli) around 10am. About 100 children were eagerly waiting for the youth leaders. Don Bosco Youth Group divided the children into four teams and conducted some exhilarating and exciting games for them. They also taught some stimulating action-songs which the children learned with much passion, fervour and zest. It was really heartening to see the smile and bubbling joy on the face of those children. The children also seized the opportunity to expose their talents by singing and performing mimicry. After the games and entertainment the organizers served the children lunch, given sweets and presented prizes.
In the afternoon DBYG reached Maruti School in Janakiram Layout where also about 100 children had gathered. The youth conducted games and taught them action-songs. Children were given quality food, Crayons, stationery, sweets and sparklers for Diwali.
Don Bosco Church was able to offer such a memorable day for the children only due to the generous help rendered by Rotary Kalyan which sponsored refreshments and crayons stationery items sponsored by BREADS and HUG that supplied food items and Sparklers.
Don Bosco Church is proud to note the sacrifice and generosity of a child – Rahul Malhotra who happily and willingly shared his birthday celebration money for the less fortunate children of the migrants. The kind gesture of Rahul is such an inspiration for others, pointed out Fr Aloysius.
Don Bosco Church expressed gratitude to the generosity of their beloved benefactors, sponsors, well-wishers. It also thanked the youth of Don Bosco Youth Group for their availability, hard work and love for the children.