YaR Day - 2016
Vijaywada Dec. 11: “Let us put the Last Child First!” This was the slogan of the Don Bosco National Forum for the Young at Risk (YaR) Day 2016. Boys and girls from different Navajeevan homes from all over Telangana and Andhra Pradesh came to gathered at CHIGURU one of the braches of Navajeevan Bala Bhavan (NJBB) Vijayawada for annual YaR Day Celebrations. The event was hosted by NJBB, Vijayawada for two days.
A Day before the beginning of the YaR Day they travelled seven hours by train together with fifty boys from Ramanthapur and Nampally homes from Hyderabad. They arrived in Vijayawada late after on 10th of December 2016. After lunch they visited Gandhi Hills which panorama of the Vijayawada town. They also had to chance to visit to Shelter home which is very close to the Vijayawada Rly. Station and interacted with the children of the home. Chiguru, a very beautiful place next to a river, where the YaR-days took place. Fr Bokkala Rayappa, Sr. Veenitha, Ms. Sarah and Ms Eva German Volunteers, Mr Ramana and Mr Nikil accompanied the children,
The programme started on 11th December 2016 with thewelcoming and honouring of all different groups and special guests. After the inaugural session they had the presentations and group discussions. Children took part in it actively. Volunteers both local and foreign were there to assist the children. From every home there were also staff accompanied them. On the same day they also celebrated the birthday of Fr Balashwory, Director of NJBB and also the Province YaR Coordinator. .
In the afternoon, they organized some group activity games for the youth, like, tug of war and throw ball. They also used the time to prepare items / cultural programmes in the evening basing the theme YaR 2016 “Let us put the last child first”. Best part the progamme was swimming in the River which is very close to our home. They enjoyed being in the water. Certainly it will be unforgettable moments of their visit to Vijayawada. Staff of NJBB present at the banks of river to take care of them. It is very very special for them.
Another major highlight was the campfire in the evening and the dance performances by the participants of the from different Don Bosco Navajeevan homes. It was nice to boys and girls dancing best of their ability. By the end of the programme the whole ground was like a stage i.e, all the participants fully involved in dancing.
The second day was mostly dedicated for games and sports competitions and for sight-seeing. In the morning NJBB invited a famous comedian called Mimikri Silvester. Through his funny comments and movements, he made the audience to laugh and enjoy the day. Afternoon session was given to 14 volunteers from the Netherlands, Austria and Germany to organize some group games for the 400 children who have come different Navajeevan homes from Telugu speaking states.. They organized games like, chair dance, parkour, football and volleyball.
After Lunch, they started to go by bus to Amaravati a temple town and picnic spot in that area. It is also the name of the new capital of the state of Andhra Pradesh. They visited the big Buddha statue and a beautiful temple on the banks of the Krishna River.
In the evening, they retuned back to the shelter in Vijayawada close the Rly. Station for night’s sleep and catch up train early in the morning. for sleeping. They returned back Hyderabad by Satavahana Train. Overall, it was a very nice time where they could meet new people and also old friends, shared our experience of working in different Navajeevan homes.
