Don Bosco Anbu Illam Homes cares for 105 vulnerable youth.

NEW ROCHELLE, NY (Oct. 28, 2024) Salesian missionaries were able to provide comprehensive care for vulnerable youth who reside at Don Bosco Anbu Illam Homes in India thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco.

The project supports 105 youth, including 55 boys residing at Bosco Illam and 50 girls at Saranalayam. Youth range in age from young children to teenagers and come from backgrounds of extreme adversity, including being orphaned, abandoned or otherwise neglected. Many of them have been deprived of basic care, protection, and access to education due to various social, economic and cultural factors. Don Bosco Anbu Illam Homes ensure their safety, health, education, and overall well-being, empowering them to lead lives of dignity and independence.

Funding was utilized to purchase provisions used at the homes including vegetables and two refrigerators to store food. This has improved the children’s health by providing them with timely, balanced meals. Funding was also used to sustain the residential care, ensuring ongoing access to quality education, health services, and daily necessities.

A Salesian explained, “Don Bosco Anbu Illam was able to make significant strides in improving the lives of vulnerable youth through comprehensive residential care. The project successfully covered essential needs such as shelter, nutritious food, educational support and medical care. This support has ensured the children’s physical well-being, intellectual growth and overall quality of life.”

One of the youth supported was Harshini, a resilient 15 year old from a small town in northern Tamil Nadu. She has overcome significant challenges to pursue her dreams. After losing her father, her family’s financial struggles left her mother unable to provide for Harshini and her brother. Despite these hardships, Harshini placed first in her school in the 10th grade board exams.

The Salesian noted, “With the support of Don Bosco Anbu Illam, Harshini is now in 11th grade. Driven by her goal to become a doctor and serve the neglected and destitute, she exemplifies determination and is a leading example of the transformative power of education and support.”

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