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Shelter Don Bosco Helps Orphaned Youth Turn Survival into Service

8 July 2026

Success Story,

News reported by: BIS Correspondent Mumbai

For years, survival—not ambition—defined Omkar Shinde's life. Orphaned as a child, burdened with supporting his younger brother, and juggling multiple jobs to stay afloat, the young man from Raigad rarely imagined a future beyond the next day's wages. Today, he is preparing to join the Mumbai Police, a change he credits not only to personal perseverance but also to the timely support he received from Shelter Don Bosco, Wadala.

Omkar's childhood was marked by repeated tragedy. His father, a waiter in Panvel, died in a freak accident at a waterfall when Omkar was just eleven years old. Within a year, his mother succumbed to a brief illness, leaving Omkar and his younger brother orphaned.

The two boys were taken in by their paternal uncle, who kept their education on track despite severe financial constraints. One of Omkar's schoolteachers also recognised his academic potential and offered free tuition. Misfortune struck again when his uncle died as Omkar prepared for his Class 10 examinations.

Unable to stay with his aunt, the brothers moved to Mumbai to live with another uncle in Sion, where Omkar completed Junior College. The COVID-19 pandemic interrupted his education and forced him to return to his native village, but he remained determined to finish his studies. Encouraged by a teacher, he returned to Mumbai and first stayed with friends until differences made that arrangement impossible.

With no permanent home and responsibility for his younger brother's education, Omkar took every honest job he could find. He interned under an RTO officer, delivered food as a Swiggy partner, worked as an office assistant, and later became a picker and packer handling loading, unloading and warehouse operations. Alongside these demanding jobs, he pursued a Bachelor of Accounting and Finance (BAF), often balancing classes with long working hours.

By 2023, although he was nearing graduation, life remained a constant struggle for financial stability. It was then that Shelter Don Bosco in Wadala became his turning point.

The institution offered more than a place to stay. It brought the stability that had long been missing from Omkar's life. Free from the daily anxiety of finding accommodation and meeting basic expenses, he could finally focus on his studies and prepare for competitive examinations.

The Salesian priests at Shelter Don Bosco encouraged him to pursue his aspirations and supported him with accommodation, tuition fees, books and other essential needs. For the first time in years, he could focus on his goals instead of survival.

Omkar initially set his sights on the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) examinations. He came close to success twice, missing the qualifying mark by only a few points each time. Rather than give up, he redirected his efforts towards the Mumbai Police recruitment process.

His persistence was rewarded when he successfully cleared the examinations and secured selection as a Police Constable. Even as he prepares to join the force, Omkar has not abandoned his dream of one day qualifying through the MPSC and continuing his journey in public service.

His story reflects the quiet but transformative work of Shelter Don Bosco. By providing vulnerable young people with a safe home, educational support and encouragement, the institution helps them move beyond mere survival and build lives of dignity and purpose.

For Omkar Shinde, the greatest gift Shelter Don Bosco offered was not simply food or accommodation. It was the freedom to dream again—and the confidence to make those dreams a reality.

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Bastin Nellissery (INK)

News Published by

South Asia Chief Editor

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