The second edition of the National Conference on Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) 2025 concluded at the St. Joseph Training Centre in Lonavala, following three days of vibrant dialogue, collaboration, and innovation. Organized by Auxilium Skills Academy, the June 24–26 event brought together over 50 experts, educators, youth leaders, and grassroots activists from across the country to reimagine WASH as a Right, Responsibility, and Resilience Strategy.

Over 100 vibrant young minds from Goa, Maharashtra, and Karnataka came together for Connect 2.5, a unique annual retreat organized by the Salesian Youth Movement and Don Bosco Youth Services, held at the Don Bosco Agro-Ed Farm, Sulcorna, the event aimed to guide youth away from digital distractions and into the heart of nature and spiritual reflection.

On the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, the streets of Trivandrum came alive with colour, conviction, and creativity as children from Don Bosco Veedu’s AWAKE (Applied Women Advancement and Knowledge Enhancement) Project led a spirited campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of substance abuse.

Cheers, whistles and the thud of leather on turf filled the air as Karimadam and MSK colonies staged a one-day football tournament that turned two neighbouring housing blocks into a miniature stadium.

Don Bosco Higher Secondary School, Gedilam, in collaboration with Deepagam, organized a two-day pilgrimage for altar servers from May 13 to 14. A total of thirty-three altar servers from three parishes, Tagore Nagar (Puducherry), Maranodai, and Thennangudi, participated. Salesian priests and catechists guided them.

Given International Labour Day, May 01, Father Francis Bosco, Director of Don Bosco for Migrants (DB4M), brings attention to the invaluable contributions of unorganized workers in India and calls for urgent action to protect their dignity and rights. Bosco emphasizes that India's economy relies heavily on the hard work of migrant and informal workers, who often remain invisible despite their critical role in shaping the nation's progress.

A landmark discussion on migration and urban poverty took place at the UN Building, Delhi, as part of the Voluntary National Review (VNR), aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Global Compact for Migration (GCM) on February 14. The event, attended by 40 participants, included representatives from 30 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), UN officials, and officers from NITI Aayog. Father Francis Bosco SDB, in charge of Migrants, SPCSA, India, played the leading role in the proceedings.

Don Bosco College commenced its College Week 2025 with a spirited inaugural ceremony on February 3, featuring a blend of academic celebration, cultural performances, and motivational discourses. The event, graced by Shri Atul Bora, Honourable Cabinet Minister of Assam, witnessed a remarkable display of student discipline and institutional pride. Minister Bora received the Guard of Honour, hoisted the college flag, and delivered an inspiring address.

Once the dust settles, reality kicks in! The aftermath of the July landslides in Wayanad, Kerala, adds untold miseries to the script. Seeing their plight, BREADS Bangalore, in collaboration with Don Bosco College Sulthan Bathery, provided basic household articles and essential commodities to over 70 survivors of the landslides that hit Mundakkai and Chooralmala on November 5 as part of # We4You. 

DB Jananam (Don Bosco Joint Action for New Alternatives to Narcotics and Alcoholism), the Department of Addiction and Counselling and Treatment Centre of the Salesian Province of Trichy, organized a seminar on Enhancing the Quality of Family Environment at Don Bosco Thanjavur, on October 14. Mrs. Dhanaseeli Thivyanathan, the resource person, spoke about the present family situation, while Ms. Sheela VDB spoke about managing addiction in the family.

A meeting of priests, religious, and lay leaders of neighbouring areas in Bengtol Parish on October 19 resulted in a collaborative effort to support the region's growing migrant-worker population. The meeting, which featured a presentation by Fr. Francis Bosco SDB, National Director of Don Bosco Migrant Services of South Asia, highlighted the urgent need for comprehensive and effective support systems for these vulnerable individuals.

The Salesian Psychological Association (SPA) India is offering a unique opportunity for priests, religious sisters, and brothers to deepen their understanding of sexuality and integrate it into their celibate lifestyles. This five-day residential workshop, scheduled to begin on 15 November 2024, will take place at Ashir Bhavan, Ernakulam, Cochin, Kerala. The event will address contemporary issues related to sexual boundaries, intimacy, celibacy, and psychological maturity.

On the way to Jambagi village in Bidar, North Karnataka, for their field visit, the Don Bosco Centre for Social Action and Movement team chanced upon an accident in Kandgoal involving three individuals from Soraly village. The victims had been informed that the ambulance would take an hour to reach the spot. Understanding the urgency, the medical team quickly provided first aid to the injured and transported them to the Brims Hospital in Bidar for additional treatment.

The Salesian Province of Chennai organized a timely refresher course on spiritual direction as part of its commitment to ongoing formation. Held from September 23 to 27 at the Don Bosco Skill Mission campus in Bangalore, the program brought together 28 spiritual directors. The Don Bosco Renewal Centre (DBRC), Bangalore, facilitated the course to deepen the Salesians' understanding and practice of spiritual direction.

The second day of the National Migrant Workshop, held in Mumbai on August 17, organized by the Don Bosco for Migrants (DB4M) network partners, saw a collaborative effort with the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI), Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) and other organizations. Together, they drew a comprehensive roadmap for enhancing migrant services, including shelter and basic needs, source and destination services, emergency helplines, data collection, networking and advocacy, workers' collectives, and social integration.