(Don Bosco College, Bangalore) – Salesian missionaries with Don Bosco College in Bangalore, India, are establishing a new canteen thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. The canteen will provide a clean space with nutritious food for students, faculty and staff on campus, where there currently is none. The new space will also offer an opportunity for employment for local youth and vendors.
Work is currently underway and on track. The wall masonry work is almost complete, and preparations for the roofing have begun. Future construction will focus on plastering walls and laying the flooring.
Established in 2022, Don Bosco College currently has 570 students enrolled. The students come from diverse socio-economic backgrounds. Many students need affordable food options and must seek outside vendors due to the lack of an organized food service on campus. This is challenging for students and has been impacting their well-being and productivity over time.
“We want our students to be able to eat on campus,” explained a Salesian. “If they are able to access nutritious, affordable food on campus, they won’t have to leave and find it elsewhere. They will be more focused on their studies and enjoying time on the campus with their peers.”
Salesians provide a range of education and social development programs for youth and their families. They work to mitigate the devastating effects of poverty for these families. Access to professional training and workforce development services is highly valued in India. While India has the world’s largest youth population, it has yet to capitalize on this, leaving some 30% of this population without employment, education or training.
India’s youth face a lack of educational opportunities due to issues of caste, class and gender. Almost 44% of the workforce is illiterate and less than 10% of the working-age population has completed a secondary education. In addition, many secondary school graduates do not have the knowledge and skills to compete in today’s changing job market.
Source: Salesian Missions – India ; World Bank – India