Don Bosco, Manikandam, a Salesian institution is situated in Trichy, Tamilnadu, South India. This house was canonically erected in the year 2000 as the Provincial House of Trichy Province, along with activities of the Social Communication, Development Office, and Christian Fund for Children & Aged (CFCA). In the initial years, it had the Provincial team and the department Directors of the Social Communication and Development Office and Vazikaatti.

Extensive work carried out by the department of Social Communication and the need to move the Provincial House to the city for functional purposes happened simultaneously with the decision of integrated theologate at Chennai. A decision was made to move the Provincial House to Kristodayam where the students of theology stayed during their theological study at St. Paul’s Seminary. The present house at Manikandam was approved to run diploma courses in media studies along with the functioning of other departments of the province till 2017.

Two entities are functioning on the same campus:

1. Don Bosco Media
2. DB ACT (DON BOSCO ANIMATION CENTRE TRICHY)

Don Bosco Media is a centre for art, media, and communication in the Salesian Province of Tiruchy in Tamil Nadu. In a short span of time, it has emerged as one of the leading media centres in Tamil Nadu with the motto; ‘communicate to educate, empower, employ and entertain’. It functions with four independent operational wings. The centre is registered as a society under the Tamil Nadu registration Act 1975.

Don Bosco MEDIA with its multifarious activities reaches out concretely with a concerted effort to impart quality media education to the poor youth and empowers a vast number of youth and the public with its media initiatives. The centre envisages working in a systematic way to effect education, empowerment, employment and dynamic change in the cultural milieu of Tamil Nadu, through media, information and communication.

It strives through communication-related channels, animation programmes, workshops, seminars, symposia, intensive research, training programmes, networking and campaigning to make a meaningful intervention in Tamil Nadu. Hence, in a systematic way effect a dynamic change in the cultural milieu. The purpose of the cultural intervention is to empower the people especially those from rural areas through an effective process of awareness through media and arts.

Our mission is to help our target group to think critically, express creatively, communicate effectively and involve actively in the process of sociocultural and personal development activities. We strive for these through the participatory method of mutual learning and self-enrichment.

Don Bosco Animation Centre Trichy (DBACT) is a hospitality wing of the community that hosts animations, meetings & retreats. People who are looking for a spacious, peaceful & serene atmosphere with good accommodation, facilities & food prefer DBACT for their animation programs, meetings & retreats. We continuously strive to enhance our service and quality.

Don Bosco Oratory (Youth groups): Apart from the media and hospitality initiatives, the Don Bosco Manikandam community this year would like to focus on the neighbourhood apostolate around the Manikandam region. The Manikandam Union is a revenue block in the Tiruchirappalli district of Tamil Nadu, India. It has a total of 22 panchayat villages. It is one of the largest Panchayat Unions in Tiruchirappalli District. It is located 12 kilometres away from Tiruchy city. Agriculture is the prime occupation of the villagers at Manikandam Union. It has a total population of 107,526 people. Among them 75, 242 are literate. Although more than 70% of the villagers are literate, career opportunity for them still remains an issue to be embarked upon. Youth capture 25% of the population. They are literate but most of them are unemployed. In order to meet the ends of the family, they stick on to any job providing wages daily, weekly or monthly devoid of their qualifications.

In order to cater to the children and youngsters of this region, the Don Bosco Manikandam community has initiated to invite youngsters to use our campus for recreational and sports activities. At present, the youngsters from various villages, viz., South Paganur, Kalingapatti, KanDheenadhayalan Nagar, Gandhi Nagar, Sengurichi, Kolarpatti, Soorakudipatti and Yagappudaiyanpatti are frequenting our centre.

In view of strengthening and providing facilities, we would like to request certain sports requirements to enhance our Don Bosco Youth Centre. This year, we would like to provide Table foosball (Biliardino), Table Tennis, and to strengthen to existing volleyball ground for conducting tournaments for youngsters. In order to gather youngsters at our Youth Centre, we have planned to organize a Don Bosco Volleyball Tournament for the neighbouring village youth around the feast of Don Bosco in January every year if possible.

We request your financial assistance and collaboration in providing the following facilities for our youth centre.

Thank you for your collaboration and support.

• Football Table (Biliardino) 2 = ₹72,200
• Table Tennis (Ping Pong) 2 = ₹46,000
• Campo di Pallavolo in vista del Torneo = ₹95,000

TOTAL in Rupee = ₹213,200

Total in Euros (1euro = 82 rupee) = € 2,600

I miei sinceri ringraziamenti.

P. Arul Kumar Sebastian

0039 3335973306

sebaarul@gmail.com