BREADS-BOSCO-Bavaria Partnerships Gain Momentum with Ministerial Visit
On 15 April 2025, Dr. Florian Herrmann, Honourable Minister for Federal Affairs and Head of the State Chancellery of the Free State of Bavaria, Germany, visited BOSCO Vatsalya Bhavan, a centre dedicated to the care and protection of vulnerable girl children, located in Chamrajpet, Bengaluru. Dr. Herrmann lauded the remarkable efforts of the BOSCO’s Girl Centre, calling it a powerful example of how education and care can transform lives of the marginalised children. The visit highlighted the collaboration between Germany and India in the fields of child welfare and social development. Over the past few years, the Government of Bavaria has supported initiatives focused on the care and protection of underprivileged children, particularly in Mysuru district, through its collaboration with BREADS and its partners.
BOSCO Vatsalya Bhavan is a partner organisation of Bangalore Rural Educational and Development Society (BREADS), and together, we have enabled thousands of young girls to overcome adversity in their lives and build brighter futures. Though the Honourable Minister-President of Bavaria, Dr. Markus Söder, was originally scheduled to lead the delegation, he had to return to Germany due to ill health. As his representative, Dr. Herrmann led the visit with great enthusiasm, engaging with the children and staff at the centre, gaining first-hand insight into the impact of the programmes supported by the Bavarian government.
Dr. Florian Herrmann and the delegation from the Bavarian government, were warmly welcomed with a band performance by the BOSCO Mane boys, followed by a traditional dance by the girls of BOSCO Vatsalya Bhavan. Amidst the lively atmosphere, Dr. Florian Herrmann expressed his joy at visiting BOSCO Vatsalya Bhavan, calling it the most meaningful and heartwarming part of his entire journey to India. He had warm and spontaneous interactions with the children, who eagerly asked him questions about Bavarian culture, language, education, and food, transforming the visit into a rich cultural exchange, as the BOSCO children also showcased their musical and artistic talents.
As a token of gratitude, 9thGrade student, Lamya, presented Dr. Herrmann with a painting. In turn, the delegates presented attractive gifts brought from Bavaria to the children, while BREADS provided school bags to encourage them to be regular to school and excel in their studies. Dr. Herrmann also toured the Skill Training unit that offers Tailoring and Beautician courses to underprivileged women and girls from Bengaluru’s slums, helping them secure employment upon completion. He also spoke of possibly strengthening the Bavarian assistance for the Don Bosco activities in the state of Karnataka.
Fr. George PS, Executive Director of BREADS, warmly welcomed the delegates and appreciated the Bavarian support in rescuing and rehabilitating the most vulnerable children through BREADS and the Don Bosco network. He presented Dr Herrmann with the book ‘Navigating the Future’, which documents the impact of this work in Karnataka and Kerala, with the life stories of some of the children impacted. Fr. Varghese Pallipuram, Executive Director of BOSCO Bangalore, proposed a vote of thanks. The Directors of the various BOSCO centres, staff of BEADS and BOSCO and children also participated in the event.
