PALS Meeting at Don Bosco Vaduthala Inspires New Leadership and Initiatives for Youth Centres in Kerala
The PALS meeting held at Don Bosco Vaduthala on Sunday, 29 September 2024, brought together 40 leaders from 11 youth centres across Kerala.
Fr. Kuriakose Shasthamkalayil, Vice Rector of Don Bosco Vaduthala, warmly welcomed the participants. Fr. Josh Kanjooparambil SDB followed with an inspiring address, urging the youth leaders to rise up and seize the opportunities available to them. He emphasized the need for youth leaders to be proactive in shaping their communities.
Fr. Gilton Manuel, Director of Don Bosco Youth Centre Vaduthala, presented the various youth programmes and initiatives at the Vaduthala centre, using them as examples for others to follow. He stressed the importance of each youth centre launching a new initiative every year, particularly those that focus on having a social impact, in order to remain innovative and productive.
Fr. Edwin Kurisinkal took charge of the animation and discussions for the rest of the day, encouraging the youth leaders to think creatively and take the lead in developing new programmes. The discussions also focused on shifting the focus from sports alone to more meaningful engagements, drawing inspiration from the insights shared by Frs. Kuriakose, Josh, and Gilton. The emphasis was placed on creating programmes that address broader societal needs, moving beyond just recreational activities.
The meeting also included discussions about participation in the upcoming Salesian Youth Movement (SYM) youth meet, which is scheduled to take place in Tirupattur in December. The day concluded with the election of the State Executive Team, marking the end of a productive and inspiring session for Kerala’s youth leaders.
The newly elected State Executive Team is as follows:
- President: Stervin
- General Secretary: Iswarya Cleetus
- Finance Secretary: Athul
- Sports Secretary: Akash
- Media Secretary: Tony Freddy
- Arts/Cultural Secretary: Ammu
- Social Service Secretary: Daniel
- Spiritual Secretary: Sabu Stalin
- SYM Representative: Savio
