BOSCO BOYS

The Salesians of Don Bosco (the organization responsible for the management of Bosco Boys) came to Kenya only in 1980 though it was founded in 1859. Today this organization works in over 130 countries. They work for the less fortunate in different parts of the country began immediately after their arrival.

The work for the street children in Kenya begun only in 1990. Two students of Theology (priestly candidates), Brothers Joe Prabu and Babu Augustine got involved with the street children of Nairobi in conjunction with the Undugu Society of Kenya, the pioneer organization working for the street children (they were called parking boys then). The meeting place was at Globe round about in the heart of the city of Nairobi.
Initially, the Salesian involvement was more of weekend contact of getting to know the youngsters through games and other activities.

In 1991 the boys expressed the desire to study and they requested the Salesians to put up a school for them to study. Hence the Salesians put up a simple shed at Kariua slums and classes began in earnest. At first we used to provide only lunch for the boys who attended the classes. Later accommodation too was provided. The number of boys attending the lessons was 30 then. Many of the children after completing a year in Kariua non formal school began to attend the near by primary schools. And the number kept increasing so we had to find another place for their accommodation.

In 1994 the Salesians began to keep the boys in a permanent place at Langata in a plot bought for the future Salesian Theologate. The children who stayed in Langatta attended school in the near by primary schools. Soon this place too became too small for our children. In 1995, His Eminence Maurice Cardinal Otunga, the then Arch Bishop of Nairobi, donated a thirteen acre plot to the Salesians at Kuwinda to build a center for the street children of Nairobi. The Rotary club of Westlands under the leadership of Mr. Bimal Kantaria joined the Salesians of Don Bosco to form a trust and to collect funds for the construction of the new centre at Kuwinda. Accordingly the Don Bosco Savio Trust was set up and many generous people and organizations came forward to join hands with the Trust in construction of the new center.

The foundation stone of Bosco Boys-Kuwinda was blesses by His Holiness Pope John Paul II on 19th September 1995 at Nairobi and laid by His Eminence Maurice Cardinal Otunga on 23rd November 1997.
Fr. Casimir Korabik was the one responsible for the construction of this center in the beginning. He was ably assisted by Mr. Paul Snoeren, a volunteer from Holland and hundreds of workers. Many of these workers were the past pupils of our technical institutions of Don Bosco Boys' Town, Karen and Makuyu.
The construction work was completed in 2000 and the centre was officially blessed on 20th May 2001 by His Grace Giovanni Tonucci, the Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya. The official opening was done by Mr. Steve Brown and Mr. Wayne Cushick on 27th May 2001.
Very Rev. Fr. Pascual Chavez SDB, the Superior General of the Salesians of Don Bosco visited Bosco Boys on 31st July 2004 and officially opened the newly constructed Salesian residence and the prenovitiate which he entirely sponsored.