By Ms Vidhu Gupta for BISMumbai

Don Bosco Centre for Learning (DBCL), Kurla, inaugurated its new cafeteria on 23 August 2022. The canteen was blessed and inaugurated by Fr Gildásio Mendes, General Councillor for Social Communication of the Salesians.

The Salesians at DBCL wanted to have a dedicated student-friendly space where students feel comfortable and spend quality time together. The new canteen is designed to give off the same ambience as a café. With colourful murals which have the essence of the city of Mumbai, DBCL is set to give its students a spot to unwind after their academic hours. Each element of the canteen is relevant to the youth thus making it even more enjoyable.

DBCL has always promoted artistic skills hence this canteen has a designated area for the students to showcase their talent of singing and playing musical instruments. Students can exhibit their video documentations of sports, cultural activities on the screen for others to know what is happening in different departments of the college.

It does not end there: ecological sustainability has been a major area that DBCL wishes to work towards. The canteen consists of various decor features and other items that have been recycled and repurposed. Fr McEnroe Lopes who conceptualised this project said that every Don Bosco institute is a home for young people that nurtures them to grow into good human beings; that every youngster feels cared for and develops a sense of belonging to the institute. He thanked a number of people who have worked behind the scenes to make this into a reality.

The cafeteria offers food that are generally quickbites for shorter breaks during college hours. Fresh and delicious food of great variety will be served at the cafe. A student remarked: “I had come to this college because I knew that Salesian fathers will always give the best to their students. This state of the art café is just one small example that they are so much interested in our well-being.” Another said: “This café is indeed a very special space. I have not seen anything like this in other colleges.”

Hold on and stay tuned because this is just Phase One of the canteen! Fr Lopes announced that the second phase will be ready soon in the coming days. DBCL has always been striving to be much more student-oriented and a space where students enjoy learning and growing.