By Fr Ashwin Macwan for BISMumbai

The 28th Value Education Day was celebrated at Don Bosco, Narukot on 25 February 2023. It was organized by AmrutDhara Don Bosco Animation Centre under the able leadership of Fr Ashwin Macwan, the Director. 

A total of six schools with 440 student of Class 9 participated in the programme. This was the culmination of a year-long value education workshops and sessions organised by AmrutDhara. The main motive behind celebrating and organizing this event was to inculcate moral values and virtues within the students.

The day began with the arrival of students with much enthusiasm and full of vigour to participate in the program. The students were divided into ten different groups with the name of values which they have studied during the year. The ice breakers were organized by the teachers in these ten different groups which helped the participants to interact with each other as they were from different schools. The entire place was well-decorated as the students put up the attractive charts, and logbooks prepared by the different schools were displayed at the exhibition.

During the inaugural function the diya was lit representing the presence of God. Students of Don Bosco, Dakor, animated the prayer service and put up a lovely prayer dance. Fr Macwan introduced Fr Stanny Ferreira, Rector of Don Bosco, Narukot, who was the Chief Guest for the event. Fr Ferreira welcomed the gathering and delivered the keynote address stressing the importance of values in one’s life drawing from the example of Lionel Messi, the Argentinian football player. It was followed by one hour input session by Mr Anil Macwan, the resource person of the day.  Mr. Macwan, the Head of Excel Indo Can - Halol, through his lively and interactive session elucidated the importance of having life-giving values at the centre of one’s life.

After lunch the students together with teachers participated in the Timli dance – a traditional folk dance in Gujarat.  During the cultural programme held afterwards, the students from each school presented their theme song and skit on the theme “Finding Hidden Values in the Struggles of  Life”  with the help of their teachers. “This day has been one of great enrichment for the students", said Fr Daresh Rathwa, Principal of Piloo Mody High School, Narukot. 

The thanksgiving prayers was animated by students of Don Bosco, Chottaudepur.   Fr Macwan thanked the Rector and the Salesian community and the entire staff at Don Bosco, Narukot, for hosting this mega learning event. He also expressed his sincere thanks to the Principals of different schools, teachers and students for taking a lot of interest and making this day a memorable one.