By Fr Sunil Pinto SDB for BIS Mumbai

On 6 July, 2026, the feast of St. Dominic Savio, Shelter Don Bosco witnessed a ceremony that was both solemn and full of promise. It was an occasion of sashes, flags, oaths and applause, but its deeper significance lay in what these symbols represented: young people stepping forward to lead their own community with responsibility, integrity and care.

The Investiture and Swearing-in Ceremony of Shelter Don Bosco’s newly elected Youth Parliament leaders brought together the institution’s residents, management and staff in a celebration of participative leadership. The day also marked the warm welcome of Fr. Osborn Furtado, the newly appointed Parish Priest of Our Lady of Dolours Parish. In a graceful gesture of continuity, the outgoing Youth Parliament leaders, the old guard, ceremonially escorted him into the hall.

The programme opened with a prayer service in honour of St. Dominic Savio, the young pupil of Don Bosco who attained sainthood at the age of 15. Presented as a model of holiness, integrity and leadership, Savio’s life offered an apt frame for a ceremony centered on the moral purpose of leadership. A thought-provoking skit on leadership followed, setting the tone for the proceedings and inviting the gathering to reflect on what it truly means to serve others.

The ceremony was not simply about celebrating office. It was about recognizing leadership as a commitment to the community.

A Parliament for Young Citizens

Since Shelter Don Bosco transitioned into an After-Care Home for Youth, it has sought to create opportunities that help its young residents grow into confident, responsible and socially conscious adults. The Youth Parliament is one such initiative. Modelled at a micro level on the spirit of democratic governance in India, it gives young people a meaningful role in the life of the institution.

At its centre are six key offices: Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Education Minister, Health and Hygiene Minister, Sports Minister and Cultural Minister. These are not merely honorary titles. The leaders are expected to listen to their peers, raise concerns, encourage participation and contribute to discussions that affect community life.

Management members and selected staff participate as ex-officio members, while all beneficiaries residing at Shelter Don Bosco take part in the monthly Youth Parliament meetings. The arrangement is significant because it creates a space where young people are heard, where decisions can be discussed openly, and where responsibility is shared rather than handed down.

In many institutions, young people may be invited to follow rules. At Shelter Don Bosco, they are also being taught how rules are shaped, how decisions are debated and how communities are led.

From Nomination to Mandate

The democratic process begins at the start of every academic year. The Programme Coordinator, who also serves as the Election Commissioner, prepares the election schedule, eligibility criteria, code of conduct and the essential dos and don’ts. These guidelines are then approved by the management and the outgoing cadre of Youth Parliament leaders.

The process is deliberate and transparent. Young people interested in contesting first undergo interviews. They are then invited to complete nomination forms and place them in a drop box. Each nomination is carefully processed to verify eligibility and address any discrepancies before the final candidate list is announced.

Within two days, candidates receive their election symbols. What follows is a week of animated campaigning, marked by handmade and digital posters, conversations among peers and an atmosphere of healthy competition. Candidates are given the opportunity to address the community, make speeches and present their manifestos before voting day.

This year, the process also received a timely technological boost. One of Shelter Don Bosco’s budding software undergraduates developed temporary voting software for the election. Eligible voters simply clicked the symbol of their chosen candidate, allowing the results to be generated instantaneously. The innovation made voting efficient, but it also demonstrated something more important: young people using their own skills to strengthen a collective process.

After the votes were counted, the new Youth Parliament took shape. Shubham Raju was elected Prime Minister, with Saniket Kamble as Deputy Prime Minister. Jeevan Bharadwaj became Education Minister, Ganesh Anthony was elected Sports Minister, Yogesh Pyare became Cultural Minister, and Dharmendra Mali took charge as Health and Hygiene Minister.

The newly elected leaders then chose members for their teams from across the Shelter community. These teams, Fire in red, Water in blue, Earth in green and Wind in yellow, bring more young people into the life of the Parliament and link participation with the portfolios and activities of the institution.

The Moment of Trust

Against this backdrop, the Investiture Ceremony on 6 July became the public culmination of weeks of participation, preparation and choice. As the newly elected leaders received their ceremonial sashes and the flags representing their respective portfolios and teams, the moment carried the dignity of a mandate earned from their peers.

Fr. Rudolf D’Souza, Director of Shelter Don Bosco, administered the oath of office, calling upon the young leaders to serve with commitment and responsibility. The oath was a reminder that leadership is not a privilege to be displayed, but a trust to be honoured.

There was also a respectful acknowledgement of the outgoing leaders, who passed the responsibility of stewardship to the new team. Such transitions are at the heart of democratic culture. They teach that no office belongs to an individual forever, and that institutions grow stronger when leadership is renewed with grace and goodwill.

In his keynote address, Fr. Osborn Furtado urged the newly elected leaders to govern not merely with authority, but with compassionate hearts. He called them to lead with kindness, forgiveness, humility and service, qualities that give power its true purpose.

That message resonates strongly with the educational philosophy inspired by Don Bosco. The Preventive System is rooted in reason, religion and loving-kindness. It does not view young people as passive recipients of instruction, but as persons capable of growth, trust and meaningful contribution. Shelter Don Bosco’s Youth Parliament translates that philosophy into daily practice.

Here, a campaign poster can become a lesson in expression. A manifesto can become an exercise in responsibility. A vote can become a lesson in voice and trust. An oath can become a promise to serve.

 For the young leaders of Shelter Don Bosco, the Parliament is not a rehearsal for some distant future. It is democracy lived in the present, one decision, one responsibility and one compassionate act at a time.