Visit of Mr. & Mrs.Christof & Madeleine Siffert

Mr. & Mrs. Christop & Madeleine Siffert from Switzerland came to St. Dominic Savio Boys Home this morning and spent some time with us. Fr. Godfrey D'Souza the Rector was in touch with them via email as they wanted to send some gift items for poor deserving children and youngsters. They had collected a lot of stuff such as clothes, stationery, toys etc from the children of Switzerland.

They came with their little daughter and young son and they were entertained by our yougsters with a welcome song and a couple of christmas carols that the brass band played. They enjoyed mingling with the youngsters and at the end of their short but sweet visit gave some chocolates to the boys.

They also brought with them a beautiful set of football uniforms of the Swiss National Team and a number of footballs for our youngsters. We are indeed very grateful to them for their generosity and sharing.

Fr. Godfrey in his welcome introduced the Sifferts to the boarders and thanked them for all the trouble they took to bring so many gifts for children in Mumbai.

The Sifferts with us in our Boys Home

The Sifferts with their children

Listening to our band play christmas carols

Showing the Swiss National Football Uniforms

Some footballs that they brought along

Cultural Day of Std. I

On the 12th December Standard I had their Cultural Day. The theme was Christmas. The youngsters were in their best outfits waiting to come on stage and enact scenes from the Nativity with the reindeers, cows and other animals. Mary and Joseph were indeed surrounded by worthy little street urchins and scientists.

The youngsters began with a prayer dance and then the different little items that they did so very well and beautifully. It was amazing to note that they were just standard I and did to perfection.

The hall was indeed packed with parents, grandparents and relatives for the Cultural Day.

A Welcome song by the youngsters for the parents

The angels bringing the Good News to poor children

Not without a dance to swing to the beat

A Farewell song

Santa was here

NBA Cares Inaugurates Basket Ball Court at St. Dominic Savio's

It was indeed a Red Letter Day for the Institute, as on the 9th December we were privileged to have NBA Cares come to inaugurate the newly refurbrished basketball court that they sponsored. Together with Mr. Harish Sharma, the Secretary General of the BFI (Basketball Federation of India), and Mr. M. Venkatesh a Savio Club basketball member, who was very instrumental in getting us the sponsorship of the NBA, we had the NBA Legend, a seven plus footer, Mr. Dikembe Mutombo himself with us to inaugurate the court.

The NBA Cares logo on the court

NBA Legend Dikembe Mutombo 7'2"

Fr. Godfrey D'Souza in his welcome thanked NBA Cares and Mr. Harish Sharma and the sponsors, Tata Consultancy Services and HP for their contribution in making this venture possible for youngsters who have the passion for Basketball.

The event began at 16.00 hours and there were a number of youngsters who had come for this inauguration and clinic after the inauguration. Mr. Dikembe in his speech said that anyone can become a good basketball player but we need to be good human beings who make a difference in the lives of others and society.

Dikembe Mutombo speaking to the crowd

Some of the youngsters present

Some of the girls present for the clinic

After the introductions and speeches we had the unveiling of the plaque by Dikembe Mutombo.

Unveiling of the plaque

Soon after the unveiling we had the NBA representatives who conducted a basketball clinic for all the youngsters who were present on the grounds. We had the boys of St. Dominic Savio's; the girls from Divine Child and Canossa schools who were also present for the clinic. The clinic went on for about an hour.

Training during the clinic

Training during the clinic

Dikembe Mutombo during the clinic

Give me five with one of the participants

With some of our youngsters of Dominic Savio's

Some of the younger participants

Many of those who came for the clinic did receive a memento from Dikembe of his photograph when he played for the Rockets. They were indeed delighted to have something to remember of this great legend of the NBA.

The memento he gave to each youngster