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Saint John Bosco, popularly known as Don Bosco (Italian for Father Bosco), was born in Becchi, Piedmont, Italy, on August 16, 1815. He founded a Roman Catholic Religious Congregation of Priests and Brothers called the Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB), with its headquarters in Italy.
He created a unique system of education that nurtures the whole person—body, heart, mind, and spirit. He strongly believed that the hearts of young people could be won through love, patience, and empathy, not through intimidation and punishment. From a very young age, he decided that he was called to work for the poor boys of his time, when Europe was in the grip of the Industrial Revolution. During this era, many young people who came to the cities to study or seek work often fell prey to the numerous social evils of the time.
After being ordained a priest of the Catholic Church in 1841, Don Bosco dedicated himself to rescuing these poor boys, using his novel method of educating youth through total dedication and personal involvement in their lives and problems.
He based his education on three great principles: Reason, Religion, and Loving-Kindness. He loved those to whom he dedicated his life as a caring father and took all necessary actions to ensure their wellbeing. Don Bosco was deeply attuned to the needs of his society. He did not view education in isolation from the community within which it functioned.
Currently serving in 132 countries across the globe, Don Bosco Fathers and Brothers serve young people by shaping their careers and guiding them as friends toward meaningful and fulfilling lives. Joseph Zoppi, the Swiss educationist, remarked, “If there ever existed a method of education adapted to inspire confidence and love, it is the method of Don Bosco.” The system aims to create a generation of young men and women steeped not only in sound knowledge-based education but also in strong value-based education for life.
