Saint John Bosco, commonly known as Don Bosco, was an Italian Catholic priest whodedicated his life to the education of young boys. He was born in Becchi, near Turin, inthe Northern Italy on the 16th August 1815.

Don Bosco was kept away from regular schooling because of many difficulties. Hisfather died when he was two and so his poor family needed his services at the farm.Bosco 's elder step brother opposed all his plans of getting even an elementaryeducation. Yet through sheer dint of will power and the help of many a generous heart,he got himself educated to support himself. At this time he worked at odd jobs-all ofwhich he later taught his orphans.

After he became a priest in 1841, he expanded his work for poor and abandoned boys.Born and bred in poverty and having grown up among boys who, for want of a decenthome, lived in the streets, he understood well their yearning for food and love whichwere never adequately satisfied in their homes.

To cater to the needs of such boys, he started an 'Oratory' or 'Boys Club' open to all theboys who wished to spend their time usefully. In order to prepare boys for skilled labour,in 1863, Don Bosco turned his mother Margaret's kitchen into a makeshift cobbler andcarpenter shop. This was the first Catholic trade school in Italy.

With the dedicated group of followers who gathered around him he was able to help thestreet urchins to become honest citizens and God-fearing men.

To win the hearts of the youngsters he used 'The Preventive System'. Don Boscoexplained it as a happy blend of reason, religion and loving kindness. In fact whenasked about the secret of his immense success with youngsters, he simply answered "Love".

To continue the work that he had started he founded in 1859 a religious society ofpriests and brothers, known as Salesians (SDB). They are a group of persons set apartwithin the Catholic Church for the education of youth, especially the poor and theabandoned.

To spread his work to needy girls, with the help of Saint Mary Mazzarello, he founded asociety of nuns called 'The Daughters of Mary Help of Christains' (FMA), in 1892commonly known as Salesian Sisters. Besides these two, in 1876, he founded a thirdspiritual family called 'The Union of Salesian Co-operator'sa group of men and women,married or unmarried who, without becoming priests or nuns would work for youth in thespirit of Don Bosco.

When he died on 31st January 1888, his parting message was typical of him, “Tell myboys, I am waiting for them in heaven”