In response, particularly to the invitation of the local Catholic Bishop Francis Micallef, OCD, and the large community of Indians settled in Kuwait, the Salesians of Don Bosco had been negotiating for an educational presence here, since June 1998. The responsibility of establishing this presence in the Gulf region was entrusted to the Province of Mumbai, by the late Rector Major, Fr. Juan Vecchi, who provided all the necessary financial assistance and encouragement, through the Councillor for the Missions, Fr. Luciano Odorico.

Under the Sponsorship of Brigadier Mohammed Juma, the required permission for establishing a school affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), New Delhi, India, was finally obtained on 17 March, 2002. The approved name of the school is Indian English Academy School. It is situated in Salmiya, which has a big Indian population.

On 6 April, 2002, the gates of Indian English Academy School opened to welcome its first batch of 350 students. The students are mainly expatriate children from the different states of India, from Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Philippines and the Arab world (Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen) and of course, a few from Kuwait, as well. The two Salesian pioneers, Fr. Donald Fernandez, SDB, as Principal and Fr. Derrick Misquitta, SDB, as administrator got off to a good start with the assistance of a select teaching and administrative staff from India and some who were locally engaged.

As elsewhere, the reputation of Don Bosco, the Educator has spread far and wide here. Don Bosco Past Pupils from various countries are residents in Kuwait and have certainly brought credit to the Salesian method of education through the witness of their own lives and their enthusiasm to help out during the pioneering stage.

Learn more about the work of the Salesian Fathers in Kuwait:
http//www.catholic-church.org/kuwait/sdb.htm

Contact e-mail address:
donboscoQ8@hotmail.com