5.2. The Right to Protection The young at risk may have developed survival skills in the street for self- protection. Yet, she is exposed to every kind of danger violence, abuse, threats, deprivation, ill health, bad influence, exploitation, inclemency of nature, etc. The intervention made by a “significant adult” is with the offer of total protection. Therefore, the child has to choose between the available street/situation of risk and the offer made by the significant adult. The open shelter is the first space in Don Bosco’s intervention for the young at risk, offering protection. The enabling presence of a significant adult, which Don Bosco called assistance comes into play herein a meaningful way. Don Bosco planned and created an environment in which it was
266 Thomas Koshy almost impossible for the young to make a mistake -to sin. This is the right to protection as declared by the UNCRC.
