Don Bosco Society, also known as “The Salesians of Don Bosco”, is a religious order of the Catholic Church. The society has over 32,000 members working in 131 countries. Through a global network of educational and social service organizations which include 15 universities, 58 institutions of higher education and thousands of schools and social development centres, it cares for the less privileged and marginalized sections of society. It currently caters to over fifteen million young people the world over.

In India, the Salesians of Don Bosco began their operations way back in 1906. From a small beginning with a trade school and hostel for poor children at Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, the Society today has over 5000 members (Fathers, Sisters and Brothers). Its services are offered through 31 colleges, which include 2 engineering colleges, over 100 technical schools and a large network of high schools and score of non-formal technical and agricultural training centres, spread across the country, covering the entire spectrum of Social development. The Society also runs literacy centres, shelter for street children and rehabilitation and relief operations. The government of India has recognized the Salesians of Don Bosco as the largest non-governmental provider of technical education in the country.

The Salesians of Don Bosco in Tamil Nadu have two administrative regions called Provinces, with Chennai and Trichy as their headquarters. The Province of Chennai established Don Bosco Kalvisolai in 1996 as an animation centre to promote the Educational and Cultural dimension of the Salesian Youth Ministry with the purpose of doing animation and research in the field of Education. The first person who was appointed as Director of this venture was Rev. Bro. Joseph Das sdb. He gave a good start with a quarterly magazine “Palli uraiadal” (gs;sp ciuahly;) and regular animation and training programmes for both Staff and Students. For the staff the main animation was imparting the Educational System of Don Bosco viz. the “Preventive system”.

The centre was initially placed at ‘Bosco Hostel’ at Don Bosco, Tirupattur. For a few years it was located wherever a part-time director was appointed. Later it found a place at The Citadel where it remained until the year 2019. The idea of having the Animation Centre in a more central and strategic place resulted in it being finally shifted to the Salesian campus at Don Bosco, Gandhi Nagar, Vellore.