Salesian school educates 1,250 youth living in situations of vulnerability

(MissionNewswire) Students attending the Salesian Ceferino Namuncurá School, located in Salta, Argentina, are participating in the “Eco-school and school garden” project. This project facilitates activities and experiences that reinforce the value of care and protection for the environment. Students are engaged in using renewable energy, the reuse of materials and the maintenance of a school garden.

As part of the project, the Ceferino Namuncurá School faced several key challenges including the use of renewable energy. In collaboration with the National Institute of Agricultural Technology and the San José Vocational Training Center, a solar hot water tank was installed for school use.

A Salesian said, “Students are heavily involved in working to protect the environment. They are reusing materials and working in the garden to promote the production of vegetables for school and family consumption. They are also supporting of the ‘Bottles of love’ project in which students produce eco-bricks to create a room for games and snacks in the Floresta district of Salta.”

The school educates 1,250 youth who live in situations of vulnerability. It has several environment projects that were started in response to Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ to raise awareness and increase action on the values ​​of integral ecology. Salesians are working to create an environment that is safe and caring for all life on the planet while building up a new generation of environmentally committed citizens and leaders.

More than a quarter of the people in Argentina live in conditions of poverty with no formal employment and poor-quality education, according to the World Bank. The country’s high school dropout rate is close to 37% and youth account for a third of those unemployed. Almost 12% of children ages 5-17 are working instead of being in school and 20% need government assistance. Many face malnutrition, a lack of clean water and sewage, and inadequate housing.

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Sources:

ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS) 

ANS – Argentina – An EcoSchool is possible

Salesian Missions – Argentina

World Bank – Argentina