(MissionNewswire)  The Don Bosco Higher Education Institute (Instituto Superior Don Bosco) is focusing on the environment with several recent initiatives. Students from the Environmental Club recently took a workshop, using paper, water and charcoal powder to produce eco-friendly charcoal with low calorific value, which is a less polluting option suitable. The process involved preparing the mixture, molding and drying the product.

A Salesian noted, “The initiative allowed students to understand the value of recycling and the importance of environmental innovation, reinforcing the Environmental Club’s commitment to reducing waste and promoting ecological alternatives within the institution.”

Students at another Salesian-run education center, the São José de Lhanguene Training Center, is also having their students in the electrical installation course raise awareness about the importance of environmental preservation and proper waste management. Thirty-two students created posters with educational messages such as “Don’t litter” and “Stop waste.”

The Salesian added, “The initiative promoted teamwork, creativity, and civic spirit, reinforcing the trainees’ commitment to environmental protection. The activity showed that environmental education combined with art is an effective tool for raising awareness and ecological responsibility among young people.”

Poverty surged in Mozambique from 48.4% to 62.9% between 2014 and 2022. According to the World Bank, this rise is attributed to the hidden debt crisis, COVID-19, and natural disasters. Poverty is concentrated in rural areas, and even with growth within the country, the regions of Zambezia, Sofala, Manica and Gaza saw an increase in poverty in the 2000s.

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Photo credit

Don Bosco Green Alliance – Paper Charcoal Production Workshop at ISDB, Mozambique

Don Bosco Green Alliance – Creative Workshop at ISDB, Mozambique

Salesian Missions – Mozambique

World Bank – Mozambique

The post MOZAMBIQUE: Salesian students are focusing on environmental initiatives first appeared on MissionNewswire.

MOZAMBIQUE

(MissionNewswire) The Don Bosco Social-Sports School of the Real Madrid Foundation in Maputo, Mozambique, serves as a safe haven for children from the Chamanculo and Luís Cabral neighborhoods on the outskirts of the city. Youth at the school come from families with low incomes, many of whom rely on informal, unregulated work and face limited access to basic necessities such as water, food, hygiene, and sanitation.

The Salesian socio-educational initiative, supported by the Salesian Mission Office in Madrid, positively shapes the behavior and personal development of the 100 children aged 5-18 who attend the school. More than just academics, it seeks to nurture their overall growth and help them find direction in life.

The Don Bosco Social-Sports School is part of the Real Madrid Foundation’s global network of social-sports schools that have the motto “They play, we educate.” These schools promote a model of education that goes beyond the classroom, blending academic learning with athletic training. This holistic approach supports mental and physical development, encouraging youth to have a healthy balance between study and physical activity.

Ildo, age 14, shared how the school has impacted his life. “The Real Madrid Foundation project brought many positive changes to my life — both in school and in sports. It also improved how I relate to my classmates and my family.” Ildo highlighted the values the program teaches — teamwork, perseverance, respect and solidarity — as vital not only for personal growth but also for preparing to face life’s challenges both in and out of school.

Numerous studies show that children involved in sports and extracurricular activities tend to perform better academically. The Don Bosco School also offers tutoring and academic support, helping students to strengthen their skills and open doors to better educational and career opportunities in the future.

A central pillar of the program is social inclusion. The school provides a safe, respectful environment where youth from diverse backgrounds learn and grow together. This interaction helps reduce social barriers, strengthen community bonds, and foster a culture of peace and unity.

All participants in the program face some form of social exclusion. Many live in violent neighborhoods with high crime rates, experience family difficulties, or lack access to food and other essential resources. A youth worker at the school said, “Taking part in the project builds their self-confidence and self-esteem, and helps them develop social skills.”

The program also offers nutritional support, educational workshops, academic reinforcement classes and extracurricular activities. Youth participate in internal soccer and basketball tournaments, with four and a half hours of weekly training. They also attend motivational talks and sessions on the dangers of drug and alcohol use, join reading clubs, go on excursions, and receive regular medical check-ups.

Mozambique has made great strides in reducing poverty, according to the World Bank. But with nearly 50% of the population still living in poverty, progress has not been fast enough. Poverty is concentrated in rural areas, and even with growth within the country, the regions of Zambezia, Sofala, Manica and Gaza saw an increase in poverty in the 2000s.

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Sources:

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

ANS – Mozambique – The Power of Solidarity at the “Don Bosco” Social-Sports School of the Real Madrid Foundation

Real Madrid Foundation

Salesian Missions – Mozambique

World Bank – Mozambique

The post MOZAMBIQUE: School provides education, sports for youth from low-income families first appeared on MissionNewswire.

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Youth Technical Institute in Lilongwe, Malawi, and Don Bosco Centers in Maputo and Inharrime, Mozambique, have partnered with Schneider Electric, a leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation. An announcement made in Engineering News explained that Schneider Electric, under the auspices of the Schneider Electric Foundation, will provide didactic benches for training purposes.

Don Bosco Malawi and Don Bosco Mozambique have already received shipments of the benches, and training is underway. Schneider Electric and education equipment manufacturing partner, Amtec Techniquip, will also provide training to the lecturers, according to the article.

The partnership aims to support education for students who are pursuing careers in the electrical industry by providing up-to-date vocational training that meets global standards. In the article, Avin Ramjeeth, projects and offer manager at Schneider Electric Academy, explained, “Training on didactic benches offers real-world and practical scenarios and problem solving that are invaluable when pursuing a career in the electrical industry. Our didactic benches meet the highest global standards and will ensure that these students are well on their way to successful careers in this all-important field.”

Father Martin Nguyen, principal for Don Bosco Youth Technical Institute in Malawi, expressed gratitude for the new equipment and the training. He said, “Don Bosco Youth Technical Institute management, staff and students are excited about the newly installed training equipment in the electrical installation and electronics workshop. The institute foresees high-quality training and an increased number of learners with hands-on experience in the field.”

Salesian missionaries are considered the largest private provider of vocational and technical training in the world. Programs focus on helping vulnerable youth by providing access to educational opportunities that match the local employment needs. Salesian vocational and technical schools help ensure youth have the skills needed for employment. Partnerships, like this with Schneider Electric, help youth to be trained in the most up-to-date resources in the field and ensure a smooth school to work transition.

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Engineering News – Schneider Electric and Don Bosco Malawi and Mozambique accelerate electrical training

Salesian Missions – Malawi

Salesian Missions – Mozambique

The post MALAWI/MOZAMBIQUE: New equipment enhances student skills first appeared on MissionNewswire.

MOZAMBIQUE

(MissionNewswire) More than 2,000 people in the Salesian São João Baptista de Moatize Mission, located in Ntsungo, Mozambique, have clean water access thanks to funding from the Salesian Missions “Clean Water Initiative.” Salesian Missions is the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco.

The region, which is home to more than 8,000 people, lacks access to health services and clean water. It only has one primary school. Among the beneficiaries, 60 percent are women and 40 percent are men. Most of the communities have many children and older youth.

With the funding, Salesians were able to drill a borewell, install solar powered pumps and create a water system with three plastic tanks with a capacity of 5,000 liters each. Water is channeled to the communities and to the primary school. Water fountains were also set up in the communities so that people could access the water.

“Salesian Missions has made clean water projects a priority for the health and safety of those we serve,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions. “This community had little access to clean water prior to this project. Now people can access water in the communities and right at the primary school, helping to ensure safe drinking water and proper sanitation.”

Salesian missionaries have been living and working in Mozambique for 110 years, providing education and social development programs for poor youth. The country gained its independence in 1975, but a civil war erupted in 1977 and lasted until peace treaties were signed in Rome in 1992. The civil war left some 60,000 youth with few employment prospects, little training and war being their only education.

Mozambique has made great strides in reducing poverty, according to the World Bank. But with nearly 50 percent of the population still living in poverty, progress has not been fast enough. Poverty is concentrated in rural areas, and even with growth within the country, the regions of Zambezia, Sofala, Manica and Gaza saw an increase in poverty in the 2000s.

More than 70 percent of those living in poverty reside in rural areas and rely on farming and fishing to make a living. The vast majority of the rural population lives on less than $1.25 a day and lacks basic services such as access to safe water, health facilities and schools.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions – Mozambique

World Bank – Mozambique

The post MOZAMBIQUE: School and communities gain clean water first appeared on MissionNewswire.

MOZAMBIQUE

(MissionNewswire) At the end of July, teachers in Maputo, Mozambique, attended technical training as part of the “Technical Volunteering” project that is a collaborative effort between Salesians in Maputo and Pamplona, Spain. The training normally takes place every year in person, but due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, it has been done remotely online for the last two summers.

At the end of 1992, Mozambique was ravaged by civil war. The peace agreements signed in Rome put an end to 17 years of clashes, but the population faced hundreds of thousands of deaths and millions of people who had been displaced, some having left the country as refugees who would never return. Many children lost years of schooling in the process.

In 1994, two Salesians in Pamplona reached out to Salesians in Mozambique, as well as state and local authorities and international organizations, to start talks about launching vocational training to help educate, and in some instances, re-educate a whole generation of youth. Initially, 12 members of the Salesian community in Pamplona traveled to Maputo to provide teacher training and help set up technical training centers for youth.

Five technical and vocational training centers have since been developed. The Don Bosco Higher Institute in Maputo has also developed a university center dedicated to the preparation of technical and vocational teachers. The Don Bosco Higher Institute is the only professional teacher training program in the country and provides training to more than 600 students each year. Partially funded by the Spanish Cooperation, it is also the only teacher training center in Mozambique recognized by the Ministry of Education for the training of teachers of professional schools.

Mozambique has made great strides in reducing poverty, according to the World Bank. But with nearly 50 percent of the population still living in poverty, progress has not been fast enough. Poverty is concentrated in rural areas, and even with growth within the country, the regions of Zambezia, Sofala, Manica and Gaza saw an increase in poverty in the 2000s.

More than 70 percent of those living in poverty reside in rural areas and rely on farming and fishing to make a living. The vast majority of the rural population lives on less than $1.25 a day and lacks basic services such as access to safe water, health facilities and schools.

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Sources:

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

ANS – Mozambique – The question from the very start: “What can we do for these young people?”. A history of international technical volunteering

Salesian Missions – Mozambique

World Bank – Mozambique

The post MOZAMBIQUE: Teachers take technical training during summer break first appeared on MissionNewswire.

MOZAMBIQUE

(MissionNewswire) Students and staff at the Salesian College in Maputo, Mozambique, will have clean water access thanks to funding from the Salesian Missions “Clean Water Initiative.” Salesian Missions is the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco.

The project provided a new borewell and water tank with a distribution system on the Salesian grounds, which houses the college and a Salesian coordination house. More than 700 people were directly impacted by this project and another 200 families from the local community will also be able to access the new water source.

The Salesian College is a higher education institution dedicated to teacher training for professional, technical and vocational schools. The institution has close to 600 students attending and offers courses in hospitably and tourism, mechanics and electricity, information and communication technologies, and administration sciences. On the same grounds is the Salesian coordination house, which is the headquarters of the Salesians of Don Bosco for the entire country of Mozambique. The coordination team works and lives there.

The borewell and new water source were needed because of the high cost of water supplied by the national network FIPAG (Investment Fund and Heritage of Water Supply). FIPAG also faces water supply capacity problems and has not been able to meet the demand for water. There are several restrictions and breaks in the supply that sometimes last a week. This makes it extremely difficult to run an educational institution with many students.

The project will ensure that the Salesian community has access to the water supply it needs, keep costs low, and ensure the quality of water provided to Salesian staff and students. This project is the first phase. Additional funding is needed for an electrical pump and switchboard and other activities for clean water access.

“Salesian Missions has made clean water projects a priority for the health and safety of those we serve,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions. “Improving water access ensures that teachers and students are working and learning in an environment that promotes proper hygiene and has safe drinking water. This reduces the number of waterborne illnesses that can affect those in our schools, keeping them away from important study time.”

Salesian missionaries have been living and working in Mozambique for 110 years, providing education and social development programs for poor youth. The country gained its independence in 1975, but a civil war erupted in 1977 and lasted until peace treaties were signed in Rome in 1992. The civil war left some 60,000 youth with few employment prospects, little training and war being their only education.

Mozambique has made great strides in reducing poverty, according to the World Bank. But with nearly 50 percent of the population still living in poverty, progress has not been fast enough. Poverty is concentrated in rural areas, and even with growth within the country, the regions of Zambezia, Sofala, Manica and Gaza saw an increase in poverty in the 2000s.

More than 70 percent of those living in poverty reside in rural areas and rely on farming and fishing to make a living. The vast majority of the rural population lives on less than $1.25 a day and lacks basic services such as access to safe water, health facilities and schools.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions – Mozambique

World Bank – Mozambique

The post MOZAMBIQUE: More than 700 people directly impacted by clean water project first appeared on MissionNewswire.

MOZAMBIQUE

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Maputo offers a Real Madrid Social-Sports School in Mozambique‘s capital of Maputo. Salesian missionaries have been working in the country for over a century to help disadvantaged children by offering them an education. Through soccer and basketball, more than 70 children and adolescents learn values ​​and improve their academic performance.

Don Bosco Maputo Social-Sport School is part of a collaborative initiative between the Salesian Missions Office in Madrid and the Real Madrid Foundation. The partnership began in 2010 in a Salesian school in Senegal and continued to schools in Central and South America. The first social-sports school was in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In 2012, social-sports schools opened in Portugal. Today, the collaboration has 21 projects in 14 countries and serves nearly 4,000 children each season, using educational sport and its values as a catalyst for the social betterment of youth and communities.

Both the Real Madrid Foundation and the Salesians are aware that sports are important for social integration and the promotion of values like teamwork, communication, respect and team spirit. The social-sports schools are housed in Salesian schools. As part of the Real Madrid Foundation’s “They play, we educate” program, participants receive nutrition, family and psychological support, regular health checkups, the opportunity to participate in social and educational workshops, gymnastics, crafts, reading, and citizenship activities. Training sessions on topics such as health, hygiene, values, and the prevention of alcohol, tobacco, and drug abuse are also provided.

For three days a week, the students at Don Bosco Maputo participate in training sessions. Mandatory lockdowns during the last school year as a result of the pandemic decreased sports activities and the number of participants. The project turned to the distribution of food, masks and protective devices as well as awareness-raising initiatives about COVID-19 to avoid infections.

Walter, age 13 and one of the participants in the soccer school, said, “Here we have fun, we learn a lot and make friends. When I grow up, I want to be a teacher. I know that what I’m learning will help me achieve this goal.”

The school year in Mozambique began in February. Participation limitations and health measures are still in place. To ensure safety, the school is enforcing the use of masks, requiring hand disinfection before entering the playground or any activity organized by the school, and taking the participants’ temperatures before they enter the sports complex.

Mozambique has made great strides in reducing poverty, according to the World Bank. But with nearly 50 percent of the population still living in poverty, progress has not been fast enough.

More than 70 percent of those living in poverty reside in rural areas and rely on farming and fishing to make a living. The vast majority of the rural population lives on less than $1.25 a day and lacks basic services such as access to safe water, health facilities and schools.

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Sources:

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

ANS – Mozambique – Solidarity, fundamental ingredient in “Don Bosco-Maputo” Social and Sports School of Real Madrid

Real Madrid Foundation

Salesian Missions – Mozambique

World Bank – Mozambique

The post MOZAMBIQUE: Real Madrid Social-Sports School brings opportunities to students first appeared on MissionNewswire.

MOZAMBIQUE

(MissionNewswire) Volunteers from the Salesian São José community, near Maputo, Mozambique, brought food rations to 46 elderly people in need. These rations included corn flour, rice, oil, sugar, tea and soap. In addition to these people, more than 100 others have been identified to receive help as soon as other resources become available.

Salesian missionaries have been living and working in Mozambique for more than 110 years, providing education and social development programs for poor youth. The country gained its independence in 1975, but a civil war erupted in 1977 and lasted until peace treaties were signed in Rome in 1992. The civil war left some 60,000 youth with few employment prospects, little training and war being the education they knew.

Salesian missionaries began offering vocational and technical training for these youth to help them gain employment and life skills that would prepare them for a life on their own and in the workforce. Today, there are five Salesian centers in the country teaching basic education along with vocational and technical training. These Salesian centers have also developed critical partnerships with local businesses that help ensure youth can make transitions from the classroom to the workforce. The partnerships also help tailor the skills training to ensure that Salesian programs are meeting the local workforce needs.

“Vocational and technical skills training along with these professional partnerships have become seeds of change for youth in Mozambique,” says Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “The goal of Salesian centers is to ensure that youth have their basic needs met while focusing primarily on education to help them break the cycle of poverty and prepare them for the future. During this global pandemic and while school is out of session, Salesian missionaries are focusing on those most in need and impacted by coronavirus.”

In Maputo, the Don Bosco Higher Institute is the only professional teacher training program in the country. Partially funded by the Spanish Cooperation, it is also the only teacher training center in Mozambique recognized by the Ministry of Education for the training of teachers of professional schools. The teacher training program was developed in the 2006-2007 academic year  and was made possible through a collaboration between the Salesians, the Spanish foreign ministry, the government of Mozambique and the Youth of the Third World organization.

Mozambique has made great strides in reducing poverty, according to the World Bank. But with nearly 50 percent of the population still living in poverty, progress has not been fast enough. Poverty is concentrated in rural areas, and even with growth within the country, the regions of Zambezia, Sofala, Manica and Gaza saw an increase in poverty in the 2000s.

More than 70 percent of those living in poverty reside in rural areas and rely on farming and fishing to make a living. The vast majority of the rural population lives on less than $1.25 a day and lacks basic services such as access to safe water, health facilities and schools.

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Sources:

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

ANS – Mozambique – Salesian volunteers help elderly

Salesian Missions – Mozambique

World Bank – Mozambique

The post MOZAMBIQUE: Volunteers from the Salesian São José community provide food rations to 46 elderly people in need first appeared on MissionNewswire.

MOZAMBIQUE

(MissionNewswire) The Salesian community in the Luís Cabral neighborhood of Maputo, Mozambique, was able to dig a new borewell to increase water access thanks to funding from Salesian Missions “Clean Water Initiative.” With this first round of funding, Salesian missionaries have been able to complete several activities including identifying a suitable water source, demarcation of the area, drilling and opening of a borewell, and water pressure tests.

The Salesian community is home to the Salesian coordination house, which is the headquarters of the Salesians of Don Bosco for the entire country of Mozambique. The coordination team works and lives there. The community is also home to a Salesian college, which trains 600 students. The college is dedicated to training for teachers who will educate in professional, technical and vocational schools.

The need for a borewell and new water source for the Salesian community is due to the high cost of water supplied by the national network FIPAG (Investment Fund and Heritage of Water Supply). FIPAG also faces water supply capacity problems and has not been able to meet the demand for water. There are several restrictions and breaks in the supply that sometimes last a week. This makes it extremely difficult to run an educational institution with so many students.

Having its own water supply will ensure that the Salesian community will have access to the water supply they need, keep costs low and ensure the quality of water provided to Salesian staff and students. This project is the first phase. Additional funding is needed for an electrical pump and switchboard and other activities for clean water access.

“Salesian communities must have access to safe, clean water for the health and safety of those we serve,” says Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Improving water access ensures that teachers and students are working and learning in an environment that promotes proper hygiene and has safe drinking water. This reduces the number of waterborne illnesses that can affect those in our schools, keeping them away from important study time.”

Salesian missionaries have been living and working in Mozambique for 110 years, providing education and social development programs for poor youth. The country gained its independence in 1975 but a civil war erupted in 1977 and lasted until peace treaties were signed in Rome in 1992. The civil war left some 60,000 youth with few employment prospects, little training and war being their only education.

Mozambique has made great strides in reducing poverty, according to the World Bank. But with nearly 50 percent of the population still living in poverty, progress has not been fast enough. Poverty is concentrated in rural areas, and even with growth within the country, the regions of Zambezia, Sofala, Manica and Gaza saw an increase in poverty in the 2000s.

More than 70 percent of those living in poverty reside in rural areas and rely on farming and fishing to make a living. The vast majority of the rural population lives on less than $1.25 a day and lacks basic services such as access to safe water, health facilities and schools.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions – Mozambique

World Bank – Mozambique

The post MOZAMBIQUE: Salesian community in Maputo has new borewell for water access thanks to Salesian Missions ‘Clean Water Initiative’ first appeared on MissionNewswire.

The United Nations World Food Program is reporting that more 600,000 people have been displaced. It has deemed the crisis a level three emergency on par with war-torn Yemen, Syria and South Sudan.

As water and food are in short supply, international aid is starting to reach the region but is hampered by destroyed roads and flooded remote villages. Workers are struggling to repair roads, restore power and take care of survivors. Of particular concern is preventing an outbreak of cholera with cases already reported by the Red Cross in Beira, a coastal city in Mozambique that took the brunt of the storm.

Salesian missionaries living and working in the region have not suffered direct damage and are active in helping with relief operations. They are concerned for several students boarding at the Salesian centers who have family in the areas affected. Missionaries are also working with other religious groups in the region to raise funds for Caritas and other nonprofit organizations like Doctors without Borders to help support immediate relief and first aid operations.

Missionaries within Salesian educational centers are collecting basic necessities such as food, medicines and clean drinking water for those in the affected sites. “We thank everyone for the prayers and solidarity shown so far. Do continue to help us,” said Father Marco Biaggi, the superior of the vice province of Mozambique.

Salesian missionaries have been living and working in Mozambique for 110 years, providing education and social development programs for poor youth. The country gained its independence in 1975 but a civil war erupted in 1977 and lasted until peace treaties were signed in Rome in 1992. The civil war left some 60,000 youth with few employment prospects, little training and war being the their only education.

Salesian missionaries began offering vocational and technical training for these youth with the goal of helping them gain employment and life skills that would prepare them to live independently and support themselves. Today, there are five Salesian centers in the country offering basic education along with vocational and technical training. These Salesian centers have made critical partnerships with local businesses to ensure youth are able to make the transition from the classroom into the workforce. These partnerships also help tailor the Salesian skills training to meet local workforce needs.

Mozambique has made great strides in reducing poverty, according to the World Bank. But with nearly 50 percent of the population still living in poverty, progress has not been fast enough. Poverty is concentrated in rural areas, and even with growth within the country, the regions of Zambezia, Sofala, Manica and Gaza saw an increase in poverty in the 2000s.

More than 70 percent of those living in poverty reside in rural areas and rely on farming and fishing to make a living. The vast majority of the rural population lives on less than $1.25 a day and lacks basic services such as access to safe water, health facilities and schools.

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

ANS – Mozambique – Salesians ready to help rescue and reconstruction

MOZAMBIQUE: Salesian centers provide poor youth vocational and technical training for future employment

New York Times – No Roofs, No Roads, No Bread: Cyclone Devastates Parts of Southeastern Africa

The Atlantic – The Aftermath of Cyclone Idai in Mozambique and Zimbabwe

World Bank – Mozambique

The post MOZAMBIQUE: Salesian missionaries are responding with relief efforts in wake of devastating Cyclone Idai first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Salesian missionaries began offering vocational and technical training for these youth with the goal of helping them gain employment and life skills that would prepare them for a life on their own and in the workforce. Today, there are five Salesian centers in the country teaching basic education along with vocational and technical training. These Salesian centers have also made critical partnerships with local businesses that help ensure youth are able to make transitions from the classroom to the workforce. These partnerships also help tailor the skills training to ensure that Salesian programs are meeting the local workforce needs.

“Vocational and technical skills training along with these professional partnerships have become seeds of change for youth in Mozambique,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “The goal of Salesian centers is to ensure that youth have their basic needs met while focusing primarily on education to help them break the cycle of poverty and prepare them for the future.”

Recently, volunteers and 17 professionals facilitated educational and other social activities that benefited more than 80 youth with more than 1,000 hours of educational lessons and practice. Some of the young students who participated might one day go on to become educators themselves, moving beyond this initial education and entering into more advanced teacher training.

At the Don Bosco Higher Institute at Maputo, Salesian missionaries operate the only professional teacher training program in the country. Partially funded by the Spanish Cooperation, it is the only teacher training center in Mozambique recognized by the Ministry of Education for the training of teachers of professional schools. The teacher training program was developed in the 2006-2007 academic year at the Don Bosco Higher Institute and was made possible through a collaboration between the Salesians, the Spanish foreign ministry, the government of Mozambique and the Youth of the Third World organization.

Mozambique has made great strides in reducing poverty, according to the World Bank. But with nearly 50 percent of the population still living in poverty, progress has not been fast enough. Poverty is concentrated in rural areas, and even with growth within the country, the regions of Zambezia, Sofala, Manica and Gaza saw an increase in poverty in the 2000s.

More than 70 percent of those living in poverty reside in rural areas and rely on farming and fishing to make a living. The vast majority of the rural population lives on less than $1.25 a day and lacks basic services such as access to safe water, health facilities and schools.

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ANS – Mozambique – Vocational Training and Volunteering: perfect tandem of the Salesians

World Bank – Mozambique

The post MOZAMBIQUE: Salesian centers provide poor youth vocational and technical training for future employment first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Collaboration between the Salesian programs and Schneider Electric was formed 16 years ago. The contract between the two organizations was initiated between CNOS-FAP (National Center of Salesian Works – Professional Training and Upgrading) and Schneider Electric. Father Luigi Enrico Peretti, the general director of CNOS-FAP noted that the collaboration is very strong because it is based on common principles and perspectives with the goal of training youth for the workforce.

“Schneider Electric is proud to work with the Salesian Congregation through training programs for local instructors and students from more disadvantaged contexts,” said Gilles Vermot Desroches, senior vice president of sustainability at Schneider Electric.

The goal of the new projects is to generate sustainable development by creating opportunities for social advancement for disadvantaged youth in the regions where the programs will take place. In the city of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a project will be started at the Ngagi Professional Training Center to teach students about solar energy. The project will also include work placement and the installation of solar panels to generate electricity for the whole structure.

In Pingull Kudal, India, funding from this project will update the equipment in the laboratory of the local Professional Training Center to offer students the opportunity to work in more modern facilities. In Haiti, a project will offer training courses for teachers, new equipment for laboratories, technical materials for students and a new system of electricity supply. In Maputo, Mozambique, funding will allow the purchase of new equipment and materials for students and an energy update program will be set up for teachers and students. The fifth project funded will take place in southern Italy and provide apprenticeship courses in the subjects of innovation 4.0, covering electricity, electronics and renewable energies.

“Collaborative partnerships between Salesian missionaries and corporations are essential to help us meet our mission to provide education and social development programs to poor youth around the globe,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Salesian missionaries provide technical and professional training for future electricians in many Salesian schools. The Schneider Electric partnership allows us to have up-to-date training materials and equipment available for our students along with professional training support in our classrooms.”

Through the Schneider Electrical Foundation more than 10,000 students have received electrician training in Salesian programs in India, Latin America and Europe since 2009. In addition to providing education, Salesian training programs help students connect to internships that allow them to apply lessons learned in the classroom to real-life work environments.

“Salesian programs educate poor youth who would otherwise have few opportunities for education and employment,” adds Fr. Hyde. “Having access to professionals in the field gives our students an advantage not only in the classroom but in the workforce as well.”

Salesian missionaries are also actively engaged in building hospitals, schools and youth centers as well as other community infrastructure in more than 130 countries around the globe. Schneider Electric has assisted in the implementation of many of these projects by providing both the equipment and professional support.

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ANS – Italy – An Impressive Donation for Five Salesian Training Projects

Schneider Electrical Foundation

The post GLOBAL: Five New Salesian Projects Start with Funding from Schneider Electric Foundation first appeared on MissionNewswire.

“Mozambique continues to be one of the countries with the lowest rate of human development and life expectancy is short. People are hungry and have no access to basic services. This is true of more than half the population,” says Fr. Pescador.

Salesian missionaries are working with children and youth providing education and social development services to help youth break the cycle of poverty and have hope for a better life.  Fr. Pescador recounts the story of two young children who accessed Salesian programs and have gained success in life because of them. Gabriel and Isabel, twins who are now 18, started in the program early in life when they had nowhere else to turn.

“Twelve years ago, Gabriel and Isabel arrived in Mozambique and asked for a place where they could stay and receive support. Their father had been dead for some time, and they had just lost their mother,” explains says Fr Pescador. “The children were very small and the Salesian orphanage does not accept children so young. They had swollen bellies and infected lungs and were in need of assistance. A cook at the Salesian program suggested entrusting them to her niece, a past Salesian pupil who was very active in the parish. We agreed, thinking it was preferable that the two siblings remained together and be placed in a family. The family atmosphere of love and attention was the best thing you could offer these children,” says Fr Pescador.”

Gabriel and Isabel grew up within the Salesian family and attended Salesian schools while accessing other social development services as they grew up. Today, Gabriel has attended professional training courses at the Salesian Institute of Moamba and wants to continue his studies. Isabel is about to finish high school.

“Only God knows what will happen in the future. What we do know is that they are happy, they have been brought up in a family environment and have received an education that will help that have a good start in life,” concluded Fr Pescador.

Mozambique has made great strides in reducing poverty, according to the World Bank. But with nearly 50 percent of the population still living in poverty, progress has not been fast enough. Poverty is concentrated in rural areas, and even with growth within the county, the regions of Zambezia, Sofala, Manica, and Gaza saw an increase in poverty in the 2000s.

More than 70 percent of those living in poverty, reside in rural areas and rely on farming and fishing to make a living. The vast majority of the rural population lives on less than $1.25 a day and lacks basic services such as access to safe water, health facilities and schools.

Source

ANS – Mozambique – Gabito and Isabel: stories of love and hope in the Salesian Work

World Bank – Mozambique

The post MOZAMBIQUE: Salesian Vocational Training Programs Helps Gain the Skills Needed for Employment first appeared on MissionNewswire.

When the country gained independence in 1975 and was run by a communist totalitarian regime, Salesian missionaries were forced to leave and abandon their work at the college. Only one Salesian missionary was allowed to remain. Brother António Pedrosa, now 85 years old, was accepted by the regime because he was not a priest.

He was hired to coordinate the educational activities of the college and for 11 consecutive years received a medal as the best educator and teacher. Bro. Pedrosa had to wait almost 20 years before the other Salesian missionaries could return in the early 1990s, after the time of the regime and the civil war. Salesian missionaries still operate the college today along with other vocational training programs.

In Inharrime, north of the capital city of Maputo, Salesian missionaries have a vocational training center that educates 300 students a year in four different course programs. More than 30 boys who attend the school stay in Salesian housing on campus because they live too far from the school. Across the street from this center, Salesian sisters with the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians educate 2,300 students in primary and secondary school and pre-university classes. A boarding house is home to 120 girls, including 50 orphans, who live there while attending school.

Students who attend Salesian education and vocational training often find job fairly quickly after graduation. One employer told Salesian Brother Giampietro Pettenon, president of Don Bosco Missions in Mozambique, why they hire Salesian students so frequently.

“What we are looking for are not the technical skills. In just three months with the company the young people learn their job. What we are looking for is something that only the students of the Salesian centers possess strongly, namely respect for the equipment, punctuality, cooperation, honesty and so on,” said the employer.

At the Don Bosco Higher Institute at Maputo, Salesian missionaries operate the only professional teacher training program in the country. Partially funded by the Spanish Cooperation, it is the only teacher training center in Mozambique recognized by the Ministry of Education for the training of teachers of professional schools.

“Professional teacher training fosters and develops well trained educators which lay the foundation for strong academic programs,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “This Salesian program provides important instruction to future educators who then go on to teach critical job skills to poor youth.”

Mozambique has made great strides in reducing poverty, according to the World Bank. But with nearly 50 percent of the population still living in poverty, progress has not been fast enough. Poverty is concentrated in rural areas, and even with growth within the country, the regions of Zambezia, Sofala, Manica and Gaza saw an increase in poverty in the 2000s.

More than 70 percent of those living in poverty reside in rural areas and rely on farming and fishing to make a living. The vast majority of the rural population lives on less than $1.25 a day and lacks basic services such as access to safe water, health facilities and schools.

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Sources:

ANS – Mozambique – The Salesian presence in the country: formation, quality and fidelity

World Bank – Mozambique

The post MOZAMBIQUE: Salesian Missionaries Focus on Vocational Training to Help Youth Out of Poverty first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Celebrated each year on October 16, the day was established to bring attention to the plight of the world’s hungry and undernourished while providing an opportunity for a deeper understanding of the complex solutions for ending hunger. This year’s theme “Social protection and Agriculture: breaking the cycle of rural poverty” aims to underline the role social protection plays in reducing chronic food insecurity and poverty by ensuring direct access to food or the means to buy food.

More than 793 million people around the world go hungry every day, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization. Over 70 percent of food insecure people live in rural areas of Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Near East. And according to the World Food Program and the United Nations, 2 billion people lack the vitamins and minerals needed to live healthy lives.

Of those who go hungry daily, 98 percent reside in developing countries where there is not only a shortage of food but major challenges for aid to reach its destination. Salesian Missions’ programs are dedicated to developing sustainable food systems and providing agricultural education in more than 130 countries around the globe. Operating primary schools, technical training centers, agricultural schools, youth centers, orphanages and programs for street children, Salesian missionaries are on the front lines of the battle against hunger.

Working and living in the communities they serve, Salesian missionaries are perfectly positioned to ensure that the distribution of food aid reaches those who need it most while offering programs that teach agricultural techniques to increase local food production. Through ongoing partnerships with organizations like Stop Hunger Now and Feed My Starving Children, Salesian missionaries are able to deliver life-saving food aid and other supplies to those in need in their communities.

“Salesian missionaries are an integral part of the existing infrastructure in many countries and Salesian Missions plays an important role in making sure aid from the United States reaches its destination country and gets into the hands of those who need it most,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco.

Salesian food programs provide meals to students during the school day and serve as an incentive for families to send their children to school. As a result of the feeding programs, students are thriving. Many have gained weight, suffered fewer illnesses and become more focused on their studies. Teachers are seeing better student performance in class, a decrease in absenteeism and an increase in program enrollment rates.

“Feeding programs are a necessity to meet the needs of the massive number of children around the globe who are hungry today,” adds Fr. Hyde. “Meals children receive at Salesian schools may be their only meals. This food not only encourages them to attend school, it allows them to focus on getting the education they need without worrying about where their next meal will come from. Children cannot learn on an empty stomach.”

Many Salesian programs are also dedicated to developing sustainable food systems and providing agricultural education. This World Food Day, Salesian Missions is proud to highlight Salesian agricultural programs which include those offered at more than 90 agricultural schools around the globe.

CAMBODIA

Salesian-run Don Bosco Kep, located in Kep Province, Cambodia, has developed a small farm to better serve the needs of poor and disadvantaged youth in the region. The new farm will help to support the work of the agricultural department which serves to train Cambodian youth in mechanical agriculture while producing food for the technical school to aid its sustainability. Since 2011, the agricultural department has worked with limited resources on a small piece of land inside the school’s campus. Over the past several years, the department has been growing with the addition of more teachers and students and has been making a broader social impact in the regions of Kep, Kampot and Takeo.

DR CONGO

Salesian-led International Voluntary Service for Development (VIS) volunteers hosted a special workshop for farmers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo*. The goal of the workshop was to empower farmers to envision a viable and stable agricultural framework and boost their confidence to bring it to fruition. The farmers’ ideas will provide the foundation for a new agricultural service center in the country. The new center will provide resources and expertise to help improve crop yields, profitability and the overall quality of life for farmers and their families. The input of local farmers will help direct the center’s resources and training curriculum.

INDIA

The Don Bosco Agro-Educational Complex, located in the town of Sulcorna in the state of Goa in western India, has developed the area’s first agriculture college. The new college will utilize 110 acres of fertile land for hands-on farm training and emphasize organic cultivation in its four-year degree program. The mission of the college is to train undergraduates and postgraduates in the latest agricultural practices and modern technologies while moving towards efficiency in farming within Goa by exploring and testing new techniques in agriculture, horticulture, floriculture and animal husbandry. Salesian missionaries in the area are working towards marketing agricultural products and services to local farmers by utilizing the college and its staff as a resource for everything related to farming and off-farm activities. They are also working with local women’s groups helping them to plant specific crops that have greater viability in the marketplace. Salesian missionaries hope the agriculture degree program will entice more local youth to choose agriculture as their long-term livelihood.

MOZAMBIQUE

The Austrian Salesian Youth of the World program has planned its second agricultural project in the town of Moatize, located in the Tete province in northern Mozambique. The project, which will be carried out in seven different rural communities, aims to educate farmers in the latest innovations in agriculture and livestock techniques in order to improve food security and increase income potential. Educators will help farmers introduce or intensify the production of vegetables, experiment with new methods of production and processing of products and assist with raising livestock. Farmers will learn new skills in agriculture and animal husbandry, horticulture and fruit growing and breeding cattle and sheep. They will also be provided with irrigation pumps which will help to support local schools and healthcare centers. In addition, Salesian staff will work with local residents to establish community associations for product sharing and sales. The project will train close to 1,000 families, or about 5,000 people. With increased food production in the small rural communities participating in the program, about 8,000 residents will be positively impacted.

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Sources:

World Food Day 2015

*Any goods, services, or funds provided by Salesian Missions to programs located in this country were administered in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including sanctions administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control.

The post WORLD FOOD DAY: Salesian Missions Highlights School Feeding Programs and Agricultural Education in Fight against Hunger first appeared on MissionNewswire.

More than 70 percent of those living in poverty reside in rural areas and rely on farming and fishing to make a living. The vast majority of the rural population lives on less than $1.25 a day and lacks basic services such as access to safe water, health care and education.

Recently, the Austrian Salesian Youth of the World program planned its second agricultural project in the town of Moatize, located in the Tete province in northern Mozambique. The project, which will be carried out in seven different rural communities, aims to educate farmers in the latest innovations in agriculture and livestock techniques in order to improve food security and increase income potential. Educators will help farmers introduce or intensify the production of vegetables, experiment with new methods of production and processing of products and assist with raising livestock.

“Investing in agriculture education is vital to developing countries,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Teaching farmers innovative techniques to increase the production and sales of their products is essential not only to overcome hunger and poverty, but also to ensure overall economic growth for surrounding villages and cities.”

The project will train close to a thousand families, or about 5,000 people. With increased food production in the small rural communities participating in the program, about 8,000 residents will be positively impacted.

The project will focus on several areas of development and education. Farmers will learn new skills in agriculture and animal husbandry, horticulture and fruit growing and breeding cattle and sheep. They will also be provided with irrigation pumps which will help to support local schools and health care centers. In addition, Salesian staff will work with local residents to establish community associations for product sharing and sales.

The success of the first Salesian agricultural training in the community led to a continuation of the project in the hopes of reaching more families. Farmers who attended the initial training have been able to put into practice a variety of the techniques they learned, which has led to increased food production and improved financial standing. Some were able to grow items they had never previously had success with, such as tomatoes. Others were able to sell their products for the first time and, as a result of the additional income earned, were able to improve their homes. Food insecurity decreased as farmers prospered and more food was available to the community.

“Salesians have been working in Mozambique to provide educational opportunities to poor youth for many years,” adds Fr. Hyde. “Salesian technical and agricultural programs and other services educate youth and help them learn the necessary skills to enhance their livelihoods and break the cycle of poverty.”

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ANS – Mozambique – A social project for a rural area

World Bank – Mozambique

The post MOZAMBIQUE: Agriculture Training Project Works to Improve Food Security and Income for Rural Farmers first appeared on MissionNewswire.

More than 70 percent of those living in poverty, reside in rural areas and rely on farming and fishing to make a living. The vast majority of the rural population lives on less than $1.25 a day and lacks basic services such as access to safe water, health facilities and schools.

Opened by the Salesians of Mozambique to meet the needs of poor youth, the Don Bosco Higher Institute at Maputo operates the only professional teacher training program in the country. Partially funded by the Spanish Cooperation, it is the only teacher training center in Mozambique recognized by the Ministry of Education for the training of teachers of Professional Schools.

“Professional teacher training fosters and develops well trained educators which lay the foundation for strong academic programs,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “This Salesian program provides important instruction to future educators who then go on to teach critical job skills to poor youth.”

Recently, a Spanish Salesian Volunteer Movement completed its 21^st trip to Mozambique on a mission to educate new teachers. Led by Father Angel Miranda, the volunteers included four Salesian Brothers and other Salesian staff. While at the Don Bosco Higher Institute, the group provided assistance with education programs and technical training, including hands-on training for students enrolled in the teacher training program in electrical engineering and general mechanics.

Using the apprentice method, the volunteers taught the future teachers new skills and working methods on the lathe and the milling machine. The electrical engineering students did their work in the workshops at the school while the mechanics students and welders built new equipment for the halls.

“Teachers are the backbone of educational systems,” says Fr. Hyde. “The value of strong teacher training is seen in the youth that graduate from  trained teachers’ classes. Training enables educators to be more effective in their jobs, resulting in students that learn and behave better and achieve academically.”

“The Salesians know that access to education and educated teachers is critical to helping youth learn job skills, improve their lives and find a path out of poverty,” adds Fr. Hyde.

The teacher training program was developed in the 2006-2007 academic year at Don Bosco Higher Institute and was made possible through a collaboration between the Salesians, the Spanish foreign ministry, the government of Mozambique and the Youth of the Third World organization. Currently, Don Bosco Higher Institute provides traditional professional training courses and a course for the qualification of teachers in professional subjects to 632 students.

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Sources

ANS – Mozambique – Missionary Volunteers from Spain train future Teachers

World Bank – Mozambique

The post MOZAMBIQUE: Spanish Salesian Volunteers Train New Electrical Engineering and General Mechanics Teachers first appeared on MissionNewswire.

The Salesian emphasis on fighting poverty through education and skills training has served Mozambique well. The school, Don Bosco Higher Institute at Maputo, was built with partial funding from the Spanish Cooperation and is the only teacher training center in Mozambique recognized by the Ministry of Education for the training of teachers of Professional Schools.

“Professional teacher training fosters and develops well trained educators who are the foundation for strong academic programs,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “This Salesian program provides important instruction to future educators who go on to teach and provide critical job skills to poor youth.”

Developed through a collaboration between the Salesians, the Spanish foreign ministry, the government of Mozambique and Youth of the Third World organization, classes are educating new generations of professional educators. Currently, Don Bosco Higher Institute provides 632 students both traditional professional training courses and a course for the qualification of teachers in professional subjects.

In addition to classroom learning, online classes are available for specialized areas such as industry, tourism, agriculture and administration.

“Teachers are the backbone of educational systems,” adds Fr. Hyde. “The value of strong teacher training is seen in the success of the youth that graduate. Teacher training creates more effective educators who are better able to instill good behavior and academic excellence in their students.”

The training program was developed in the 2006-2007 academic year and began with the construction of the building which houses all classrooms. In addition to overseeing the construction of the school building, the program’s founders, Spanish Salesian Father Angel Miranda and the late Father Valentín de Pablo were responsible for the rebuilding of a local elementary school in Maputo which is run by the Franciscan Sisters today.

Educating poor youth is the main focus of the Salesians in Mozambique and in more than 130 countries around the globe. In addition to the teacher training program, the Salesians provide education and technical training to nearly one hundred youth at the “Rifugio di Languene” in the capital of Mozambique and at the Salesian Training School in Oamba where youth have access to education and shelter in the student hostel.

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Sources:

ANS – Mozambique – Queen Sophia of Spain visits the Don Bosco Higher Institute

World Bank – Mozambique

The post MOZAMBIQUE: Salesians Provide Only Recognized Professional Teacher Training Program first appeared on MissionNewswire.