SOLOMON ISLANDS

(MissionNewswire) The Salesian Christ the King Parish in Tetere, Solomon Islands, organized the four-day “Wantok Bosco” youth camp that brought together more than 200 youth. The camp included moments of prayer, interaction with peers, culture and recreation. Salesians also facilitated four education sessions on important issues concerning youth, including the dangers of addiction, cultivating potential, building self-esteem and establishing life goals, and the challenges of faith for modern young people.

A Salesian explained, “This camp was a great opportunity for youth to come together to reflect on their faith while also learning about issues, like addiction, that impact people their age. Understanding what leads to addiction and how to prevent it in their lives is essential for their healthy growth and development. All in the all the camp was a good chance for youth to connect with their peers while learning important lessons.”

Salesian missionaries also operate a school in Tetere. The Don Bosco Rural Training Center is working to bring educational and workforce development opportunities to poor youth in rural areas. Programs at the center help youth gain a basic education as well as the vocational or technical skills needed to find and retain employment.

More than 200 young men and women are enrolled at the school to learn farming and other high-demand trades. Courses are offered in planting and care of crops such as rice, corn, vegetables, root crops and fruit trees, as well as in basic fish farming and forestry. There are also courses in basic mechanics, carpentry, electrical work, computer skills and dressmaking. In addition, literacy and music classes are available in the evening.

About 12.7% of the population of the Solomon Islands lives below the poverty line. Roughly 20-25% of youth in the country never attend primary school with 30% of those attending never completing. Limited access to education and an adult literacy rate of less than 35% perpetuate the cycle of poverty from generation to generation.

Eighty-four percent of Solomon Islanders reside in rural areas and rely on subsistence farming for their livelihoods. Access to health care and other social services is very limited, and the poor to non-existent access to reliable transport, electricity, and telecommunications infrastructure compounds already challenging economic conditions. With the majority of youth living in remote areas with limited educational and employment prospects, overcoming poverty is an uphill battle.

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

ANS – Solomon Islands – Over two hundred young people gathered for human and Christian formation

Salesian Missions – Solomon Islands

UNICEF – Solomon Islands

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SOLOMON ISLANDS

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Rural Training Center, located in Tetere Bay in the Solomon Islands, has received a 5KVA generator and two barrels of diesel thanks to support from the Australian government, according to an article in the Solomon Star. The donation will enhance the school’s business operations and generate power for staff and students. It will also enable students to use laptops recently provided by the Australia Pacific Training Coalition.

The generator and diesel donation is part of the partnership between the Australia Pacific Training Coalition and Don Bosco Rural Training Center, according to the article. The coalition has already donated the laptops, agricultural equipment, agribusiness equipment and a vehicle. The article notes that these contributions aim to strengthen the delivery of technical and vocational education and training programs at the school.

In the article, Father Peter Van, principal, expressed gratitude for the Australian government’s support. He said, “This kind support will directly address our need for a reliable power source to operate our training effectively. Our current power supply was insufficient to run our equipment and support crucial administrative tasks.”

The article also reported that Abigail Chang, Australia Pacific Training Coalition’s country director for Solomon Islands and Kiribati, noted, “Our collaboration began in 2020 and has steadily strengthened. We are committed to working together to deliver high-quality skills development programs in Solomon Islands.”

The Don Bosco Rural Training Center is working to bring educational and workforce development opportunities to poor youth in rural areas. Programs at the center help youth gain a basic education as well as the vocational or technical skills needed to find and retain employment.

More than 200 young men and women are enrolled at the school to learn farming and other high-demand trades. Courses are offered in planting and care of crops such as rice, corn, vegetables, root crops and fruit trees, as well as in basic fish farming and forestry. There are also courses in basic mechanics, carpentry, electrical work, computer skills and dressmaking. In addition, literacy and music classes are available in the evening.

The Solomon Star stressed Australia’s commitment to providing quality vocational education and training across the Solomon Islands saying, “With a strong focus on skills development, both institutions aim to empower young individuals and communities, fostering sustainable growth and prosperity.”

About 12.7% of the population of the Solomon Islands lives below the poverty line. Roughly 20-25% of youth in the country never attend primary school with 30% of those attending never completing. Limited access to education and an adult literacy rate of less than 35% perpetuate the cycle of poverty from generation to generation.

Eighty-four percent of Solomon Islanders reside in rural areas and rely on subsistence farming for their livelihoods. Access to health care and other social services is very limited, and the poor to non-existent access to reliable transport, electricity and telecommunications infrastructure compounds already challenging economic conditions. With the majority of youth living in remote areas with limited educational and employment prospects, overcoming poverty is an uphill battle.

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

Salesian Missions – Solomon Islands

Solomon Star – Australia Provides power boost for Don Bosco Tetere Rural Training Centre

UNICEF – Solomon Islands

The post SOLOMON ISLANDS: School gains reliable power first appeared on MissionNewswire.

SOLOMON ISLANDS

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Technical Institute Henderson, located in Honiara, the capital city of the Solomon Islands, launched a new project in 2019 to provide education to children living near the Ranadi dump site in a suburb east of Honiara. The families who live there experience high rates of poverty, unemployment and illiteracy. Most spend their days at the dump collecting materials that can be recycled.

Children often work with their parents, which prevents them from regularly attending school and receiving an adequate education. Due to the unsanitary conditions of the dump, the hygiene of these children and their families is precarious and negatively impacts their health.

Don Bosco Technical Institute Henderson launched a literacy center that serves children who are too poor to attend even a government school. Since March 2019, Salesian missionaries have been teaching children, between the ages of 4 and 13, to read, write and refine their calculation skills. There is also a Salesian course to raise awareness among parents so that they understand the importance of giving their children a proper education and are motivated to send them to school instead of working in landfills.

The process of enrolling children into the literacy center is thorough to ensure that children will make the most of the opportunity. A Salesian representative said, “We do a survey of the locality to identify the children who do not attend any school at all. We contact the parents and leaders of the landfill site. We collect information about the children, names, age and gender, as well as the occupation of their parents.”

Salesians bring the children to the school by truck in the morning and drop them back in the afternoon. They also provide intensive coaching in mathematics and English language. The program does not use textbooks, but instead lesson plans are customized to meet the children’s needs in the program at any given time. The system is based on “joyful learning” and uses games, songs and a variety of activities.

Children are separated into groups according to their progress and speed of learning. Periodic evaluations are done, and children may move to a higher level or to a lower one according to their performance and needs.

The Salesian representative added, “The program runs for one calendar year. At the end of the year, after completion of the course, promotion results and certificates are awarded according to each child’s performance. We are also studying the possibilities of enrolling them in regular schools in the following year.”

About 12.7 percent of the population of the Solomon Islands lives below the poverty line. Roughly 20 to 25 percent of youth in the country never attend primary school with 30 percent of those attending never completing. Limited access to education and an adult literacy rate of less than 35 percent perpetuate the cycle of poverty from generation to generation.

Eighty-four percent of Solomon Islanders reside in rural areas and rely on subsistence farming for their livelihoods. Access to health care and other social services is very limited, and the poor to non-existent access to reliable transport, electricity and telecommunications infrastructure compounds already challenging economic conditions. With the majority of youth living in remote areas with limited educational and employment prospects, overcoming poverty is an uphill battle.

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

ANS – Solomon Island – Social Service Wing Of Don Bosco, at Henderson, Honiara

Don Bosco Technical Institute Henderson Facebook

UNICEF – Solomon Islands

Salesian Missions – Solomon Islands

The post SOLOMON ISLANDS: Literacy center serves children who live at dump site, too poor to attend school first appeared on MissionNewswire.

SOLOMON ISLANDS

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries in Gizo, the capital of the Western Province in the Solomon Islands, inaugurated the St. John Bosco Primary School. The ceremony was attended by 205 students who will attend first to fifth grade at the new school. Parents and community representatives were also present.

The new school has six classrooms and a multipurpose room, as well as three houses for school staff. The construction project also included a cemented path, enabling children to walk free from injury to and from the buildings.

The children attending the school come from communities located in the area most affected by the 2007 tsunami. This includes the fishing village of Nusabaruku and other small villages in the coves behind Nusabaruku. People must travel to Gizo from these small villages by boat. The new school is located on the top of the hill known locally as Millionaire Point, which has now been renamed Nusa-Bosco (Bosco Island).

The new school was made possible by the Salesian Missions Office “Don Bosco Mission Bonn” in Germany and Opera Don Bosco Foundation in Milan, Italy. Local authorities in the Solomon Islands leased the land to the Salesians where the school is built. The school was constructed by several past pupils of local Catholic schools, known as Diocesan Boys. These graduates have been trained by Italian volunteers who worked hard over the past 13 years in the post-earthquake and tsunami reconstruction program of the diocese of Gizo.

A Salesian missionary in Gizo said, “We are grateful to God for this gift to allow these 205 children to gain an education and grow into good Christians and honest citizens of the Solomon Islands. We might not see the fruits of what we are planting right now, but the children will receive the fruits of their education.”

About 12.7 percent of the population of the Solomon Islands lives below the poverty line. Roughly 20 to 25 percent of youth in the country never attend primary school with 30 percent of those attending never completing school. Limited access to education and an adult literacy rate of less than 35 percent perpetuate the cycle of poverty from generation to generation.

Eighty-four percent of Solomon Islanders reside in rural areas and rely on subsistence farming for their livelihoods. Access to health care and other social services is very limited, and the poor to nonexistent access to reliable transport, electricity and telecommunications infrastructure compounds already challenging economic conditions. With the majority of youth living in remote areas with limited educational and employment prospects, overcoming poverty is an uphill battle.

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

ANS – Solomon Islands – A dream come true: new “St John Bosco” primary school inaugurated in Gizo

UNICEF – Solomon Islands

Salesian Missions – Solomon Islands

The post SOLOMON ISLANDS: Salesian missionaries launch new St. John Bosco Primary School for 205 students in Gizo first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Children are very often working with their parents which prevents them from regularly attending school and receiving an adequate education. Due to the unsanitary conditions of the dump, the hygiene of these children and their families is precarious and negatively impacts their health.

Since March, Salesians missionaries have been teaching courses to children, between the ages of 4 and 13, to read and write and to refine their calculation skills. Upwards of 70 students attend these lessons. Courses are also organized for older children who want to specialize in welding or manufacturing or work in the hotel sector. To date, there have been about 25 applications to participate in these lessons.

The Salesian courses are aimed at raising awareness among parents so that they understand the importance of giving their children a proper education and are motivated to send them to school instead of working in landfills.

In order to help the families replace the income that the children made while working, the Don Bosco Technical Institute has also created a program aimed specifically at mothers which allows them to use the institute’s land to grow vegetables which they can then sell back to the market.

The Don Bosco Technical Institute has been providing education and skills training in the electrical, automotive, carpentry and machine fitting maintenance trades as well as life skills training and employment assistance for more 250 students over the last 16 years.

While the majority of students are male, the institute has been working to increase the enrollment of female students by encouraging them to take courses in more typically male-dominated trades as well as providing opportunities for those who previously left school due to marriage or pregnancy. Currently, most young women begin at the institute with life skills training followed by courses in teaching and nursing.

“Most of the students at the Don Bosco Technical Institute are from poor families and many have dropped out of traditional schools,” says Father Mark Hyde, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “There, they are getting a second chance by learning skills that will enable them to find employment to support themselves and their families.”

About 12.7 percent of the population of the Solomon Islands lives below the poverty line. Roughly 20 to 25 percent of youth in the country never attend primary school with 30 percent of those attending never completing. Limited access to education and an adult literacy rate of less than 35 percent perpetuate the cycle of poverty from generation to generation.

Eighty-four percent of Solomon Islanders reside in rural areas and rely on subsistence farming for their livelihoods. Access to healthcare and other social services is very limited and the poor to non-existent access to reliable transport, electricity and telecommunications infrastructure compounds already challenging economic conditions. With the majority of youth living in remote areas with limited educational and employment prospects, overcoming poverty is an uphill battle.

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

ANS – Solomon Islands – A project with teens and children of Ranadi dumps

UNICEF – Solomon Islands

Salesian Missions – Solomon Islands

The post SOLOMON ISLANDS: Don Bosco Technical Institute launches new program providing education to youth living near the Ranadi dumps in Honiara first appeared on MissionNewswire.

According to the article, Bishop Capelli was a Salesian missionary in the Philippines for 35 years before coming to the Diocese of Gizo in the Solomon Islands in October 2007. The Diocese of Gizo is comprised of 40 islands with a total population of 136,347 inhabitants, 11 percent of whom are Catholics.

Bishop Capelli arrived in the Solomon Islands six months after an earthquake destroyed homes, schools and churches there. In an interview with the Missioni Don Bosco portal, Bishop Capelli said, “My first task was to encourage the people to rebuild the cathedral, the seven parishes and the 12 schools.”

With financial support from the Italian Bishops’ Conference, Bishop Capelli was able to take flying lessons and the diocese received an ultralight small airplane. Using the plane, which Bishop Capelli has piloted himself since 2011, he visits hospitals, schools and communities, bringing medicine and basic necessities, according to Crux.

Bishop Capelli indicated that isolation is a major challenge for people in his diocese, adding that this is resolved only with presence. He said, “Presence is possible only if there is a means to take you.” Thanks to the airplane, Bishop Capelli can visit each mission location three to five times a year. Without the option of a plane, he would have to travel by boat which is more costly and dangerous, he told Askanews, according to the Crux article.

Bishop Capelli has been particularly busy since October 2018 when he decided to send one of the two priests in his diocese to Italy for advanced studies. He noted to Crux, “We have been working a lot these years with young people and the new generations to train catechists and leaders in the communities. I’m not afraid!”

Salesian missionaries offer social development and educational programs in the Solomon Islands, giving youth a chance to gain an education and prepare for the workforce. This is particularly important as nearly 12.7 percent of the population of the Solomon Islands lives below the poverty line. Roughly 20 to 25 percent of youth in the country never attend primary school with 30 percent of those attending, never completing. Limited access to education and an adult literacy rate of less than 35 percent perpetuate the cycle of poverty from generation to generation.

Eighty-four percent of Solomon Islanders reside in rural areas and rely on subsistence farming for their livelihoods. Access to health and other social services is very limited and the poor to non-existent access to reliable transport, electricity and telecommunications infrastructure compounds already challenging economic conditions. With the majority of youth living in remote areas with limited educational and employment prospects, overcoming poverty is an uphill battle.

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Source:

Crux – The pilot bishop of the South Pacific

UNICEF – Solomon Islands

The post SOLOMON ISLANDS: Bishop Luciano Capelli flies across dozens of islands bringing food and medicine to those in need first appeared on MissionNewswire.

More than 200 young men and women are enrolled at the school to learn farming and other high demand trades. Courses are offered in planting and care of crops such as rice, corn, vegetables, root crops and fruit trees as well as basic fish farming and forestry. There are also courses in basic mechanics, carpentry, electrical work, computer skills and dressmaking. In addition, literacy and music classes are available in the evening.

“Most of the students who attend the center are from poor families who have dropped out of traditional schools,” says Father Mark Hyde, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “At the Don Bosco Rural Training Center, these students are getting a second chance to acquire skills that will enable them to find a job and support themselves and their families.”

The center benefits from a partnership with the Rotary Club of North Balwyn, located on the outskirts of the city of Melbourne in Australia, which helps provides program and infrastructure support as well as encouragement to the Salesian missionaries and teachers who operate the center. The club’s support has injected new life and enthusiasm into the center through new ideas and practical suggestions.

The Rotary recently supplied the center with 90 chickens and training in poultry care. The eggs produced are a sustainable source of protein for the students and the care of the chickens serves as a hands-on educational lesson. The four-hectare rice plantation has remained a constant source of income for the school producing eight tons of rice annually.

Graduates of the school have found success with companies throughout the Solomon Islands. Salesian missionaries have partnerships with local companies to help students gain both job training placements and full-time employment. All participants have received glowing feedback from their managers.

Working together, the Don Bosco Rural Training Center and the Ministry of Agriculture are looking to establish a partnership with a nearby cocoa and tree plantation for student placements and with the Solomon Islands National University to increase the levels of training that students and teachers receive.

“The Don Bosco Rural Training Center has the potential to be one of the Solomon Islands’ greatest producers of a new generation of youth who possess the energy, technical skills and integrity to help advance the country,” adds Fr. Hyde.

About 12.7 percent of the population of the Solomon Islands lives below the poverty line. Roughly 20 to 25 percent of youth in the country never attend primary school with 30 percent of those attending, never completing. Limited access to education and an adult literacy rate of less than 35 percent perpetuate the cycle of poverty from generation to generation.

Eighty-four percent of Solomon Islanders reside in rural areas and rely on subsistence farming for their livelihoods. Access to health and other social services is very limited and the poor to non-existent access to reliable transport, electricity and telecommunications infrastructure compounds already challenging economic conditions. With the majority of youth living in remote areas with limited educational and employment prospects, overcoming poverty is an uphill battle.

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

ANS – Solomon Islands – Don Bosco provides a second chance

UNICEF – Solomon Islands

The post SOLOMON ISLANDS: Don Bosco Rural Training Center provides educational initiatives and partnerships to ensure youth find and retain employment first appeared on MissionNewswire.

After the visit, Fr. Priyanga and another Salesian priest reflected on the squalor that the residents lived in and held a meeting with other Salesians and community leaders. The Salesian provincial for the region expressed full support and encouragement of the Salesian community in Henderson to reach out to the people, particularly the youth of this poor community as well as an adjacent community. He noted that, “Reaching out to them and examining how we can help these poor people is a very concrete expression of Don Bosco’s missionary spirit for the community.”

The Salesian community in Henderson has started setting up regular meetings with youth and their families and are working together with the community to see how Salesian missionaries can help provide education, sanitation and an oratory for youth.

In Honiara, Salesian missionaries operate the Don Bosco Technical Institute Henderson and the Laura Vicuna Hostel, a residence for female students at the institute. The institute and hostel work in collaboration to provide education and technical skills training to poor youth to prepare them for employment.

The Don Bosco Technical Institute has been providing education and skills training in the electrical, automotive, carpentry and machine fitting maintenance trades as well as life skills training and employment assistance for more 250 students over the last 16 years. In 2015, the institute added new workshops, built a basketball court for recreational activities and added six apartments for staff members who require accommodation on campus.

While the majority of students are male, the institute has been working to increase the enrollment of female students by encouraging them to take courses in more typically male-dominated trades as well as providing opportunities for those who previously left school due to marriage or pregnancy. Currently, most young women begin at the institute with life skills training followed by courses in teaching and nursing.

The Laura Vicuna Hostel, operated by Salesian Sisters, provides safe accommodation for 36 young women from economically deprived backgrounds who have come to Honiara to attend university. The hostel is at maximum capacity and has a growing waiting list of young women who wish to live at the hostel and study and at the Don Bosco Technical Institute.

Responding to local need and numerous requests, the Salesian Sisters have been providing a five-month home economics course for women from disadvantaged backgrounds who have had very little formal education. In the Solomon Islands, only 20 percent of female adults are literate. The home economics program offers classes in basic literacy, math, computing, dress making, cooking and health awareness. Students learn practical skills in sewing and textiles as well as home and small business management. Many choose additional classes in music, basket weaving and gardening.

“Most of the students at the Don Bosco Technical Institute are from poor families and many have dropped out of traditional schools,” says Father Mark Hyde, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “There, they are getting a second chance by learning skills that will enable them to find employment to support themselves and their families.”

About 12.7 percent of the population of the Solomon Islands lives below the poverty line. Roughly 20 to 25 percent of youth in the country never attend primary school with 30 percent of those attending, never completing. Limited access to education and an adult literacy rate of less than 35 percent perpetuate the cycle of poverty from generation to generation.

Eighty-four percent of Solomon Islanders reside in rural areas and rely on subsistence farming for their livelihoods. Access to health and other social services is very limited and the poor to non-existent access to reliable transport, electricity and telecommunications infrastructure compounds already challenging economic conditions. With the majority of youth living in remote areas with limited educational and employment prospects, overcoming poverty is an uphill battle.

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

ANS – Solomon Islands – Going beyond our boundaries touch the lives of those around us

UNICEF – Solomon Islands

The post SOLOMON ISLANDS: Salesian missionaries are working to address needs of poor youth and their families living in Ranadi landfill first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Salesian Bishop Luciano Capelli reports that 63 houses in local villages, built with traditional materials, have been damaged and others will have to be rebuilt. Poor telecommunication infrastructure in the area has made it difficult to quantify the full extent of the damage caused by the earthquake. Bishop Capelli is seeking support for children and families directly affected by the earthquake. He is in need of supplies such as tarpaulins, water purification tablets, buckets, soap, sanitation products, mosquito nets and tents.

“The kindness and support of people abroad strengthens and encourages the local people in the face of adversity and helps to restore a sense of optimism in families as they recover from their losses. Every gift, no matter the size, makes a real difference,” said Bishop Capelli.

Salesian missionaries provide primary and secondary education as well as technical training and workforce development to poor youth in the Solomon Islands. In addition, missionaries provide supportive social development services to help youth meet their basic needs so they can focus on their schooling. Salesian missionaries live and work in the communities they serve so they are perfectly positioned to respond in times of crisis and ensure that aid reaches those most in need.

“Most of the students who attend Salesian programs in the Solomon Islands are from poor families and have dropped out of traditional schools,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Through Salesian schools, students are getting a second chance to acquire skills that will enable them to find a job and support themselves and their families.”

For example, at the Don Bosco Rural Training Center in Tetere Bay, 40 women and 44 men are enrolled at the school to learn farming and other high demand trades. Courses are offered in planting and care of crops such as rice, corn, vegetables, root crops and fruit trees, as well as basic fish farming and forestry. There are also courses in basic mechanics, carpentry, electrical work, computer skills and dressmaking. In addition, literacy and music classes are available in the evening.

With almost 40 percent of the population living in poverty, the Solomon Islands is one of the poorest countries in the Pacific region, according to UNICEF. About 20 to 25 percent of youth in the country never attend primary school with 30 percent of those attending, never completing. Limited access to education and an adult literacy rate of less than 35 percent perpetuates the cycle of poverty from generation to generation.

Eighty-four percent of Solomon Islanders reside in rural areas and rely on subsistence farming for their livelihoods. Access to health and other social services is very limited and the poor to non-existent access to reliable transport, electricity and telecommunications infrastructure compounds already challenging economic conditions. With the majority of youth living in remote areas with limited educational and employment prospects, overcoming poverty is an uphill battle.

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Salesians – Australia – Pacific

UNICEF – Solomon Islands 

The post SOLOMON ISLANDS: Salesian Missionaries Working to Rebuild After 5.2 Magnitude Earthquake first appeared on MissionNewswire.

More than 200 young men and women are enrolled at the school to learn farming and other high demand trades. Courses are offered in planting and care of crops such as rice, corn, vegetables, root crops and fruit trees as well as basic fish farming and forestry. There are also courses in basic mechanics, carpentry, electrical work, computer skills and dressmaking. In addition, literacy and music classes are available in the evening.

The center recently marked its 10-year anniversary with a celebratory gathering that was attended by more than 500 young people. The event included talks on leadership and youth taking responsibility for the future of their nation, numerous sporting activities and a vibrant concert that showcased a variety of talents.

“Most of the students who attend the center are from poor families who have dropped out of traditional schools,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “At the Don Bosco Rural Training Center, these students are getting a second chance to acquire skills that will enable them to find a job and support themselves and their families.”

The center benefits from a partnership with the Rotary Club of North Balwyn, located on the outskirts of the city of Melbourne in Australia, which helps provides program and infrastructure support as well as encouragement to the Salesian missionaries and teachers who operate the center. The club’s support has injected new life and enthusiasm into the center through new ideas and practical suggestions.

Over the last few years, the Rotary Club of North Balwyn has made several donations to the Don Bosco Rural Training Center. This monetary support has funded a three-month intensive training course in rice cultivation for the center’s deputy principal as well as the installation of three new water pumps, a concrete rice-frying platform, 400 mosquito nets and timber for new bunks at the student boarding house.

One of the most important contributions to the center was the purchase and installation of a windmill in 2013, made possible by financial assistance from the Rotary Club, that ensures the supply of fresh water to the rice paddy fields that are integral to a feeding program for the students and teachers. Considered one of Don Bosco Rural Training Center’s greatest achievements is expanded rice production throughout the Solomon Islands by former students who applied the skills learned in Don Bosco programs in their home villages.

“Don Bosco Rural Training Center has the potential to be one of the Solomon Islands’ greatest producers of a new generation of youth who possess the energy, technical skills and integrity to help advance the country,” adds Fr. Hyde.

With almost 40 percent of the population living in poverty, the Solomon Islands is one of the poorest countries in the Pacific region, according to UNICEF. About 20 to 25 percent of youth in the country never attend primary school with 30 percent of those attending, never completing. Limited access to education and an adult literacy rate of less than 35 percent perpetuates the cycle of poverty from generation to generation.

Eighty-four percent of Solomon Islanders reside in rural areas and rely on subsistence farming for their livelihoods. Access to health and other social services is very limited and the poor to non-existent access to reliable transport, electricity and telecommunications infrastructure compounds already challenging economic conditions. With the majority of youth living in remote areas with limited educational and employment prospects, overcoming poverty is an uphill battle.

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Sources:

Salesian Missions Australia Province Newsletter – Year in Review 2015

Salesians – Australia – Pacific

UNICEF – Solomon Islands 

The post SOLOMON ISLANDS: Don Bosco Rural Training Center Provides Education for More Than 200 Youth first appeared on MissionNewswire.

The Don Bosco Technical Institute has been providing education and skills training in the electrical, automotive, carpentry and machine fitting maintenance trades as well as life skills training and employment assistance for more 200 students over the last 13 years. Within the last year, the institute has added new workshop materials and built a basketball court for recreational activities and six apartments for staff members who require accommodation on campus.

While the majority of students are male, the institute has been working to increase enrollment of female students by encouraging them to take courses in more typically male-dominated trades as well as providing opportunities for those who previously left school due to marriage or pregnancy. Currently, most young women begin at the institute with life skills training followed by courses in teaching and nursing.

The Laura Vicuna Hostel, operated by Salesian Sisters, provides safe accommodation for 36 young women from economically deprived backgrounds who have come to Honiara to attend university. The hostel is at maximum capacity and has a growing waiting list of young women who wish to live at the hostel and study and at the Don Bosco Technical Institute.

Responding to local need and numerous requests, the Salesian Sisters have been providing a five-month home economics course for women from disadvantaged backgrounds who have had very little formal education. In the Solomon Islands, only 20 percent of female adults are literate. The home economics program offers classes in basic literacy, math, computing, dress making, cooking and health awareness. Students learn practical skills in sewing and textiles as well as home and small business management. Many choose additional classes in music, basket weaving and gardening as well.

In 2013, the technical school introduced new courses in the basics of hospitality and tourism for young men and women seeking employment in hotel management and the hospitality industry. The school’s curriculum continues to expand based on the employment needs of the local community and student interest.

“Most of the students at the Don Bosco Technical Institute are from poor families and many have dropped out of traditional schools,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “There, they are getting a second chance by learning skills that will enable them to find employment to support themselves and their families.”

The Solomon Islands is one of the poorest countries in the Pacific region with almost 40 percent of the population living in poverty, according to UNICEF. The majority of the country’s children live in remote areas where access to education is limited. Close to 25 percent of youth never attend primary school with 30 percent of those attending never completing. Limited access to education and an adult literacy rate of less than 35 percent perpetuates the cycle of poverty from generation to generation.

Eighty-four percent of Solomon Islanders reside in rural areas and rely on subsistence farming for their livelihoods. Limited access to health and other social services and a lack of transportation, electricity and telecommunications infrastructure compounds already challenging economic conditions. With the majority of youth living in remote areas with limited educational and employment prospects, overcoming poverty is an uphill battle.

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Sources:

Don Bosco Technical Institute, Solomon Islands

Salesian Missions Australia Province Newsletter – Year in Review 2015

UNICEF – Solomon Islands

The post SOLOMON ISLANDS: Salesian Missionaries Help Youth Learn a Trade at Don Bosco Technical Institute first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Eighty-four percent of Solomon Islanders reside in rural areas and rely on subsistence farming for their livelihoods. Limited access to healthcare and other social services and a lack of transportation, electricity and telecommunications infrastructure compounds already challenging economic conditions. With the majority of youth living in remote areas with limited educational and employment prospects, overcoming poverty is an uphill battle.

In April, the Solomon Islands faced two devastating cyclones that killed 23 people and left more than 9,000 homeless as a result of devastating floods, landslides and strong winds. According to an Australia Network News report, the capital city of Honiara and the whole island of Guadalcanal were declared disaster zones. Responding to this crisis, Salesian programs and schools opened their doors to affected families in need of shelter and other assistance.

For students attending the Salesian-run Don Bosco Technical Institute Henderson, in the Solomon Islands’ capital city, Honiara, it was a chance to help their community and give back to those in need.

As part of their term project, students in the machinist fitting and maintenance program made drum ovens for six families staying at the school during the flooding. Although the students had only been in the program for three months, within just a few weeks’ time, they were able to craft the ovens using two and a half drums and show off their skills in welding, cutting, grinding, polishing and painting as well as utilize the safety measures they had learned.

“While learning we could make something useful for a needy family, I feel very happy,” says Willie Laumanu, one of the contributing students.

Students in the carpentry program assisted additional families by donating tables, chairs, garden diggers and open fire potholders they had created. The garden digger was an innovative design, a sharpened flat plate of metal welded on a four inch round hollow pipe, created by George Oge, a former graduate of the institute and now the supervisor of its maintenance department.

The Don Bosco Technical Institute has been bringing new opportunities to poor youth in the area through education and skills training in the electrical, automotive, carpentry and machine fitting maintenance trades as well as life skills training and employment assistance for the past 10 years.

While the majority of students are male, the institute is working to increase enrollment of female students by encouraging them to take courses in more typically male-dominated trades as well as providing opportunities for those who previously left school due to marriage or pregnancy. Currently, most young women begin at the institute with life skills training followed by courses in teaching and nursing.

“Most of the students at the Don Bosco Technical Institute are from poor families and many have dropped out of traditional schools,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “There, they are getting a second chance by learning skills that will enable them to find employment to support themselves and their families.”

This past year, the institute introduced a new course in the basics of hospitality and tourism that provides training for young men and women seeking employment in hotel management and the hospitality industry.

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Sources

ANS – Solomon Islands – Students of Don Bosco distribute drum ovens and other gifts to ex-refugee families

Australia Network News – Solomon Islands National Disaster Council issues all clear in wake of deadly Honiara floods

UNICEF – Solomon Islands

The post SOLOMON ISLANDS: Salesian Students Helping Those Affected by Recent Flooding first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Eighty-four percent of Solomon Islanders reside in rural areas and rely on subsistence farming for their livelihoods. Limited access to health and other social services and a lack of transportation, electricity and telecommunications infrastructure compounds already challenging economic conditions. With the majority of youth living in remote areas with limited educational and employment prospects, overcoming poverty is an uphill battle.

The Solomon Islands face devastating cyclones during monsoon season which runs from November through April. In early April of this year, two cyclones tore through the Solomon Islands leaving a wake of destruction in their path. The Australia News Network reports that 23 people have died and 9,000 were left homeless after the devastating floods, landslides and strong winds. According to the same report, the capital city of Honiara and the whole island of Guadalcanal have been declared a disaster zone. The chairman of the Solomon Islands National Disaster Council says Honiara needs reconstruction, not rehabilitation, for roads, bridges and other infrastructure.

There are also growing fears of an outbreak of disease due to damage to the sewerage system and water supplies, which in some areas are completely destroyed. The National Disaster Management Office says dysentery, malaria, dengue fever and other diseases related to poor sanitation are all a real risk. The Solomon Islands Water Authority says 40 percent of Honiara is still cut off from the water supply, including many of the evacuation centers where people went to take shelter.

Salesian programs in the Solomon Islands have been affected. The Salesian-run Don Bosco Technical Institute Henderson in Honiara, which has been providing education and skills training in the electrical, automotive, carpentry and machine fitting maintenance trades as well as life skills training and employment assistance for the past 10 years, has sustained damage and flooding. The agro-technical center and youth center have also been affected.

A donated ambulance used by the program was swept away while Salesians were trying to save several families and was rendered beyond repair. In the seminary and pastoral center, the flooding is deep and seminarians are confined to the second floor of the building. The water has also reached the library in the building. Within the surrounding community, bridges are failing and many people have taken shelter within the cathedral and other Salesian buildings.

“Working in more than 130 countries around the globe, Salesians face extreme weather and other disasters and are prepared to handle what happens within their programs and communities during times of crisis,” said Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Because Salesians were already working within these Solomon Island communities prior to the storms, they have been able to respond quickly to those in need, particularly those who have needed shelter,” he added.

In Tetere in the province of Makira, Salesians run the Don Bosco Rural Training Center where more than 120 young men and women are enrolled to learn farming and technical skills. After the cyclones hit, the local Salesian parish there was completely submerged in water. The hospital, school and the residence for the Salesian Sisters who run the school were saved thanks to the work of volunteers who raised embankments of gravel. However, with several bridges having been swept away, Tetere remains cut off from aid.

Salesians continue to work within their local communities in the Solomon Islands providing education and training to poor youth and assisting those in the community as best they can.

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Sources

ANS – Solomon Islands – Two Violent Cyclones in One Month

Australia News Network – Solomon Islands National Disaster Council issues all clear in wake of deadly Honiara floods

UNICEF – Solomon Islands

The post SOLOMON ISLANDS: Salesian Programs Offer Shelter to Homeless Recovering from Devastating Cyclones first appeared on MissionNewswire.

In addition, limited access to health care, social services and reliable transportation, particularly in rural areas where close to 84 percent of the population reside, on top of a weak electricity and telecommunications infrastructure, compounds already challenging economic conditions.

The Salesian-run Don Bosco Technical Institute Henderson in the Solomon Islands’ capital city, Honiara, is bringing new opportunities to poor youth in the area. The institute has been providing education and skills training in the electrical, automotive, carpentry and machine fitting maintenance trades as well as life skills training and employment assistance, for the past 10 years.

While the majority of students are male, the institute is working to increase enrollment of female students by encouraging them to take courses in more typically male-dominated trades as well as providing opportunities for those who previously left school due to marriage or pregnancy. Currently, most young women begin at the institute with life skills training followed by courses in teaching and nursing.

The Laura Vicuna Hostel, operated by Salesian Sisters in Honiara, is home to 25 young girls from distant villages and surrounding islands who have come to the city to study at the Don Bosco Technical Institute and other local schools. In addition to their school studies, many of the young women here learn new skills such as music, sewing, basket weaving and gardening. A recent donation of sewing machines by the Rotary Club of North Balwyn in Australia, is helping students practice their new skills with the hope of future employment.

“Most of the students at the Don Bosco Technical Institute are from poor families and many have dropped out of traditional schools,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “There, they are getting a second chance by learning skills that will enable them to find employment to support themselves and their families.”

This past year, the institute introduced a new course in the basics of hospitality and tourism that provides training for young men and women seeking employment in hotel management and the hospitality industry.

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Sources

UNICEF – Solomon Islands

Salesians – Australia Pacific

Salesian Missions Australia Province Newsletter – Year in Review 2013

Don Bosco Technical Institute, Solomon Islands

The post SOLOMON ISLANDS: Salesians Help Young Men Learn Trades, Find Stable Employment first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Eighty-four percent of Solomon Islanders reside in rural areas and rely on subsistence farming for their livelihoods. There is very limited access to health and other social services and the poor to non-existent access to reliable transport, electricity and telecommunications infrastructure compounds already challenging economic conditions. With the majority of youth living in remote areas with limited educational and employment prospects, overcoming poverty is an uphill battle.

The Salesian-run Don Bosco Rural Training Center in Tetere, Solomon Islands is working to bring opportunities to poor youth in rural areas. More than 120 young men and women are enrolled at the school to learn farming and technical skills. Courses are offered in human development and ethics and the planting and care of crops such as rice, corn, vegetables, root crops and fruit trees as well as basic fish farming and forestry. There are also courses in basic mechanics, carpentry, electrical work, dressmaking and computer skills. In addition, students can study literacy and music in the evening.

Most of the students are from poor families and many have dropped out of traditional schools. At the Don Bosco Rural Training Center these students are getting a second chance to acquire skills that will enable them to find a job to support a family. And thanks to an on-going partnership with North Balwyn Rotary located in Vitoria, Australia, the Don Bosco Rural Training Center now has some much needed program and infrastructure support.

“We are very thankful for the help we receive from the Rotary. It has been a source of great encouragement for the Salesians, teachers and students,” says Father Joseph Cong Thanh, rector of Don Bosco Rural Training Center. “The Rotary’s support has injected new life and enthusiasm into Don Bosco Tetere with their ideas, knowhow and practical suggestions.”

Over the last few years, the Rotary has made several donations to the training center. This monetary support has funded a three-month intensive training course in rice cultivation for the center’s deputy principal as well as the installation of three new water pumps, a concrete rice-frying platform, 400 mosquito nets and timber for new bunks at the student boarding house.

Most important to the center was the Rotary’s assistance with the purchase and installation of a windmill to ensure the supply of fresh water to the rice paddy fields that are integral to a feeding program for the students and teachers. Considered one of Don Bosco Rural Training Center’s greatest achievements is expanded rice production throughout the Solomon Islands by former students who applied the skills learned in Don Bosco programs in their home villages.

“Don Bosco Rural Training Center is one of the best hopes in the Solomon Islands of producing a new generation of people with the energy, skills and integrity to turn the country around,” says Mr. Wayne Morris, Past District Governor of Rotary International.

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Sources

Salesians – Australia- Pacific

UNICEF – Solomon Islands 

The post SOLOMON ISLANDS: Australian Rotary Brings Support to Don Bosco Rural Training Center, Hope to Students in Need first appeared on MissionNewswire.

The majority of children living in the Solomon Islands live in remote areas where access to education is almost unheard of. Combined with few employment prospects, youth face an uphill climb out of poverty.

A new program at the Don Bosco Technical Institute in Honiara is helping youth overcome these challenges, bringing hope and fresh opportunities. Recently, the Australia-Pacific Technical College—an Australian government program—chose the Salesian-run Don Bosco Technical Institute as the location for its new campus. Set up as a technical and professional training college for youth in the Pacific, the Australia-Pacific Technical College is sustained by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID).

Supporting investments in training and skills development is a key focus of the Solomon Islands-Australia Partnership for Development and, more widely in the Pacific, for AusAID. The Australia-Pacific Technical College was established in 2007 to increase the number of skilled workers in the Pacific, and improve employment opportunities for Pacific Islanders. More than 4,950 Pacific Islanders have graduated with new skills from the college’s four campuses in Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea.

The new partnership with Don Bosco Technical Institute allows for many more students to receive critical job training, education and skills than previously had access. The partnership will fund tuition for students and support upgrades to Don Bosco’s facilities.

“Up to 300 students will now have the chance to gain internationally recognized qualifications in automotive repair and construction over the next three years,” says Peter Baxter, director general of the Australian Agency for International Development. “They will join more than 490 Solomon Islanders who have already graduated from Australia-Pacific Technical College and now have the skills, training and confidence to take advantage of job opportunities, either in Solomon Islands or in the region.”

Students from all over the Solomon Islands will have an opportunity to study and achieve internationally recognized certification in automotive repair or construction, engineering, hospitality and community services. The demand for these specialized skills means economic opportunities and brighter prospects for youth who come from generations of poverty.

“I am pleased that we are partnering with Don Bosco—an important institution of teaching, learning and training in Solomon Islands,” adds Baxter. “This partnership will give more Solomon Islanders the chance to learn new skills and secure a job.”

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Sources:

ANS – Solomon Islands – The Salesian Institute in Honiara will host an APTC campus

UNICEF – Solomon Islands

Don Bosco Technical Center

The post SOLOMON ISLANDS: New Salesian Partnership Paves Way for Poor Youth to Access Critical Technical Education first appeared on MissionNewswire.