Salesian Agricultural School in Catemu signs collaborative agreement to start first Regional Agro-Ecological Formation Center

(MissionNewswire) The Salesian Agricultural School in Catemu, Chile, has signed a collaboration agreement for the creation of the first Regional Agro-Ecological Formation Center. Others signing the agreement are the University Viña del Mar and the University of Las Americas, the National Botanical Garden, technical teams from Otic Pro Aconcagua, Sinapsis, RMGM, La Semilla Foundation, the Ministerial Regional Secretary for Agriculture, and the mayor of Catemu.

The new regional center will be a part of the Salesian Agricultural School of Catemu. The purpose of the signed collaborative agreement is to improve training curriculum of future agricultural technicians. All the authorities underlined the importance of the Salesian Agriculture School in the conservation, protection, promotion and enhancement of rural culture and the environment.

During the signing, an official Council of Experts and Academics was created. It will have the task of managing the improvement process and the participation of the Ministry of the Environment and private entities in this initiative. After the agreement was signed, the members of the new council met for the first time to establish guidelines and commitments to advance the construction of the center.

This will provide solid management to all the processes associated with the curriculum of the Salesian Agricultural School, including the production of milk, cheese, eggs, honey, wine, fruit, jams, fodder and more. The curriculum will be taught according to a model of circular economy and clean production, and it will become an educational reference point for the rural agriculture economy.

“It is a real advancement for the Salesian Agriculture School in Catemu to be able to sign a collaborative agreement such as this to launch a regional center,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Salesian agriculture schools provide rural farmers advanced training in new technologies to help improve their yield and method of operation. The new regional center will ensure that even more rural farmers and youth looking to go into farming have access to the advanced studies they need to succeed, positively impacting their lives and entire communities.”

According to the World Bank, Chile has a fairly low poverty rate of 14.4 percent. However, Chile struggles with high rates of income and education inequality. Salesian missionaries working in Chile focus their efforts on providing education and social services to poor and at-risk youth. At Salesian schools, universities and youth centers throughout the country, youth can access an education as well as the skills and resources necessary to break the cycle of poverty.

As a result of the vocational and technical education provided by Salesian programs, Chilean youth are more likely to find stable employment and improve their standard of living.

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Sources:

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ANS – Chile – Salesian agricultural school of Catemu and other partner institutions inaugurate first Regional Center for Agro-Ecological Formation

Salesian Missions – Chile

World Bank – Chile