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CHILE: Students access technology with new multimedia studio

Don Bosco Industrial Technical Institute launches new multimedia studio

CHILE

(MissionNewswire) The Don Bosco Industrial Technical Institute in Antofagasta, Chile, launched the Carlo Acutis Multimedia Studio. At age 15, Acutis was an amateur computer programmer best known for documenting Eucharistic miracles around the world and cataloging them onto a website which he created before his death from leukemia. The new multimedia center is ensuring communication technologies are available for education.

The new facilities have a television studio for the production of academic programs and newer initiatives. In addition, facilities can be utilized for the creation of musical albums and rehearsals for the school’s instrumental orchestra.

“Ensuring youth have access to new technologies helps them to compete in the job market in a growing technological world,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Salesians provide technical education to help ensure that youth are prepared for the current employment sector. Coursework is often customized so that, in addition to knowledge gained in the classroom, youth can gain real work experience through hands-on training to make easier transitions into the workforce.”

Don Bosco Industrial Technical Institute provides education to youth from disadvantaged backgrounds.  The Antofagasta region is known as the “mining capital of the world.” Families are often poor and struggle to send their children to school.

Currently the school has an enrollment of 1,200 students. Students can take coursework in areas such as metalworking and electricity, automotive mechanics, industrial mechanics, and electronics.

According to the World Bank, Chile has a fairly low poverty rate of less than 10 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.

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Sources:

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

ANS – Chile – “Don Bosco Antofagasta” inaugurates the new multimedia studio “Carlo Acutis”

Don Bosco Industrial Technical Institute

Salesian Missions – Chile

World Bank – Chile