The new building will accommodate 216 students, increasing from the current 140 students

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries have been working in Sumba, a predominantly Christian island in Indonesia, for the last 20 years. The community, led by Father Adie Prinanto Laurensius, has the aspirantate, the pre-novitiate, a vocational training center and a secondary technical school that offers opportunities for internships. There is also Daughters of Mary Help of Christians and the first organized center of Past Pupils of Don Bosco in the country.

Recently, Salesian missionaries have been focused on the technical school. The first stone for a new building was laid during a ceremony in July. The new building will accommodate 216 students, increasing from the current 140 students. Added space will also allow for adequate equipment and improve the quality of education offered.

This project was conceived five years ago and was carried out thanks to the commitment of the Salesian Vice Province St. Luigi Versiglia of Indonesia together with Don Bosco Mondo and the German government. The new building will take roughly 10 months to complete.

The Salesians are regarded as the single largest provider of vocational and technical training in the world. They offer more than 1,000 vocational, technical, professional and agricultural schools around the globe. This training provides youth the practical skills to prepare for employment and helps them lead productive lives while becoming contributing adults in their communities. These programs go beyond educating. They also assist youth with making connections within industries and preparing them for the process of searching, finding and retaining employment.

“We know that access to education lays the foundation for a better future for all youth and that work must continue even as we face a global health crisis,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco “In many countries around the globe where poverty is high and access to education is not universal, it is crucial that Salesian missionaries continue to offer technical and vocational training to as many youth as possible to ensure that they have access to long-term stable employment. The expansion of the technical school will ensure that many more youth have access to the education they need.”

According to the World Bank, the COVID-19 pandemic has pushed 2.76 million more Indonesians into poverty, bringing the country’s poverty rate to the highest level since March 2017. Due to job loss and business closure, there are 27.5 million people living below the poverty line as of September 2020. This is up significantly from 24.8 million a year earlier.

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Sources:

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

ANS – Indonesia – New opportunities for Vocational Training and ecological activities in Sumba, where Salesian charism increasingly takes root

Salesian Missions

World Bank – Indonesia