Salesian community working toward green campus

(MissionNewswire) Students and staff at Don Bosco Boys Town Technical Institute in Nairobi, Kenya, completed the fabrication of waste bins for waste management and environmental sustainability. The community is working toward achieving a green campus, community and culture.

The project was completed with the support of Don Bosco Tech Africa and coordination by the Salesian Province of Eastern Africa through the Don Bosco Development Outreach Network. The collaboration between these organizations highlights the importance of working together toward a cleaner and greener future.

A Salesian noted, “Through hands-on experience and practical training, the institute has not only contributed to waste management efforts but has also provided valuable learning opportunities for the participants. The successful completion of this activity demonstrates the positive impact that vocational education can have on both individuals and the community. By actively engaging in such projects, Don Bosco Boys Town Technical Institute is also setting an example for other institutions to follow in promoting environmental consciousness and responsibility.”

Don Bosco Boys Town provides education and technical skills training to former street children. Students who complete their primary education are then assisted with secondary education or are advised to choose technical training in sister institutions. Secondary education is most often provided at Don Bosco Technical Secondary School in the town of Embu, northeast of Nairobi. The two-year technical training provides youth with a wide variety of skills to choose from. After graduation, more than 80% of graduates are employed in their fields of study.

According to the World Bank, more than 7.8 million people in Kenya are living in extreme poverty, with the majority in rural areas. There are approximately 6.6 million people living on less than $1.90 a day in rural regions, while 1.1 million extremely poor people live in urban areas. Overall, the poverty incidence declined in recent years, but at a lower rate in urban areas than rural ones.

Youth living in Kenya’s larger cities like Nairobi are at risk for exploitation, forced labor and other abuses. Few attend the later stages of school as compared to those living in Kenya’s more rural areas. The few schools serving this disadvantaged community are beyond the financial means of most families.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Don Bosco Green Alliance

Don Bosco Green Alliance – Waste Management at Don Bosco Boys Town Technical Institute

Salesian Missions – Kenya

World Bank – Kenya