The Don Bosco Media Team provides laptops, training at various locations

(MissionNewswire) The Don Bosco Media Team in Anisakan, Myanmar*, has been offering computer training courses for youth. The organization provides laptops for the training at different locations to make it more accessible. To date, 150 young people have benefited from the training courses, including 50 youth who have already obtained certificates of completion.

A Salesian said, “Basic computer skills are one of the requirements that today’s young people require in order to enter both the field of education and any other professional sphere in global society. Just to acquire basic computer skills, many young locals have to travel hundreds of kilometers to big cities, such as Yangon and Mandalay.”

The Salesian noted how challenging that is for many youth. He added, “Expenses incurred for travel, food and lodging are always much more expensive than expenses for computer training. In addition, being away from your family can also lead to social problems if they are not cautious enough about the threats in city life. With all these underlying reasons, Salesians have launched the computer course to make this training more accessible and affordable for youth.”

The military takeover of the democratically elected National League For Democracy Government has unleashed an unprecedented political, socioeconomic, and humanitarian crisis on top of the continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, sending the country into a dangerous spiral of conflict and poverty, according to the United Nations. There has been significant displacement, human suffering, asset depletion, rising food insecurity and reversal of many of the development gains made in recent years. Nearly 50% of the population is estimated to be living in poverty.

Salesian missionaries are responding to the needs of children, youth and their families who are in crisis. Not only do programs address desperate poverty, but they also serve people whose lives have recently been impacted by natural disasters and a refugee emergency.

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Sources:

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

ANS – Myanmar – Computer training courses for local youth

Salesians of Don Bosco – Myanmar

Salesian Missions – Myanmar

United Nations – Myanmar Humanitarian Needs Overview 2023 (January 2023)

*Any goods, services, or funds provided by Salesian Missions to programs located in this country were administered in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including sanctions administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control.