Don Bosco Institute inaugurates new college complex for more than 400 students

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Institute, in the town of Narammala, Sri Lanka, recently inaugurated a new college complex that includes 11 lecture halls, three offices, a girls’ dormitory that includes resident rooms, a television room and bathroom facilities. All of the electrical and plumbing for the new facilities has been completed and the rooms are furnished. There is enough lecture room space for the 432 students who are attending and for the 70 students who will be living in the dorms.

The college complex project was funded by Don Bosco Mondo in Bonn, Germany, to help provide higher education for youth in Sri Lanka. Don Bosco Institute was established in 2010 to provide youth with education in the fields of civil engineering, computer engineering, hotel management, tourism management, nursing and caregiving, human resource management, electrical, plumbing, and other trades.

The institute offers scholarships of up to 100% payment of course fees for students who come from families living in poverty. There are also dormitories on the campus for students who are orphans or those who are dealing with addiction issues and need a safe place to live while going to school. For many, the institute is a second chance at an education. In addition to coursework, students can also engage in extracurricular activities such as public speaking, singing, dancing, drama, theatre, games and music.

A Salesian missionary said, “Our mission is to empower the younger generation with spiritual values, skills and modern technology to be agents of transformation in the world. Don Bosco Institute is building a nation where everyone can live in peace and harmony.”

Sri Lanka has suffered a long civil war that ended in 2009, two tsunamis in the past 13 years, and a deadly dengue crisis. Nine out of 10 poor people in Sri Lanka live in rural areas, according to the World Bank. More than 40% of the country’s rural poor are small-scale farmers. Farm production is often hampered by neglect and low investment levels resulting from poor financial services and limited technology.

Sri Lankans are affected by a significant lack of infrastructure including roads, electricity, irrigation systems and communication channels. In several areas of the country, seven out of 10 people have no access to electricity and almost half of the population does not have access to safe drinking water. Malnutrition among children is also common.

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Sources:

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

ANS – Sri Lanka – The Opening of the New College Complex of DBI – Narammala

Salesian Missions – Sri Lanka

World Bank – Sri Lanka