CHILE

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries, in collaboration with the Salesian Provincial Prevention Council, held a “Basic Abuse Prevention Training” course in Puerto Montt, Chile. The training follows the guidelines of the abuse prevention program issued by the Bishops’ Conference of Chile. Close to 100 people, including teachers, educational assistants, and pastoral staff from the Cristo Salvador Parish, took the course.

The training was configured in four modules including sexual abuse in the Universal and Chilean Church, basic elements for understanding sexual abuse and the church’s approach, introduction to sexual abuse in civil and canonical justice, and sexual abuse prevention.

Freddy Araya, the trainer of the course, said, “The commitment of the Salesian Congregation and local communities continues to be reaffirmed through these activities, since the issue of abuse and its prevention is of great importance for the future of society and the church, and together we must confront it.”

Salesian missionaries provide education and social development programs for poor youth in Chile. Once finished with primary and secondary school, students can advance for higher education. Salesian technical schools cater to students who have dropped out of school and are seeking a second chance. In many programs, students complete their education while engaging in internships with local employers. This increases the students’ hands-on work experience and ability to gain livable wage employment after their studies are completed.

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

ANS – Chile – Salesians in Puerto Montt organize abuse prevention course

Salesian Missions – Chile

World Bank – Chile

The post CHILE: Educational staff attends child abuse prevention training first appeared on MissionNewswire.

CHILE

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Foundation launched a new family residence known as Casa Pinardi in Santiago, Chile. The new house was opened in August and already has 19 adults and children living there. Casa Pinardi recently held an event to showcase the new facility.

At the event, Claudio Chávez, development director of the Don Bosco Foundation, welcomed representatives from the Regional Ministerial Secretary of Social and Family Development, the Municipality of Padre Hurtado, and the presidential delegation of the Province of Talagante. A formal ceremony at the event began with a tour of the facilities.

Fr. Victor Mora, president of the Don Bosco Foundation, thanked representatives from the Ministerial Secretary of Social and Family Development, for their contribution and joint work. He said, “I am grateful for the presence of the authorities because this is a sign that working together is more fruitful. May this place be a home for families, a home where they can meet and be formed.”

Alesio Castillo, a Venezuelan migrant and resident of Casa Pinardi, who lived on the streets with his family, expressed how grateful he is for the program. “I used to sleep in the squares with my two children and my wife. This foundation has given us a hand. This space feels like a home.”

Patricia Hidalgo, from the Ministerial Secretary of Social and Family Development, said, “We already knew the human quality of the foundation team. Thank you for having faith in us and our methodologies, you are our allies. We have to make these synergistic alliances so that the children of our country grow up happy, and we have to give their parents the opportunity then as well.”

Casa Pinardi joins other Don Bosco Foundation houses like the Cardenal Silva Henríquez family residence. These homes are temporary shelters for families living on the streets that provide them access to psychosocial support, training, and help in finding stable housing.

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

ANS – Chile – “Fundación Don Bosco” inaugurates new family residence in “Padre Hurtado” district

Salesian Missions – Chile

World Bank – Chile

The post CHILE: Families without housing find home first appeared on MissionNewswire.

CHILE

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Industrial Technical College, located in Calama, a city in the Atacama Desert and capital of El Loa Province in northern Chile, inaugurated state-of-the-art technical equipment to teach students about renewable energies. The two machines are specifically for solar and wind energy. One of the machines is of German origin and purchased thanks to the financial support of the Arturo Irarrázaval Correa Foundation, and the other machine from Chile was obtained with school funds.

During the inauguration of the technical equipment, a passenger vehicle was also blessed, which will be used for professional needs of the educational center’s student body. The ceremony was attended by students from the electrical and industrial mechanics courses, who will be the direct beneficiaries of the projects.

The school, which graduated its first class in 2021, started with 490 students and offers technical and vocational education for the industrial mining sector — with specific courses in mining, industrial mechanics and industrial electricity. Education is free for its students and classes are offered in both English and Spanish.

“Although the education system in the country is far-reaching, many poor and disadvantaged youth fall through the cracks,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “At Salesian schools they learn the technical skills to find and retain employment.”

Salesian technical schools in Chile cater to students who have dropped out of school and are seeking a second chance. In many programs, students complete their education while engaging in internships with local employers. This increases the students’ hands-on work experience and ability to gain livable wage employment after their studies are completed.

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

ANS – Chile – “Don Bosco” school in Calama inaugurates modern machinery for Unconventional Renewable Energy

Don Bosco Industrial Technical College

Salesian Missions – Chile

World Bank – Chile

The post CHILE: Students focus on renewable energy with new equipment first appeared on MissionNewswire.

CHILE

(MissionNewswire)  Salesian Liceo Manuel Arriarán Barros School, located in La Cisterna, Chile, has inaugurated a new multifunctional sports complex. The sports complex features two courts for volleyball and tennis, two basketball courts, a handball court, and a multi-court for other sports. The entire complex is equipped with lighting for evening activities.

At the inauguration event, Father Marcela Yánez, rector of the school, said, “In this place, we have a genuine Salesian space for meetings, sports and joy. Sports are important for youth development and that is why when we started improvements on the school, we set the courtyard among our priorities.”

Salesian programs around the globe have a focus on socio-sports education. Playing sports helps youth learn new skills and engage with their peers. Sports and activity are particularly important during the pandemic when many have become more sedentary.

“We congratulate the Salesian Liceo Manuel Arriarán Barros School on its new sports complex,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Sports programs teach youth both on and off the field. Learning and playing team sports encourage leadership skills as well as teach youth to work as part of a team. Students also learn important social skills and have opportunities for growth and maturity.”

According to the World Bank, Chile has a fairly low poverty rate of 14.4 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.

As a result of the vocational and technical education provided by Salesian programs, Chilean youth are more likely to find stable employment and improve their standard of living.

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ANS – Chile – Inauguration and blessing of new sports complex at La Cisterna

Salesian Liceo Manuel Arriarán Barros School

Salesian Missions – Chile

World Bank – Chile

The post CHILE: Youth learn new skills through sports first appeared on MissionNewswire.

CHILE

(MissionNewswire) Teachers from the Salesian Institute of Concepción in Chile recently took part in continuing education to strengthen their skills. With a focus on teamwork, teachers participated in workshops and games centered on achieving common goals. In addition, teachers attended sessions to learn about the importance of protecting mental, physical and emotional health. The training wrapped up with an educational session on Google Drive tools, which will allow teachers to optimize their work and keep up-to-date.

Teachers play an important role in the lives of poor youth in Salesian schools. Their work is vital to their students’ success both in and out of the classroom. Salesian missionaries educate more than 1 million youth in over 5,500 schools and youth centers, along with nearly 1,000 vocational, technical and agricultural schools in more than 130 countries around the globe.

“Teachers are the backbone of the Salesian educational system, and ongoing education is necessary to help them improve their skills and keep up-to-date with new information in the field,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Salesian teachers face many challenges educating poor youth, and the pandemic has only exacerbated these challenges. Salesian teachers meet these challenges head-on, providing education and hope for a brighter future.”

According to the World Bank, Chile has a fairly low poverty rate of 14.4 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.

As a result of the vocational and technical education provided by Salesian programs, Chilean youth are more likely to find stable employment and improve their standard of living.

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

ANS – Chile – Concepción teachers receive formation to strengthen their pedagogical skills

Salesian Missions – Chile

World Bank – Chile

The post CHILE: Teachers strengthen their skills first appeared on MissionNewswire.

CHILE

(MissionNewswire) The Salesian Agricultural School in Linares, Chile, recently launched an environmental project to equip the school with photovoltaic solar panels in order to promote the use of renewable technologies. The project was made possible with the support of the national company Oenergy Generación Solar Spa and Las Catitas Photovoltaic Park. The project will contribute to conservation and energy efficiency in the region and provide energy to several areas of the school, including for the irrigation of fruit trees.

The Salesian Agricultural School is located in an area of the country that depends heavily on farming to sustain its economy. Many of the families living in the area suffer from the effects of devastating poverty, and the training helps farmers to increase their knowledge in the sector. The school also has a pig breeding unit that was launched in 2017 and provides courses for the production of sausages.

Salesian teachers provide young farmers with a basic education as well as advanced studies in the latest agricultural practices and modern technologies while moving toward efficiency in farming. This includes exploring and testing new techniques in agriculture, horticulture, floriculture and animal husbandry. Salesian agricultural schools provide both classroom education and hands-on agriculture and livestock training on working farms. With a long history of providing agricultural education, missionaries currently operate more than 90 agriculture schools around the world.

“Many of our students at Salesian agriculture schools are the children of poor farmers,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “We want to provide youth with new farming knowledge and skills so they can make a good life for themselves while helping to support their families and community.”

Salesian agricultural, vocational and technical schools in Chile cater to students who have dropped out of school and are seeking a second chance. In many programs, students complete their education while engaging in internships with local employers. This increases the students’ hands-on work experience and chance of gaining livable wage employment after their studies are completed.

“Salesian missionaries working in Chile focus their efforts on providing education and social programs to poor and at-risk youth,” added Fr. Baek. “At Salesian schools, universities and youth centers throughout the country, youth can access an education as well as the skills and resources necessary to find stable employment and improve their standard of living.”

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

ANS – Chile – Salesian Agricultural School of Linares committed to implementation of a photovoltaic solar system

Salesian Agricultural School

Salesian Missions – Chile

World Bank – Chile

The post CHILE: Salesian Agricultural School installs photovoltaic solar panels first appeared on MissionNewswire.

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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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

The post CHILE: Students access technology with new multimedia studio first appeared on MissionNewswire.

CHILE

(MissionNewswire) Salesian Academy of Arts and Communications (ASAC in Spanish) concluded a second two-week online training program organized by the Salesian multimedia center Caetera Tolle. The training brought together students from 22 Salesian schools across Chile.

The training focused on the four topics of comics, audio, social media and design. Comics helped students learn about character design and creating short stories. The audio training focused on recording tracks while using minimal resources. The social media part of the training focused on the viral phenomenon of influencers, their digital strategies and content management for digital platforms.

The design training utilized both photography and video and focused on students generating their own animations for social networks. The photography section of the training taught self-portrait technique and the expression of emotions through it. The video segment taught audiovisual streaming using OBS Studio software.

Vicente Fritz, provincial delegate for social communication, told the students, “We hope this experience has been an opportunity for growth for you as much as it has been for us. Continue on towards the path of the arts and communications.” He also underscored the importance of the academy, which has been fundamental in the fields of communication and education.

Felipe Valdés, director of Caetera Tolle, thanked the youth for their participation. “For the multimedia center, it is very gratifying to see these young people learn from the courses offered, which challenges us to continue to adapt to their needs especially during the pandemic.”

The training gave students necessary tools to continue to generate their own communication projects with the Salesian imprint. Teachers like José Antonio Rodriguez, head of the photography workshop, were quite pleased with the students’ efforts. He said, “This is the second academy training we have held and it is gratifying to hear comments and reflections. I am very happy with the results.”

At the end of the training, students had a moment to express how they felt during the two weeks. “I want to thank the entire team, especially the teacher of the video lab, for teaching us many useful tools for the future. The experience has helped me to meet new people who share my love for video,” said Benjamín Lepe from Don Bosco Oratory School.

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

ANS – Chile – The Salesian Academy of Communication holds online training Programme

Salesian Missions – Chile

World Bank – Chile

The post CHILE: Students from 22 Salesians school learn multimedia skills first appeared on MissionNewswire.

CHILE

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Industrial Technical College in Calama, a city in the Atacama Desert and capital of El Loa Province in northern Chile, has signed an agreement with Codelco Northern District, a leading company in the mining sector, and with the Mining Cluster of the Antofagasta Region corporation to create new opportunities in professional technical training for youth interested in the mining field. This collaboration also helps to complete the fifth phase of construction on the school where this education is provided.

The college started with 490 students and offers technical and vocational education for the industrial mining sector—with specific courses in mining, industrial mechanics and industrial electricity. Education is free for students and classes are offered in both English and Spanish. The college is still fairly new and recently had its first graduation.

A signing ceremony was held to launch the new agreement. The event was attended by Father Marco Vergara, director of Don Bosco Industrial Technical College, and André Sougarret, vice-president of Codelco Northern District. Sougarret noted that mining techniques are changing and spoke of the necessity to employ professionals with greater skills. The company and the industry not only require specialists in the field of mechanics and electronics, but also those who know the mining processes that the company is newly developing.

Ricardo Díaz, the regional governor of Antofagasta, said at the event, “It is very significant that there is high quality vocational training in the region, a technical training that perhaps we could improve by issuing apt certifications in order to guarantee a high employability of young people in our region.”

Fr. Vergara added, “This important milestone, welcomed by the Codelco Northern District company, also provides an important contribution to the construction of the fifth stage of the school, as it allows us to build a happy world for our young people. We entrust ourselves to God so that all these good intentions will come true, like the dream fulfilled of our Father and teacher St. John Bosco.”

Don Bosco Industrial Technical College has been working to strengthen its relationship with mining companies to increase the level of professional training available and help make the transition from education to the workforce smoother for students. The goal is to provide training where there is a high rate of employability after graduation.

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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ANS – Chile – “Don Bosco” School of Calama signs new agreements on mining training

Don Bosco Industrial Technical College

Salesian Missions – Chile

World Bank – Chile

The post CHILE: Collaboration promotes professional mining training first appeared on MissionNewswire.

CHILE

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Industrial Technical College in Calama, a city in the Atacama Desert and capital of El Loa Province in northern Chile, held its first graduation. The college is part of the broader Salesian network of educational programs in the country. The entire Salesian community, as well as regional authorities and business representatives, participated in the graduation event.

The college started with 490 students and offers technical and vocational education for the industrial mining sector—with specific courses in mining, industrial mechanics and industrial electricity. Education is free for its students and classes are offered in both English and Spanish.

“Although the education system in the country is far-reaching, many poor and disadvantaged youth fall through the cracks,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Throughout the country, young people from poor families lack the educational opportunities available to the middle and upper classes.”

Salesian technical schools in Chile cater to students who have dropped out of school and are seeking a second chance. In many programs, students complete their education while engaging in internships with local employers. This increases the students’ hands-on work experience and chance of gaining livable wage employment after their studies are completed.

“Salesian missionaries working in Chile focus their efforts on providing education and social programs to poor and at-risk youth,” added Fr. Baek. “At Salesian schools, universities and youth centers throughout the country, youth can access an education as well as the skills and resources necessary to find stable employment and improve their standard of living.”

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 – Diploma of first generation of students from Don Bosco Calama School

Don Bosco Industrial Technical College

Salesian Missions – Chile

World Bank – Chile

The post CHILE: Technical college graduates first students first appeared on MissionNewswire.

CHILE

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries with the Provincial Department for Education in Santiago, Chile, have been strengthening the skills of teachers throughout 2020 with more than a dozen new workshops and diploma-based courses. These workshops and courses have been made available to administration leaders and teaching teams from Salesian schools in the country.

Juan Pablo Vásquez, director of the Network of Salesian Schools, reported that this professional development initiative is the result of the strategic planning established in 2019. The workshops and courses were developed thanks to a relationship with the Silva Henríquez Catholic University and with other local institutions.

One of the most important diploma-based courses launched was in transversal management. The course was taught by educators from the Silva Henríquez Catholic University School of Philosophy and attended by 64 primary and junior high school teachers from Copiapó, Talca, Linares, Punta Arenas and Santiago. The first course, which started in August, ends in January 2021.

A meeting was held in early December for directors and principals to discuss the outcome of the transversal management course. The training went so well that participants expressed their intention to recommend the same course to other colleagues. One participant said, “Teachers must continually improve, and even more so the principals, whose role is fundamental in training people.”

The online meeting concluded with the presentation of the course project for 2021, which is expected to be extended to new schools in the network.

Teachers play an important role in the lives of poor youth in Salesian schools. Their work is vital to their students’ success both in and out of the classroom. Salesian missionaries educate more than 1 million youth in over 5,500 schools and youth centers and nearly 1,000 vocational, technical and agricultural schools in more than 130 countries around the globe.

“Teachers are the backbone of the Salesian educational system, and ongoing education is necessary to help them improve their skills and keep up to date with new information in the field,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Salesian teachers face many challenges educating poor youth, and the pandemic has only exacerbated these challenges. Salesian teachers meet these challenges head-on, providing education and hope for a brighter future.”

According to the World Bank, Chile has a fairly low poverty rate of 14.4 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.

As a result of the vocational and technical education provided by Salesian programs, Chilean youth are more likely to find stable employment and improve their standard of living.

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Sources:

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

ANS – Chile – Teacher training: transversal-management diploma for Salesian school leaders

Salesian Missions – Chile

World Bank – Chile

The post CHILE: Teachers strengthen their skills first appeared on MissionNewswire.

CHILE

(MissionNewswire) Students from the Salesian Educational Center in Talca, Chile, participated in the fourth edition of the WorldSkills Chile 2020 Vocational Training Olympics, held online in November. They each received a gold medal in their respective competitions. The recognition will open new doors for them professionally.

Sebastian Palma, who was a part of the industrial control competition, said, “It was a week of hard work, struggling with anxiety, stress and fatigue, but when the closing ceremony arrived, I could only think of one thing: I want that medal!”

Maverick Silva and Nicolás Méndez were victorious in the mechatronics competition. For Silva, it was a dream come true. He recalled, “Last year, I had to write a newspaper article for a class. My headline was ‘Student of the Salesian Educational Center of Talca wins WorldSkills 2020.’ I never imagined it would actually come true. It was very rewarding.”

Méndez said it was a great learning experience. He noted, “I think the competition has helped us improve and develop our skills as electrical technicians and learn at advanced levels of mechatronics.”

Professors Lucas Olave and Patricio Cáceres also commented on the successes and acknowledged that the competition is fierce, with participants coming from other countries and high-level challenges, in which it was not possible to improvise. This year was also difficult because it was done remotely.

Sebastián González Cassone, a student at the Salesian Institute in Alameda, won the gold medal in the computer networks category, thanks to a model developed with Professor Raúl Vásquez.

“Winning the first prize in my specialty filled me with joy,” said Cassone. “Everything I learned during the third and fourth years paid off and was acknowledged. WorldSkills is a great opportunity to test everything one learns and it helped me feel more confident.”

According to the World Bank, Chile has a fairly low poverty rate of 14.4 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.

As a result of the vocational and technical education provided by Salesian programs, Chilean youth are more likely to find stable employment and improve their standard of living.

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Sources:

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

ANS – Chile – Several success stories of Salesian education: Gold Medal students at “WorldSkills Chile 2020”

Salesian Missions – Chile

World Bank – Chile

The post CHILE: Students win, learn at competition first appeared on MissionNewswire.

CHILE

(MissionNewswire) The Salesian Agricultural School in Catemu, Chile, has signed a collaboration agreement for the creation of the first Regional Agro-Ecological Formation Center. Others signing the agreement are the University Viña del Mar and the University of Las Americas, the National Botanical Garden, technical teams from Otic Pro Aconcagua, Sinapsis, RMGM, La Semilla Foundation, the Ministerial Regional Secretary for Agriculture, and the mayor of Catemu.

The new regional center will be a part of the Salesian Agricultural School of Catemu. The purpose of the signed collaborative agreement is to improve training curriculum of future agricultural technicians. All the authorities underlined the importance of the Salesian Agriculture School in the conservation, protection, promotion and enhancement of rural culture and the environment.

During the signing, an official Council of Experts and Academics was created. It will have the task of managing the improvement process and the participation of the Ministry of the Environment and private entities in this initiative. After the agreement was signed, the members of the new council met for the first time to establish guidelines and commitments to advance the construction of the center.

This will provide solid management to all the processes associated with the curriculum of the Salesian Agricultural School, including the production of milk, cheese, eggs, honey, wine, fruit, jams, fodder and more. The curriculum will be taught according to a model of circular economy and clean production, and it will become an educational reference point for the rural agriculture economy.

“It is a real advancement for the Salesian Agriculture School in Catemu to be able to sign a collaborative agreement such as this to launch a regional center,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Salesian agriculture schools provide rural farmers advanced training in new technologies to help improve their yield and method of operation. The new regional center will ensure that even more rural farmers and youth looking to go into farming have access to the advanced studies they need to succeed, positively impacting their lives and entire communities.”

According to the World Bank, Chile has a fairly low poverty rate of 14.4 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.

As a result of the vocational and technical education provided by Salesian programs, Chilean youth are more likely to find stable employment and improve their standard of living.

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Sources:

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

ANS – Chile – Salesian agricultural school of Catemu and other partner institutions inaugurate first Regional Center for Agro-Ecological Formation

Salesian Missions – Chile

World Bank – Chile

The post CHILE: New agricultural center to support farmers, train future agricultural technicians first appeared on MissionNewswire.

CHILE

Don Bosco Foundation signs collaborative agreement with Emaresa to help support street children project

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Foundation signed a collaborative agreement with the company Emaresa to help support the Salesian-run “Together in the street” (Juntos en la Calle) project in Santiago. This new collaboration will support the continuity of one of the Don Bosco Foundation’s residences for street children and provide support to youth who live there.

The signing ceremony was attended by Father Victor Mora, president of the Don Bosco Foundation; Dr. Aldo del Rio, the human resources director of Emaresa; and Dr. María de los Ángeles Ibáñez, the director of the Salesian project. During the ceremony, Fr. Mora thanked Emaresa for its support and then spoke to youth directly, telling them to take advantage of this opportunity to lift their lives forward and upward.

On behalf of Emaresa, del Rio said, “For us, the relationship with the Don Bosco Foundation and all the common work that can arise from this relationship is super important. We’re very happy and enthusiastic to contribute to the job placement process of the young people living in the residence, enhancing the talents of these boys and girls in these spaces.”

Regarding the partnership agreement, which will seek to empower youth to increase their professional skills, Ibáñez noted, “This is the first of a series of alliances that we hope to formalize in different territories because we believe that the complexity of the street situation requires joint responses in which the business sector also has a lot to say.”

During the coming weeks, a plan will be put into place that will detail the major points of the collaboration, including recreational activities that will be offered to youth, a sustainability model to support more youth with skill training and workforce development, and improvements to the infrastructure of the Don Bosco Foundation house.

“Together in the street” is a project born from the 13th “Efforts for the Country” roundtable, led by the Community of Solidarity Organizations and the Confederation of Production and Commerce (CPC), and supported by the Ministry of Social Development and the Family. Its goal, according to Ibañez, is to contribute to overcoming the street children situation in the country through a network that involves the business sector in conversation with the public sector and to strengthen the work of civil society organizations.

According to the World Bank, Chile has a fairly low poverty rate of 14.4 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.

As a result of the vocational and technical education provided by Salesian programs, Chilean youth are more likely to find stable employment and improve their standard of living.

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Sources:

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

ANS – Chile – “Fundación Don Bosco” and “Emaresa”: alliance to overcome street situation

Salesian Missions – Chile

World Bank – Chile

The post CHILE: New partnership helps homeless children ‘together in the street’ first appeared on MissionNewswire.

CHILE

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Foundation’s Raúl Villarroel Day Center in Valparaíso, Chile, suffered a fire on Aug. 8, which damaged the entire structure. The center opened seven years ago to assist the homeless. None of those at the center were harmed during the fire. The fire also burned several donations of food, toiletries and personal protective equipment.

More than 30 people attend the center each day, accessing hygiene services and meals. The center was also a place of refuge for people to meet in a safe environment. Staff helped the homeless with social integration and provided support for their daily needs. During the pandemic, the center installed safety measures so staff could still provide food, hygiene kits and personal protection products.

“Our entire staff and those we serve have been impacted by this fire,” said Carlos Aravena, director of the Raúl Villarroel Day Center. “In the afternoon after the fire, we spent time tidying up and cleaning, awaiting the assessment of material damage. It’s unknown right now how much time it will take before we can get back to providing services to those in need like we once did.”

The fire is still under investigation. Don Bosco Foundation will soon launch a fundraising campaign to rebuild the building and restore essential services to people who live on the margins of society.

Salesian missionaries in the region provide primary and secondary education as well as vocational skills training so poor youth are able to gain the skills needed for employment. In addition, families can access Catholic services and have a communal place to meet and connect with their friends and neighbors.

According to the World Bank, Chile has a fairly low poverty rate of 14.4 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.

As a result of the vocational and technical education provided by Salesian programs, Chilean youth are more likely to find stable employment and improve their standard of living.

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Sources:

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

ANS – Chile – Fire destroys “Fundación Don Bosco” center in Valparaíso

Salesian Missions – Chile

World Bank – Chile

The post CHILE: Don Bosco Foundation’s Raúl Villarroel Day Center suffers fire which destroys entire building that provided services to the homeless first appeared on MissionNewswire.

CHILE

(MissionNewswire) The Salesian Educational Center (CEST), located in Talca, Chile, continues to provide baskets of food and personal hygiene items to families most affected by the coronavirus pandemic. CEST also continues to educate and support youth within its community.

Mauricio Espinoza, president of the CEST General Parental Center, thanked all of the families who shared their resources. He added, “The team prepares and organizes baskets, and for products we don’t have or are a little more expensive, like vegetables, we buy them ourselves.”

The delivery of parcels takes place at the Sur Institute office or directly to the homes of families, including families who are in preventive quarantine. From July 13-17, 138 baskets were delivered. Espinoza explained that it was a collaborative effort. He said, “As a group, we must continue to work and continue to add people to help and share as brothers.”

To help support this work, CEST has a commission led by Father Pedro Pablo Cuello, director of the Salesians in Talca. The commission identifies student challenges and uses a network to provide support to them and their families. CEST continues to keep in touch with students and parents, and it identified several youth who have had internet connection issues, which prevented them from engaging in online education. CEST provided equipment and internet access to the families to support youth in continuing their education.

According to the World Bank, Chile has a fairly low poverty rate of 14.4 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.

As a result of the vocational and technical education provided by Salesian programs, Chilean youth are more likely to find stable employment and improve their standard of living.

###

Sources:

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

ANS – Chile – Collaboration and solidarity with Talca Salesian Educational Center

Salesian Missions – Chile

World Bank – Chile

The post CHILE: Salesian Educational Center in Talca supports families impacted by coronavirus pandemic first appeared on MissionNewswire.

CHILE

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Foundation has continued to provide services under its “Care and Prevention” program for at-risk children in Santiago, Chile, thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. The funding helped support several activities that fall under this program. Salesian staff received professional development training, youth were able to access programs and others indirectly benefited from the project.

Since 1998, the Don Bosco Foundation has provided programs to assist vulnerable children and older youth who are faced with social isolation, exclusion and a lack of opportunities. The organization employs 170 people in three programs for street children and at-risk youth that include a family residence and a reception center. It is currently serving nearly 160 street children across more than 15 municipalities in Santiago.

Self-care sessions were held for Salesian staff members at the four Salesian programs of Laura Vicuña, María Auxiliadora, Raúl Villarroel Correa Day Center and the Therapeutic Community in Valdoco. The full-day sessions focused on effective communication, relationships, crisis care, work coordination and other topics that impact their work. Another training day was also held for 70 staff members on various educational topics.

The funding from Salesian Missions also provided the materials for pizza-making workshops. Three workshops were held in December 2019 and more were planned for March and April 2020, but had to be cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Before the closure, a pizza-making workshop was held for 14 youth. They enjoyed learning a new skill and had fun with their peers. The goal is to resume these activities once it is safe to do so.

The Don Bosco Foundation also hired a physical trainer, social monitor and two socio-community monitors who provide education at Patio Punitaqui Oratory. After the pandemic hit, much of their work was done virtually. They have improved planning for sports and English language workshops, developed activities for special holidays, and printed educational materials for children to work on from home.

“We are appreciative of our donors who helped support Salesian efforts to support and provide services for at-risk youth in Chile,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions. “These activities help ensure that youth have the social supports they need to succeed not only in school but in life.”

According to the World Bank, Chile has a fairly low poverty rate of 14.4 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. As a result of the vocational and technical education provided by Salesian programs, Chilean youth are more likely to find stable employment and improve their standard of living.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions – Chile

World Bank – Chile

The post CHILE: Don Bosco Foundation provides services for at-risk youth thanks to Salesian Missions donor funding first appeared on MissionNewswire.

CHILE

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Foundation was able to provide services under its “Care and Prevention” program for at-risk children in Santiago, Chile, thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. The funding helped support several activities that fall under this program. Salesian staff received professional development training, youth were able to access programs and others indirectly benefited from the project.

Since 1998, the Don Bosco Foundation has provided programs to assist vulnerable children and older youth who are faced with social isolation, exclusion and a lack of opportunities. The organization employs 170 people in three programs for street children and at-risk youth that include a family residence and a reception center for street children. It is currently serving nearly 160 street children across more than 15 municipalities in Santiago.

Self-care sessions were held for Salesian staff at four Salesian programs including Laura Vicuña, María Auxiliadora, Raúl Villarroel Correa Day Center and the Therapeutic Community in Valdoco. The full-day sessions focused on effective communication, relationships, crisis care, work coordination and other topics that impact their work.

The funding from Salesian Missions also provided the materials for pizza-making workshops. Three workshops were held in December 2019 and more were held in March 2020. Recreational activities also received funding for balls, weights and goalkeeper gloves, among other items. The funding also supported craft workshops by providing organizing plastic boxes, library items, cards, markers, glue and other items.

A total of 10 workshops were held for both children and older youth at Patio Punitaqui Oratory. Each workshop had eight to 12 participants. Sports workshops included soccer, skating and CrossFit. Other workshops included art, recycling, recreational sewing and creative cooking. Finally, workshops were held for students who needed after-school support for literacy and English language studies.

Further, Salesian Missions funding helped the Don Bosco Foundation’s efforts to provide mental health support for youth. Psychotherapeutic care included psychiatric and psychological care during five sessions for each youth. The care team is made up of one full-time psychologist and psychiatric care from the medical centers Grow Well Comprehensive Mental Health Limited and the Family Psycho-Educational Medical Center CIJ Ltda. As of Jan. 30, 25 youth were in care with 14 of them maintaining ongoing psychological therapy.

“We are appreciative of our donors who helped support the work with at-risk youth in Chile,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions. “These activities help ensure that youth have the social supports they need to succeed not only in school but in life.”

According to the World Bank, Chile has a fairly low poverty rate of 14.4 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. As a result of the vocational and technical education provided by Salesian programs, Chilean youth are more likely to find stable employment and improve their standard of living.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions – Chile

World Bank – Chile

The post CHILE: Don Bosco Foundation provides services under its ‘Care and Prevention’ program for at-risk children thanks to Salesian Missions donor funding first appeared on MissionNewswire.

CHILE

(MissionNewswire) In response to growing calls in Chile for the government to bring about social and economic change, Salesian missionaries across the country are holding events to learn more from youth and give them an opportunity to have their voices heard. Youth with the Salesian Youth Movement, in collaboration with youth from the Catholic church in Santiago, have created a space to reflect on the social phase Chile is going through as well as on the causes, consequences and future prospects—and above all—on the role young Catholics play and shall play in the entire process.

On Nov. 16, a meeting was held under the theme of “The Chile we dream of” to encourage dialogue and reflection among youth. The topics discussed included new pastoral care for today’s Chile, the socio-political commitment of young Christians, the importance of prayer, ongoing formation as a key to the maturity of faith, and opening spaces for dialogue and discernment together. All of the topics will continue to be discussed at later meetings.

At the meeting, there were also testimonies shared by youth about their experiences, dreams and plans as they continue walking in the construction or reconstruction of the country.

This broad movement also involves other Salesian centers in the country. On Nov. 9, the Salesian house in Alameda brought together more than 400 youth for a meeting called “The Chile that I desire” in which the origin and forms of solving the current social-political crisis were discussed.

Salesian missionaries in the city of La Serena also set aside days for reflection. Educators addressed topics with the students in their classrooms and developed an emotional containment plan, wherein everyone could express their feelings and reflect on the social changes.

“Chile has awoken to find itself facing the unjust life we ​​have lived, on a political, economic, health and educational level. We have to bring out the positive side, not remain with the negative side,” explained Guido Torres, a Salesian religion teacher and pastoral secretary. “As Don Bosco thought for all his Salesian Family, we have trust in our young people, protagonists of our education, to make them good Christians and to lead them to be upright citizens. We must pray for what is happening, for God to help us and strengthen us, so that Chile is a paradise where we can live in peace and equality.”

Salesian missionaries in the region provide primary and secondary education as well as vocational skills training so poor youth are able to gain the skills needed for employment. In addition, families are able to access Catholic services and have a communal place to meet and connect with their friends and neighbors.

According to the World Bank, Chile has a fairly low poverty rate of 14.4 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.

As a result of the vocational and technical education provided by Salesian programs, Chilean youth are more likely to find stable employment and improve their standard of living.

###

Sources:

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

ANS – Chile – Young Salesians dream for Chile: Salesian students and works reflect on social explosion

Salesian Missions – Chile

World Bank – Chile

The post CHILE: Salesian missionaries launch forums for youth to discuss growing economic and social changes in the country first appeared on MissionNewswire.

CHILE

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries held a celebration in honor of the 125th anniversary of the Salesian Center in Valparaíso, a port city on Chile’s coast. Hundreds of people gathered in Valparaíso’s municipal theater on Oct. 11 to celebrate what has become a home, courtyard, school and parish to families in the region. An orchestra and a choir of students from the Salesian school and the school run by the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians from Valparaíso performed, accompanied by young dancers.

At the opening of the event, Father Nestor Muñoz, director of the Salesian Center, said, “We are educating with the heart. It is reason, religion and loving kindness. It is the permanent presence of Don Bosco among his young people, as a good shepherd who takes care and protects his flock. May these be followed by many more years, with new generations, new dreams and new challenges.”

Antonio Neira, director of the Salesian school, recalled the history of the center. He explained, “Since its origins as the School of Arts and Crafts Sant’Agostino in 1894, our school has committed lay people from different walks of life who have contributed with goods, knowledge and virtues to the formation of young people.”

Neira added, “Today after 125 years, the social and economic context has changed, but the needs of our children and young people are still pressing. The Salesian school has created and strengthened, over time, a solid educational pastoral proposal.”

Father José Lino and Fr. Muñoz presented plaques to the Salesians who through the years have passed through the school’s halls and classrooms, including Father Sergio Cuevas, formerly provincial and member of the General Council of the Congregation, Father Carlo Lira, current provincial, and Father Andrés Contreras, Father Heriberto Cabrera, Patricio Julio Orellana and post-novice Camilo Peña. Other awards were given to several prominent past pupils.

Salesian missionaries in the region provide primary and secondary education as well as vocational skills training so poor youth are able to gain the skills needed for employment. In addition, families are able to access Catholic services and have a communal place to meet and connect with their friends and neighbors.

According to the World Bank, Chile has a fairly low poverty rate of 14.4 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.

As a result of the vocational and technical education provided by Salesian programs, Chilean youth are more likely to find stable employment and improve their standard of living.

###

Sources:

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

ANS – Chile – Valparaíso, new Valdocco: 125 years of dreams and challenges

Salesian Missions – Chile

World Bank – Chile

The post CHILE: Salesian missionaries celebrate 125 years providing education and social programs in Valparaíso first appeared on MissionNewswire.

CHILE

(MissionNewswire) The Don Bosco Foundation in Santiago, Chile, created the Registro Circuito de Calle (Register of Streets Circuit) app with the goal of helping to improve intervention for street children. The app was developed by the Don Bosco Foundation in collaboration with Fundación País Digital of Microsoft Chile and DonaTec, an online donation program for the nongovernmental agency, CDI Chile.

The app allows users to update mapping within a territory, providing intervention teams with online information that will increase their knowledge of the territories and enable support to reach street children more effectively.

It also helps teams better plan their actions and social operations on the road so they can choose the most effective strategies for intervening with youth who are living in even the most hidden areas. In addition, the app will characterize the territories to better show the transit of minors as well as track what they do and what they are exposed to in those areas.

In the first four months of use, the app has helped Salesian staff reach and serve 10 percent more children. The app is being considered for use at the national level.

“Chilean street children are invisible to many people. This application allows us to highlight the situation in an undeniable way. Before, our team employed up to 40 minutes of work in the office for research on just one child. Now with this app, it takes 20 seconds,” said Sergio Mercado, executive director of the Don Bosco Foundation.

Today when social workers come into contact with youth like Tomás, a 14-year-old boy who is hungry and scared living on the streets, they use GPS mapping to signal their position and add the information available on that youth. Tomás left home because he feared his violent uncle.

Since living on the streets, he can’t ask the police for help because he was caught stealing to eat, and drug dealers and gang leaders seem to be his only friends—but their generosity has a price. The app is helping to keep track of youth just like Tomás.

The more information that’s noted on the map, the clearer youth movements become. For example, thanks to the app, the team identified trends such as when police pressure increases, many youth flee to the train station. In addition, some addresses that frequently appeared on the map were dwellings of drug dealers and traffickers.

Furthermore, the protection levels built into the app, permission-based sharing guarantees and the monitoring of any suspicious activity ensure that the data does not end up in the wrong hands. Now, when youth like Tomás disappear, Salesian staff have better opportunities to find them quickly.

According to the World Bank, Chile has a fairly low poverty rate of 14.4 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. As a result of the vocational and technical education provided by Salesian programs, Chilean youth are more likely to find stable employment and improve their standard of living.

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Sources:

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

ANS – Chile – “Registro Circuito de Calle”: when technology directly benefits young people at risk

Salesian Missions – Chile

World Bank – Chile

The post CHILE: The Don Bosco Foundation’s new app helps track movements of street children for more effective intervention first appeared on MissionNewswire.

The new college campus was built thanks to an alliance between the Antofagasta Industrial Association and the Salesian Province and was financed by the CODELCO and El Abra companies in Chile. The college started with 490 students and offers technical and vocational education for the industrial mining sector providing specific courses in mining, industrial mechanics and industrial electricity. Education is free for its students and classes are offered in both English and Spanish.

“The college is a sign of social co-responsibility in the field of education which is the first and main task of a society that attaches importance to culture, ethics and values,” says Father Alberto Lorenzelli, Provincial of the Salesian missionaries in Chile. “Salesian schools provide an educational environment of high academic excellence and generate opportunities for the most disadvantaged while promoting coexistence and living together in a family atmosphere.”

Salesian schools, social development services and workforce development programs throughout Chile are helping to break the cycle of poverty while giving many hope for a more positive and productive future. According to the World Bank, although the economy in Chile is one of the more stable and prosperous in Latin America, a little more than 5 percent of the population live on just $2 a day. The country suffers from high economic inequality which is particularly evident in access to educational opportunities.

“Although the education system in the country is far-reaching, many poor and disadvantaged youth fall through the cracks,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Throughout the country, young people from poor families lack the educational opportunities available to the middle and upper classes.”

Salesian technical schools in Chile cater to students who have dropped out of school and are seeking a second chance. In many programs, students complete their education while engaging in internships with local employers increasing their hands-on work experience and chance of gaining livable wage employment after their studies are completed.

“Salesian missionaries working in Chile focus their efforts on providing education and social programs to poor and at-risk youth,” adds Fr. Hyde. “At Salesian schools, universities and youth centers throughout the country, youth can access an education as well as the skills and resources necessary to find stable employment and improve their standard of living.”

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ANS – Chile – Opening of Don Bosco Colegio Técnico Industrial in Calama: a dream that is still being realized

World Bank – Chile

The post CHILE: New Salesian Industrial College Provides Education in the Mining Field for 490 Students first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Salesian schools, services and programs throughout Chile are helping to break the cycle of poverty while giving many hope for a more positive and productive future. Salesian schools equip students with a foundational education and the skills they need to compete in the local labor market by offering courses in carpentry, farming, electrical and mechanical engineering, computers and more. Salesian schools also build partnerships with local businesses to help youth gain employment after graduation. This further helps the local economy by providing a well-trained labor force.

According to the World Bank, although the economy in Chile is one of the more stable and prosperous in Latin America, a little more than 5 percent of the population live on just $2 a day. The country suffers from high economic inequality which is particularly evident in access to educational opportunities.

“Although the education system in the country is far-reaching, many poor and disadvantaged youth fall through the cracks,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Throughout the country, young people from poor families lack the educational opportunities available to the middle and upper classes.”

Many of the Salesian technical schools in Chile cater to students who have dropped out of school and are seeking a second chance. And for youth who lack the resources to attend Chile’s universities, Salesian schools provide the opportunity to receive job skills training. In many programs, students complete their education while engaging in internships with local employers increasing their hands-on work experience and chance of gaining livable wage employment after their studies are completed.

“Salesian missionaries working in Chile focus their efforts on providing education and social services to poor, at-risk youth,” adds Fr. Hyde. “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. As a result of the vocational and technical education provided by Salesian programs, Chilean youth are more likely to find stable employment and improve their standard of living.”

Operating for more than 15 years in Santiago, Chile’s capital and largest city, the Don Bosco Foundation has successfully educated and provided social services to more than 15,000 children and adults. Responding to a rise in the homeless population in the city, Salesian missionaries at the foundation created programs in partnership with other local social welfare programs to meet the basic needs of both adults and children living on the street while providing opportunities for education. Participants are provided shelter, nutritious food, clothing, medical care and an education. Educational programming includes vocational and technical training to help those in need find and retain stable employment. Counseling and recovery services are also offered.

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Sources:

ANS – Chile – The Atacama desert, fertile land for Don Bosco

World Bank – Chile

The post CHILE: Salesian Missionaries Open New School and Technical Training Courses for Disadvantaged Youth first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Salesian missionaries living and working in the region are responding to the situation with aid for the flood victims, many who have lost everything. The missionaries operate the Salesian Cristo Redentor Industrial School located in Copiapó, the capital city of the Atacama Region, the area most affected by the flooding. Most of the access roads in the city are impassable due to mud resulting from the torrential rains. Because communications are unstable and intermittent, the Salesian community has not been able to fully assess the flood damage or how many have been affected.

At this time, it is known that 27 Salesian students and their families have lost everything, including their homes, 18 have suffered partial loss due to water and mud damage and 10 faculty and staff members have lost their homes or suffered intense damage.

“Anyone who knew Copiapó would find no trace today of anything recognizable,” says Father Néstor Muñoz, rector of the Salesian Industrial School. “The streets have completely disappeared. The main arteries of the city no longer exist and there are rivers of mud that is already starting to rot due to the stagnation and heat.”

Fr Muñoz also noted that according to local reports, the towns further inland such as Paipote, Tierra Amarilla, Los Loros, San Antonio, Diego de Almagro and Chañaral have suffered the most. In the towns of Diego de Almagro and Chañaral it is estimated that 70 percent of the infrastructure has been destroyed.

One of the greatest concerns for Salesian missionaries is the lack of clean, safe water. The mud in the streets is contaminated by water from the sewers and has become a serious health risk for communicable diseases. As a result, it is believed that very soon the city center will have to be evacuated.

Salesian missionaries are providing shelter at the Salesian school for families in need as well as clothing and food aid. Students from the pastoral group at the school are doing what they can to assist those in need with close to 100 students helping the relief operations by collecting and distributing aid to members of the affected communities. Salesian teachers are also working to help staff members who have suffered loss.

“Although neither the Salesians nor the school have suffered damage, there is concern and at times, a sense of being overwhelmed by the enormous gravity of the situation,” adds Fr Muñoz. “The generosity of students and parents who escaped the full force of the flood and who support and help from a distance serves to lift the spirits and is a source of hope.”

According to the World Bank, although the economy in Chile is one of the more stable and prosperous in Latin America, a little more than five percent of the population live on just two dollars a day. The country suffers from high economic inequality which is particularly evident in access to educational opportunities.

Salesians working in Chile focus their efforts on providing education and social services to poor, 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. As a result of the vocational and technical education provided by Salesian programs, Chilean youth are more likely to find stable employment and improve their standard of living.

Sources

ANS – Chile – “What we are experiencing is a tragedy of great proportions”

The Guardian – Chile floods leave 17 dead, 20 missing and communities pleading for help

Salesianos de Don Bosco en Chile

The post CHILE: Salesian Missionaries Aid Flood Victims from Recent Torrential Rains first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Salesian Cardinal Ricardo Ezzati Andrello, Archbishop of Santiago, and Father Alberto Lorenzelli, Salesian Provincial in Chile, joined in the reopening celebration along with representatives of the more than 600 current beneficiaries of the Foundation’s programs. Teachers, administrators and families were also in attendance.

“Renewing the infrastructure means giving dignity to our work with children, young people and vulnerable adults,” said Carmen Gloria Soto, coordinator of development, during the opening events at the Don Bosco Foundation. “It is a very delicate task because our programs help young people with addictions and those living on the streets as well as their families. For us, the reopening is very important because we are carrying out a mission to serve marginalized youth and the appropriate infrastructure to carry out those programs is critical to our success.”

The Don Bosco Foundation began offering programs for the homeless in Santiago more than 15 years ago. Responding to a rise in the homeless population in the city, Salesian missionaries created programs to meet the basic needs of the homeless while providing opportunities for education. Partnering with other local social welfare programs, the Foundation’s programs serve both adults and children living on the streets. Educational programming includes vocational and technical training to help those in need find and retain stable employment.

Once homeless participants connect with the Foundation, they are provided shelter, nutritious food, clothing, medical care and an education. Counseling and recovery services are also offered. To date, more than 15,000 children and adults have accessed services at the Foundation.

In addition, the Foundation distributes close to 2,000 meals every month for those in need. Specifically targeting street children, the Foundation has the biggest and most comprehensive program in the country providing shelter to close to 120 homeless youth each month.

According to the World Bank, although the economy in Chile is one of the more stable and prosperous in Latin America, a little more than five percent of the population live on just two dollars a day. The country suffers from high economic inequality which is particularly evident in access to educational opportunities.

Salesians working in Chile focus their efforts on providing education and social services to poor, 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. As a result of the vocational and technical education provided by Salesian programs, Chilean youth are more likely to find stable employment and improve their standard of living.

“Although the education system in the country is far-reaching, many poor and disadvantaged youth fall through the cracks,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions – the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Throughout the country, young people from poor families lack the educational opportunities available to the middle and upper classes.”

Sources

ANS – Chile – Cardinal Ezzati reopens the headquarters of the Don Bosco Foundation

CNN – More than 2 million affected by earthquake, Chile’s president says

World Bank – Chile

The post CHILE: Don Bosco Foundation Reopens Building Damaged by 2010 Earthquake first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Salesian missionaries working and living in the region have reported that while no one enrolled in their programs was injured, some Salesian centers have sustained damage. The majority of the damage was reported in the cities of Iquique and Alto Hospicio. Don Bosco College and the Sagrado Corazón Sanctuary in Iquique and the Domingo Savio College and parish of Nuestra Señora de la Paz in Alto Hospicio sustained the most damage.

The missionaries also reported that roads to Alto Hospicio are impassable leaving the extent of the damage to programs in that area unknown. While communication remains a challenge during this recovery period, Salesians are working to keep programs operational and students safe while assisting the community with basic needs.

Salesians working in Chile focus their efforts on providing education and social services to poor, 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.

According to the World Bank, slightly more than 14 percent of Chile’s population lives in poverty. Although the education system in the country is far-reaching, many poor and disadvantaged youth fall through the cracks. In the city of Santiago, hunger, homelessness and poverty threaten hundreds of children who live on the streets. And throughout the country, young people from impoverished families lack the educational opportunities available to the middle and upper classes.

“Salesians have been working across Chile for over a hundred years and they are very entrenched in their communities,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Throughout the earthquake and in the weeks and months following, Salesians will be continuing their work educating and providing for the social and emotional needs of poor youth while helping to repair and rebuild their local communities.”

In January 2013, Salesians at the Don Bosco Institute in Punta Arenas, Chile celebrated 100 years of service. The Salesian institute provides education and technical skills to youth, helping them find stable employment and a path out of poverty for themselves and their families.

For youth who lack the resources to attend Chile’s universities, Don Bosco Institute as well as other Salesian education centers in the country provide opportunities for job skills training. Today, students can choose from a variety of courses including mechanics, electronics, telecommunications, tourism services and accounting. In dual education programs, students complete their education with a chance to gain work experience at the same time.

As a result of the technical education provided by the Salesian programs, Chilean youth are more likely to find stable employment and improve their standard of living.

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PHOTO: REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado

Sources:

ANS – Chile – After the Earthquakes

US Geological Survey – Chile Earthquake 2014

World Bank – Chile

The post CHILE: After Massive Earthquake, Salesian Missionaries Report Property Damage but No Injuries first appeared on MissionNewswire.

“The rise of the South is unprecedented in its speed and scale,” says the Human Development Report 2013, which uses the term “South” to mean developing countries and “North” to mean developed nations. “Never in history have the living conditions and prospects of so many people changed so dramatically and so fast.”

Meanwhile, the slowdown in economic growth, austerity measures and rampant unemployment in the industrialized world has brought pressure to bear on governments and societies in the North. Global economic and political structures are in flux and the sustainability of the growth spurt in the South is subject to the interrelated issues of governance and public investment.

The year’s report, entitled The Rise of the South: Human Progress in a Diverse World, emphasizes that this change represents a global rebalancing far greater than that experienced during the Industrial Revolution, with the South becoming the main driver of economic growth and societal change for the first time in centuries.

“The Industrial Revolution was a story of perhaps 100 million people, but this is a story about billions of people,” said Khalid Malik, the report’s lead author.

The Human Development Report, released annually by the UN Development Programme (UNDP), assesses the state of human development on the basis of health, education and income indicators, as an alternative to purely macroeconomic assessments of national progress.

The initial report was published in 1990 by its authors, the late Mahbub ul Haq and Amartya Sen, and introduced a Human Development Index (HDI), which had been calculated by UN economists from 1975, and was essentially a ranking of countries based on strides made with a people-centric model of progress.

The HDI became an influential paradigm that would prod economists, government agencies, planners and development experts to rethink the income-based indicators that were in standard use to measure development success.

Launched today in Mexico City by UNDP Administrator Helen Clark and Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto, this year’s report singles out big economies which have shown significant growth over the past 20 years, namely China, India and Brazil. It estimates that by 2020, the combined output of these three countries will surpass the aggregate production of the United States, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy and Canada.

However, the ‘rise of the South’ goes well beyond these economies as more than 40 developing countries have made greater human development gains in recent decades than what was predicted.

Countries such as Indonesia, Mexico, Bangladesh, Tanzania and Yemen all registered significant growth, while nations such as Afghanistan and Pakistan had some of the fastest growth rates in the world with 3.9 percent and 1.7 percent over the past 12 years, respectively.

How has the South achieved such dramatic growth levels?

The report attributes many of the achievements of the South to smart national strategies that have allowed them to engage in the global economy while at the same time implementing social programmes that protect those most vulnerable.

“Economic growth alone does not automatically translate into human development progress,” Miss Clark says in the report’s foreword. Southern States are therefore not just tapping into global trade, but they are also improving health and education services, which have allowed them to sustain their growth. This comes in contrast to policies adopted by many developed countries which include austerity measures and cutting social programmes due to the economic crisis.

In Latin America, many countries have put in place programmes to eradicate poverty and address inequality such as Brazil’s Bolsa Familia, Mexico’s Oportunidades, and Chile’s Chile Solidario. These are conditional cash transfer programmes which offer to increase people’s income as long as they fulfil certain conditions such as visits to health clinics and school attendance.

This combination of policies has allowed the middle class in the South to expand and, by 2030, the report projects that more than 80 percent of the world’s middle class will reside in developing countries and account for 70 percent of total consumption expenditure.

Increasing online and mobile connectivity in the South

Increasing connectivity thanks to greater access to technology is also a factor that has contributed to the South’s growth. Globally, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia and Mexico have more daily social media traffic than any country except the US. China also has more than half a billion people accessing the Internet daily through smart phones.

Indonesia, for example, invested extensively to connect its large cluster of far-flung islands to open the country to the outside world, and as of 2010, 220 million mobile phones were registered in a country of 240 million people.

In Africa, Asian-built mobile phones have made cellular banking cheaper and easier, while leading to better market performance and increased profits by small farmers, as seen in Kenya, Niger and Uganda.

Increasing incomes and the diffusion of technology have also given way to a more informed middle class that has social and political expectations, Mr. Malik said in a press briefing on Tuesday, which means that “the relationship between the State and its citizens is changing.”

He warned that if States are not mindful of these expectations, it could lead to social instability, as was the case in 2011 in various countries across the Middle East.

“The turmoil in several countries in the Arab States is a reminder that people, especially the young, who are better educated and healthier than previous generations, put a high premium on meaningful employment, on exercising a voice in affairs that influence their lives, and on being treated with respect,” the report says.

Booming South-South partnerships

The report highlights the increase in South-South trade and partnerships and projects that trade between them will overtake that between developed nations.

“Emerging partners in the developing world are already sources of innovative social and economic policies and are major trade, investment and increasingly development cooperation partners for other developing countries,” Miss Clark said.

China is already influential in Africa through trade investment as well as through assistance and cooperation. Between 1992 and 2011, China’s trade with Sub-Saharan Africa rose from $1 billion to more than $140 billion.

India is increasingly playing a larger role as a supplier of affordable capital goods to other countries of the South. For instance, Indian firms are supplying affordable medicines, medical equipment and information and communications technology (ICT) products and services to many countries in Africa.

In addition, migration between developing countries has recently surpassed net migration from South to North. “In our changing world, solutions are moving across the South, not from the North to the South,” said UNDP Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, Ajay Chhibber.

However, a substantial share of South-South trade is driven by demand in the North. For example, since 2007, US exports to China and Latin America and the Caribbean have grown two and a half times faster than US exports to traditional markets in the North. A growing “app economy” supported by companies such as Apple, Facebook and Google employs more than 300,000 people whose creations are exported across borders, and developing country economies continue to be sensitive to shocks in the industrialized world.

Women’s education as a silver bullet for sustainable growth

While there has been remarkable progress, the report warns that there are still many challenges ahead for countries in the South, including an aging population, environmental degradation and inequality. Poverty and inequality are particularly worrying, as an estimated 1.57 billion people, representing 30 percent of the population in the 104 countries studied for the report, still live in multidimensional poverty.

The report provides a series of recommendations and, in particular, highlights education for girls as “the closest thing to silver bullet formula for accelerating human development.”

Many of the countries in the South still have dramatic gender disparities, and their challenge will be to boost efforts to allow women to participate freely in all aspects of their society.

“Gender inequality is especially tragic not only because it excludes women from basic social opportunities, but also because it gravely imperils the life prospects of future generations,” the report says, referring to findings which correlate women’s education to greater child survival, healthier children and better access to contraception.

The report also notes that the global system will need to adjust itself to the rise of the South, which is currently largely underrepresented in global institutions. For example, China, which is the world’s second largest economy, has had a smaller voting share in the World Bank than either France or the United Kingdom.

“Stronger voices from the South are demanding more representative frameworks of international governance that embody the principles of democracy and equity.”

Meanwhile, it merits mention that not all countries in the South are racing ahead. Of the world’s 49 Least Developed Countries, many are lagging behind in this revolution. Even as some are beginning to benefit from Foreign Direct Investment of the emerging giants like China, India and Brazil, there is much more to be done in terms of development transformation.

The report observes that there are three drivers of transformation: a proactive development state, tapping of global markets and determined social policy inclusion. Looking back at the inception of the HDI, it appears that countries that started at the same level – India and Pakistan, or Chile and Venezuela, or Liberia and Senegal – have ended up with different outcomes.

“History and initial conditions matter, but they are not destiny,” according to the report.

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See this United Nations article at its original location >

Rice fields in Sichuan, China. UN Photo/John Isaac

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In the early days of Don Bosco Institute, the city of Punta Arenas had close to fifteen thousand residents but no educational facility offering technical skills to youth. Technical training was needed to help youth learn skills and trades that could lead to employment. The Don Bosco Institute filled that need by providing technical training in addition to preschool, primary and secondary education.

According to the World Bank, although the economy in Chile is one of the more stable and prosperous in Latin America, a little more than five percent of the population live on just two dollars a day. The country suffers from high economic inequality which is particularly evident in access to educational opportunities.

“Although the education system in the country is far-reaching, many poor and disadvantaged youth fall through the cracks,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions – the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Throughout the country, young people from poor families lack the educational opportunities available to the middle and upper classes.”

In its early years Don Bosco Institute began by offering courses in printing, carpentry, boot-making and mechanics. Seven years after its foundation, the institute added courses in primary education to serve the huge development in the city at that time as well as the population that had begun to spring up along the Avenida Bulnes and in the suburb of Prat. Throughout the school’s history, it has grown and expanded to meet the needs of its students giving them access to new skills and trades to remain employable in the marketplace.

For youth who lack the resources to attend Chile’s universities, Don Bosco Institute provides the opportunity to receive job skills training. Students today can choose from a variety of courses including mechanics, electronics, telecommunications, tourism services and accounting. In dual education programs, students complete their education with a chance to gain work experience at the same time.

As a result of the technical education provided by the Salesians, youth are more likely to find stable employment and improve their standard of living.

“Students also learn the latest in technology at the Don Bosco Institute in Punta Arenas,” adds Fr. Hyde. “A recent donation of new equipment added to the capacity and technical infrastructure of the high school laboratories. Teachers will be able to expand the skills taught and students will have more hands-on use of information technology.”

Learn more about Salesian Missions programs in Chile >

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Sources:

ANS – A century’s history for Don Bosco, Punta Arenas

Don Bosco Institute Chile – Website

World Bank – Chile

The post CHILE: Salesians Celebrate 100 Years of Providing Education to Poor Youth first appeared on MissionNewswire.