The association’s members are former students from the Don Bosco Missionary Seminary, formerly the High School Aspirantate, which closed in 2005 and paved the way for the current school. Several past pupils are in the medical profession including Dr. Alex Junia, a cardiologist and current president of the Philippine Heart Association as well as coordinator of the medical clinic.

The annual medical clinic was held in cooperation with the local government of Lawaan, a barangay of Talisay City. Government social workers were able to identify those most in need of medical care and coordinated their attendance at the event. The clinic provided medical consultations, pediatric clearances and referrals, glucose tests, blood pressure examinations, ECGs, medical ultrasounds and free medicines. Close to 200 packs of rice with noodles were also distributed to those who needed the nutritional support.

“The health of people we serve is very important to us,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “The work we do in the Philippines and in programs around the globe goes beyond education. We serve the whole person by making sure that basic needs like health and nutrition are met in addition to other social service needs.”

Access to nutrition, education and health services is essential to creating a sustainable society and optimistic future. More than one year after Typhoon Haiyan (also known as Typhoon Yolanda) devastated portions of Southeast Asia, particularly the Philippines, Salesian missionaries continue to work in the region to assist those who lost their homes and their livelihoods. While missionaries have successfully completed many community rehabilitation and rebuilding projects that have allowed survivors to return to their normal lives, there is still much work to be done.

“Salesian missionaries are engaged in a wide range of programs to improve the lives of the people in the Philippines,” adds Fr. Hyde. “Poor youth and their families receive support at community health centers, orphanages, parishes and youth centers. In addition, education is provided through Salesian-run primary, secondary, technical and agricultural schools – many of which provide room and board to their students.”

More than one quarter of the population of the Philippines lives in poverty, according to UNICEF. Poverty is most severe and widespread in rural areas where 80 percent of the population–close to 88 million people–make their home. The poorest Filipinos are indigenous populations, small-scale farmers who cultivate land received through agrarian reform, landless workers and fisherman. In addition, poverty rates are higher for women than men.

Illiteracy and high levels of unemployment contribute to the elevated poverty rate. With more than 11 million out-of-school youth in the country and drop-out rates doubling as children reach secondary school, access to education becomes a critical step in breaking the cycle of poverty.

Throughout the Philippines, Salesian missionaries offer a variety of educational and social development programs for youth, many with an emphasis on recreation and sports activities. The goal is to provide the opportunities necessary to gain an education and skills training to break the cycle of poverty and retain long-term employment.

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Sources:

ANS – Philippines – Past Pupils hold Medical Mission

Don Bosco Formation Center Facebook

Don Bosco Formation Center Website

UNICEF – Philippines

The post PHILIPPINES: Past Pupils of Don Bosco Hold Medical Clinic Providing Care for Children and the Elderly first appeared on MissionNewswire.

The success of the conference was made possible through the support of the Don Bosco Formation Center’s Pastoral Communication students from Talisay City, the Commission on Youth Ministry, the Salesian Youth Movement and FIS Social Communications.

The conference theme was “Ctrl Shift Del: Cyber Teens Responsible Leaders” and utilized commands typically available on a computer keyboard to convey the main conference message of “Teaching the youth to shift their views, control their lives and delete the negativity in social media.” As part of the conference, youth drafted and signed a manifesto against cyber-bullying.

“We see that cyber-bullying is an inhumane, intolerable act and if left unattended, will eventually damage more people and teens like us. However, we, as Cyber Teens Responsible Leaders, can be advocates for its eradication,” the manifesto read.

The manifesto also contained the young leaders’ commitment to advocacy on how to use social media appropriately and effectively.

“We believe that our advocacy begins with defining our boundaries on proper media usage anchored on the values of respect, empathy, discipline, sincerity and compassion. We likewise believe that such advocacy empowers young people like us in accepting our differences regardless of physical attributes, race, social status, economic standing, belief or religion,” the manifesto read.

It went on to say: “Therefore, we commit to be catalysts in an enlightened youth movement that boldly stands up against cyberbullying, raises awareness and educates our fellow teenagers on the responsible use of ICTs and lends voice to those who don’t have the courage to seek help and speak out.”

During the conference, a special Twitter hashtag, #CTRLYouthCon, was launched and conference messages reached nearly 30,000 people during the week following the event.

“Salesian missionaries aim to provide education and tools to help youth lead safe, happy and productive lives,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “This conference covered a very important topic for youth today.”

Having access to education is a critical step in overcoming poverty. In the Philippines, drop-out rates double as children reach secondary school and there are more than 11 million out-of-school youth, according to UNICEF. Almost a quarter of the country’s population (including a large percentage of children) live in poverty.

Salesian missionaries in the country offer a variety of educational and social development programs for youth, many with an emphasis on recreation and sports activities. The goal is to provide the opportunities necessary to gain an education and break the cycle of poverty as well as the skills to secure and retain long-term employment.

Sources:

ANS – Philippines – Youth Against Cyber Bullying

UNICEF – Philippines

The post PHILIPPINES: Salesian Anti-Cyberbullying Conference Provides Education to 200 Youth first appeared on MissionNewswire.

The biomass, made up of forest residual matter like pine and eucalyptus bark and coffee plant leaves, is compacted into small tubes or cylinders, then used in varied industrial capacities and to generate heat for fireplaces, stoves or heaters.

“This project is a dream come true,” says Father Germán Londoño, director of the Don Bosco Formation Center. “It came into being a year ago when we decided to build a factory to make biomass cylinders. We carried out feasibility studies and now we are ready to export our first products to Switzerland.”

In an area covering 1,400 square meters, five young graduates of the Salesian Center are responsible for the collection of raw materials from forest plantations belonging to the ‘Smurfit Kappa Carton de Colombia’ and from local farmers who provide coffee plant leaves.

The young workers are responsible for cutting and drying wood and running the machines which came from Switzerland, thanks to a donation from the Leopold Bachmann Foundation, in collaboration with the Salesian NGO Jugendhilfe Weltweit. Planning and construction were carried out by Swiss engineer Walter Item, who personally saw to the installation of the plant and training of personnel from Villa Don Bosco.

According to UNICEF, one in five children in Colombia have no access to education and half the population live in poverty—including 6 million who are victims of extreme poverty. The Salesians are working hard to educate youth in Colombia and provide them a path out of poverty.

Currently, 600 youth are students at Villa Don Bosco, where the biomass production plant is located. They come from various communities in the area to study cabinetmaking, motorcycle mechanics and take courses in electrical skills, baking and systems analysis.

Production of the biomass cylinders helps support and educate close to 3,000 youth from Villa Don Bosco and the Don Bosco Formation Center in Cali as well as provide employment for farmers in the area.

It is estimated that around 3,000 tons of wood cuttings will be needed to produce around 1,560 tons of biomass cylinders. Diego Fernando Mogollón, systems technologist and welder, is a graduate of the Don Bosco Center and was trained how to run and maintain the machines in Switzerland. He notes that the possible re-use of bark from pine trees, which was left to rot, and the contributions being made to protect the environment is a cause of great pride for those engaged in the project.

The advantage of biomass lies in it being a one hundred percent natural product that has no need for preservatives or additives, gives off no smoke, produces less ash, is non-toxic and has a higher heat potential than traditional wood-burning.

“A 30 cm cylinder of biomass is able to generate heat for around 12 to 16 hours,” says Paula Andrea Vivas, coordinator of the plant and industrial mechanics technician who graduated a decade ago from the Salesian Center. “So, we are speaking of reduced logging to find wood. This is the coal of the future.”

The sale of biomass cylinders is guaranteed for five years by agreement with the Leopold Bachmann Foundation, which foresees that all production will be exported to Switzerland. After those five years, the market could then be opened for sale and consumption in Colombia.

Learn more about Salesian Misisons programs in Colombia >

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Sources:

ANS Photo

ANS – Colombia – The ’coal’ of the future manufactured at Villa Don Bosco, Cauca

Salesian Missions – Colombia

UNICEF – Colombia statistics

The post COLOMBIA: “Coal of the Future” Manufactured at Salesian Facility first appeared on MissionNewswire.