Access to education and training provides a foundation for youth to break the cycle of poverty and gain employment. Salesians have been working in Argentina to provide educational opportunities to poor youth through schools, technical and agricultural programs and other services that help youth learn skills to gain stable employment.

At the end of March, the President of Argentina, the Honorable Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, signed a decree for the creation of the Salesian University of Argentina in the city of Bahía Blanca, located in the southwest of the province of Buenos Aires. The decree was delivered to Rector Major Father Ángel Fernández Artime and Professor Marta Pines, during a ceremony which marked the official opening of the university. This decree is the culmination of more than eight years of preparation and development by the Salesian Province of Argentina South and the grant of official approval by the National Commission for University Approval and Accreditation last year.

The new university, set up as a nonprofit, will offer quality education to young people who are looking to continue their academic studies. Its focus is on development and research, advancement in technology, formation of human resources and attention to innovative practices for the common good of the people and the progress of the nation. Coursework will be offered in psychology, law, communication and education, and it is anticipated that additional courses will be added later to meet the specific needs of students.

“For eight years we worked hard to get approval”, said Brother Hugo Carlos Vera, Salesian and academic secretary at the university. “Now we have an opportunity to give quality service to young people in the region. Salesian University of Argentina wants to reach ordinary people and offer education to respond to the problems facing young people.”

Salesians have a long history of working with poor youth and their families in Argentina, providing primary and secondary schools along with trade, agricultural and college programs.

Last year, the Salesian Pascual Gentilini Agricultural School in San Jose celebrated its 85th anniversary. Its curriculum includes lessons in community service, vegetable gardening, cooking, maintenance, music, cultivation of annual crops and tea, fruit farming, zootechnics, bee-keeping, cattle-raising, leadership training and social work.

“Salesian programs adapt to local needs,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Salesian educational institutions teach, train and work with local youth living in poverty who want opportunities for a brighter future. The academic and technical programs offered show how education and training not only benefit the individual student, but also entire communities.”

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Sources

ANS – Argentina – A new Salesian University

World Bank – Poverty in Argentina

The post ARGENTINA: Argentine President Signs Decree for Creation of New Salesian University first appeared on MissionNewswire.

The Salesians have been working in Argentina to provide educational opportunities to poor youth. Salesian technical and agricultural programs and other services educate youth and help them learn skills to gain stable employment. Most recently, the National Commission for University Approval and Accreditation granted approval to Salesian University in Bahía Blanca. This new University will offer quality education to young people who are looking to continue their studies and advance their academic standing.

“Salesian programs adapt to local needs,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “The University will teach, train and work with local youth living in poverty who want opportunities for a brighter future.”

The University, set up as a nonprofit, has a mission that focuses on development and research, advancement in technology, formation of human resources and attention to innovative practices for the common good of the people and the progress of the nation. The first courses offered will be in education, communications, psychology and the study and theory of law.

Salesian staff members have worked for the last eight years planning and preparing for the University’s first academic year which is slated to commence in 2014. Staffing positions have already been decided for major academic programs. Marta Pini will act as rector of the University with César A. Lombardi and Silvia Mesenzani functioning as heads of the Law Department. Héctor Rausch will run the Social Sciences Department and Mónica Rosa Lauría will serve as head of the Psychology Department.

The Salesians have a long history of working with poor youth and their families in Argentina. With primary and secondary schools along with trade, agricultural and college programs being offered, youth have an opportunity to learn valuable skills to find employment. Most recently, Pascual Gentilini Agricultural School celebrated 85 years of teaching agricultural skills to poor youth in the region.

“The Salesians are working hard to educate youth in Argentina and provide them a path out of poverty,” says Fr. Hyde. “The academic and technical programs offered show how education and training not only benefit the individual student, but also entire communities when students return home and share the skills they have acquired or start up local businesses. In this way, students not only help themselves and their families, but also their local economies.”

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Sources

ANS – Argentina – Salesian University approved by CONEAU

World Bank – Poverty in Argentina

The post ARGENTINA: New Salesian University in Bahía Blanca Receives Accreditation first appeared on MissionNewswire.