PAPUA NEW GUINEA

(MissionNewswire) Students gathered at Don Bosco Secondary Technical School in Kokopo, Papua New Guinea, at the end of December for the closing of their annual programs. Salesians and benefactors joined the youth for an exchange of Christmas gifts. The day began with Catholic Mass presided over by Father Moise Paluku, parish priest, who urged youth to participate in parish activities planned for the coming year. He also encouraged them to be more active with their leadership skills in their respective communities.

During the second part of the day, students engaged in a singing competition with Salesian staff taking part as judges. The program ended with a gift offered by the Salesians and benefactors to all youth who participated in the program.

A Salesian missionary said, “This was a chance for Salesians and school staff to celebrate the accomplishments of youth this past school term. It was a time to enjoy the holidays and ensure that youth receive gifts and praise for their hard work.”

Salesian missionaries in the country provide primary and secondary education as well as technical skills training to prepare youth for the workforce. Missionaries also help to ensure that basic needs like shelter, food and water are met so students are able to focus on their studies.

Papua New Guinea has a population of approximately 7.5 million people. It is a resource-rich country with oil, gas and gold reserves as well as fertile land capable of producing high crop yields. Despite this, an estimated 40 percent of Papua New Guineans live below the poverty line of $1.25 per day, according to the World Bank.

Close to 50 percent of adults are illiterate and 25 percent of children are unable to attend school in Papua New Guinea. Part of the problem with getting to school, work and hospitals has to do with the country’s infrastructure. In rural areas, where nearly 88 percent of the population resides, there are few roads or means of transportation to get to schools or places of employment.

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PAPUA NEW GUINEA

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Technical School, located in Gabutu, an area within the city of Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea, has launched the “Scraper Project,” which is a fundraising initiative to raise money for the Don Bosco Center run by the Sisters of Charity in South Sudan.

The scraper is an essential kitchen tool in every household in Papua New Guinea, and under the guidance of instructors, students have learned to create them. Through the sale of scrapers, students will support the construction of a new building and the purchase of machinery and equipment for the Don Bosco Center.

Salesian Father Pedro Sachitula stated that the whole educational-pastoral community, including the Association of Salesian Cooperators, is involved in the project, and stressed that the initiative is a concrete response of the school to the Salesian Mission Day 2021 theme of “One Father, One Family – Missionary Solidarity as Initial Proclamation.” Other fundraising activities will take place from June to October 2021.

“This initiative is an opportunity for Salesian students to showcase their skills while directly helping another Salesian center,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Salesian students learn much more during their education than the skills to find employment. They also learn the importance of helping one another and giving back to their community and others in need. This is a win-win for students in both Papua New Guinea and South Sudan.”

Papua New Guinea has a population of approximately 7.5 million. It is a resource-rich country with oil, gas and gold reserves as well as fertile land capable of producing high crop yields. Despite this, an estimated 40 percent of Papua New Guineans live below the poverty line of $1.25 per day, according to the World Bank.

Close to 50 percent of adults are illiterate and 25 percent of children are unable to attend school in Papua New Guinea. Part of the problem with getting to school, work and hospitals has to do with the country’s infrastructure. In rural areas, where nearly 88 percent of the population resides, there are few roads or means of transportation to get to schools or places of employment.

Salesian missionaries in the country provide primary and secondary education as well as technical skills training to prepare youth for the workforce. Missionaries also help to ensure that basic needs like shelter, food and water are met so students are able to focus on their studies.

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

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PAPUA NEW GUINEA

(MissionNewswire) The Don Bosco Technical Institute, located in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, launched an integrated waste management plan to focus more on the environment. It is in response to the call from Pope Francis in his 2020 Laudato sì, which has as its theme “Good Christians and Upright Citizens.” Further, Rector Major Father Ángel Fernández Artime underlined the importance of concrete initiatives in the care of the environment.

The integrated waste management plan has started with several activities. Trash cans were purchased so Don Bosco Technical Institute can begin separating trash collection to focus on recycling. Each week, staff members and some community residents sort the waste into the appropriate bins. The institute is also focused on how to dispose of the waste, since typically cardboard and plastic materials are thrown in the incinerator. The smoke generated can disturb the community and have a costly environmental impact.

In addition, three large compost pits were built at the back of the school, two in the Salesian residence and two more in the staff houses. The goal is to be “zero waste” to conserve resources, engage in responsible production and reuse waste materials, thereby avoiding incinerating waste or dumping it on land or in the water.

To ensure proper waste management, Don Bosco Technical Institute has organized a team made up of volunteers including eight staff members and six students. Each of them studies and works in different areas of expertise, ranging from school cleaning to collecting plastic, paper and glass. Meanwhile, efforts to recycle different types of waste are ongoing. A recycling shed has also been set up near the three compost pits. At the moment, much of the effort in waste management is conducted by students and staff, but the hope is to involve more people in the community as the initiative evolves.

Papua New Guinea has a population of approximately 7.5 million. It is a resource-rich country with oil, gas and gold reserves as well as fertile land capable of producing high crop yields. Despite this, an estimated 40 percent of Papua New Guineans live below the poverty line of $1.25 per day, according to the World Bank.

Close to 50 percent of adults are illiterate and 25 percent of children are unable to attend school in Papua New Guinea. Part of the problem with getting to school, work and hospitals has to do with the country’s infrastructure. In rural areas, where nearly 88 percent of the population resides, there are few roads or means of transportation to get to schools or places of employment.

Salesian missionaries in the country provide primary and secondary education as well as technical skills training to prepare youth for the workforce. Missionaries also help to ensure that basic needs like shelter, food and water are met so students can focus on their studies.

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Sources:

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

ANS – Papua New Guinea – Waste management project led by Don Bosco Technical Institute

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PAPUA NEW GUINEA

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Technological Institute, located in Boroko, Papua New Guinea, has reopened its doors after the COVID-19 isolation. Students and teachers can resume classes with new added safety measures in place. These measures, provided by the Ministry of Education, include rigorous checks at the entrance, a change in lesson times, temperature measurement and frequent handwashing.

Students who have returned to class are determined to make the most of the year ahead and to complete all unfinished work in order to obtain their diploma at the end of the year. For many students, being out of school wasn’t just about missed lessons. Students in Salesian schools sometimes eat their only meal a day at school.

During the quarantine, Salesian students made the best of their time. Students from the Don Bosco Technological Institute, Savio Haus and Mary Our Help made short songs on the topics “Stay at home” and “Social distances”. Other young people shared their thoughts on the risks of coronavirus and on the need to take care of the planet and keep the environment in which we live clean.

“We are encouraged that Salesian students in Papua New Guinea are able to return to school after their quarantine,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “The safety of our students is important so the rigid safety measures put in place will be followed by staff, teachers and students. The goal is to be able to get students back in the classroom learning and preparing for the future while keeping their health and safety a priority.”

Close to 50 percent of adults are illiterate and 25 percent of children are unable to attend school in Papua New Guinea. Part of the problem with getting to school, work and hospitals has to do with the country’s infrastructure. In rural areas, where nearly 88 percent of the population resides, there are few roads or means of transportation to get to schools or places of employment.

Salesian missionaries in the country provide primary and secondary education as well as technical skills training to prepare youth for the workforce. Missionaries also help to ensure that basic needs like shelter, food and water are met so students are able to focus on their studies.

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Sources:

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

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PAPUA NEW GUINEA

(MissionNewswire) Xavier Loipio, 33 years old, credits the success in his life to the time he spent at Don Bosco Technical School in Gabutu, an area within the city of Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea. He graduated from the school in 2009 with a degree in maintenance fitting and machining. Loipio started his career as a marine fitter at PNG Dockyard Ltd and has worked in the industry successfully for 10 years.

Life wasn’t always that easy for him. Loipio explained, “I dropped out of high school, lived the life of a drug addict for three years and had an attitude problem. Then to make ends meet, I resorted to selling betel nut. As the days rolled on, I often wondered, ‘What will I do with my life?’ One day I was encouraged by Father Jess Escala, the former principal at Don Bosco Technical School, to enroll in the school, so I did. At Don Bosco, I received what I needed to succeed including punctuality, counseling and time management. Don Bosco was the light at the end of my tunnel to become an outstanding citizen, a successful and professional skills person and a role model in my community.”

With the skills he acquired at Don Bosco Technical School, Loipio went on to obtain his tradesman certificate at Port Moresby Technical College, certificate III in machine fitting in mechanical trade at the Australian Pacific Technical Coalition, and an advanced diploma–I.V.Q Level 3 in oil and gas maintenance at Kumul Petroleum Academy, South Pacific Employment Institution.

“One of my greatest accomplishments has been as president of the Australia Pacific Technical Coalition Alumni PNG from 2017-18. During my time there, I met educated professionals in the technical and vocational training and educator sector,” said Liopio. “These are the people who have inspired me to become someone in life. I am grateful to all of them. I am also one of the pioneers of Kumul Petroleum Academy/South Pacific Employment Institution as well as part of the fourth graduating class from the ExxonMobil training program. With my leadership qualities, I am presently working as a mechanical technician team leader with Comlek Electrical Engineering Ltd, an Australian-based company.”

Loipio added, “Without Don Bosco, I would not have been able to accomplish these things. I am eternally grateful to Don Bosco for believing in me when I didn’t believe in myself.”

Papua New Guinea has a population of approximately 7.5 million. It is a resource-rich country with oil, gas and gold reserves as well as fertile land capable of producing high crop yields. Despite this, an estimated 40 percent of Papua New Guineans live below the poverty line of $1.25 per day, according to the World Bank.

Close to 50 percent of adults are illiterate and 25 percent of children are unable to attend school in Papua New Guinea. Part of the problem with getting to school, work and hospitals has to do with the country’s infrastructure. In rural areas, where nearly 88 percent of the population resides, there are few roads or means of transportation to get to schools or places of employment.

Salesian missionaries in the country provide primary and secondary education as well as technical skills training to prepare youth for the workforce. Missionaries also help to ensure that basic needs like shelter, food and water are met so students are able to focus on their studies.

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Sources:

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

ANS – Papua New Guinea – Don Bosco still changes lives of youngsters

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PAPUA NEW GUINEA

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries in Papua New Guinea provide primary and secondary education as well as technical skills training to prepare youth for the workforce. Missionaries also help to ensure that basic needs like shelter, food and water are met so students are able to focus on their studies.

At Don Bosco Technical Secondary School in Rapolo, a populated area in East New Britain, Salesian missionaries are grateful for the efforts and commitment of lay people who serve poor youth and their families. Every weekend, lay volunteers lead Catechism classes for the young children attending the newly established parish.

Every Sunday, lay volunteers also visit different communities and offer basic checkups on blood pressure and sugar levels for the people of the villages. This helps people to focus on their health so that they may live long and healthy lives.

Other lay volunteers dedicate themselves to working directly with youth in classrooms and courtyards. They offer children assistance and provide them supportive adults to listen, interact with them and be good role models.

This year, Stephen Stafstrom, who is 21 years old and from Florida, and Matthew Nguyen, also 21 years old and from Texas, are part of the Salesian Missions Lay Missioner program working in Papua New Guinea’s capital city of Port Moresby.

Salesian Lay Missioners make a one- to three-year commitment and are assigned to a Salesian mission, typically a school, youth center or parish, in one of the 132 countries where Salesian missionaries are active around the globe. Missioners spend time teaching, guiding and counseling children and their families, as well as learning about different cultures and communities. They become part of a close-knit team of Salesian missionaries, volunteers and lay staff working together to bring hope to poor youth and their families.

Papua New Guinea has a population of approximately 7.5 million. It is a resource-rich country with oil, gas and gold reserves as well as fertile land capable of producing high crop yields. Despite this, an estimated 40 percent of Papua New Guineans live below the poverty line of $1.25 per day, according to the World Bank.

Close to 50 percent of adults are illiterate and 25 percent of children are unable to attend school in Papua New Guinea. Part of the problem with getting to school, work and hospitals has to do with the country’s infrastructure. In rural areas, where nearly 88 percent of the population resides, there are few roads or means of transportation to get to schools or places of employment.

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Sources:

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

ANS – Papua New Guinea – The universal call to the Mission

Salesian Missions – Papua New Guinea

World Bank – Papua New Guinea Poverty

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