Faced with this gloomy economic outlook, Salesian missionaries in the region want to ensure that services remain robust and best meet the needs of youth and the local economies. In response, VIA Don Bosco, located in San Salvador, El Salvador held a collaborative meeting in early 2016, bringing together missionaries and teachers from Salesian vocational and technical schools from El Salvador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia.

“The meeting served to share best practices and new initiatives to addressing common problems,” says Anabella Burgos, job coordinator of the Salesian-run Ricaldone Technical Institute in San Salvador, El Salvador. “We wanted to share the most significant achievements in each of the countries. After all, we want to work together, since we are all from Salesian environments and we work for youth in need.”

The meeting aimed to strengthen the services offered by the Salesian centers and focused on management capabilities and best practice, both with regard to effective strategies for employment and self-employment. The goal is to learn from programs that are working successfully and to work together to address ongoing challenges.

For example, in El Salvador close to 35 percent of the population lives in poverty, according to the World Bank. Youth in El Salvador are confronted not only with poverty, but with instability, high levels of violence and inadequate access to educational opportunities. Despite ranking high for economic indicators, the need for practical education in the country is more important than ever with 12 percent of youth ages 15-24 unemployed and 41 percent underemployed.

El Salvador is also one of the most violent countries in Central America, along with Honduras and Guatemala. The murder rate in El Salvador rose more than 44 percent in the beginning months of 2014 when compared to the same time last year. Gang violence is a leading cause of violence in the country and it’s estimated that some 60,000 young people have gang affiliation. Gang involvement often offers a sense of family and belonging that counters the lack of education and employment opportunities offered in the country.

Within the country, Salesian missionaries operate primary and secondary schools as well as vocational, technical and university education. Don Bosco University, located in San Salvador, is working to provide opportunities for advanced education and employment for disadvantaged youth in El Salvador. Approximately 6,000 students are enrolled at the University which maintains a strong link to the local employment sector through research, technology transfer programs, continuing education courses and consultancy services. Degree programs are offered in engineering, social sciences, humanities, economics, technology and aeronautics, among others. Don Bosco University was the first university accredited at a national level that is part of the worldwide Salesian University Network.

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PHOTO: ANS

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Sources:

Salesian Missions

ANS – Youth Employment – some concrete responses

International Labour Organization – Unemployment rate in Latin America and the Caribbean could rise 0.2 percentage point

The post EL SALVADOR: Salesian Missionaries Meet to Discuss Education to Combat Growing Youth Unemployment in Latin America first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Close to 35 percent of El Salvador’s population lives in poverty, according to the World Bank. Youth in the country are confronted not only with poverty but with instability, high levels of violence and inadequate access to educational opportunities. Despite ranking high for economic indicators, the need for practical education is more important than ever with 12 percent of youth ages 15-24 unemployed and 41 percent underemployed.

Recently, the University’s biomedical engineering program received recognition and five-year accreditation by the Central American Accreditation Agency for Architecture and Engineering. The program is recognized for its academic standards and was evaluated for its curriculum, process of teaching and learning, research and technological advances and the physical and technological infrastructure that integrates the practical skills of students and specialized teachers.

“Don Bosco University was the first university accredited at a national level that is part of the worldwide Salesian University Network,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “By offering a biomedical engineering program, Don Bosco University brings advanced educational and employment opportunities to vulnerable youth which in turn prepares them for participation in the country’s continued economic development.”

The University is the only institution of higher education in El Salvador that offers a biomedical engineering program which trains professionals in the design, analysis and management of the technologies and systems that contribute, from an engineering perspective, to the improvement of medical applications. To date, 191 students have graduated as biomedical engineers and many have already distinguished themselves in El Salvador and abroad.

Almost all of the graduates of the program either go on to acquire masters degrees or PhDs or are employed directly in the biomedical engineering sectors. Twenty of the University’s graduates are professionals employed in cutting-edge biomedical companies in the United States and Europe. More than 65 percent of graduates are working in the private health sector. Others are serving as consultants for the acquisition of medical technologies or developing business management technologies.

“The program at Don Bosco University has been successful in providing the education and skills necessary to help its graduates either directly enter the workforce or continue on for advanced degrees,” adds Fr. Hyde. “The accreditation and continued recognition helps support the University’s main objective to provide educational programs that increase the professional skills of its students while contributing to the socio-economic development of the country.”

El Salvador is one of the most violent countries in Central America along with Honduras and Guatemala. The murder rate in El Salvador rose more than 44 percent in the beginning months of 2014 when compared to the same time last year. Gang violence is a leading cause of violence in the country and it’s estimated that some 60,000 young people have gang affiliation. Gang involvement often offers a sense of belonging and family that counters the lack of education and employment opportunities offered in the country.

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Sources:

ANS – El Salvador – Biomedical Engineering at UDB receives second international accreditation

World Bank – El Salvador

The post EL SALVADOR: Don Bosco University Biomedical Engineering Program Receives Recognition for Excellence in Academics first appeared on MissionNewswire.