Salesian Missions Highlights Tech Education
(ANS - New Rochelle – August 12, 2024) – Salesian Missions of New Rochelle joins
humanitarian organizations and countries around the globe in recognizing
International Youth Day. Celebrated each year on Aug. 12, International Youth
Day was established by the United Nations to raise awareness of issues
affecting young people around the world.
The
theme of International Youth Day 2024 is “From Clicks to Progress: Youth
Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development.” The day highlights “the key
connection between digitalization and accelerating the progress of the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), emphasizing the crucial contributions of
young people in this transformative process.”
In
more than 130 countries around the globe, Salesians provide a range of
educational programs, including those that ensure youths are able to access the
technology they need for connectiveness and to enhance their readiness for the
workforce. Salesians offer more than 5,500 primary and secondary schools and
more than 1,000 vocational, technical, professional, and agricultural schools
around the globe.
“Education
is a primary focus for Salesian missionaries, and with that there is a focus on
how technology plays a role in and out of the classroom,” said Fr. Michel
Conway, director of Salesian Missions. “For many poor students in struggling
schools, access to technology isn’t a given. We aim to make sure that students
have all of the tools and services needed to keep up with the global pace of
technology.”
In
honor and celebration of International Youth Day 2024, Salesian Missions is
proud to highlight some Salesian initiatives and programs that focus on
technology.
ARGENTINA
Students
at Salesian elementary schools, high schools, and technical and vocational
training centers in Argentina have new computer equipment thanks to donor
funding from Salesian Missions. More than 2,800 students will be positively
impacted by this donation. The project started in 2023 and finished in July
2024.
With
the funding, Salesians were able to purchase laptops, desktop computers,
monitors, accessories, and printers. Each institution obtained the equipment
needed to ensure that students are able to learn and will be empowered in their
digital education.
One
Salesian noted, “Digital education is important for our students to be able to
learn and compete in the job market. Learning these skills early will help to
grow their digital abilities later in their education. Our technical and
vocational students must have access to today’s technology so they are prepared
when they enter the workforce. It’s skills they must have, and Salesian
educational institutions need the equipment to effectively teach.”
BOLIVIA
Students
attending the Madre Candida Center, located in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, have new
computer equipment thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions. The funding
provided 14 new computers to improve the computer laboratory, which had
obsolete equipment.
With
the donation, students are now more comfortable in class and are working with
equipment that helps prepare them for the job market and their careers. There
are 125 students who access technical training offered by the center. They take
courses in cutting and dress making, comprehensive beauty skills, executive
secretarial work, machine embroidery, and computer systems. 20 students in the
computer systems course will benefit most from the donation.
One
Salesian said, “Our students come from low-income families from the
municipalities of Yapacaní in the Ichilo province. They do not have sufficient
financial resources to enter the university or emigrate to the city to be able
to pursue a degree at the undergraduate level, which is why they choose to
study for a technical degree near their communities. We are hoping with these
new computers we also will be able to increase enrollment into the computer
systems course.”
MYANMAR (BURMA)
Students
in a Salesian school in Burma have laptop computers thanks to donor funding
from Salesian Missions. Donor funding was used to purchase 25 laptops to help
the students with their education and for them to learn basic computer skills.
The school set up internet and the electrical wiring for a new computer room
for the 300 students as well as hired skilled staff to teach the course.
Fr.
Khun Myat Victor, provincial treasurer in Burma, said, “We’ve just set up the
computer room, and the first group of young people have begun their lessons on
basic computer skills.”
Burma
has suffered political violence and instability since the military coup took
over power in February 2021. There has been ongoing violence and chaos, and
schools have been shut because of this and the COVID-19 pandemic. Salesians are
opening their schools to enable youths to get back to their education, which
they have been without for two years. Classes focus on English, computers, and
math.
NIGERIA
The
Salesian Center in Ibadan, Nigeria, has a new computer lab thanks to donor
funding from Salesian Missions. The project known as “Provision of Vocational
Skills for Young Girls & Boys for the Improvement of Livelihoods” has
provided 31 desktop computers, six laptops, software, and computer tables and
chairs, among other items.
Salesians
established the center in 2002 to offer poor youths educational and social
services. Today, the center has the Institute of Philosophy with 200 students,
a youth center that is visited by 500 youths each day, an oratory where 100
youths visit each day, and a child protection home with 40 children. Salesians
also offer an outreach program where street children who cannot be accommodated
in the child protection home are able to visit for support and assistance. More
than 1,000 youths have sought help through the outreach program.
Prior
to the donor funding for the project, the center only had 4 computers available
for all of these youths in addition to teachers, staff, and Salesians. The new
computer lab will accommodate more youths and allow them to learn digital
skills for employment
Source: Salesian
Missions
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