Subject: 'austraLasia' #393

'LIFE LOOKS BRIGHT': DON BOSCO SOLOMONS MOVES AHEAD

Ambrose Pereira

HONIARA: 31st July -- Visit Don Bosco, Honiara, on one of their class days and you will be surprised to see 6 former prisoners and 6 youth doing their best to grasp what is being said, play an instrument, write a simple English sentence, concentrate and focus all attention on what is being done at the moment. A trip to the various sites and they are busy – cleaning up a plot of land to plant crops, taping at the electrodes to weld the metal pieces together, lifting up a load of sand to make concrete blocks.

"Life looks bright for me" says Kenneth Iro, a former prisoner and very enthusiastic student. "Don Bosco is interested in me and has given me the possibility of study, when every other institute wants only those who pass". Kenneth has been with Don Bosco ever since Don Bosco commenced its work in the Rove Prison in October, 1999.

Don Bosco is part of the 65 NGO’s under the umbrella body DSE in Solomon Islands. With their first phase complete they are now into the second phase – education of drop-out youth. Fr. Pedro Balcazar sdb, has been in the Solomon Islands for the past five years as Parish Priest of Christ the King parish, Tetere and is preparing to return back to his province. "I am happy to have brought Don Bosco to Solomon Islands," he states with a smile on his face.

"The Solomon Islander loves music. Give them an instrument and they play by ear" states Br. Tanaka Yukihiro sdb, a Japanese brother, a lover of music, qualified Agriculturalist who has been here in Solomons for the past 4 years, longing to put his trade into practice.

"Youth love life – music, games, dance, education, work, prayer, etc… There needs to be a healthy balance between all these as life is not just study, work or play" comments Fr. Ambrose Pereira sdb. "Youth have the IQ, talent, zeal and possibility and what we need to do is give them a vision and hope, appreciate what they do and encourage them to build on it," he continued.

Don Bosco started his work for youth in 1841, in Turin, a small town in Italy. He realized that youth from the villages flock to the city in search of a job. But they are not trained, have no place to stay and could easily end up in the wrong company. Don Bosco thus decided to cater to these youngsters. And so he began his work for youngsters – giving them a trade, food and shelter, all with the view to make them Good Christians and Honest Citizens.

And that is what Don Bosco Solomons is doing. Their focus is youth and specifically drop-out youth as Solomons Islands has a big push-out or drop-out rate.

"We are happy with the progress of the youth this past month. The students include former prisoners and youth among them is one girl. In our programme, we have practical courses such as Agriculture, Welding and Brick Making. Basic English, Music, Maths, Mechanics and Value Education are theory subjects touched upon. Other courses have been planned. As regards their qualification – we have a form 4 student, while all the rest are dropouts in class 6 or lower. In the months ahead we plan a multi skilled programme for them. We realize that we need to balance rehabilitation and education and that takes time" said Mr. Atu Balekana, Don Bosco’s first collaborator.

"We look forward to a formal opening in 2002, but that will depend on moving ahead as planned in the right kind of peaceful atmosphere" muses Fr. Luciano Capelli sdb, Rector and Superior of Don Bosco Solomons. "In the meanwhile we commenced our programme in prison and now cater to the former prisoners and a small number of youth – giving them a value for themselves and a quest for life" he added. "We are happy and look forward to working with all people – Agencies, Government, Church, NGOs, business groups, volunteers - at all levels to help youth in this difficult, yet exciting process of education".