Ensuring that more young people have the chance to begin and complete a good basic education...
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(Tonj) – In September, the young people from the Salesian center in Tonj, Sudan formally presented themselves to the people of the parish as an organized Catholic, Salesian group.
The event was the culmination of an eight month process of formation and accompaniment of the young by the Salesian community. After the latest peace agreement to bring the fighting to an end, the Salesians began to meet and gather together the youngsters of Tonj daily. They provided them with various recreational and spiritual activities including the recitation of the rosary and a day of recollection in preparation for the Feast of Pentecost. To help the young to more actively participate in the youth group, smaller groups were formed and named after saintly patrons: Saint Bakhita, Saint Dominic Savio and Saint Joseph.
The efforts of the Salesians of Don Bosco and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians in the Tonj area have also led to the establishment of a special formation program for the children and young people of this region in the south of Sudan, as well as a primary school, a nursery, and a secondary school. These efforts ensure that more young people will have the chance of beginning and completing a good basic education.
At the end of August 2008, 400 new pupils were added to the 800 of the previous year. The Salesians have initiated split sessions for the school day to accommodate the large number of students wishing to enter our schools. With more classroom space and the ability to hire more teachers, the Salesians could educate even more young people.
Additional efforts are being made to train the teachers and the catechists who are working in the parish and in the villages.
Posted: 10/30/08 |
