14 solar panels benefit Salesian institutions.

NEW ROCHELLE, NY (April 22, 2024) Salesian institutions in India installed solar panels thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. Fourteen solar panels were added to the Don Bosco Media Academy, located in Manikandam, and Don Bosco Pre-Novitiate in the Dindigal District. Each solar panel is 540 watts.

The solar panels will impact students who study media and the youth who come to the Salesian campus, as well as candidates who are undergoing their preparatory training to become Salesian priests.

Felix is one of the students. He is studying a six-month diploma course at Don Bosco Media Academy. He said, “I never knew anything about videography, photography, Photoshop or Illustrator. Thanks to my studies, I know all these and I can use the software.”

Felix credited the staff and his education for the confidence he has gained. He added, “I have gone to the next level from ignorance to knowledge, all because of good teaching methodology. The staff who are working here trained me well. They know the need and interest of the students and teach accordingly, in bringing excellence.”

Another student, Anitha, is proud of what she has accomplished studying in the visual editing and multimedia course. She said, “When I look back, I am extremely happy because when I entered the course, I knew nothing about media. Now, I have learned a lot and am leaving this place that gives me lot of joy and fulfillment within me.”

India has the world’s fourth largest economy but more than 22% of the country lives in poverty. About 31% of the world’s multidimensionally poor children live in India, according to a report by the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative.

India’s youth face a lack of educational opportunities due to issues of caste, class and gender. Almost 44% of the workforce is illiterate and less than 10% of the working-age population has completed a secondary education. In addition, many secondary school graduates do not have the knowledge and skills to compete in today’s changing job market.

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