Skill Training Centre at Yadgir…`

The Salesian Province of Bangalore has from the beginning seen Vocational and Skill training as an option for the youth towards live and livelihood. The focus has not been lost in its nearly 30 years of work for the youth. The 16th Vocational Training centre in the province was inaugurated on September 2, 2008 by our new Regional for South Asia – Fr. Maria Arokiam Kanaga at Don Bosco, Yadgir in North Karnataka. The project interventions at Don Bosco, Yadgir has been towards a holistic development strategy with a strong emphasis on education, livelihood and development. The project reaches out through various activities to 26 villages in the neighbourhood with specific focus on total enrolment and retention of children in education.

The groups for women and youth have begun to take catalyst roles towards achieving this shared vision. The project not only runs as school to provide quality education but also has begun to influence education in North Karnataka through the Diploma and Bachelor programme in the field of Education (D Ed & B Ed). Though conceived as the first strategy for the area after an extensive study, the programme for imparting skill training has now received a great fillip with the new vocational training centre in place. The project has already begun vocational training such as computers and tailoring programmes in other and alternate facilities. The new centre will house more structured courses in such skills as welding, auto mechanic, electrical and plumbing. The centre envisages training 140 young people every year. The vocational training centres owes its existence to the Jugend Dritte Welt and German Ministry for Development Cooperation. We are sure that with the synergy from the province and the national network – this project will be meaningful and relevant to the youth of the area.