2691 Henderson's 10 years
austraLasia #2691
 

A decade on: culture on show at Don Bosco Technical Institute

HENDERSON: 13 August 2010 -- ‘Your Culture, Our Culture’ was the theme for day two of Don Bosco Technical Institute’s (DBTI) 10th anniversary celebrations, being held at its Henderson campus from August 12-14.
    Student groups representing different Solomon Islands provinces dressed in traditional outfits and performed custom dances from their homelands and villages.  International staff from Fiji, Samoa, Australia, India and Papua New Guinea gave the crowd a taste of their own culture through dancing, music and costumes. 
    Students and staff were fortunate to be addressed by Bishop Luciano Capelli sdb, Bishop of Gizo, who was instrumental in establishing DBTI in 2000.  Bishop Capelli said DBTI was equipping young people with values and skills so they could make a positive contribution to the Solomon Islands.  “These values and skills will make you number one in our society,” he said.  “Education is only one of the ways the church can be relevant in the Solomon Islands. You are the priority of Don Bosco. Don Bosco is here for you,” Bishop Capelli told the students.
    As well as the cultural performances, some students and staff combined to perform a “Youth in Agony” play, about the struggles of today’s teens with alcohol abuse, suicide, loneliness and love and desire.
    There was also the debut performance of the theatre production Iumi Evriwan Save Duim, about empowering women in the school and the workplace.  The production, starring 12 DBTI students, was written by Joseph Major from Solomon Islands Development Trust (SIDT) and directed by DBTI teacher Elmarie Pareezer.  Iumi Evriwan Save Duim was made possible through funding from the Australian Volunteers International/Planet Wheeler Community Grants Scheme (CGS).  In order apply for the CGS, at least one of the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals needed to be met.
    As a school with a high percentage of male students coupled with a desire to change the imbalance, Millennium Development Goal Three ‘Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women’ was the obvious choice.  “The 12 students in the play have been very dedicated and committed,’’ Ms Pareezer said.  “Without their energy and enthusiasm, none of this would be possible.’’
    Iumi Evriwan Save Duim and “Youth in Agony” will have an encore performance on Saturday, August 14 as part of the final day of DBTIs 10th anniversary program.
    Monsignor Francisco Montecillo Padilla, Apostolic Nuncio to Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, will preside at the Thanksgiving Eucharistic celebration at 9am on Saturday, 14th August, 2010.  Fr. Rafy Galve sdb, Delegate of PNG-SI has also arrived for the celebrations.  The celebrations will include presentations and a shared lunch.

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