austraLasia 1680

Tetere Rural Training Centre first graduation

HONIARA: 5th November 2006 -- Tetere, Solomon Islands, is not unknown to Salesians world-wide - in 1999 it was the annual Salesian Mission  campaign focus. At the time it was a lone Salesian outpost, supported from Japan province which had sent the first three missionaries there in 1995.  Now it is part of the PNG-SI Delegation under the Manila (FIN) province, and part of a wider Salesian presence and influence that involves the parish, a technical school back in Henderson, a prayer centre in Honiara itself, health care in villages and a recently built hospital, leadership of social communications in the archdiocese, and a wide mission outreach.
    Thirty three students have just graduated from the Tetere Rural Training Centre set up two years ago.  They have been equipped with the agro-technology they need to make a better living for themselves and their families and have already produced the first bags of rice ever to come out of such a centre.  There are a number of RTCs dotted around Guadalcanal and elsewhere.
    The graduation was an opportunity for celebration of something new for the Solomon Islands.  The Tetere RTC is different and is making a difference.  To begin with, in a post-war situation where land had been a main issue of contention, the land for this centre became available in spite of many tribes contesting ownership. Rice cultivation and animal husbandry taught at the centre has been an innovation and a welcome one for village life style. The project has brought tribes, communities and religious factions together and offers the hope of a brighter future for a region that has seen some dark days.
    Tetere RTC instructors, the Salesians and the whole educative community that surrounds the centre were able to celebrate young men and women who had given of their best.  Only time will tell whether that best from 33 graduands has equipped them for the challenges ahead.
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