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. _________________ AustraLasia is an
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