New Zealand takes close interest in Training Centre and
a rather special Ultralight!
by
+ Luciano Capelli sdb
GIZO: 12 January 2012 -- "The newly established St
Peter's Training Centre has been graced by a visit from the
New Zealand Foreign Minister.
As I landed in Nusatupe with my small plane from a
Shortlands visit on
a beautiful sunny day, I was surprised to see three planes
land after
me in the span of 5 minutes. I then had the pleasure of a
visit to the
newly contracted hangar from a smiling gentleman, followed by
what
looked like a good number of well-wishers. He was truly
interested in
the Ultralight plane, gave it a good look over and asked few
relevant
questions that only an aficionado of flying could ask...
seeing my
white hair and knowing my age, he was smiling broadly... he
knows he is
still on time to complete flying school! It was
truly a pleasant
encounter. I then cleaned up and prepared to welcome the New
Zealand
Foreign Minister and, lo and behold, I see I am shaking hands
with the
same gentleman who visited the hangar an hour earlier!
The visit to the Saint Peter's Training Centre could not have
been more
familiar and informal... The minister posed in front of the
OBM
(outboard motors) for a picture to share with his 87 year old
dad who
loves repairing OBMs... The short visit was indeed a great
honour for
our Training Centre (still a baby... but a baby 'lion'). It
shows the
interest New Zealand has in the area of youth support for
prevention of
criminality as well as in the area of technical growth
opportunities
for Solomon youth.
Some of the student who are now on holidays,were contacted and
were
present to welcome and wish the good Minister all the best.
They indeed
felt privileged to have received a visit from such an
important person
who came to Gizo for just half a day...
It really shows that technical education for life and for a
living is
the solution for taking good care of our youth who have missed
out on
chances for formal education.
This is what the diocese of Gizo is trying to do, in Vanga
Teachers'
college, in St Dominic's Vanga, In St Anne's, and Saint John
Bosco's,
Shortlands, where a one week long seminar on technical
education is now
ongoing".
-----------
This seems an appropriate place to also include a brief note
on a
recent youth training session in Gizo, run with support from
the
Salesians in Honiara. We leave the word to one of the young
leaders:
Youth Leadership Training
Workshop, St. Peter's Parish, Gizo Diocese Hilda Anihoniara,
Leader
A youth leadership training session was conducted in St.
Peter's
Parish, Diocese of Gizo, from 2nd to 5th January, 2012. Twenty
youth
participants attended the youth leadership training
program. The
resource persons were Fr. Srimal Priyanga sdb and Hilda
Anihoniara.
The workshop was an inspiring one. “I have learnt and
experienced so
many new things about Youth Leadership. It has given me
ideas and
strengthened me to enable my youth members reach out to other
youth
members in the other parishes of our Diocese”, said May
Thugea. “We
thank our two animators and we are looking forward for more
programs
like this in our diocese”.
Domitila Vengo said, “This youth leadership program was
inspiring. As
a youth leader this is my first youth leadership training. I
feel that
I’ve learnt a lot. We learnt about our identity, leadership
qualities,
effective leadership, community building, and youth
development through
participation. The program broadens our knowledge and
understanding of
what we need to do as leaders of the parish. It will be nice
that we
have more programms in our parish to enable us youth leaders
manage our
youth groups”.
The youth leaders of St. Peter's Parish, Diocese of Gizo, said
they
need more youth participation in parish youth programs and
greater
commitment to improve youth programs in the parish. Diocesan
and parish
support is very good and really encouraging. St. Peter's
Parish, Gizo,
has developed from a Youth Centre facility and has established
Mama
Margaret’s Kindy School and a beautiful St. Peter’s
Cathedral. This is
a big support to the young people of Gizo.
