Agro-Mechanical Technology Centre in central Philippines
celebrates 6th Foundation Day, blesses new developments
LEGAZPI CITY: 6th July 2007 -- In a special letter to
austraLasia, from the Diocese of Legazpi, an account of the 6th
Foundation Day of Don Bosco Agro-Mechanical Technology Centre, from a
missionary Salesian Brother who has spent more than 40 years in the
Philippines. Bro Louis Parolin, Training Director at the Centre,
explains a little of the work at this Centre, recording six years of
contribution to education, skills training and personal and Christian
development of young people in a depressed rural area.
Currently the Centre offers courses, a year and a
half duration, in agriculture, agro-mechanics and general electricity
for a 148 young men and women from 17-23 years of age. They are
developing a 5 hectare site within the Centre with a view to letting
young farmers experience and see in action the application of
technology, tools, machines for cultivating upland agricultural
products, and for animal husbandry.
"It is important to realise", says Bro. Parolin,
"that upland agricultural technology has not been adequately developed
and disseminated amongst farmers. Most farmers rely simply on
coconut products for their living, and this is inadequate".
It is the Salesians commitment, then, to acquire,
experience and develop appropriate technologies in horticulture, crops
and animal production, and adapt them to upland conditions (in coconut
areas). These agricultural practices are imparted to trainees and
later to young farmers through seminars. and integral part of the
training is entrepreneurship.
The beneficiaries of the program are youth, male and
female, from very poor families in rural society. The training is
consequently offered free of tuition costs. Of course the number of
applicants is on the increase. The community decided to add one more
section of trainees for agriculture for the school year which began on
June 13 2007. On the occasion of the 6th anniversary, the Salesians,
along with other personnel, inaugurated and blessed two more classrooms.
The majority of graduates are employed in
small enterprises or farms. A number of agricultural students return to
theor farm to implement the entrepreneurial and livelihood projects by
applying the technological skills they have acquired at Don Bosco. _________________ AustraLasia is an
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