Accompanied by the Member of Parliament Rosaria Tassinari, the two government ministers arrived at the Salesian house to be welcomed by the young students and the flags of different nations, which created a lively and colourful corridor right up to the stage, set up inside the 'San Luigi' gymnasium. The theme of the meeting and discussion was 'Politics as a crossroads of relations'.
The historic Salesian Vocational Training Centre currently has more than 500 young people enrolled. But the Salesians also host a university student residence with around 60 young people and a boarding school with another 60 places for off-site students attending the I’Taer - National Aeronautic Technical Institute. The Centre, which is part of the National Association for Technical Trainging CNOS-FAP (Centro Nazionale Opere Salesiane - Formazione Aggiornamento) founded in 1952, has trained numerous students who have become entrepreneurs and professionals, in close cooperation with local companies, responding to the needs of the labour market.
"Education is a matter of the heart,' Don Bosco used to say, and for his part Fr Dal Molin, a former Salesian Provincial of Italy-Lombardo Emiliana (in whose territory the Forlì work falls), remarked in front of the ministers how 'it is important to walk together, supporting the boys in their formative journey'.
For his part, the mayor of Forlì, Gian Luca Zattini, thanked Vice-Premier Tajani and Minister Bernini 'for the closeness shown to Forlì immediately after the flood tragedy. Not just moral support, but a concrete commitment to a policy that wants to rediscover the relationships and values that lead to the common good. This was indeed Politics lived in practice -just as a gymnasium where we train, help each other, follow the rules and work together as a team'.
Ms Tassinari, on the other hand, emphasized the importance of vocational training and work in the wake of Don Bosco's mission to 'create good Christians and good citizens'.
'The heart and man must be at the centre of politics,' added Mr Bernini, 'following principles, ideals and values. The intelligence of the hands, i.e. the manual skills that vocational training imparts, is an important resource for the country and we are close to it'.
Mr. Tajani, on the other hand, spoke of the need to strengthen relations between Italy and Africa 'also through training that tends to involve young Africans and their talents to collaborate in the creation of mixed companies that are able to spur the economy on, with a view to international cooperation'.
