The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has noted that teachers need to be valued, trusted and adequately supported to meet the needs of every student. World Teachers’ Day recognizes the important role teachers play in educational systems and highlights the importance of teacher training, strong recruitment of teachers, and finding ways to support the profession globally.
Salesian missionaries educate more than 1 million youth in over 5,500 schools and youth centers and nearly 1,000 vocational, technical, and agricultural schools in more than 130 countries around the globe.
“Teachers are the backbone of Salesian schools, ensuring youth receive a high-quality education,” said Father Michael Conway, director of Salesian Missions. “Teachers know their students are facing more than just gaining an education. Some youth were previously living and working on the streets, and others have faced war as child soldiers or become refugees in war-torn communities. Salesian teachers meet these challenges head-on, providing education and hope for a brighter future.”
In honor and celebration of World Teachers’ Day 2024, Salesian Missions is proud to highlight the work of Salesian teachers and programs that support them around the globe.
DR CONGO
Orphans attending Don Bosco Shasha, located in the Mupfunya Shanga-Shasha village in the Democratic Republic of the Congo*, received support through donor funding from Salesian Missions. The funding paid teachers’ salaries and covered the cost of school fees for 55 orphans, including 23 girls, whose families could not afford schooling.
The Masisi Territory is facing armed conflicts and is one of the worst areas of violence. Conflicts have increased the number of orphans and displaced people within the territory. When conditions are too hard and incomes are low, many families remove their children from school because they do not see it as a necessary expense.
The students receiving funding through this project were selected because they have benefited from counseling and additional psychological support. Many of them have continued on with their education despite facing depression and anxiety. Salesians have paid for their schooling as well as additional social support and psychological care.
INDIA
Salesian St. Xavier High School, located in the village of Pathaliaghat in the state of Tripura, India, hosted a two-day education course for teachers in Salesian schools in the region. The event was attended by 190 teachers, five principals and five rectors.
A Salesian said, “This meeting is the result of a joint effort of all six Salesian schools in the region, under the leadership of Father Babu Stephen, head of education and culture for the Salesian Shillong Province. These two days of education were of great help to the teachers involved, who learned a lot from the sessions and from the group discussions. Teachers were motivated to engage in active teaching and learning and to cultivate student well-being.”
ITALY
In Italy, Salesian Pontifical University’s Institute of Psychology in Rome has organized a course for teachers focusing on strategies to address classroom management challenges and to support students. The goal is to empower teachers to make the learning environment an even safer and more inclusive place.
Aimed at teachers at all levels, school leaders and school psychologists, the course is directed by Professor Alessandro Ricci. It consisted of three different modules, including addressing group dynamics in the classroom, dealing with difficult students and conflict management, and rules for students and families.
With both theoretical and practical skills, participants learned strategies for effective involvement with other teachers, students and parents in the school environment. In addition, strategies for prevention and promotion of socio-relational well-being in school were addressed.
RWANDA
Salesian missionaries with Don Bosco Muhazi Technical-Vocational School, in the Gasabo district in the Kigali province of Rwanda, and Father Pierre Célestin Ngoboka, provincial superior of the Salesians in the Africa of Great Lakes Province, inaugurated a new school building. Jean Michel Swalens, who represented the Belgian Embassy in Rwanda, local leaders, community members, teachers and students joined in the celebration as well.
Since the school was established, roughly 840 students have received certificates in courses including culinary arts, masonry, tailoring, and literacy and math programs.
The new building, constructed as part of the ACTEC 2022-2026 program co-financed with the Belgian Directorate-General for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid, is equipped with all the necessary materials for students to take literacy and training courses. The new space also provides teachers with resources they need to provide high-quality education.
A new computer lab will enable students to develop vital digital skills and enhance their computer literacy, preparing them for future careers in the technology-driven world. The building also has office spaces. The staff room will serve as a dedicated space for the local ACTEC project coordinator and local job service officer who helps connect students to the job market.
