Every two years "WorldSkills" promotes a tournament, which enjoys the patronage of the International Technical and Vocational Training Organization. The objectives of the tournament are to promote the exchange of knowledge, experience and innovation among young professionals from different regions of the world, encouraging a climate of healthy sporting competition.
The young professionals who participate are selected by the respective countries and can participate only once in their lifetime. They must not exceed 22 years of age. The best professionals in the tournament are awarded, just like at the Olympics, with gold, silver and bronze medals, along with certificates of excellence.
At this event attended by representatives of Brazil, Bonaire (municipalities of the Netherlands off Venezuela), Colombia, Guatemala, Chile, Peru and the Dominican Republic, there were also several Chilean Salesian schools: "Santo Domingo Savio" of Alto Hospicio de Iquique; the "Don Bosco" Institute of Punta Arenas; the Salesian Educational Center of Talca; and the Salesian Institute of Alameda, in Santiago, Chile, which did well at the competition that took place from 1 to 6 October in Chile.
The "Don Bosco" Institute of Punta Arenas received two awards: the student Jean Bravo won the prize in the Auto Mechanics competition, while his colleague Gabriel Mansilla won first place in the competition for Electrical Installations.
The Salesian Institute of Alameda obtained the 2nd place in the Renewable Energies category, the 3rd place in the area of Support to IT Networks and Welding, the 5th place in Electromechanical Maintenance.
The competition saw the participation of over 230 young people from 80 educational institutions, with 22 skills, 26 competitions, 7 cities (Alto Hospicio, San Felipe, Santiago, Buin, San Fernando, Concepción and La Unión) and 11 locations.
The President and Executive Director of "WorldSkills Americas", the Brazilian Roberto Spada, said: "we are honored to host the competition in Chile" and added that "in the 44 years of work in the technical-professional education sector, I was able to visit many countries like Korea, Japan, Switzerland. And I was able to learn that the greatest strength for social and economic transformation is education, especially technical and professional."
