Jakarta, Indonesia – September 2024 – On 3 September Pope Francis arrived in Indonesia at 6.19 am (Rome time), 11.19 am local time. The Ita Airways flight landed at Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, the first stop of the trip to Asia and Oceania, the 45th international apostolic trip and the longest of the pontificate. To welcome the Pope, at the foot of the forward stairway, were the Minister for Religious Affairs and two children in traditional dress with a gift of flowers. After the greeting of the delegations and the Guard of Honour, the Pope moved to the Apostolic Nunciature, where he met a group of sick people, migrants and refugees accompanied by the Community of Sant'Egidio and the Jesuit Refugee Service. The Pope's trip will come alive tomorrow,with the welcome ceremony outside the Presidential Palace and with the courtesy visit to the President of the Republic. Subsequently, there will be the first public meeting with the authorities, civil society and with the diplomatic corps, followed by the private meeting with the members of the Society of Jesus at the apostolic nunciature and then by a meeting with the bishops, priests, deacons, consecrated men and women, seminarians and catechists in the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, then closing the day with a meeting with the young people of  the "Scholas Occurrentes" in the Grha Pemuda House of Youth.

Vatican News

Mumbai, India – August 2024 – Teachers from the primary, secondary and junior college sections of Don Bosco Naigaon, Mumbai, participated in a seminar on Specific Learning Disorders (SLD), led by Fr Edward D'Souza, a member of the management and an educator specialised in the sector. Fr D'Souza explained that about 10-15% of the school population, globally, is affected by this disorder and illustrated to those present how to approach students with SLD. The teachers were involved in a series of simulation exercises, which helped them to experience the challenges faced by these students. Fr D'Souza then explained how SLD is a neurological disorder caused by differences in the structure of the brain, which affects the way information is processed and which can have an impact on one or more skills. The speaker also made it clear to the teachers that if the special needs of the students are not taken into account, they will behave in an inappropriate way. The seminar ended with teachers becoming more aware of these disorders. They therefore left the seminar with a renewed commitment to extend understanding, patience, support and appropriate recovery to ensure the success of all students during their school life.

Nairobi, Kenya – August 2024 - Kenya held its second national WorldSkills competition from 19 to 23 August, in preparation for the WorldSkills Africa Competition which will be held in Livingstone, Zambia, in April 2025. The event saw 119 young people from 49 Vocational Training Centres (VET Centres) and universities compete in 21 areas of expertise. The Don Bosco VETs in Kenya were well represented by the Don Bosco Boys' Town Technical Institute in Karen and the Don Bosco Technical Institute in Kakuma. Their trainees participated in the electrical and plumbing and heating installations, with the Don Bosco Boys' Town winning gold medals in both areas of expertise. In addition, a Don Bosco Kakuma trainee was honoured with the Gem Award, a prestigious recognition for competitors from marginalised communities. This victory is a significant milestone for the Don Bosco Institute, demonstrating its critical role in shaping the future of Africa's skilled workforce. It is a celebration of his mission to transform lives through the development of skills. These events also highlight the importance of vocational and technical training in today's economy, encouraging younger people to pursue technical careers and contributing to the development of a competent and highly skilled workforce. Don Bosco Tech Africa played a key role in the planning and execution of the competition, with the deputy director of the DBTA, John Njuguna, SDB.