By Fr. Johnson Paulraj SDB
For the academic year 2015-16, the Salesians started the Programme in October 2015 by visiting the Juvenile Reformatory and meeting the inmates and the Directors of the Reformatories. Fr. Johnson Paulraj, the Rector of the community and the Mr. Fakreldeen the Principal of the VTC went and made the selection of the students based on their interest and the intensity of their imprisonment.
The Salesians started the Programme on 12th October with 52 juvenile delinquents from Kobar and 39 Juvenile Delinquents from Jeref. There were also 21 poor youngsters from the Neighborhood who are drop outs from the school. Altogether they were 112 students for the year 2015-16.
They were trained in four different trades, namely, Auto-Mechanic, Building, Electricity and Welding. Most of the showed interest in Auto-Mechanic and Electricity.
The boys were imprisoned mainly due to Stealing, Drug abuse, Cheating, Neighborhood disturbance and Fighting (picking up quarrel and ending up with man handling). The number of years they spend in the reformatory does mold them in some ways through the regress follow up.
Coming to St. Joseph’s Vocation Training Centre does help them to get away from the pain of imprisonment. They are transported daily up and down from the reformatory by our Trucks. They are also provided Breakfast and given efficient training to build up their talents of building up this nation. Thanks be to our Dedicated Staff who show keen interest in forming these unfortunate youths of this nation.
Apart from their training they are also given value education through morning talks and other class room activities. Sports is also an essential element to bring down their psychological stress and sadness.
They began their exams in the second week of May 2016 and were graduated on 31st May 2016. The day was honoured by the presence of Fr. Joseph Pulikkal the Delegate superior of the Salesians in Sudan. There were also the Dignitaries from two reformatories and from the Local Council. Holding a Certificate in their hands does elevate them to high spirit in their Happiness.
Quiet often after the completion of their course with us, some of are released from the reformatory to begin their lives.
https://www.infoans.org/en/sections/news/item/1195-sudan-juvenile-delinquents-reformed-through-don-bosco-ways#sigProId805b6158db
