Given his outstanding enthusiasm, passion and good experience of leadership in the Association Mr Balthazar was able to address the Good Morning talk to three school assemblies (Manzini Salesian High, Malkerns St John Bosco and St Anne’s High schools) and presided over two strategic planning meetings with the leadership of eSwatini Past Pupils (Delegate Fr Nhleko Bongikhosi) and the 4-member strong delegation of the Mozambique Past Pupils (Delegate Fr Raphael Estevao).
On Saturday the Regional Councillor for Africa dedicated the morning to interaction with thirty past pupils from both countries in the premises of Manzini Salesian High school followed by the Africa regional leadership online meeting, joined also by Mr Bryan Magro, World Confederation President (2021-2027).
Both eSwatini and Mozambique share a similar history, and Salesian presence since 1953 and 1952 respectively with thousands of graduates of Don Bosco educational institutions over the past 70 years. The main goal of this animation visit was to assist the Past Pupil leadership to establish their respective national ‘Federations’ and officially join the World Confederation.
At all venues the French speaking council was accompanied by his translator, Fr Emmanuel Kagimbangabo (AFM). Aside from the main 5-point presentation (Who is Don Bosco today? Who are the SDBs? What is the Federation? What is the mission of the Past Pupils of Don Bosco? How can we run self-sustainable projects?) there was a vibrant open forum involving many questions and answers:
– What is the leadership commitment of the Association?
– How do we fight corruption within the Association?
– How can we strengthen the sense of unity among scattered Past Pupils?
– How many African countries have already registered a ‘Federation’ of DB Past pupils?
– Successful stories of the Association’s animation and mission?
– Where is the ‘space’ for the ‘Friends of Don Bosco’ in the Association?
– How can we raise awareness of the Past Pupils among the present students?
– What kind of future leadership do we prepare from our present students?
– How can we contribute to the spreading of the Don Bosco story in civil society?
At present, before the celebrations of 70 years of Salesian presence in the country, there are only two official groups of the Salesian Family in eSwatini (the 5-SDB strong community and 3 Missionary Sisters of Mary Help of Christians). The Salesian religious community (Rector Fr Mbongiseni Shabangu+4 SDBs) also aims to establish the first Salesian Cooperators Centre in near future. The main celebration of the 70th anniversary of eSwatini’s Salesian presence is scheduled for 29-30 September 2023.
https://www.infoans.org/en/sections/news/item/18327-eswatini-enthusiastic-animation-of-don-bosco-past-pupils-in-africa-madagascar-region#sigProId974251db5b
