Arriving in the capital of Cameroon, Yaoundé, and moving through the spaces of the Mimboman slums on the outskirts of the city, you realise the importance of offering a quality educational service in an environment that has no paved roads, precarious health services, overcrowded schools and a high crime rate among young people who do not see a better future.
“Fortunately, in this hostile environment the Don Bosco educational comples in Mimboman stands out. It consists of a primary and secondary school, a Vocational Training Centre and the Don Bosco Youth Centre open to all young people in the neighbourhood! says Virginia Martín, technical consultant of Bosco Global for the project.
The work done has been developed and widespread, following a project that has thought of the smallest details to promote the integral development of young people. In fact, Dr. Martín continues: “The library at the centre has been equipped with books, computers, a photocopier, and a librarian has been hired. There are extended opening hours to allow access not only to the students of the centre but also to the rest of the neighbourhood. A school canteen was also built and the vocational training workshops for aluminium carpentry, woodwork and tailoring were equipped. In addition, teachers were trained in the correct use of the new equipment and all the improvements were disseminated to the educational community and the neighbourhood" Virginia explains.
The operators of Bosco Global are fully committed to the development of local and global actions, both regarding solidarity on the ground, and education aimed at generating reflections and links that allow us to empathise with other situations; the ultimate goal is always transformation from a perspective of social justice.
In this regard, for example, on 31 October, Mimboman's project was illustrated with a special presentation at the San Juan Bosco Salesian secondary school in La Cuesta, Tenerife, to raise awareness of the situation of Mimboman's young people and the importance of fighting for the right to education in any country in the world.
On this occasion, in addition to presenting the project in detail, we worked on a broader perspective and, through a game on human rights, we reflected and together discussed the violation of rights in many parts of the world and what to do to defend them.
