A high-profile institutional opening
The work opened on the afternoon of Wednesday 16 October with a video message sent directly by the European Commission, demonstrating the strong link between the organisation and European institutions. The Honourable Clayton Bartolo, Minister of Tourism of Malta, offered a warm welcome, underlining the importance of international collaboration in the training of young people.
Piero Fabris, Executive Director of Don Bosco Tech Europe APS, brought the greetings of the President, Fr Miguel Angel García Morcuende, the General Councillor for Salesian Youth Ministry, and expressed gratitude for the support received, outlining the main objectives of the organisation. Fabris also recalled the progress made in the first ten months of activity, with 24 missions completed to various partner Provinces and public and private institutions.
Interventions by experts and visionaries from all over the world
During the three days, there were interventions by leading figures in the field of education and vocational training.
Among these, Prof. Joachim Calleja, President of EFVET, the European Forum on Vocational Education and Training, shared his reflections on the future of technical training in Europe; while Dr. Theodor Grassos, Secretary General of EVBB, the European Association of Vocational Education and Training Institutes, presented the opportunities offered by European partnerships to improve young people's professional skills.
Fr Maximus Okoro, General Director of Don Bosco Tech Africa, brought an international perspective, highlighting how collaboration with Don Bosco Tech Europe can open new paths for technical education in Africa and for student mobility.
The progress of Don Bosco Tech Europe APS: a young but growing organisation
In just ten months since its foundation, Don Bosco Tech Europe APS has reached significant milestones. In addition to the missions already completed, the organisation has presented numerous European projects, currently under evaluation, and has established business partnerships aimed at creating facilitation for its associates and new study-work opportunities for young people in the Salesian Family. These projects aim not only to facilitate student mobility in Europe, but also to offer international experiences outside the Continent.
The Director hopes to be able to offer more and more opportunities to all Salesian Provinces, so that if they consider the initiatives interesting, they can benefit the most by generating a positive local and global impact.
Expanding network and new space in Brussels
Another important result announced during the event is the recent collaboration between Don Bosco Tech Europe APS and the EVBB.
Thanks to this partnership, Don Bosco Tech Europe APS members can now book meeting rooms and use a representation space at the partner's headquarters, located on Boulevard Charlemagne, exactly in front of the European Commission's headquarters in Brussels. This represents a significant step forward to strengthen the visibility of the organization at the institutional level and to facilitate the presence of the associated Provinces at the community level.
A family spirit that continues to grow
The 14th Annual Meeting of Planners of the Salesian Family in Europe provided a unique opportunity to create and consolidate relationships between the various Provinces represented and to meet the needs of the territories represented. On the occasion, Dr. Fabris stressed that the first nature of the continental network is to facilitate and be a spokesperson for the territories of Europe and North Africa, asking for continuous feedback and suggestions for improvement.
The atmosphere of collaboration, exchange and growth characterised the event, confirming the centrality of the Salesian spirit in the educational mission.
At the end of the event, the Don Bosco Tech Europe APS team thanked all the participants and internal and external collaborators who made the meeting possible, organised with great care and characterised by a true Salesian Family atmosphere, in line with the spirit of Don Bosco.
For those who have not yet done so, it is possible to stay updated on Don Bosco Tech Europe's activities and projects also through its contacts on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
