India — Salesians and Government Authorities Collaborate
in Skills Training Preparing Rural Youth for Work

(Calcutta) On June 20, 2010, the Salesians in the Saint John Bosco Province of India-Calcutta (INC) have launched a joint project with the Indian Ministry for Agriculture and Rural Development for training and work preparation for young people living in extreme poverty

Hundreds of students aged 18 to 30 divided into classes of 60. According to a report in Asianews, the project will expand to other Indian states in the next two years and serve over 60,000 students.

The collaborative training program will provide, at no cost, three months of training courses in hotel management, engineering, automobile construction, tailoring and handicrafts. This is the largest program undertaken by the government in collaboration with the Indian Catholic Church.

Fr. Robin Gomes, a Salesian missionary in Calcutta, said: "Over the last three years we have been discussing with the Ministry how to educate young people who are below the poverty line. We saw the possibility of conducting training in a specific area of learning funded by the Ministry using the over 100 Salesian technical institutes in India. We are delighted to help and serve those students living in poverty and the country through this project. I hope that this cooperation between Church and government can continue in the future."