Over 100 Youth Beat COVID-19 Challenges to Graduate at Catholic Technical School in Uganda

He added in reference to the inconveniences occasioned by the pandemic, “It was painful for the Salesians to lose the students unexpectedly.”

The DB VTC, which began teaching in January 2019 has trained at least 800 young men and women “who find themselves sojourners in the northern part of Uganda,” according to the institution’s Director.

“Many of them come from South Sudan as refugees,” the Indian-born Salesian Cleric says, and adds, “Probably DB VTC in Palabek is the largest Catholic and technical institution fully dedicated to the welfare of refugees in Uganda. The country hosts 1.5 million refugees, a majority of them being school going young people.”

The inspiration behind the technical training institution is drawn from St. Don Bosco who founded the Salesians Religious Institute, and who, according to Fr. Arasu, used to say, “If you want to do something beautiful for God, help in the education of the poor youth.”

“Yes, it is a blessing and fulfilling mission to offer education to the deserving youth. Indeed, refugees are the most deserving young people,” the missionary Cleric says.

He recalls that St. Don Bosco dedicated his entire life for the education of vulnerable young people.

The Saint’s education largely consisted in giving life-skills to teenagers and young adults to be self-reliant and find a way out in life, Fr. Arasu shares.

“His charisma and struggle were indeed apt during the onset of industrial revolution in Europe,” the Director of DB VTC says in reference to St. Don Bosco, and adds, “What Don Bosco did nearly 150 years ago is being continued by his sons—The Salesians of Don Bosco.”

He adds, “We continue to offer vocational training to the poor and abandoned youngsters and now we are extending this timely activity to youth who are refugees and migrants. Don Bosco Vocational Training Center (DB VTC) in Palabek is one such example.”

Fr. Arasu is delighted that the college has already admitted another 300 young people for this year’s training, who will graduate in December 2021. He says that Salesians, through their various skills-training programs, are transforming lives of vulnerable youth.

“Salesians are happy to see many of our institution’s leavers working with different agencies, self-employed and many others have returned to South Sudan and found some work to do and earn their living in dignified life,” the missionary Cleric who has been in East Africa for close to three decades says in his communiqué shared with ACI Africa.

Nearly all the students enrolled at the training facility are primary school dropouts with very little literacy skills.

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The school, however, gives the countless opportunities in life by equipping them with technical skills, the Cleric observes.

On seeing the joy of the students, the Episcopal Vicar of Kitgum Vicariate of the Gulu Archdiocese, Msgr. Vincent Ojok who presided over the graduation ceremony said, “Perhaps this is the first and the last educational experience of these poor youth.”

Meanwhile, in his message of gratitude, Fr. Arasu said, “We thank our Don Bosco partners especially DON BOSCO Jugendhilfe Weltweit (JuWe) of Switzerland for their continued support in running this Vocational Training Center.”

“We also thank the dedicated staff headed by Fr. Roger Mbayo SDB who accompanied these trainers for several months,” the Salesian Cleric added.