On International Youth Day, Salesian Cleric Encourages Innovation, Productivity

“As the theme of this year’s International Youth Day suggests, it is not just a matter of food production only, it is a matter of wholeness and wellness of the human race as well as for the whole universe,” Fr. Tharaniyil says in his August 12 video message. 

The Salesian Priest adds that the theme entails “many other things including biodiversity, conservation, climate change mitigation, decent health care, social inclusion, poverty reduction, clean and healthy environment, education, and equity.”

He further notes that the aspects covered by the IYD 2021 theme “are also integral elements of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the young people of today should move more and more into this world view.”

The Executive Director of Don Bosco Tech Africa says that it is “important and encouraging to note that in recent times many of the climate action initiatives are being led by young people.”

“This is because they are the future,” Fr. Tharaniyil continues, and adds, “In the next 20 to 30 years the world will have to feed another two billion people and these young people will be in their 40s and 50s in the next 30 years and so it is their concern.”

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The Priest further says that the reality of the world feeding more people in the future is also an issue of concern to SDB members because the youth “are close to our heart and your problems, your issues are issues as well.”

For this reason, the SDB member has partnered with various organizations to train and empower the youth.

He adds that “the Don Bosco Tech Africa has also taken on Green TVETs (as) one of its priority areas and this involves sustainable sources of energy.”

“In our training centres we offer entrepreneurial skills for the young people so that they can have a quality of life,” Fr. Tharaniyil says in his August 12 video message.

Magdalene Kahiu is a Kenyan journalist with passion in Church communication. She holds a Degree in Social Communications from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA). Currently, she works as a journalist for ACI Africa.