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SMART STEP TRANSNATIONAL MEETING & TRAINING IN VALENCIA, SPAIN

SMART STEP TRANSNATIONAL MEETING & TRAINING WAS HELD IN UNIVERSITAT POLITECNICA DE VALENCIA, SPAIN (BETWEEN 21ST MAY TO 23RD MAY 2024).

 

The following were the key activities during for Transnational Meeting & Training in Valencia.

 

  • Work Based Learning Programme: partners explored how to integrate these programmes into existing networks and engaged in working sessions on stakeholder engagement.
  • Training on the Contents of WP5: Development of Capacity Building in VET programmes in entrepreneurship for the teachers of the VET Centres that will implement these courses in the schools of Ghana and Cameroon.
  • Startup Incubators Training: this included insights on accelerator programmes and mentoring entrepreneurial teams.

 

Partners:

  • Asociacion Mundus, Spain
  • Don Bosco Youth Network (AOS Province);
  • Startup SME Centres Limited (SSC)
  • Universitat Politecnica de Valencia, Spain (UPV)
  • Confederation Europeenne des Association de petite (CEA-PME)
  • International Voluntary Service (VIS)
  • Institute de Technologie de L’Industrie, du Management et de l’entrepreneuriat (INTIME)
  • Complexe scolaire et professionnel Catholique Don Bosco, Cameroon.
  • Don Bosco Mimboman, Cameroon
  • Prototipi Limited

SMART-STEP NEWSLETTER- 3RD EDITION

SMART STEP NEWSLETTER -1ST EDITION

MARY HELP OF CHRISTIANS

Prayer to Mary Help of Christians composed by St. John Bosco

O Mary, most powerful Virgin,
great and illustrious defender of the Church,
wonderful Help of Christians, formidable as an army in battle array,
you who have overcome every heresy in the world,
in our anguish, in our combats, in our difficulties,
defend us from the Enemy, and at the hour of our death
receive our souls into Paradise.  Amen.

Closing of the 2nd Provincial Chapter of AOS

The 2nd Provincial Chapter of the Salesians of Don Bosco of the AOS came to a close on Sunday April 21, 2024 at the Centre de Spiritualité Capucins brothers in Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire). This 7th and final day of the Provincial Chapter was first marked by a time of exchange on some practical issues concerning the life of the Province. Then, in his closing address, the Provincial, Father Denis Soro, thanked the confreres, particularly those who had helped organize the Provincial Chapter. He urged the confreres to take into account the newness of the AOS Province to instill a new dynamism and offer new paths of sanctification to young people. The closing Eucharistic celebration was presided over by the Provincial himself, with the participation of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians and some members of the Parish Pastoral Council of the Salesian parish of Saint Francis of Assisi in Abidjan.

 

2nd Provincial Chapter – Day 6

On Saturday 20 April, after several days of work, the members of the Chapter went to the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro for a pilgrimage. The Mass celebrated at the Basilica on the altar dedicated to Saint Joseph the Worker was presided over by Father Chukwuedi Akubueze, Vice Provincial. The members of the Chapter then visited this holy place, which remains an architectural jewel that amazes all visitors.

AOS PROVINCIAL CHAPTER – DAY 5

On Friday 19 April, the 5th day of the 2nd Provincial Chapter of the Salesians of the AOS Province, the members of the Provincial Chapter II proceeded to validate the chapter documents by voting. In the afternoon, the members of the Provincial Chapter chose by election the Province Delegate for the General Chapter and his substitutes. Father Didier Eklou, moderator of the provincial chapter , was chosen by his confreres as the province delegate.

AOS PROVINCIAL CHAPTER – DAY 3

The third day of the Provincial Chapter began with a morning Mass presided over by Father Didier Eklou. The morning and afternoon were marked by reflection in groups and in assembly on numerous subjects, such as the shared mission with the laity as well as questions of a legal nature concerning the government of the provinces. In the evening, Father Christof Nizniak, Provincial Economer, gave the goodnight talk.

PROVINCIAL CHAPTER 2

Opening of the 2nd Provincial Chapter in Abidjan

The faithful of the Salesian Parish of Saint Francis of Assisi of Koumassi in Abidjan extended a hearty welcome to the forty-six (46) members of the 2nd Provincial Chapter of the AOS on Monday, April 15. The many communities that the parishioners belonged to brought life to the custom of welcoming the capitulars.

Following this cordial greeting, the capitulars—surrounded by St. Francis of Assisi parishioners—headed to the parish church for the Blessed Sacrament adoration, which was led by Father Sylvain Marie Agbangba, the Chapter moderator. Fr. Denis Soro, Provincial, officially opened the meeting at the Mass officiated by Msgr. Raymond Ahoua, Bishop of the Diocese of Grand Bassam. The bishop urged the capitulars to follow the Holy Spirit’s guidance in everything that they do as this provincial chapter. In addition, the Bishop thanked the Salesians for their efforts and their important role in reviving youth ministry in his diocese.

After a festive meal, the capitulars headed to the Capuchin reception center (Abidjan) to begin the work of the Chapter on the second day.

RMG – “DARE TO SHARE”: MEETING OF SALESIAN PROVINCIAL MISSION PROCURES 2023

RMG – “Dare to Share”: Meeting of Salesian Provincial Mission Procures 2023

(ANS – Rome) – A meeting of the Directors, Managers and Officials of the Salesian Provincial Mission Offices begins on Thursday 19 October 2023, at the “Fraterna Domus” retreat center in Sacrofano, on the outskirts of Rome. The event, scheduled until Monday 23rd, will bring together around 80 people – including Salesians and many lay people – from all across the Salesian Regions, all of whom are involved in various ways in a central service for the Congregation and its missionary realities.

Promoted by the Mission Sector, led by the General Councilor, Fr Alfred Maravilla, and organized by Fr George Menamparampil, the Coordinator of the Salesian Mission Offices, in the final leg of his service. The meeting, on the theme “Dare to Share”, will begin on the evening of Thursday 19th with the welcome to the participants, the official inauguration and the initial moments of informal exchanges to facilitate networking.

On the morning of Friday 20th, Fr Maravilla will introduce the proceedings with a report on the identity of the Salesian Mission Offices. In the afternoon Filip Lammens, the Director of “Via Don Bosco”, based in Brussels will deliver his keynote address aimed at exploring the Salesian potential in the international mobilization of resources.

On the third day of work, Saturday 21st, Mr. Jan Resutik, from the Slovakian NGO “SAVIO”, will highlight the need for digitalization and the continuous improvement of the processes at every mission procure’s office. He will present relevant software to serve as a single platform for all of the Salesian Mission Offices.

The fourth and final fundamental report of the meeting will be offered on the morning of Sunday 22 October, by Fr Eric Mairura, who has been appointed as the new General Coordinator of the Offices of the Mission Procure. He will address the Salesian perspective on developmental works.

But besides these presentations, the structure of the meeting will also incorporate, discussions in small groups on various topics addressed in the general sessions. Sharing of five good practices adopted in various parts of the world (by Provinces of Central America, Southwest Africa, India – Dimapur and Vice Provinces of Indonesia and Myanmar) will also have its slot. Time would also be dedicated to Workshops/mini-courses that would delve into aspects of great interest to all those present, such as the interaction and relationship to be developed with benefactors, or the techniques and advantages of networking.

One of the specific objectives of the event (which takes place four years after the previous edition of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic) will be the development of a detailed roadmap with all the steps to be taken in the years to come. In fact, this will occupy the culminating part of this gathering.

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Rencontre des Procures Missionnaires Salésiennes 2023

(ANS – Rome) – Le jeudi 19 octobre 2023, au centre de retraites spirituelles « Fraterna Domus » de Sacrofano, dans la banlieue de Rome, s’ouvre une nouvelle rencontre des Directeurs, Responsables et Fonctionnaires des Procures Missionnaires provinciales salésiennes. L’événement, prévu jusqu’au lundi 23, réunira en présence environ 80 personnes – dont des Salésiens et de nombreux laïcs – de toutes les Régions salésiennes, tous engagés de diverses manières dans un service central pour la Congrégation et ses réalités missionnaires.

Promu par le Secteur des Mission, dirigé par le Conseiller Général, le P. Alfred Maravilla, et organisé par le P. George Menamparampil, Coordinateur des Procures Missionnaires Salésiennes, dans son dernier engagement dans cette fonction, l’événement débutera dans la soirée du jeudi 19 par la bienvenue aux participants, l’inauguration officielle et les premiers moments dédiés aux échanges informels et au travail en réseau.

Dans la matinée du vendredi 20, le P. Maravilla introduira les travaux par un rapport sur l’identité des Procures Missionnaires Salésiennes, suivi dans l’après-midi d’un discours visant à explorer le potentiel salésien dans la mobilisation internationale des ressources, proposé par Filip Lammens, Directeur de « Via Don Bosco, » basée à Bruxelles.

Le troisième jour de travail, samedi 21, sous le signe de la numérisation et de l’avancement continu du travail des Procures, M. Jan Resutik, de l’ONG slovaque « SAVIO, » parlera des logiciels pertinents pour les Procures Missionnaires Salésiennes, abordant la possibilité d’une plate-forme unique pour toutes les réalités salésiennes.

Le quatrième et dernier rapport fondamental de la rencontre sera présenté dans la matinée du dimanche 22 octobre par le P. Eric Mairura, nommé nouveau Coordinateur Général des Procures, qui abordera la perspective salésienne sur le développement.

Mais ce ne seront pas seulement ces rapports qui donneront structure et profondeur à la rencontre : au cours des travaux de la réunion, auront également une grande importance les débats en petits groupes sur les thèmes abordés lors des séances générales ; le partage de cinq bonnes pratiques différentes proposées en tant que témoignages de diverses parties du monde (Provinces d’Amérique Centrale, Afrique du Sud-Ouest, Inde Dimapur et Vice-provinces d’Indonésie et du Myanmar) ; et des ateliers / mini-cours qui approfondiront des aspects d’un grand intérêt pour toutes les personnes présentes, comme l’interaction et la relation à développer avec les bienfaiteurs, ou les techniques et avantages du travail en réseau.

L’un des objectifs spécifiques de l’événement – qui a lieu quatre ans après l’édition précédente, après que l’édition 2021, initialement prévue, ait été annulée en raison de la pandémie de Covid-19 – sera ensuite l’élaboration d’une feuille de route détaillée, avec tous les mesures à prendre dans les années à venir, qui occuperont la dernière partie de la rencontre.

EMPOWERMENT AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

EMPOWERMENT AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECT OF VULNERABLE WOMEN IN TATALE SANGULI DISTRICT, YENDI, NORTHERN REGION OF GHANA WITH SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOOD SKILLS.

The Women Empowerment and Development Project is ongoing at St. Dominic Savio Community, Tatale in the Northern Region of Ghana, for a period of 5 weeks from 2nd October to 3rd November 2023.

The main objective of this project is to train and empower 250 Vulnerable Women in deprived communities and villages in Tatale Sanguli District with Sustainable Livelihood Skills in soap making, beading, vegetable farming, mushroom cultivation, and bee-keeping and support them start-up/setup their group or individual enterprise/business to promote the good living condition of women, children and families.

Accra – Priestly Ordination

On Saturday 15 July 2023, the Province of West Africa South (AOS) joyfully celebrated the ordination to the priesthood of two Sons of Don Bosco: Peter Abeku Dughan and Fritz Nii Ekue. They were consecrated priests by the Archbishop of Accra, Mgr John Bonaventure Kwofie, along with 12 other diocesan priests, during a solemn ceremony organised at the parish of “Our Lady Star of the were ordained priests by the Archbishop of Accra, Archbishop John Bonaventure Kwofie, together with 12 other diocesan priests, in a solemn ceremony hosted by the parish of Our Lady Star of the Sea in Dansoma, near Accra, the capital of Ghana. The Mass was concelebrated by the two auxiliary bishops of Accra and the Superior of the AOS Province, Fr Denis Soro, along with many other diocesan and Salesian priests. We thank God for this precious gift to our two confreres and to the province.

AOS Newsletter 1st Edition

AOS Newsletter 1st Edition

Vietnam – Priestly Ordination

(AOS – Vietnam) Let us thank God for the gift of two new priests to the Congregation and our Province (AOS), Fr. TRAN Paul Dai Ky Quan and Fr. DANG Joseph Huu Phuoc, who were ordained in Vietnam on the 26th of May, 2023. Congratulations and welcome.

Feast of Mary, Help of Christians

The tradition of this advocation goes back to 1571 when the whole of Christendom was saved by Mary Help of Christians when Catholics throughout Europe prayed the Rosary.

Happy Blessed Feast Day.

Mary, Help of Christians, Pray for us.

Ashaiman – Don Bosco Job Fair 2023

The third edition of the Don Bosco Job Fair was organized on the 11th of May 2023 at the premises of the Institute with notable guests, industries, and organizations attending.

The fair was organized by GIZ Ghana and Don Bosco in collaboration with European Union and VIS. The training program under which the Job Fair was organized is a fully funded project under the “Invest for Jobs” initiative by the Federal Ministry of economic cooperation and Development and is being implemented in Ghana by GIZ and Don Bosco.

The Ambassador for the European Union in Ghana, H.E. Irchad Razaaly, the Country Director for GIZ Ghana, representatives from the Chamber of German Industry and Commerce in Ghana, the Spanish embassy, the Italian embassy, VIS, Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET) and many other stakeholders graced the occasion.

More than 30 companies attended the Job Fair for matchmaking and exhibition of products. There were also displays from the main domains under the training program: Automobile, Electrical, Hospitality (Front Office and Cooking and Baking), and Don Bosco Solar.

The fair was under the theme: connecting to future prospects: Skilling the Youth. More than 23 trainees got the spot employment from prospective organizations.

Ashaiman – Smart Step

Hosting the kick off meeting of the project skilling ECOvet with European Union in Ghana DON BOSCO AOS VIS Volontariato Internazionale per lo Sviluppo CNOS FAP Nazionale Ammattiopisto Luovi Asociación Mundus Business Resource Centre, Ghana Donbosco Tech Africa Group Antenne de Développement de l’Afrique Francophone Occidentale – ADAFO Sdb Post and Université du Sine Saloum El-Hâdj Ibrahima NIASS began on Monday 24th April 2023 and concluded on Wednesday 26th April 2023 hosted at Don Bosco Technical Institute, Ghana.

Fostering the transition of #VET to emerging #labourmarket to boost #employability as a key to improve livelihoods of vulnerable groups and prevent them from irregular migration.

 

Upskilling African VET to Step forward Smart Entrepreneurship

WHAT IS SMART STEP?

Smart Step is a project that aims to improve the training programs offered in vocational education and training (VET) schools in Ghana and Cameroon. The project seeks to prepare students for entrepreneurship and bridge the gap between the education system and the labor market. This is achieved through a strategic partnership between African and European organizations, which provides technical support and relevant knowledge to both the private sector and civil society in the field of entrepreneurship. Smart Step’s focus is on capacity development and sustainable development in Africa, with the goal of equipping teachers and learners with the necessary skills to successfully implement their own business ideas.

OBJECTIVES

  • To establish a comprehensive and collaborative system of exchange of good practices, learning processes, and activities to facilitate mutual knowledge.
  • To introduce specific training on entrepreneurship to VET teachers, tutors, and learners, encouraging them to think about sustainable innovation production and inclusiveness, adapted to their environment.

9 PARTNERS

From Spain, Belgium, Italy, Ghana, Nigeria, and Cameroon.

36 MONTHS – 3 PHASES

The Smart Step project is divided into three operative phases.

  1. Analyzing and understanding the state-of-the-art of entrepreneurship in Ghana and Cameroon as career opportunities for young people and identifying the mismatch between the educational approach and the labor market needs.
  2. Designing a Knowledge Exchange Platform where all the training modules and capacity-building programs developed in Smart Step will be shared.
  3. Providing tools, training modules, and resources to the VET centers and the local community about entrepreneurship. Incubators will be created in VET schools to form, guide, and advise the learners.

SMART STEP PROJECT – GHANA

SMARTSTEP PROJECT
Smart Step is a project that aims to improve the training programs offered in vocational education and training (VET) schools in Ghana and Cameroon. The project seeks to prepare students for entrepreneurship and bridge the gap between the education system and the Labor market.
Smart Step project is a project co-funded by the European Union and Asociación Mundus (Erasmus +) as the leading organization and Don Bosco Youth Network (DBYN) as the local partner.
The Objectives of the Smart Step projects are:
1. To establish a comprehensive and collaborative system of exchange of good practices, learning processes, and activities to facilitate mutual knowledge.
2. To introduce specific training on entrepreneurship to VET teachers, tutors, and learners, encouraging them to think about sustainable innovation production and inclusiveness adapted to their environment.
DAY 1- ARRIVAL AND KICK-START OF THE SMART STEP PROJECT MEETING IN GHANA
The Smart Step Project aims to upskill African VET institutions and learners as future
Entrepreneurs had a successful Kick-off meeting in Ghana from April 24th to April 26th and continued with a Study Visit from May 27th to May 1st, 2023.

 

   

 

DAY 2- SMART STEP MEETING IN GHANA—SDB PROVINCIAL HOUSE GHANA
The smart step continued the next day with the organising of a focus group by the partners to further discuss the project methodologies and how to start working on the task assigned in order to achieve the goals and objectives of the business.

 

 

 

 

 

 

DAY 3- SMART STEP MEETING IN GHANA—SDB PROVINCIAL HOUSE GHANA
On the 3rd Day of the smart step meeting in the SDB Provincial House, Ghana. Certificates were awarded to the participants involved in the SMART STEP KICK-Off MEETING.
Here are some Photos of participants receiving their Certificates.

 

 

 

 

 

DAY 4 – STUDY VISIT TO DON BOSCO TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, ASHAIMAN-GHANA
A study visit was carried out at the Don Bosco Technical Institute (DBTI) to interview and interact with students, trainers and entrepreneurs. The objectives of carrying out this study visit are to:
1. To identify the mismatch between the educational system and labour market needs and to develop a strategy and systems of orientation to retool TVET institutions in Africa to be responsive to the signals and demands coming from the labour market.
2. To seek out ways to learn about the state-of-the-art of entrepreneurship in Ghana, analyse the problems, and establish problem-solving tools and interventions through VET education to improve the craft of entrepreneurship, skills and knowledge.
Some of the feedback from the Study visit to Don Bosco Technical Institute – Ashaiman are:
3. Lack of quality in VET education – inadequate skills and knowledge on entrepreneurship in TVET schools.
4. Government should create an enabling environment that makes it easy for young entrepreneurs to access equipment and resources to expand their businesses.

 

 

 

 

 

STUDY VISIT TO GHANA DIGITAL CENTRE, ACCRA-GHANA.
The study visit continued the next day to interact with the staff, youth Trainers and Entrepreneurs at the Ghana Digital Centre.
The objective of this study visit to the Ghana Digital Centre is to Create an enabling environment for innovative technology and entrepreneurship that encourages young people to become entrepreneurs and contribute to solving problems of unemployment in the economy as well as paving the way for the innovation and growth of nations.
Some of the feedback from the Study visit to the Ghana Digital Centre is:
1. Strong institutions create an enabling environment with innovative skills in technology for the sustainability of enterprises, business start-ups and entrepreneurship.
2. Learning platforms with new skills and innovative technology encourage entrepreneurs to widen their scope of services.
3. The State should protect entrepreneurs and provide legislative principles to secure and sustain businesses.
 
 
 
SMART STEP STUDY VISIT TO CAMEROON (JUNE 24TH to JUNE 30TH, 2023)
As part of the European Commission Erasmus+ programme, The Two countries involved are Ghana and Cameroon. The objective of the study visit to Cameroon was to understand the state-of-the-art of entrepreneurship in Cameroon as a career opportunity for young people and to identify the mismatch between the educational approach and the labour market.
Again, the visit aims to gather valuable information from key players, partners and stakeholders in Cameroon about the possibilities of adapting the labour market demands into the educational curriculum.
This study visit was furnished with several visits and field trips to enable the different teams to learn about the realities of entrepreneurship in Cameroon.
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