Don Bosco education is attracting hundreds to Kumgi

By Cl. Bernard Kaiau, SDB

Kumgi, Papua New Guinea, 4 August 2017 -- I'm happy to be part of this thriving community in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea. This year with 439 students, most of the boarders.

Our community of four Salesians (Rector Fr. Robinson Parappilly: 3 Salesian priests and myself in practical training) are busy the whole week and immersed among the young people.

With the upgrade of our TVET (vocation training center) to the Technical College our school attracts the youth from all provinces of Papua New Guinea and dozens of different cultures are blending and living in harmony in this pleasant highland climate. Since 1995 about 2000 young people received education in this place!

After the large gymnasium is now being almost complete the large Church of Don Bosco. We expect the blessing in few months time. We are glad that most of the construction was done through the hard work of our students of all possible trades from carpentry to electricity. Don Bosco would be happy that his family is building the Shrine with his name!

And the whole EPC is praying that we could get some funds for the necessary facilities - new classrooms, workshops and boarding houses to accommodate more students of the TVET and of the Technical College.

We are proud and happy that most of our 26 strong school lay mission partners (staff) are Bosconians, coming from Vanimo, Araimiri, Gabutu and of course from the Don Bosco Technical Institute in Port Moresby. There is also one long term serving Salesian Cooperator. Their presence makes a great difference and build a wonderful family spirit in the whole education environment. For the girl students are looking from the early days of our institution the Sisters of St. Anne.

During the recent animation visit of the EAO Regional Councilor we had a good time to share our dreams and future vision about vocations, about Salesian family growth and about accompaniment of the young people. Now in these turbulent post-election days our students are busy preparing the cultural days and incoming Birthday of Don Bosco.

You can visit us also on the internet: http://www.education.gov.pg/Institutions/dbstc/index.html

---

---