By Fr Savio Silveira
Provincial IMB
Mumbai, India, 9 July 2020 -- Two years after the grassroots movement of Don Bosco Green Alliance(DBGA), as a fruit of the GC28, the DBGA makes another quality leap with representatives of each one of 7 SDB regions. As of now 299 Salesian institutions are registered, from 61 countries around the world, specifically from the EAO region there are some 40+ institutions or organizations from Australia, Cambodia, China-Hong Kong, China-Macau, Fiji Islands, Japan, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam (including 7 provinces of the Salesian Cooperators within the EAO region).
After a lengthy consultation and survey during first semester of 2020 among the 12 EAO provinces the FIS Provincial, Fr Godofredo Atienza, gave his consent for the staff of SALVO - FIS Salesian Lay Volunteers (Missionary animation office) Ms Zenaida 'Taichi' Miranda as the 'EAO Don Bosco Green Alliance Representative'. Ms Taichi is a 'veteran' SYM leader and was among the 15 young observers to the General Chapter 28 at Valdocco during one week (March 2020).
Don Bosco Green Alliance has been growing rapidly over these past two years since it was founded, and now has registered 299 Don Bosco insitutions in 61 countries across all 7 Regions of our Congregation. Hence, the need was felt to have a global team that coordinates the entire network and ensures that all the members are effectively engaged in achieving the mission and objectives of the Green Alliance.
The Global Lead Team will be made up of the Convener, the Executive Secretary and one representative from each of the Regions. The exact role and responsibilities of the Regional Representatives will be defined by the team in its forthcoming meetings. However, as of now, the basic tasks that I envisage for the Regional Representatives are:
- participating in an quarterly online meeting (Jan-April-July-Oct) to share ideas, discuss plans, and evaluate progress, with regard to the mission of the DB Green Alliance
- promoting the mission of the alliance within the region, inviting institutions to join the alliance and participate in its activities, representing the alliance at regional meetings, and generally coordinating the various initiatives of the alliance in the region
- organizing (if possible and necessary) specific activities within the region, which take forward the mission and objectives of the green alliance
NB: Within the EAO region all 6 charismatic sectors (Formation, Youth Ministry, Social Communications, Missions, Salesian Family and Economy) have been coordinated since 2016 in a systematic way, and as well as the sectors there is an EAO-wide coordination of some areas like 'Salesian Missionary Volunteers' (AUL-Ms. Lauren), DBTech Asia (FIN-Fr Dindo Vitug) and now also the area of Don Bosco Green Alliance.
Don Bosco Green Alliance website Don Bosco Green Alliance Projects
Related news articles:
AustraLasia 5218 (II) Don Bosco Green in Mongolia AustraLasia 5343 (III) Interview with Ms. Taichi Miranda - Youth Observer at GC28 AustraLasia 5381 (II) One Year of Laudato Si (May 2020-May 2021)
Thanks for mentioning the participation of Salesian Cooperators (EAO) but please note that our Vietnam province has not yet confirmed so far.