Don Bosco Sumba, Indonesia, 27 July 2021 -- Twenty years after the opening of our humble presence in one of the poorest islands of Indonesia, in Sumba, we see the true charismatic impact of this Indonesian Valdocco. It is no accident that in this mostly Christian population island of Eastern Indonesia there are two FMA communities, the SDB aspirantate & prenovitiate, first ADMA group in the country and also the first organized Past Pupils centre. Don Bosco is really striking deep roots in Sumba.
Another development of our Don Bosco community mission began this month. The long-awaited DB technical education center extension opened on 10 July, in the presence of Fr Augustinus Bulu, CsSR who represented the Weetebula Catholic Bishop Edmund Woga, CsSR.
The new building extension is for a Secondary Technical School (SMK in Bahasa Indonesia) building. Estimated capacity is 216 students. The project was already dreamt about for the past 5 years, financed by the Salesian viceprovince of Indonesia together with Don Bosco Mondo (Bonn-Germany) and German government and estimated period of construction is 10 months.
At present there are 140 students of the SMK (Secondary technical school), still using the rooms at the Salesian religious residence. Aside from the SMK there is also the TVET, Vocation training center offering vocational courses in electricity, carpentry, computer, foreign language-English, solar technology and motorcycle repair.
With the new facilities, there will be strengthening programs for Teachers and Technical Instructors and a Job Placement office for the BLK and SMK graduates.
We give thanks to all donors, benefactors and organizations who are making this long awaited extension of youth training facilities in Sumba possible.
