(ANS – Cebu) –EAO Regional Councilor, Fr. Vaclav Klement, met with the FIS Planning and Development Office (PDO), on Thursday, 18th Septembre. Founded in 1995, this PDO is the 'only' point of reference for the EAO starting PDOs.
Fr. Klement expressed the thanksgiving to all present for the successful story which grew continuously in the past 19 years and gained a lot of experience and trust from international Salesian and non-Salesian agencies. This was especially so during the post-Yolanda relief and reconstruction in Tacloban, Borongan, and Bantayan, the PDO, together with the Don Bosco Emergency Relief and Rehabilitation Team, was instrumental in organization and accounting of very significant financial help to the victims of the typhoon.
In a lively discussion three main topics were shared:
How to motivate the superiors of other provinces or delegation which are in need to start the PDO? (At the moment the delegation of Indonesia, PNG-Si and the province of Vietnam-Mongolia, Timor Leste and Myanmar are planning to launch PDO as soon as possible)
· The simple story telling of past 19 years experience within the FIS province, growing from a simple Projects Office with the help of the Salesian Missions (New Rochelle) since 1995. Slow growth shows the importance of formation and mentalizing of the Salesians, especially of the Provincial Commissions and the Rectors.
· The professional approach (planning, project cycle management) helped the province to provide the sustainability of many non-profit sectors of our mission (especially the VTC - vocation training center and YaR - youth at risk).
· The stability and continuity provided by the PDO helped build up the donor trust and confidence.
Main challenges met during the PDO operation?
· the lack of ownership by some Salesians on projects managed;
· the need to empower and capacitate the Lay Mission Partners;
· the need to maintain the present benefactors and get new benefactors;
· the need to accompany the 5-6 international young volunteers assigned to the FIS;
· how to move away from the comfort zone produced by larger projects funding and venture into other areas of fund generation;
· the limited understanding on the PDO role by the Youth Ministry sector.
Suggestion HOW to help the Salesian (SDB) formation on behalf of the PDO?
· Bring the provincials of other EAO provinces starting the PDO to Cebu;
· Make sure that the PDO topic will be in the curriculum of initial formation;
· Generate a planning mentality beginning with the Overall Provincial Plan and through this an awareness on the points of convergence of the different Commissions of the Province and the PDO;
· Register the PDO as an NGO in order to be a counterpart for many agencies abroad or local government institutions (like the Magone Home for the youth at risk in Don Bosco Liloan);
At present, the FIS PDO has a staff of six and has a newly appointed PDO Director, Fr. Alan Ross Banogon, SDB.
Published 29/09/2015
