(ANS – Madrid) – Opened last Wednesday 22 February by Her Royal Highness the Infanta doña Elena of Spain in Madrid the International Exhibition of Courses for Students (AULA) has over 200 firms and educational institutes show-casing their wares. Among these is also the  Salesian Family, which on a single stand is displaying what the Salesians (SDB) and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA) have to offer.

Her Royal Highness was accompanied by the National Minister for Education and by the Councillor for Education of the Madrid Local Authorities and as they visited the SF Stand the Infanta spoke with those in charge of it.

Aula 2012 is a shop-window for education, where the Ministry of Education, the universities, public and private educational and training centres and scholastic Institutions from 13 countries display what they have to offer to thousands of potential university students and those in the final years of High Schools. In addition many teachers, scholastic advisers and parents visit the Exhibition to discover the openings available to the young people depending on their educational background.

For some ten years now the SDB and the FMA have been displaying what they have to offer, based on Christian humanism and an  holistic view of education in three important areas: vocational training, free time and university studies.

In the field of vocational training the Salesian Family has been a pioneer in Spain. Concerned with the formation of the young and preparing them for the world of work, Salesian centres have always striven to provide a high quality of vocational training preparing for the job market and with strong links with firms and businesses.

In addition the opportunities in the field of voluntary service and free time activities are presented especially through the CENSA, which arranges courses for leaders, coordinators, social workers and others.

University studies are represented by the Don Bosco Centre of Higher Studies CES, linked with the Complutense University in Madrid and dedicated to the formation of educators, offering a great variety of courses  in the area of infant and primary schools and in social education.

The motto  on the Salesian Stand reads “Your education is our business,” to underline a key point of  the Salesian educational system: the protagonism of the young in a family atmosphere which encourages the development of the whole person; a  project than can be summed up in the words of Don Bosco regarding the young “good Christians  and upright citizens.”

A video is available on the  channel Boscomedia24.

Published 24/02/2012