(ANS - Bamako) - On 9 November, the Spanish contingent of the European Union Training Mission in Mali delivered humanitarian aid to the Salesians of the Père Michel Vocational Training Centre in Bamako. The military also visited the Salesian centre and played a game of football with the students.

 According to a report by the Chief of Spanish Defence, the head of the delegation was the second commander of the military contingent, Col. Félix Eugenio García Cortijo.

The collaboration between the Salesians and the Spanish military detachment has been very close since the beginning of the European Union mission in Mali. This meeting was meant to be of a festive nature, with a friendly football match between a selection of the Spanish contingent and a group of young students of the school.

Col. García Cortijo and the Rector of the Salesians, Fr Emilio Hernando, kicked off to start the game, which was won easily by the boys of the Salesian school. Then there was the distribution of aid, mainly medicines and other basic necessities.

This is not the first time the Spanish soldiers in Mali have paid a friendly visit to the Salesian Training Centre. In July they visited the centre, played a game of football with the students, and gave them some gifts.

The Salesians first came to Mali from Spain in 1981. Their vocation is to assist the poorest young people. In 1985 the Salesians were asked to take care of the Père Michel Professional Centre. At present there are four Spanish Salesian missionaries working in Bamako. They also run a boarding school, a parish and a youth centre.

The Pere Michel centre was already in existence when the Salesians came to Mali.  Founded in 1954, it currently has over 400 students from all over the country.  Some are housed in the boarding school. It offers courses in automobile mechanics, electricity, agricultural machinery and the manufacture of metals.

Published 20/11/2013