(ANS - Madrid) – On 17-18 October, the Salesian NGO "Jóvenes y Desarrollo" held a conference on "Vocational training and entrepreneurship in the post-2015 period." The participants were told that education is the great engine of social change and economic progress. About 200 people gathered in the auditorium of the CaixaForum in Madrid, with the slogan "Education that drives the future."

“We lack well-formed persons with a head capable of thinking, a loving heart and hands that can work," said Fr Cristóbal López, Provincialof the Mary Help of Christians Province at the opening of the congress. He also said that the preventive system of Don Bosco is "a great instrument" in achieving this goal. The president of JyD, Fr Manuel de Castro, lamented the fact that that "a literate and technological society" like that of today, was not able to end poverty. "This is unpardonable," he said. 

The concepts of education and development went hand in hand throughout the conference. In the first presentation, Patrick Werquin, an expert in training and in the labour market, described the situation of vocational training throughout the world.In developing countries there is practically no quality vocational training. In Western countries the biggest obstacle is the low social prestige accorded to vocational training.   

Doctor Werquin praised the work of the Salesians in giving vocational training of a high quality, particularly in the poorest areas and the prestige they attach to it. The work of the Salesians and of JyD in vocational training in the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and Mozambique was presented in a panel discussion.

In the Friday afternoon sessions, the discussion changed direction. Dr. Paquita Arbizu, an expert in Cooperation for Development,spoke of the role of the EU on issues such as vocational training and advancement.

On Saturday, José Antonio Marina, professor of Philosophy, spoke about social entrepreneurship as a way to achieve individual happiness and the happiness of the group. In this regard, he noted that intelligence must be at the service of goodness. 

The morning discussion focused on creating a global partnership for development. The participants heard about businesses, foundations and NGOs that promote development. In the afternoon the focus was on entrepreneurship and how to start in different situations.

At the end of the congress Fr Juan Carlos Pérez Godoy, Provincial of the Saint James the Great Province, said the vocation of Don Bosco is for education, particularly for the most disadvantaged. He observed that education needs the power of faith to be able to dream a new world.

Published 27/10/2014