(ANS – Milan) – The final meeting of the Forum on Salesian Agricultural Schools took place on Saturday 19 September in the Biodiversity Park at Expo Milano, with representatives of the Salesian institutes of Rodeo del Medio (Argentina), Campo Grande (Brazil), Linares (Chile). Salesian representatives met with various business companies from Monferrato - including the University of Asti - to discuss ways they might collaborate in the formation of young people.

Collaboration between Monferrato and Salesian schools in the coming years will begin with a document agreed and approved by the parties. There will be five strands: youth training, educational exchanges between universities, technical consultancy in the field of agriculture, trade of local products and fair trade, and tourism opportunities in their respective territories.

"The presence of Salesian agricultural schools throughout the world led to this meeting to discuss collaboration between them and local producers and training facilities in Monferrato, the land of Don Bosco with all its values ​​and its resources," said Fr Egidio Deiana, Rector of the Sanctuary of Colle Don Bosco.

Fr Claudio Belfiore, Director of Casa Don Bosco, added: "Combining resources can lead to increased opportunity for young people, as Don Bosco tried to do. The presence of Casa Don Bosco at Expo is a good way to make Don Bosco’s message and his educational work even more alive and relevant.”

The University of Asti was chosen as a reference point for culture and training for the whole of Monferrato. Francesco Scalfari, Director of the Asti University Centre of Higher Studies observed: "It is an extraordinary opportunity to move out beyond the local area and be open to the world through Salesian schools and universities working in the field of agriculture, viticulture and typical products. Our students and technicians have the ability to achieve cultural and educational exchanges with areas where there are similar cultural traditions and practices."

At the end of the morning Professor Richard Bertrand donated to Casa Don Bosco a particular scientific instrument called "Scatol8": a wooden box containing sensors to indicate from a distance real time data such as temperature, air humidity and light intensity ... The instrument will be placed outside Colle Don Bosco and among other things will enable the thousands of pilgrims who go to the shrine to have accurate data to plan their trip to Asti from their own homes.

Published 29/09/2015