(ANS – Frankfurt) – Between 12 and  14 September at Frankfurt there was the First Meeting of the Vocational Training in Europe Group (SDB). It was called by Youth Ministry Department and the National Centre for Salesian Works – Updating Vocational Training (CNOS-FAP) of Italy.

20 people took part n the meeting from: Spain, France, Belgium, Italy, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Bosnia, Kosovo, Ukraine and Germany. On the agenda: to strengthen, improve and extend the coordination between  the Schools and the Vocational-Technical Training Centres of the Salesians in Europe; and develop further the relationships between Salesians and the automobile companies involved, profiting from the International Show - Messe Frankfurt - Automekanica.

Provincial representatives for Schools and Vocational-Technical Training Centres discussed the common demands and challenges: networking, funding, the pastoral challenges, institutional identity,  contacts, work placement, the mobility of students and staff … Great significance was attributed to the spread of examples of good practice as undertaken in the individual centres, or as the result of Province or national initiatives. 19 were presented at Frankfurt.

In addition Salesians and lay people from the different Provinces were able to observe the rich and varied nature of the many vocational training centres in Europe. There are 14 countries in which Salesian vocational training can be found, frequently with very different contexts. The purpose of this first meeting was also to open the way to the setting up of a network of solidarity and mutual awareness.

One work session was devoted to a visit to the Salesian Stand at the Messe Frankfurt. Here too in one of the rooms there was also a meeting with the companies, which served for an examination of the current state of relations between the Salesians and the companies as regards initiatives agreements, forms of collaborations proposals and possible plans for the future.

Coordinated by  Fr Miguel Angel García, the meeting ended with the setting up of the initiatives for the creation of a network and in this way to improve what is on offer at the Vocational-Technical Training Centres of the Salesians as regards formation, networking, work creation, personal and  working accompaniment and further development in Europe.

Published 17/09/2012