(ANS – Maputo) – Yesterday, 10 April, Queen Sophia of Spain visited the Don Bosco Higher Institute (ISDB) in Maputo. The school, built partly with funds from the organization Spanish Cooperation, is at present the only centre in Mozambique recognized by the Ministry of Education for the training of teachers of Professional Schools.

Queen Sophia had already visited Mozambique in April 2005. This time she wanted to visit the ISDB to see for herself the Salesian work and the benefits that accrued from the help given by Spanish Cooperation.

The Queen arrived in the afternoon and was welcomed by Fr José Angel Rajoy, Director of the Institute and Vice-Provincial. He then introduced her to the students and teachers of the centre. She then visited the various sectors of the work, attended a lecture on hotel management for a few minutes, and watched some practical demonstrations in the electronic and mechanical workshops.              

On each occasion the Queen greeted the students and teachers and spent some time with them hearing about their school activities. She thanked the Salesians for their commitment to the education of the young, and spoke about her recent visit to a Salesian mission in Paraguay, where she was impressed by the quality and effectiveness of the Salesian work.

In 2006-2007, work began on the building of the ISDB alongside the Provincial House at Maputo. The Institute is one of the fruits of Spain-Mozambique Cooperation which started after the peace agreement between the Mozambique Government and the rebels of the Resistência Nacional Moçambicana, signed in Rome in 1992.
 
Two Spanish Salesians, Fr Angel Miranda and the late lamented Fr Valentín De Pablo, then Superior of the Provincial Delegation of   Mozambique, formalized the option of the Salesians in Mozambique for Professional Education and drew up the first agreements with Spanish Cooperation for the funding of Salesian work in Mozambique. Thanks to these agreements, apart from building the ISDB, they were able to rebuild completely an elementary school in Maputo, now entrusted to the Franciscan sisters, which was named “Queen Sophia” as a sign of gratitude.

At present the ISDB provides education for 632 pupils, in traditional Professional Training courses, as well as in a course for the qualification of teachers in professional subjects.

Published 11/04/2013