RINALDI JUNIORATE - CHENNAI
1. SIGA Polytechnic College
SIGA is an institution established to provide young people, especially those from the poorer sections of society, a professional and job-oriented training in printing technology. While striving to meet the demands for well-qualified technicians in the Graphic Arts industry, it aims to form the students into citizens who will be conscious of their obligations to the nation and the society and at the same time sensitive to the aspirations and anxieties of their fellow citizens. SIGA admits 120 students every year for a three year diploma course. Two-thirds of these students register for the non-formal Diploma Course, and one-third for the Government AICTE Approved Diploma Course in Printing Technology. Preference is given to Catholics from the poorer sections of Tamil Nadu. Thanks to Bro. Julian Santi and his generous benefactors from Italy, the infrastructure and facilities are excellent. The Quality Control and Communication labs give students a feel for print quality and soft skills for Communication. Spoken English is given special attention. The spiritual life of the boys is well catered to. Yearly retreats and thrice-weekly catechism classes are conducted. Church and Salesian feast days are celebrated in a festive style. Regular monthly and weekly religious services are conducted for the SIGA students and staff, such as: monthly confessions, recollections, group masses, Marian procession on the 24th of every month and the weekly Friday Mass. Occasionally, missionaries and the vocation promoter address the student assembly. Financial assistance in terms of scholarships, fee concessions, sponsorships and mid-day meals encourage many to continue their studies. Dedicated staff members are provided with staff quarters. Job placements in India and abroad are made available for successful trainees. At Chennai, some past trainees earn very well in specialized fields like e-publishing and advertisement. The gratitude of our past pupils is very encouraging. Several offer scholarships to other poor students. Six of them have become Salesians, and there are others who have enrolled their names with the Vocation Promoter.
2. Hostels
There are 175 students in the two SIGA hostels: 125 in Bosco Illam and in 50 in Rinaldi Illam (GDC I Years 20 + Advanced Trainees 30). In Bosco Illam there is a Salesian priest as Warden and two clerics. Daily Morning and Night Prayers, good night talks and the Rosary, bi-weekly masses and monthly recollections are conducted. The hostel boys conduct the Marian Month and the Month of Don Bosco. Birthdays are celebrated at the end of each month with a cultural tone. Nominal mess fees are collected from the hostel boys, while SIGA meets other hostel expenses. Rs. 25, 000/- is given as charity every month towards mess expenses alone. Because of the hostel facilities at Rinaldi Illam and Bosco Illam, many rural poor youth are able to study in our college, though they are tightly packed together in Bosco Illam. Still, there is a growing need for more accommodation, as many students come from outlying villages to study at SIGA.
3. Don Bosco Youth Centre
Moral orientation, spiritual assistance and recreational facilities are provided to 150 registered local youngsters. In recent years the number of registered members have been steadily declining. Regular football coaching and sports are organized. Periodic cultural programmes and Social Awareness programmes are part of the programme for various age-groups. The gym is an added attraction to these youngsters. In collaboration with Vazhikaatti DBYC offers Career Guidance and sets up job placements for unemployed youth. The non-Christian youth willingly take part in the liturgical celebrations. They welcome the spirit of Don Bosco and respect the values the Catholic Church stands for.
4. Evening School
Some 120 poor children from the neighbourhood profit from our evening school programme. Tuition is conducted by lay teachers in the SIGA class rooms. The beneficiaries are boys and girls from Standard I to X of public schools who otherwise have no place to study, because their family environment is not conducive. However, the girl students after Standard VIII are not allowed for the evening classes. Sports and recreational facilities, special coaching for those who are weak in particular subjects, and snacks are provided for all children every evening.
5. Salesian Institute of Graphic Arts Past Pupils Unit (SIGAPPU)
This unit was inaugurated on August 15th of 1973 and has completed the Silver Jubilee in 1997. There are more than 600 ordinary members and about 100 registered life members. The annual meeting of this unit is always held on the 15th August.
sigaindia@hotmail.com ; rinaldi@donboscochennai.org
Rinaldi Juniorate
51, Taylors Road,
CHENNAI - 600 010.
Cell – 94440 76324
