We accompany the discovery of the individual’s vocation and life plan or project in view of a commitment to transforming the world according to God’s design. SYMFoR, p. 149 (cf. C. 34, 35, 37; R. 9)

Promising Aspects

The Salesian Youth Ministry (SYM) addressing the concerns of Vocational Dimension is considered to be effective more in terms of personal beliefs, values and self-fulfilment. The young people are helped to discover their own vocation / life’s proposal as a commitment to transform the world in conformity with God’s plan, both in the society and in the Church.

Guidelines

• Helping the young to discover themselves, identify their talents and develop their competencies, in order to become effective.

• Continuing our help for the young to identify their prospective career choices based on their aptitude and ability.

• Offering the Catholic youth a conducive environment to listen to the promptings of God and choose to join the institutes of consecrated and apostolic life.

• Organizing altruistic youth activities which will form the young in self-giving.

Question and Answers:

CAREER GUIDANCE AND JOB PLACEMENT:

1. Are there any steps taken to promote this service in the province?

Yes. We’ve taken up series of actions like career day, career fair, Career Guidance, and education fair. Interacting with many school correspondents and principals for organizing career development programs through known resources. Demonstrated the importance and impact of this programs in various congregation level Principals meetings. Circulated Handouts all around the province.

2. How many such centers are there in the province?

Don Bosco Vazhikaatti Chennai – Perambur is the head office, other 8 sub centers are Kancheepuram, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Erode, Kotagiri and Pondicherry.

3. How many youth do they reach out to in a year?

• Career Guidance: 14396 Beneficiaries
• Training: 3993 Beneficiaries
• Placement: 349 Beneficiaries

4. How effective is this service in the province?

This program supports the province to eradicate school dropouts, and also shows the way for their career and employment opportunity to horn their skill and uplift their life in the society.

5. What would you suggest to enhance this service in the province?

• Making this service compulsory in all the Institutions such as, schools, technical institutions, colleges, youth groups, parishes and women’s groups.
• Career guidance on wheels
• Career apps
• Promoting awareness through short films and documentaries.

1. COUNSELING AND GUIDANCE SERVICE
   1. Is this service provided in our institutions?
   2. How many settings provide such a service?
   3. How many youth avail of this service in a year?
   4. Are the Salesians given any specific training in counseling?
   5. Is there any training given to lay counselors in the province?
   6. What would you suggest to improve this service in the province?

1. VOCATION PROMOTION – TO RELIGIOUS/PRIESTLY/SALESIAN

1. Do you have full time vocation promoter/s?

Yes! We have a full time Vocation promoter.

2. Are there Vocation promotion camps conducted every year? How effective are they?

The province organizes 6 one day camps in the month of December in 6 different districts. The programme is called ‘Come and See’. The vocation promoter addresses the students in different schools both Salesian and non-Salesian setups from the month of June to November. During this visit, he speaks to them about Salesian way of life and collects the names of those students who would like to know more about the same. These students are regularly contacted through letters, messages and phones. In the month of December one day intensive come and see programme is organized to have a live-in experience. The students selected in this camp are called for One Month camp in the month of December. The camps activities are programmed in four levels namely Human, Spiritual, intellectual and Mission. Camps are well planned and programmed. We are able to give right motivation to students at the start itself.

3. What are the regular vocation promotion steps taken in the communities?

Morning talks, homilies, good night talks and conferences on Vocations. The rector and the other Salesians identify, follow up and motivate candidates personally. Reading materials are distributed.

4. Have we taken any steps to help the families to collaborate in the development of the vocation of their children?

Animation for parents are organized on a regular basis at lease thrice in a year to make the parents know the kind of formation their children go through and we also tell them how important is their role in accompanying towards religious life.

5. What are your suggestions to challenge many more youth with the vocation to priestly/religious and Salesian life?

• Challenge for social change
• Social equality
• Eco spirituality
• Spiritually motivated and Rootedness

Contact details of the Facilitator for Vocation promotion:

Facilitator for Vocation Promotion

DBYAC, Ennore, Chennai.

email: vocations@donboscochennai.org

contact: +91 73581 75004

1. DISCOVERY OF ONE’S MEANING IN LIFE AND THE NEED TO LIVE IT TO THE FULL

1. What are the specific steps taken to help the young to discover their meaning in life and live it?

Career guidance, career counseling and employability skill programs help the young discover their meaning in life and thus aid them to live it.

2. How effective are the steps taken to help the young to develop a plan of life for themselves?

Through these effective steps, individuals identify their interest, skills, personality towards their career development.

3. What would you suggest to help the young to discover God’s plan for them and respond to it generously and courageously?

STATISTICS

CAREER GUIDANCE

Career Guidance is to help 10^th and 12^th students to choose a field that is in tune with their skills and their job expectations. Thus, with the help of career guidance, most candidates end up choosing the right career, and perform their level best, which ultimately helps them succeed. Choosing a career that matches one’s aptitude and personality itself translates into professional success and popularity.

TRAINING

BOSCO EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS TRAINING (BEST) PROGRAMME

A degree makes an individual eligible to apply for a job but to be successful in the role he/she will need to demonstrate a range of flexible skills. Employers valued employability skills as the most important factor when recruiting graduates. Because the labour market is intensely competitive, and employers in private, public and the third sector are looking for people who are flexible, take the initiative and have the ability to undertake a variety of tasks in different environments.

LEADERSHIP TRAINING

Institution Name: Don Bosco Matriculation Hr. Sec. School, Tirupattur

Date: 29^th June 2017, Friday

• Trainers: Fr. Andrews, Mr. Mark & Mr. Levin

• Topic: Leadership Skills & Leadership

Total Beneficiaries: 48 students (SPL, ASPL, 6 – 12^th Class/Club Leaders, House Captains)

TEACHERS ANIMATION & PARENTING SKILLS

Teacher training programs focus on improving the quality of teaching and learning in schools, so that greater numbers of students achieve in both academic and non-academic.

Parenting programs aimed at strengthening the parenting skills like,

• Understanding Children’s Behaviour
• Listening to Children’s Feelings
• Build a good relationship with your child
• Communication

IAS / IPS AWARENESS CAMP 2017

Don Bosco Vazhikaatti, Chennai centre conducted 6^th year Civil Service Examination (CSE) Awareness camp        (A Residential training program) for the selected 24 students from 11^th & 12^th Standard. It was organized by Rev. Fr. Andrews Stephen Raj SDB (Director, DBV) and Fr. Edward SDB (Asst. Director, DBV).

Programme Duration: 30^th April to 6^th May 2017

Venue: DON BOSCO HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL, PERAMBUR

Theme: PLAN-PREPARE-PERFORM

Special Guest for Inaugural: Mr. Nanda Kumar, IRS (Income Tax Commissioner–Chennai)

Special Guest for Valedictory: Mr. Thirunavukkarasu, IPS (DGP L&O–Chennai)

Organizers: Fr. Andrews Stephen Raj, Director-DBV and Fr. Edward, Asst. Director-DBV

Camp Chief: Mr. Rabbi Raymond & Bro. Joe Anand SDB

Coordinator: Mr. Prem, Department of Training, DBV Chennai

JOB FAIR

Venue: St. Antony’s Shrine, Armenian St. Parry’s

Date: 21^st October 2017, Saturday

• Total No of Candidates Participated       : 652
• Total No of Companies Attended           : 28
• No of Offer letters issued on the spot : 228
• Shortlisted : 50

DON BOSCO TECH SOCIETY

Don Bosco Tech is a network of more than 350+ Don Bosco Skill Training centers making it the largest NGO engaged in livelihood training in India. With a Mission SKILLING INDIA, Don Bosco Tech aims at imparting market-oriented, employment-linked Skill Training to 2 million youngsters by 2022.

TECH MAHINDRA CSR PROGRAMME

Don Bosco Vazhikaatti and Tech Mahindra Foundation (TMF) jointly start SMART (Skills for Market Training) and SMART T (Technical) Centers which offers four/six months free vocational training for the under privileged candidates.

DB SARC

COMMON ACTIVITIES:

• Province level Seminar for the Salesians and Salesian Family

Two Seminars are to be arranged, one in September and another sometime later. Fr.Seba is to coordinate, first at the Province level, during Quarterly Holidays.

Theme for the Seminar : Constitutional Rights of the Marginalized and Minorities

• The Core Team together with the Directors of Desks are to meet on the LAST WEDNESDAY OF EVERY MONTH at various regions.

AUGUST – Tirupattur

SEPTEMBER – Chennai

OCTOBER – Pondy

NOVEMBER - Vellore

• Deaddiction center to be set up at Jawadhi. The work is to be coordinated by Frs.Vinoth and Vincent Mariapragasam
• Human Rights books for students are to be bought and used in our schools and institutions
• Brochure is to be updated regarding DBSARC and circulated.
• Care of Total Orphans and a policy for the same is to be worked out.