The objective of the meeting was to foster the VTC Network, based on the interaction and joint work among the representatives of the Provinces to plan a working itinerary for this first semester.
The work was coordinated by Fr Claudio Cartes, a member of the Youth Ministry Sector (YM), and representative of the YM for the VTCs of America. At first, several good practices were shared: strengthening the quality management system according to ISO standards in Bolivia and Colombia; the training diploma for VTC educators, an integral approach and articulation of the Network in Argentina; the bio-safety protocol developed and shared by Uruguay during 2020 as a response to adapt to the change that was beginning to be experienced due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Work was also carried out on the guiding document "Working Network among Salesian VTCs of America," which contains the motivations, challenges, and benefits of articulated work. During the work session, reflective reading of the text was carried out, aimed at gathering significant contributions on the points discussed, which were then shared through a plenary session; and it was there that a strengthening of processes and common languages was opted for, as well as the recognition of the strengths and challenges that push forward the consolidation of the document and the Network.
The fourth moment opened the opportunity to interact with the tools of Information and Communication Technologies, which allowed participants to prioritize the actions they consider most relevant and urgent for the work of the Network, which stem from the challenges proposed in the guiding document; from this exercise, participants highlighted in order of priority the following issues to work on:
- Accessibility and inclusion to job training;
- Updating training programs and itineraries;
- Questions of the future in emerging manufacturing sectors;
- Strengthening educator skills and joint strategies;
- Sustainability, participation, and impact in public policy.
Finally, the agenda for the next scheduled meetings were reviewed, where work will be done on the Network's Communication and Operations Plan; and later on the development of the Network's Action Plan.
This first meeting of the year is a new significant stage for this Network, which has been consolidating in various stages, with the accompaniment of the Sector of Youth Ministry of the Congregation, the continuous support of the promoting team, and the active participation of the provincial representatives.
