The objective of the congress was to unify criteria and projects that allow young people in the Central America Province (CAM) to receive vocational and technical training in accordance with modern needs and faithful to the Salesian charism. Alex Figueroa Ruiz, Director of the Institute, stressed that this activity is aimed at promoting technical and vocational education in relation to corporate and industrial demands and allows a greater number of students to take an interest in this type of formation.
The inaugural event was attended by the Minister of Education, Ricardo Molina, Engineer, who underlined the importance of technical training in the 21st century and the contributions that the Don Bosco Technical Institute has brought to society, training young people who work in various professional fields and who possess the ideals of Don Bosco among their knowledge and know-how.
During the two work days, several roundtables and conferences were held during which, starting from the different situations of the participating countries, the current status of the skilled workforce and the structure of the vocational training system were dealt with and discussed. Interventions in the forums and presentations were entrusted to representatives of the Technological University of Panama, Don Bosco University of El Salvador, the National Institute of Vocational Training and Human Development (INADEH, in Spanish), of the international company BOSCH, of the "CEDES Don Bosco" of Costa Rica, and of the Specialized Technical High School (ITSE).
The closing of the event was entrusted to Fr René Santos, Provincial Delegate for Youth Ministry, and Fr Alex Figueroa Ruíz, Provincial Delegate for the preferential option, who offered the conclusions agreed upon among all the participants.
The days, which began with the Eucharistic celebration concelebrated by a group of Salesian priests taking part in the activities, also included a visit to the Mirafiores of the Panama Canal, where congress participants observed the passage of the ships; and a stop at the Minor Basilica "Don Bosco", where the various delegations were welcomed by the Director, Fr Rómulo Gallegos, who explained the progress of the provincial project "Valdocco in America" and the preparation of the WYD and the SYM Festival, to be celebrated next January 2019 in Panama City.
