Salesian Missions
Don Bosco College, Salelologo, SAMOA
Owing to the endemic poverty, most families can only provide a tiny school fee so the school has to support this. The college has two buses that pickup and drop off students to both sides of the island. Most families pay a bus fare which covers only about 10% of the cost, but are not denied a ride if unable to pay. Otherwise families do not send their children beyond basic primary schooling.
To assist on-island development, the college provides secondary schooling and technical classes, and are building up a hospitality training faculty. The aim is to enable kids to graduate into the workforce of a gradually increasing tourist industry on Savaii.
With our support the school is building its' reputation and quality of teaching staff. In 2024 enrolments increased from 137 students to 177(+29%).
The kids
College Newsletter to St John Bosco Parish Engadine
The College are providing us with informative newsletters advising the successes and challenges they have:
The College Buses
Continuing the work of St John Bosco
Our Mission in Action Fund covered the cost of all teacher salaries in 2023-24 financial year. We also cover part of the fuel & maintenance costs for the 2 buses to bring kids to school.
This is an excellent opportunity for our Parish to assist directly in the education of many kids, who would otherwise have only primary school education. We are directly assisting in the growth of the schools’ reputation. We have made donations totalling $230,000 during the 2022/23 financial year and a further $298,000 in 2023/24.
Fr Petelo Vito, previously the Provincial Delegate for the Pacific, was appointed Principal of the College and Vocational Centre in Salelologa in 2023 and it seems this has made an impact within the community. Covid impacted greatly on the college, particularly with student attendance. Pleasingly, enrolments have increased from 137 in 2023 to 177 students in 2024.
In December 2023 Fr Petelo sent the following message "Christmas Greetings to you all our generous benefactors from Engadine Catholic Parish. Thank you very much for everything that you have done in 2023 and continue to do for our students’ future. I and my staff really appreciate your valuable assistance. May God bless you for your generosity."