The Don Bosco Higher Education Institutions of SPCSA region (South Asia) came together, in Tiruchy, (INT Province), on 14 and 15 of November 2019, to participate in a two day National Conference on the above theme, as a follow up of the Synod on young people, last year.
The stage of ‘Youth’ is a dynamic age, where lot of changes takes place in the life of a young person and around him. Continuous checking, follow up, review, has to be done in the family, in the institution, in society and in the work place, of the values, commitment, and involvement of young people. Don Bosco Higher Education India (DBHEI) created a space for such interaction.
The National Conference provided a wonderful opportunity for thinkers, youth workers, research scholars, academicians, Principals and social workers, to make a study of the situation, through micro study, paper presentation, sharing and input sessions.
The sub-topics of the Conference included: Social Transformation (an integral perspective), Social Entrepreneurship, NGO Perspective, Community College Perspective to identify the new paradigms through panel discussion and praxis through Shepherded Model (of St. Joseph’s College, Tiruchy – a 175 year old institution), the Self Help Group Model, Youth Movement Model, (All India Catholic University Federation- AICUF), Higher Education Model, Career Guidance Model and Youth Centre Model.
Resource persons included: Rev. Dr. Marcelo Farfan, IUS General Coordinator – Rome, Dr.Maria Charles SDB, DBYA – New Delhi, Dr. Devanesan, Former Professor of HRM, St. Joseph’s College, Tiruchy, Dr. Usha, Regional Director of Collegiate Education, Tiruchy, Dr.Antony Stephen, Madras School of Social Work, Chennai, Fr. Berchmans SJ, Rev.Dr.Elizabeth FMA, Auxilium College, Vellore and Dr. Xavier Alphonse SJ, Former member of UGC, Govt of India, New Delhi.
The eminent invitees were the President of DBHEI, Rev.Fr. Januarius, Provincial of Guwahati, Rev.Fr. Agilan, Vice Provincial of Tiruchy, Fr. Maria Soosai, IUS-DBHEI Secretary and the Board of member of IUS, Rome. Participants were from different Salesian and other Institutions, Provincial level youth Directors, Faculty Members, Research Scholars, Volunteers and Students.
In all, there were 85 participants. The Conference provided an opportunity for young people to interact with technical experts, academicians, project coordinators and management personnel. Participants from 24 Salesian Higher Education Institutions of the SPCSA Region attended the conference. Rev. Dr. Casimir Motcham SDB, Rev. Dr. Amala Jeya Raya SDB, and Fr. Antony Rozario SDB organized the conference for DBHEI and the AIDBES, New Delhi.