The training and support session was organised by the Prevention Council of the St Gabriel the Archangel Salesian Province of Chile (CIL), coordinated by Fr Juan Bustamante and comprising Fr Erick Oñate, Fr David Albornoz, Mr Camilo Cortés, Ms Karin Cañón from the Education Sector, and Mr Vicente Fritz from the Communications Sector of the Province.

The main objective was to create a space for dialogue, reflection and learning on prevention strategies in schools.

The first day’s work began with a welcome message from Fr Bustamante, who highlighted the three fundamental pillars of Don Bosco’s Preventive System, key elements in creating healthy and safe environments: Reason, Religion and Loving Kindness.

Father Albornoz then spoke about the abuse of power and conscience, a topic included in the basic formation courses offered by the Chilean Episcopal Conference (CECh) and which are also attended by officials and staff of Salesian educational institutions. “It is important to develop the ability to recognise and manage relational dynamics marked by the abuse of power, so as to succeed, on the contrary, in promoting human dignity and integrity,” he explained.

Ximena Schencke, Executive Director of Praesidium Chile, a US consultant specialising in prevention, then highlighted some key elements of the “Safety Equation”, a preventive model that sets out eight stages and initiatives to provide safety and which functions holistically as a system and a protective shield.

In this regard, she commented, “Creating healthy and safe environments for the children in our care is not a process consisting of isolated measures, but a comprehensive system.”

Karin Cañon, Coordinator of the Environment and Support Area, elaborated on the roles and functions of the Healthy and Safe Environments Officer, which involves creating a prevention plan with proactive and preventative strategies. She too reiterated the CIL province’s commitment to implementing Prevention Week, scheduled for June, and the need for all staff to participate in the refresher course on basic prevention formation.

To conclude the first day, Vicente Fritz, the province’s Delegate for Social Communication, presented the proposed communication campaign prepared by the Prevention Council, to be launched across all Salesian educational institutions in the coming months. The campaign aims to highlight, through graphic designs, the central ideas of a culture of prevention.

The second day began with the celebration of the Eucharist presided over by Fr Bustamante, followed by a message of greeting from the Provincial of the Salesians in Chile, Fr Nelson Moreno, who in turn highlighted three fundamental aspects: The training session concluded with two final activities, led by Fr Oñate: a workshop on styles of pastoral leadership based on the CECh document “Integrity of Ecclesial Service” (ISE); and a presentation of the updated modules for the Basic Formation Course on Prevention.

those responsible for Healthy and Safe Environments must become experts in Don Bosco’s Preventive System, the foundation of the Salesian approach that provides the basis for preventive work; it is necessary to seek opportunities to make their work visible and to report on it to the Coordination Council of each educational institution; Communication among the coordinators themselves must be strengthened to foster collaborative work among them and with the central level, in order to gather and implement the provincial guidelines.

Source: Salesian Bulletin of Chile