The event served as a space for communion, formation and discernment to strengthen the networking of the Salesian Schools America (ESA, in Spanish) and to promote an evangelising, inclusive and transformative education, inspired by the legacy of Don Bosco, Mother Mazzarello, Fr Luigi Variara, Bishop Pietro Arnoldo and Saint Maria Troncatti.

Among the various activities carried out, participants visited the Salesian Don Bosco – Kennedy Technical Educational Unit and were introduced to supplementary projects presented by students from the Don Bosco – La Tola, Cardenal Spellman educational units  and the San Patricio school, at the facilities of the Salesian Polytechnic University (UPS), El Girón campus. Furthermore, special guests were invited to the Salesian School Associations Fair at the Sánchez y Cifuentes Educational Unit in the city of Ibarra.

Salesian Brother José Luis Jiménez, Salesian Education Coordinator for the Americas, highlighted the warm welcome extended by the Salesian Province of Ecuador and the quality of the shared educational experiences. “We have had a true Oratory experience; the projects observed bear witness to the quality of the educational service provided,” he stated.

The agenda also included the conference “ESA Educational Constellation: Hope in the American Continent – Global Educational Pact”, delivered by Sister Ivone Goulart, as well as sessions for reflection on the current challenges facing Salesian education and a review of regional working guidelines.

For Fr Juan Flores, Vice-Provincial and President of the National Council for Salesian Education (CONESA), the holding of this meeting in Ecuador represented an opportunity to strengthen regional coordination and reaffirm the central role of young people in the Salesian educational mission. In this regard, he highlighted the ECU Province’s commitment to creating a welcoming and fraternal environment for the participants, as well as “a stimulating space that highlights the unique dynamism of our young people”

The reflections developed during the meeting also made it possible to address the most pressing challenges of contemporary education, particularly those related to digital culture and the integral formation of the younger generations. Faced with this reality, Sister Teresita Solano, FMA from Bogotá, emphasised the importance of promoting a humanising perspective in the face of technological progress.

At the end of the meeting, the delegates returned to their provinces renewed in their commitment to continue building an education based on a culture of encounter, capable of accompanying young people in building fairer, more supportive and sustainable societies.

Source: Salesians of Ecuador