Underprivileged youths find hope in Don Bosco
December 30, 2003 | 12:00am
The Filipino youth holds a special place in the heart of the Salesian Society of St. John Bosco. For many years, this organization has dedicated itself to improving the lives of poor children in many parts of the country by establishing various schools, youth centers, vocational training centers, parishes and homes for street children depending on the needs.
Within the wide confines of the Don Bosco Technical Institute-Makati, 23-year-old Roberto is busy reviewing his notes before his next class. A year away from finishing his automotive course, Roberto is optimistic that his life is changing for the better. "My early years were full of trials and tribulations, with my parents separated and me usually hanging out with the wrong crowd in the neighborhood," narrates Roberto.
His teenage years took a turn for the worst when he instigated rumbles with rival gangs and had run-ins with the law as one of the notorious snatchers in the busy streets of Manila. "I thought that was all I had in life. Despite of what I have done, my family continued to love me and did their best in trying to change my ways," he says. Roberto’s life made a complete turnaround when his long-time girlfriend told him she was pregnant.
"When we got married and she gave birth, I completely turned my back away from all the vices I used to do. After a long time, I began to pray and asked God for forgiveness and guidance," he relates.
The answer to Roberto’s prayers came when his cousin invited him to enroll at Don Bosco. His cousin advised him that if he was really serious about changing his life for the better, what better place to begin it than Don Bosco.
"This school has given me hope that I can change and make a difference in my life," asserts Roberto.
Another student, Joeben Casalo, reaffirmed Roberto’s statement. Growing up in one of the impoverished neighborhoods in Manila, Joeben sought solace in their barangay’s parish church. "After going to school, I would go straight to the church and practice with the choir. Despite my family’s meager income, I was able to finish high school. But my dream of going to college or a vocational school was out of the question," says Joeben.
Joeben would have been content with his duties in the church had it not been for the support and prodding of his fellow choir member to go to Don Bosco and take an entrance exam. After the exam, Joeben prayed and said to God that if he passed, he would not waste the opportunity of improving his way of life. He passed and took an electronics course that he is due to finish next school year.
Roberto and Joeben are just some of the students at Don Bosco dreaming of a better future. The school gave them hope when others thought there wasn’t any. The school believes in its students just as global technology leader Samsung Electronics also believes in them. Samsung has always stood by its conviction that the youth should develop a proficiency in science and technology (S&T).
The company’s commitment to the youth recently came to the fore when it launched "Samsung DigitAll Hope" in Australia, Singapore, India, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines. The regional social program donated $70,000 to the Salesians Society of Don Bosco’s project proposal of integrating e-learning into their training centers, which was the Philippines’ winning entry to the "Samsung DigitAll Hope." One of the main apostolates of the Salesians of Don Bosco in the Philippines is to provide employable skills to the marginalized youth through its manpower skills training centers. The organization has seriously considered adopting e-learning in its centers. It is expected to lead to greater learning efficiency, cut down instructional cost and expose the trainees to information technology.
Supporting the youth-themed program of Don Bosco is just a part of Samsung’s commitment to give back to the countries where it operates. "When we looked at what was being done in the country, on a social level, we realized that much more was needed to bridge the digital divide. Samsung DigitAll Hope has chosen Don Bosco’s program since it promotes the use of information technology for marginalized youth. Perhaps, through these efforts, it could influence other companies to get involved in providing today’s youth with the tools to become productive citizens in the near future," says Samsung Electronics Philippines president Sang Youl Eom.
Within the wide confines of the Don Bosco Technical Institute-Makati, 23-year-old Roberto is busy reviewing his notes before his next class. A year away from finishing his automotive course, Roberto is optimistic that his life is changing for the better. "My early years were full of trials and tribulations, with my parents separated and me usually hanging out with the wrong crowd in the neighborhood," narrates Roberto.
His teenage years took a turn for the worst when he instigated rumbles with rival gangs and had run-ins with the law as one of the notorious snatchers in the busy streets of Manila. "I thought that was all I had in life. Despite of what I have done, my family continued to love me and did their best in trying to change my ways," he says. Roberto’s life made a complete turnaround when his long-time girlfriend told him she was pregnant.
"When we got married and she gave birth, I completely turned my back away from all the vices I used to do. After a long time, I began to pray and asked God for forgiveness and guidance," he relates.
The answer to Roberto’s prayers came when his cousin invited him to enroll at Don Bosco. His cousin advised him that if he was really serious about changing his life for the better, what better place to begin it than Don Bosco.
"This school has given me hope that I can change and make a difference in my life," asserts Roberto.
Another student, Joeben Casalo, reaffirmed Roberto’s statement. Growing up in one of the impoverished neighborhoods in Manila, Joeben sought solace in their barangay’s parish church. "After going to school, I would go straight to the church and practice with the choir. Despite my family’s meager income, I was able to finish high school. But my dream of going to college or a vocational school was out of the question," says Joeben.
Joeben would have been content with his duties in the church had it not been for the support and prodding of his fellow choir member to go to Don Bosco and take an entrance exam. After the exam, Joeben prayed and said to God that if he passed, he would not waste the opportunity of improving his way of life. He passed and took an electronics course that he is due to finish next school year.
Roberto and Joeben are just some of the students at Don Bosco dreaming of a better future. The school gave them hope when others thought there wasn’t any. The school believes in its students just as global technology leader Samsung Electronics also believes in them. Samsung has always stood by its conviction that the youth should develop a proficiency in science and technology (S&T).
The company’s commitment to the youth recently came to the fore when it launched "Samsung DigitAll Hope" in Australia, Singapore, India, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines. The regional social program donated $70,000 to the Salesians Society of Don Bosco’s project proposal of integrating e-learning into their training centers, which was the Philippines’ winning entry to the "Samsung DigitAll Hope." One of the main apostolates of the Salesians of Don Bosco in the Philippines is to provide employable skills to the marginalized youth through its manpower skills training centers. The organization has seriously considered adopting e-learning in its centers. It is expected to lead to greater learning efficiency, cut down instructional cost and expose the trainees to information technology.
Supporting the youth-themed program of Don Bosco is just a part of Samsung’s commitment to give back to the countries where it operates. "When we looked at what was being done in the country, on a social level, we realized that much more was needed to bridge the digital divide. Samsung DigitAll Hope has chosen Don Bosco’s program since it promotes the use of information technology for marginalized youth. Perhaps, through these efforts, it could influence other companies to get involved in providing today’s youth with the tools to become productive citizens in the near future," says Samsung Electronics Philippines president Sang Youl Eom.
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