DBYES Don Bosco Youth Educational Services
From October DBYES had a number of activities. From 22nd to 24th we hosted Technical School Teachers’ seminar sponsored by COMIDE. All the Salesian Technical Schools of Kenya except Kakuma sent their teachers. It was an occasion for the teachers to get back to the “class room” to learn once again and to revise the teaching methods, Salesian system of education, communication skills and other practical skills needed to handle the students. All appreciated the seminar. One experience which none of us want to go through again was the attack by the thieves who on 11th, a quiet Sunday afternoon pretending to be the youth who come to play basket ball. They tied two of our staffs, and two confreres at gunpoint and made them lie down on the floor and went away with computers, lap tops, sound system, TV, mobile phones and money. They wanted the Rector, who by the grace of God was away. We are grateful to God that none of us were harmed physically and we are thankful to the communities who came to assist us financially.
Towards the end of October we organized a day of recollection for all the staff of DBYES and BEAMS. It was time to rejuvenate oneself and to think of the many graces we have received from the Lord. In the month of November we had two teacher training colleges, one form Gariza and the other from Muranga here for a one day seminar. They came to learn about teaching skills and how to deal with the students when they are in the schools. With around 95 participants we felt that a dormitory is so very important here at DBYES.
In the middle of November we had students from a school in Kibera, all AIDs orphans for a two day seminar. They spent two useful days and went away saying that they want to come back. Later in the month we organized a training session for the SYM animators, SDB pre-novices and FMA novices. This was to help them to organize themselves to animate the youth when they would come for the SYM forum.
The main events of December were the SYM Youth Forum at Boy’ Town and the retreat of the Salesians at DBYES. The salesians were 40 in number and all felt the construction project that has began in late November has to be completed as quickly as possible. The retreatants stayed on to take part in the celebration 150 years of the congregation which began on 18th at DBYES with a “going back in history” helped by Fr. Paul Felix and climaxed at the shrine of Mary Help of Christians, Upper Hill. On 23rd we celebrated Christmas with our staff who went for holidays after which DBYES became a very quiet place and also the salesisans went to help at Nzaikoni and Makuyu parishes.
Now we are back with renewed enthusiasm and vigour to make DBYES a happening place which we want to become a light house and a source of strength for many who pass through this place.
