Students gain experience with new equipment, expanded internship opportunities.
NEW ROCHELLE, NY (March 10, 2025) The Maria Auxiliadora Popular Technical School, located in Altamira in the Chacao municipality of Caracas, Venezuela*, has improved the learning environment for students thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. Funds were used for similar initiatives at the Madre Mazzarello School, located in the state of Amazonas, to strengthen the students’ development of practical skills and competencies necessary for the workforce.
At the Maria Auxiliadora Popular Technical School, upgrades included the purchase of equipment for specific tools for nursing, including anatomical models.
Funding also supported technology equipment for classes in accounting and administration, such as administrative accounting programs. These acquisitions have had a positive impact on 355 students, expanding their technical and digital skills. Additional funding was allocated for the adaptation of spaces for students to connect with the labor force under the supervision of specialist teachers.
These investments made it possible to implement internship hours in a new curricula, which significantly expanded professional training for youth. Previously, internships began in the 4th year through shadowing activities in companies in the community. With the new approach, training begins from the age of 11, adapting to the maturity of the students and respecting the legal frameworks that regulate their early incorporation into the workplace.
At the Madre Mazzarello School, located in the state of Amazonas, more than 565 people were impacted by the donation. The vast majority are families cared for by a single family member. Many of the youth come from families with parents who, due to the country’s situation, do not have the possibility of giving their children a quality education.
In addition, through a secondary donation to the Madre Mazzarello School, students between the ages of 10-18 were impacted. Many of the students are from Indigenous groups, whose communities have migrated to the Amazonian capital in search of better living conditions.
One of the youth impacted by the donation was Edilmar, aged 17, who lives in Petare, Caracas, one of the largest neighborhoods in Latin America. She comes from a family with very limited economic resources and is under the care of her older sister, a graduate of the same technical school.
A Salesian explained, “Thanks to her sister’s support, Edilmar decided to study management assistance, a comprehensive training that develops skills in financial management, resource administration and administrative processes. The spaces for employment implemented through the project allowed her to complement her last months of training with real and innovative practices. In addition, the inclusion of accounting and management programs gave her additional skills, expanding her employment opportunities.”
The Salesian added, “Today, Edilmar is in her last year of training and has been accepted to do her internships thanks to her dedication and commitment. Her experience in the employment classrooms has not only allowed her to acquire practical skills, but has also motivated her to strengthen her vocation for service. She dreams of excelling in her internships and obtaining a permanent contract in the company where she will begin her internship, with the aim of paying for her university studies and financially supporting her mother.”
*Any goods, services or funds provided by Salesian Missions to programs located in this country were administered in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including sanctions administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control.
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About Salesian Missions
Salesian Missions is headquartered in New Rochelle, NY, and is part of the Don Bosco Network—a worldwide federation of Salesian NGOs. The mission of the U.S.-based nonprofit Catholic organization is to raise funds for international programs that serve youth and families in poor communities around the globe. The Salesian missionaries are made up of priests, brothers and sisters, as well as laypeople—all dedicated to caring for poor children throughout the world in more than 130 countries and helping young people become self-sufficient by learning a trade that will help them gain employment. To date, more than 3 million youth have received services funded by Salesian Missions. These services and programs are provided to children regardless of race or religion. For more information, go to SalesianMissions.org.
Contact:
Laura Perillo
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