Melvin Pangya MATUNGA, NOVEMBER 11, 2008: The ‘Maschio Centenary Skills Training Centre’ located on the ground floor 
of the Shrine Office Building, Don Bosco Matunga Campus, was blessed and inaugurated by Fr. Michael Fernandes, Provincial, on November 10, in the presence of the Vice Provincial, Provincial Councilors, members of the Provincial House Community, Staff and Students. This Centre, which presently offers training in Language, Computer and Life Skills, is dedicated to Fr. Aurelius Maschio, pioneer and patriarch of the Mumbai Province, whose birth centenary is to be celebrated in 2009. The inaugural ceremony began with Ms. Surekha Pednekar welcoming the guests. Mr. Melvin Pangya then briefed the gathering about the two social outreach programmes initiated by the Provincial House Community this year. The first programme – Bosco PLUS – aims at enabling unemployed youth from the slums acquire a ‘skills set’ which will make them employable. The training course runs for one month, during which the students are taught Convers
ational English, Basic Computers and Life Skills. At the end of the course the students are linked to employment possibilities. There are 42 students in the present batch. The second programme is Evening Study Classes for Girls from the neighbouring slums. These girls too will avail of the facilities at this Centre.Speaking next, Fr. Edwin D’Souza, Rector, said that when Fr. Maschio began his work in Mumbai several decades ago, his dream was to help underprivileged children and youth improve their lives and give them a better future. The Centre being inaugurated was yet another step towards realizi
ng this dream. Addressing the youngsters present, Fr. Michael exhorted them to make best use of the opportunity being made available to them by Don Bosco. While schooling had laid the foundation for their lives, this skills training course would help them access the job opportunities available in the city today. He wished them best of luck for their future and hoped that every one of them would find suitable employment at the end of the course.