Fr-Chester

Fr. Chester Lenczuk is the Rector of the Agriculture Training Centre. Born in Poland, missionary in Zambia from 1987

Ignatious

The programme of Agriculture includes practicals with cattle to enhance the learning of the students.

Lawrence

Lufubu students at Tumbachushi

Lufubu-students

Students during a visit to Ntumbachushi Falls.

Aspirants

Boniface while playing guitar

Eucharistic celebration

Fr Chester celebrating mass on a Sunday

farmers\' tractor

joy

looks interesting

picnic

prayer

to work is to pray

Featuring Lufubu Agriculture Training Centre 2010. Lufubu is located in the Luapula province (Zambia) a thousand kilometres from the capital city Lusaka.

As a student of agriculture I am inspired in many corners of the career. The services are so beneficial that I have come to believe that Agriculture is the basic need for the development of our country, without it, man cannot survive. In Zambia the economy is now depending more on Agriculture than on mining, mining is diminishing whereas Agriculture is not. If Zambians could take this up, we would benefit. Agriculture is more practical than theoretical hence it needs dedicated persons. It is essential for the students to know how to be self employed using the skills they attain in: Livestock and Crop Management, Farm Management and Farm Mechanics.

As a student at Don Bosco Agriculture College I am so pleased because the college is not just a school but also a home. It provides students with a conducive atmosphere for study. It also offers additional formation not only academic but also spiritual and human. This makes students become honest citizens …. I therefore encourage my fellow youth who are still loitering the streets to take up this challenge… together we can develop our nation.

NONE CAN DISGRACE US BUT OURSELVES.

By Mulenga Kanyanta a student at Don Bosco Agricultural Training Centre (DBATC) Lufubu

(This article first appeared in a magazine called Lufubu Zone)

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He was born contrary to the laws of nature, lived in poverty, reared in obscurity; only once crossed the boundary of the land, in childhood. He had no wealth nor influence, and neither training nor education. His relatives were inconspicuous and uninfluential.

In infancy He startled a King; in boyhood He puzzled doctors; in manhood, ruled the course of nature. He healed the multitudes without medicine, and made no charge for His services. He never wrote a book, yet not all the libraries of the country could hold the books that could be written about Him.

He never wrote a song, yet He furnished the theme of more songs than all other themes combined. He never founded a college, yet all the schools together cannot boast of as many students as He has. He never practiced medicine, yet He has healed more broken hearts and bodies than the doctors. He never marshaled an army, drafted a soldier nor fired a gun, yet no leader ever made more volunteers, who have under His orders made rebels stack arms or surrender without a shot being fired.

He is the Star of astronomy, the Rock of geology, the Lion and the Lamb of zoology, the Harmonizer of all discords, and the Healer of all diseases. Great men have come and gone, yet he lives on. Herod could not kill Him, Satan could not seduce Him, death could not destroy Him, the grave could not hold Him. He laid aside His purple robe for a peasant’s gown. He was rich, yet for our sake He became poor. How poor? Ask Mary! Ask the wise men! He slept in another’s manger. He cruised the lake in another’s boat. He rode on another’s ass. He was buried in another man’s tomb. All failed, but He never. The ever-perfect One—He is the chief among ten thousand. He is altogether lovely.

By Charity S Maseko

“Malawi/Scotland – Partnership is a project that became a partnership and partnership that developed into a friendship” these were the words of Dr. David Astill, who was the project Manager for the Malawi/Scotland project targeting Technical and Vocational Colleges in Malawi supported by the Scottish Government and Scotland Colleges. For two years College principals and depute went through a series of training in Management in order to provide vocational qualifications and courses which are valued by students, staff and employers within Malawi and beyond.

Don Bosco College benefited from this project and took further step to establish cooperation with colleges in Scotland. Angus College and James Watt College have since been helping Don Bosco College in many ways. Individuals from the two colleges gave Don Bosco students sponsorship to help in meeting tuition or examination expenses. Two group of students and staff from James Watt College has visited Don Bosco, together with our students, they have worked, shared time, learning experience and values from the two races (cultures).

Three Lectures from Don Bosco (Mr. Mchawa, Mr. Chilupya and Mr. Mlima) went to Scotland for one month work experience. Listening to one of the delegates, Mr. Mchawa narrated his experience in Scotland as follows: “My visit to Scotland was an eye opener because I was exposed to different cultural values. I had to adapt to a different work ethic, thinking, managerial practices in James Watt College and IBM (an international company) where I worked”. The delegate of three had a chance of visiting the parliament, visiting the Mayor of Greennock and meeting the first Scottish ambassador to Malawi. They did some fundraising for the college library which was just made colorful by the staff and students from James Watt College together with the students of Don Bosco.

The students of Angus College organize fundraising events to support projects at Don Bosco. The list of activities continues but there are more important impacts that may not be listed. Students are making friends, on the visits and through work they have life changing experiences and informal education is taking place along the way.[[Show as slideshow]]

Kabwe (Zambia) 2-6/07/2010.-

Youth leaders from the centre took charge of the organisation of all the logistics of the event and managed to have every aspect of the seminar under control. During the seminar there were many activities such as sports, group work, acting, dancing, miming and karaoke. These activities were all integrated into a very well organised daily plan and enabled participants to get involved in every activity.

The celebration of the Eucharist was a daily event and it was the core of the daily programme. Prayers and other moments of reflection were organised by the youth themselves in cooperation with their leaders.

On the last day, the Salesian Co-operators present in the event and the youth leaders spent an hour in the evaluation of the seminar and planning the way forward for the youth group which is slowly growing as it enrols new members.

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The two day festival offered a playground because the youth had games such as football, volleyball, basketball, netball, chess among other games – not necessarily for competition such as mini-soccer. One could almost hear the voice of Don Bosco re-echoing, “jump shout do whatever you like but sin not.” As regards the games it should suffice to mention that about ten parishes participated,  I need not bore you with the details but will just mention that St Mathias Mulumba, Bauleni, was the best in football.

Apart from a playground the young people also found a home in Bauleni. It is not because they were offered a place to sleep at the parish that we conclude that they found a home.  It is rather due to the fact that they felt loved, appreciated, and welcome that we conclude that the young people were at home. One could see their joy and optimism as they cheered their teams.

The two day experience was also a platform for the young to learn something. The aspect of being a school was not forgotten. This was catered for in the sense that there was a quiz which encompassed Bible knowledge, general knowledge and a bit of some Salesian History. The panelists from the different parishes were really brilliant in the first few questions nearly all got the answers right. In addition to the quiz was also an educative movie which they seemed to enjoy and it appears they got the morale(s).

Bearing in mind that ours is not social work, the spiritual aspect was catered for. Apart from the Sunday Mass there were prayers for the opening of the festival and closing, and other short prayers in between. Thumbs up to the Salesians and youth from  Bauleni for the job well done.  I am almost certain this event had a great impact on the young people and there will always remember that St Mathias Mulumba is a home, a playground, a school and a parish for them.