Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Don Bosco Technical School (DBTS) located in the outer suburbs of Phnom Penh, was opened in 1991 in order to provide education for poor Cambodian young people. DBTS was the first institution in Cambodia to provide a free technical education to young adults in extreme poverty after the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge regime.
The school provides a two-year technical education in the areas of computer, printing, electronics, electricity, automotive and mechanics. Each student undertakes one of these areas of specialisation and a work placement as part of the course. DBTS is such a well-respected institution that it boasts a 100% employment success rate among its graduates.
DBTS is also a home for boarder boys and boarder girls. These young people are students at DBTS, often coming from the poorest families and backgrounds. The school also houses the Besucco boys, who are a group of high school aged boys generally coming from extremely poor Catholic Vietnamese families.
The Cagliero Project began sending volunteers to DBTS in 2010 and since then, has fostered a strong relationship of respect, love and support with the school. Past volunteers have included professional teachers, engineers and business and education administrators. In addition, many tertiary students have served as volunteers in Cambodia, coming from areas such as education, sociology, design, psychology, marketing and law.
Don Bosco Technical School needs volunteers to work in the following areas:
- teaching English as a second language (ESL)
- teaching technical skills for subjects including computer, graphic design, printing
- electronics, electricity, automotive and mechanics
- leading oratory activities including afterschool and weekend tutoring
- giving formation talks, workshops or retreats on personal and spiritual development
- providing marketing, fundraising and administrative support