Schneider Electric signs agreement with the Salesian Congregation to train underprivileged young people in the field of energy

The Schneider Electric Foundation will invest 2 million in technical centers managed by the Salesian Don Bosco Foundation[1]

The first funded projects are in India, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique, Haiti and Southern Italy

Schneider Electric, the global specialist in energy management and automation, and its Foundation have signed a partnership with the General Council of the Salesian Congregation. Representing an investment of 2 million, this initiative will first fund five renewable energy and sustainable development projects selected from proposals made by numerous Salesian technical and professional schools worldwide.

A 2 million agreement to develop access to energy and training

Initiated in January 2016 during a meeting between Schneider Electric leaders and Don Angel Fernandez Artime, the 10th successor to Don Bosco and currently Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco, the agreement was signed at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Rome. Cooperation between the Salesians and Schneider Electric started about 15 years ago, based on previous cooperation between the Group and Don Bosco on training.

Don Luigi Enrico Peretti, Director-General of CNOS-FAP said: Our collaboration with Schneider Electric is very solid because it is based on the same principles and vision of humanity. We share a view of development that promotes improvements in young people's personal and social lives before focusing on technology and structures. This mirrors the spirit of Don Bosco, the father of a form of spirituality rooted in education and work, while enabling human and social sustainable development.

Training technicians and entrepreneurs in the electrical and energy fields is a major priority for sustainable development in several emerging regions, said Gilles Vermot Desroches, Sustainability SVP at Schneider Electric. Schneider Electric is proud to work alongside the Salesians for skills development and access to employment through this training program for local trainers and students from underprivileged backgrounds. This new partnership will be key to helping us reach our objective of training 1 million people by 2025.

Five projects to help underprivileged people

As a first step, five projects have been identified in India, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique, Haiti and Southern Italy. The aim is to help provide young unprivileged people with opportunities while promoting a sustainable way of life:

In Goma in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Ngagi Professional Training Center's project will provide theoretical and practical training to students from poor families. In addition, solar panels will be installed in the training center to generate electricity and improve working conditions.

In Pinguli, Kudal in India, electrical lab tools will be upgraded at the local vocational center.

In Haiti, training will be set up for teachers, new laboratory and student equipment will be purchased, and a new electricity generation system will be created.

The same applies in Maputo, Mozambique, where the student and teacher training program will be updated in the field of energy.

Finally, in Sicily, innovation 4.0 classes will be launched in electricity, electronics and renewable energies.

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