Don Bosco Institute of Cairo turns 100 years old, excellence in Egypt speaks Italian

It celebrated its 100 years with the cutting of a ribbon, both a milestone and a new beginning, the Don Bosco school in Cairo, one of the most prestigious Salesian Industrial Technical Institutes, where the needs of businesses meet the skills of the young generations, the Mattei Plan comes to fruition and where, above all - say the students themselves - their dreams become reality.

The school allows young people to obtain an Italian diploma, valid throughout Europe and also accepted by Egypt, the courses are in Italian and Arabic and English is also learned.

It combines high-level technical training with a secular education that respects the principles of loyalty and peaceful coexistence, open to students of all faiths.

Many authorities were present at the celebrations: from the apostolic nuncio Nicolas Thévenin, who brought with him a blessing from Pope Leo From the general secretary of Ceeba (the Confederation of Euro-Egyptian business associations) Alaa Ezz to the representatives of many Italian companies and beyond, who look to Don Bosco as their talent pool. The Italian embassy in Cairo is also present. Last but not least, many former students are now company captains or highly qualified and contested technicians.

Like Walid Saad, who graduated in 2013, graduated from the Polytechnic of Turin and is now an engineer with his own company in Egypt. And he's not the only one.

The school today hosts 1005 students, including 230 girls, admitted for a few years. There are thousands of applications, the selection is severe. Companies and associations are competing to make agreements, including Alexbank of the Intesa group. It is located in Rod El Farag, a popular neighborhood in Cairo, where since 1926 the Salesians have never stopped working despite wars and revolutions, offering education, training and hospitality to children of all faiths. With them, today, 60 teachers, sixteen of whom are Italian, some sent by Maeci, others with Egyptian contracts. It is a private school, but the Salesians, recalls Father Attard, have never left behind those who wanted to study despite not having the possibility. The result is specialized technicians that Egypt vitally needs for its new companies operating in the infrastructure and new technologies sector, and dozens of European companies looking for welders, mechanics, electrical technicians, computer scientists, specialized workers who are now very rare in Italy.

Some call the school 'the Village of the future'. The Egyptian Minister of Labor Hassan Raddad highlighted that his students "are not only capable of technical skills but also demonstrate the ability to apply them at work, actively contributing to the progress and prosperity of the country".

Here the educational mission of San Giovanni Bosco, now modulated in 130 countries on 5 continents, today also meets the Mattei Plan of the Italian government. The institute is the fulcrum of the 'Piano Mattei-Education' project, of the 'Villaggio Italia' and of the experimentation of the '4+2' school model which sees the direct connection between technical institutes and Italian ITS Academies, allocating resources aimed at encouraging the educational transition of young Egyptians towards the local job market and businesses in Italy.