Hamilton Scholars attending the AHFA Guatemala Leader Week in cooperation with Cross-Cultural Solutions spent five mornings at the Don Bosco Centre de Formation Professionelle, a vocational school for young men ages 12-22.

The school was named after Don Bosco, or Giovanni Melchiorre Bosco, an Italian Catholic priest who lived in the nineteenth century. He established a network of centers to work with disadvantaged youth. He was canonized a saint by Pope Pius XI in 1934. Don Bosco centers today are located all over the world and while it is a Catholic-based organization, it does not discriminate based on religious affiliation. In Guatemala the Don Bosco Centre de Formation Professionelle follows in the tradition of Don Bosco. It is a vocational school for at-risk young men.  At the school welding, metal work, carpentry, electrical work and computer maintenance skills are taught. The boys are also taught life skills such as finance and business planning. In order to be admitted the students must have a 6th grade education. All students are required to attend school 6 days a week and many travel long distances by bus in order to be there.

The students at Don Bosco were able to show their skills to our Hamilton Scholars. Many chose to make memorabilia for the Scholars, such as metal earrings, turned wooden drinking cups, bracelets and pieces of turned metal. A lot of friendships were made. Both groups were encouraged to share things from home about themselves, such as family pictures, home town pictures, favorite movies, music and etc. Don Bosco students and Hamilton Students forged friendships playing soccer, ping pong, foosball and other games.

In addition the Scholars rolled up their sleeves and completed some much needed painting around the facility. The soccer pad, several concrete walls and the medical clinic were all given a new coat of paint. On one wall the Scholars even painted a mural of sports figures.

When goodbyes were exchanged on Friday it was an emotional experience. Many Scholars indicated they gained much more than they had thought possible in such a short time. “We feel an international experience is crucial to the development of 21st century leaders,” said George Cox, AHFA President. “Our future leaders need to understand that when decisions are made here (in America) they impact people there (in a place such as Guatemala).”