The festival strives to embrace, encourage and empower every young person to become the voice of hope and solidarity.

"You, young people, are the architects of the future, signs of hope. And we have great hope in all of you. With you, we want to dream and build a better tomorrow," said Salesians head, Fr Angel Fernandex Artime to potential paricipants.

"With your creativity, you can truly help to change the world. I invite you, come and participate in this festival of short films. This is your festival, come and let us move the world with hope," he said.

Conceived in December 2020 and premiering last week, the first annual Don Bosco Global Film Festival received 1,686 short film submissions from 116 countries.

Chosen by an international jury, the best films were streamed last week in 135 different countries.

The film festival sought short film submissions from filmmakers aged 15 to 30. The films could be in any genre within five categories: One-Minute Short Films, 10-Minute Short Films, One-Minute Animated Shorts, 10-Minute Shorts and Music Videos.

Entrants competed for the top spots in all five categories, which awarded prizes amounting to 100,000 euros. A diverse jury of professional filmmakers from around the world was lined up to judge the films.

In addition, films were awarded cash prizes in categories such as global bests, continental bests and category bests - such as narrative, screenplay, sound design and editing.

In addition, there were individual awards for best actor and actress, best writer and best director.

The festival was organized by the Salesians of Don Bosco, whose aim was to create "a world-class film festival platform to showcase ... young creative filmmaking talents."

Source

• Catholic News Agency
• Image: Salesian Institutions of Higher Education

The sponsored walk was to raise money to build a hall for the school.

They covered the 338 kilometres in 4 days and raised $tala 93,000.00.

It is hope that once all the pledged money comes in the total will reach $tala 100,000.00.

Mosese is the Principal of the school.

Last year he walked the length of the island and raised enough money to buy a ready-made bus to pick up and return the students home after school.

Mosese spent his early years in Apia.

But he received his secondary education in Savai'i.

His mother was from Savai'i and his father came from American Samoa.

They lived in Apia and were Catechists.

The first two villages where they were appointed were in Savai'i.

Source

• talamua.com
• donboscosamoa.org
• Image: talamua.com

Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi said the College has contributed well to developing the students' confidence, skills and capability in areas like Samoan dancing.

He said it had provided champion rowers in the annual long boats - fautasi races that has had tourists' interest in Samoan culture.

The College was established in 1981 as a vocationally oriented training centre that aims to give students work-related skills useful for both employment and for improving living conditions in the villages.

Don Bosco Technical Centre offers a "second chance" to about 270 young men, many of whom have struggled to successfully complete or continue in mainstream schooling.

The Samoan government has a partnership with Don Bosco to improve their classroom work, skills and knowledge on technical subjects.

Source

• Talamua
• Salesians.org
• donboscosamoa
• Image: Salesiannews.org.au