Fr David O'Malley SDB tells us about some of the outcomes from the latest meeting of representatives from Salesian schools in Europe.

The network of Salesians schools in Europe meet regularly and have spent four days recently in Ukraine. There the twenty-five delegates looked at the training of Salesian teachers across Europe. There are some Salesian schools that are only just emerging from the influence of communism, there are others that are adapting to much stronger state intervention, Many schools have to operate as private schools and fundraise in order to make places available to the poorest youth. Most countries are confidently catholic and Great Britain was seen as one of the most secular countries that Salesians work in.

The meeting agreed to make a survey of the training needs across the whole of Europe which they have termed "An educational barometer". The group also approved the establishment of a worldwide online network of Salesian schools. The shell of this website can be found at www.salesianeducation.com.

The meeting wanted to offer thanks to those schools in England who have opened their doors to youth exchanges and the chance to strengthen the links with the UK despite the Brexit process moving forward. The group also wanted to encourage the development of tripartite exchanges that would involve Salesian schools in developing countries.

Being at a meeting on this scale reminded me that we are part of a worldwide educational network through 132 countries. We educate 1,250,000 young people in over a 5,000 schools and colleges across the world. As Salesian education moves forward in Great Britain we need to draw more and more upon the strengths and challenges of this network of spiritual education that makes our work unique.

David O'Malley SDB