From Fr Marco Villani SDB, Chaplain at Salesian School Chertsey

On Tuesday October 9th 2018, I took two students, Ella Mcloughlin and Juan Campos Olcina, both from Year 13, to embark on the first of three CAFOD Youth Leadership training sessions.
The venue was Oaklands Catholic School and Sixth Form College, Waterlooville, Hampshire. Our students joined fifty-six students from various schools across the South, including our cousins from Salesian College Farnborough.

After arrivals and registration, the group was addressed by Sarah Burrows (CAFOD Youth Leadership Co-ordinator) and Jo Lewry (CAFOD Community Participation Co-ordinator, Portsmouth Diocese). Students participated in various learning activities to understand better the history, nature, purpose and goal of CAFOD.

A number of icebreaker activities were employed to encourage the eight or more schools to mix, learn about the work of CAFOD and to appreciate the qualities and characteristics of good leadership. Students then shared ideas as to how they could implement what they had learned in their own colleges, through prayer, raising awareness and fundraising.

My thanks to Ella and Juan whose enthusiasm and willingness to represent Salesian Sixth Form College were greatly appreciated.

Fr Marco Villani SDB