The DECLAN COLLINS EDUCATIONAL CENTRE project was initiated by the Salesian Family after the death of Salesian Father Declan Collins, parish priest of All Saints Catholic Church in Ennerdale, who was murdered at the Parish House in November 2002. Father Collins devoted his life and time to young people who, because of poverty and unemployment are in need of basic skills training in order to equip themselves with some possibility of earning a living. He worked closely with the Sisters in Finetown, whose crèche; Sancta Maria and basic education centre; Laura Vicuña Educational Centre caters for children who are not attending school. It was Father Collins’s dream to extend help to those who have reached an age where they can no longer be prepared for formal education and can no longer be catered for at the Laura Vicuña Centre and therefore need additional life skills.

The residents of Finetown experience high levels of poverty, unemployment, child abuse and HIV/AIDS and are often families of orphans who have to fend for themselves in an informal settlement with inadequate assistance and service from local government. A number of orphaned children are themselves HIV positive and the Laura Vicuña Centre in Finetown networks with clinics, social workers and home based care for AIDS sufferers. It is envisaged that the Declan Collins Educational Centre will continue this trend.

Project Location

Don Bosco Educational Centre (DBEC), Ennerdale, Gauteng: At present this centre is based in Finetown, close to Ennerdale. It caters for young people who cannot attend a formal school for a number of reasons. The Salesian Sisters, Priests and brothers, together with their co-workers are establishing a new centre, not far away, to be the new site for the DBEC. This will incorporate the Declan Collins Educational Centre which will address the development of young people who need training not only in life skills but also to be prepared for earning a living.

Purchasing the land in Ennerdale has been a long process and we need everyone’s support and prayers to complete this transaction! This is because the old House of Representatives of the pre-1994 era is still legally the holder of several title deeds in the area. The government placed a moratorium on all rentals and selling of such land until the property has been transferred to a new government department, which still has to be decided. We were fortunate in negotiating with a landowner willing to sell but a small church group occupied the land in the meantime and refuses to leave.

We are happy to report that the land has now been purchased and fenced in. Yet, there is still heaps of red tape to be untangled. So your prayers and assistance are still needed.