Bosco Youth Agricultural Centre
The Bosco youth Agricultural Centre (BYAC) is a project of Manzini Youth Care (MYC) and Manzini Youth Care is a project of the Salesians of Don Bosco in Swaziland (formerly Eswatini). BYAC benefits young people living in the streets and those from marginalized backgrounds. The Project was started in the January 2014, this included the construction of the centre, which happens to be the first and only vocational agricultural centre in Swaziland. The construction of the centre(2014 – December 2015) and training of 200 beneficiaries (January 2016 – December 2017) is funded by Don Bosco Mondo(15%), the German Government(75%) and Manzini Youth Care(10%), referred to as the local partner.
The young people are trained in areas such as, Honey Bee Farming, Pig Rearing, Sustainable Agriculture (Permaculture), Rural Enterprise and Life Skills. The courses, except for rural enterprise and Life Skills are structured to be 80% practical. When the initial plan for the project was presented, it was envisaged that the piggery would be enough to sustain the project. However, this sustaining of the project did not include, what turned out on implementation, to be the core success of this project, which is the reintegration of the beneficiaries. Of which basically means BYAC provided start up tools to a certain chosen deserving group of beneficiaries and ensured that they start an enterprise and it becomes successful.
In this case a successful enterprise is one that can sustain the beneficiary as priority, then his/her immediate family. For those beneficiaries who have benefitted on this component of the project, it has been realized that this fulfillment have turned their live around. However as stated earlier, the sustainability aspect of the project was planned on just training, yet as years went by it was realized that the training alone had not much impact as seen on the result so far. Training alone give this young people the knowledge and the skills but not the means to implement.
BYAC Projects and some of our work
HORTICULTURE
The aims and objectives of the training is to give students better understanding, knowledge and skills on horticulture and sustainability. After successful completion and participation in both field and class exercises of the course students will be proficient in the following areas in the principles of horticulture and sustainable through rural enterprise.
PIGGERY
The aims and objectives of the training is to give students better understanding, knowledge and skills on pig production and piggery management. After successful completion and participation in both field and class exercises of the course students will be proficient in the fundamentals of Pig Production and management
BEEKEEPING/ APICULTURE
The aims and objectives of the training is to give students better understanding, knowledge and skills on bee keeping and apiary management. After successful completion and participation in both field and class exercises of the course students will be proficient in the following areas, Honeybee products, the different types of bees and bee hives, how to manage an apiary and honey bee colony, harvesting, grading and marketing of honey just to mention a few of the contents.
ORCHARD
The centre has now grow trees that provide fruits during its beast seasons. So, the orchard is a best place for market for the centre.
Additional modules
Computer Skills
We also have computer classes where we provide them with the knowledge they will need as they ensue their skills.
Plumbing
Plumbing lessons are also one of the packages we give to our youth so that they can be versatile form of beings in the field.
Electrical
We also have the best electrical teachers who gives them the best electrical lessons. They also do practicals.