International Meeting of PDOs, Nairobi, Kenya

The international PDO (Province Development Office) conference at the congregational level was held in Nairobi, Kenya from 24^th to 27^th April 2018 to deliberate upon the role of the PDO in the life of a province. There were 132 participants from all over the Salesian world, representing 68 PDOs and other international agencies.

Br. John Paul Muller, the Economer-General of the congregation, also the President and Convenor of the conference, released the new “General Guidelines of the Model and Tasks of the Provincial Planning and Development Office in the Salesian World”. The new guidelines outline the PDO’s nature, structure and position in the province, and its specific tasks. The meeting assessed the progress and status of the various PDOs after the last meeting in Hyderabad in 2011, through various presentations by the international (funding) NGOs partnering with Don Bosco, and by PDOs themselves.

BREADS, the development office of Bangalore province was selected to present its work; and Fr. Joy Nedumparambil, as the Executive Director, was on the panel for presentations and discussion. Fr. George P.S., the Economer, Bangalore province, also participated in the meeting.