GLOBAL DAY OF PARENTS: Salesian Missions highlights education and support for parents who are vulnerable
June 1 honors parents and caregivers
(MissionNewswire) Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, joins humanitarian organizations and the international community in celebrating June 1 as the Global Day of Parents. Proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012, the day honors parents throughout the world and provides an opportunity to appreciate all parents for their commitment to children.
The United Nations has noted, “Like no one else, parents and caregivers shape the experiences that build their children’s brains and set them on a path toward healthy development. Parenting is too big a job for parents and caregivers to do alone. They need support to give their children the best possible start in life.”
In their work in more than 130 countries around the globe, Salesian missionaries provide support to the parents of the children in their programs. Salesians want to ensure that youth have a stable environment and that their needs are met. They do this in their schools and centers by helping parents succeed.
Father Michael Conway, director of Salesian Missions, said, “Salesians don’t just provide education for youth. They aim to take care of the whole family. Whether it’s providing education so young single mothers can learn a skill for employment, providing feeding programs to ensure children have at least one meal a day at school or providing health clinics, Salesians keep a focus on parents and caregivers, ensuring their needs are met too.”
In honor of the Global Day of Parents, Salesian Missions is proud to share Salesian programs around the globe that provide support for parents.
BETHLEHEM
In Bethlehem, Salesian Missions supported the Salesian Bakery in providing free bread to vulnerable people.
Salesian Missions has helped support the Salesian Bakery, a historical institution in Bethlehem. With the support provided in part by Salesian Missions, the bakery was able to provide free bread to 111 vulnerable families and eight institutions.
A Salesian explained, “The Salesian Bakery is serving people in situations of vulnerability either directly or through other institutions who serve orphans, the elderly, and people with disabilities. Many in the region are facing economic hardship during this time of conflict. This project also enabled the Salesians to pay the salaries of the bakery staff and cover part of the bakery’s running costs, such as the baking materials, water, and electricity.”
The families are selected by the Salesians with the support of the Arab Orthodox Benevolent Society, Women Arab Union in Beit Sahour and Jemima Institution in Beit Jala. The eight institutions supported include the Franciscan Boys House, L’Arche Daycare Center for children and youth with disabilities, Home of Peace, Ahdaf for elderly daycare, Antonian Society Elderly House, St. Nicholas Elderly House, Al-Basma Center for people with disabilities, and Jemima, which cares for children with disabilities.
ETHIOPIA
More than 2,500 families in Ethiopia received nutritional support thanks to a partnership between Salesian Missions and Feed My Starving Children.
More than 2,500 families across eight communities in Ethiopia* had access to better nutrition thanks to a partnership between Salesian Missions and Feed My Starving Children. The families have been impacted by the ongoing strife in the Tigray region of the country. Salesian missionaries have been a crucial lifeline for war-affected people in Tigray, operating primarily through established communities in Mekelle, Adigrat, Adwa and Shire. Salesians address immediate humanitarian needs while also focusing on long-term recovery and resilience.
Salesians have also organized and distributed food baskets containing essentials like wheat, rice and oil to tens of thousands of internally displaced persons and families facing food shortage-like conditions. They are running programs for the most vulnerable, especially malnourished children, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers, providing high-nutrient food like fortified flour to combat acute malnutrition. They are also providing non-food items like blankets, mattresses and other items.
With infrastructure broken, Salesians have taken on projects to restore clean water access. They are currently working to repair damaged wells and boreholes in order to provide a more sustainable water source for local communities.
In addition, Salesians are providing education to children and skills training for older youth and adults. A Salesian explained, “Education is at the heart of what we do in these communities. Salesians have been instrumental in getting schools functional again by providing books and pens, repairing damaged classrooms, and paying incentive salaries for teachers who otherwise wouldn’t work. For children who have missed years of schooling, we also provide informal classes for internally displaced people, setting up temporary learning spaces to help them catch up. For older youth and adults, we provide access to skills training with short technical and vocational courses and startup kits to help them generate a small income.”
RWANDA
Young mothers and youth who are vulnerable graduated from an agriculture program at Don Bosco Muhazi Vocational Training School in Rwanda.
Young women have graduated from Don Bosco Muhazi Vocational Training School in Rwanda after a six-month course in agriculture supported by the Gender Matters for Green TVET project. The project focused on education for young mothers and other youth who are vulnerable. The graduation ceremony brought together students and teaching staff united in the power of second chances and empowerment through education.
A Salesian noted, “The graduation represented a historic milestone for many young mothers and youth graduates, particularly those who overcame enormous personal and social challenges to pursue a formation in sustainable agriculture.”
Don Bosco Muhazi Vocational Training School educates 261 youth aged 16-23. In the district 22.0% of people these ages previously attended school and have left for some reason, 75.2% are currently attending school and 2.8% have never attended secondary school.
TIMOR-LESTE
Schools, centers and orphanages in Timor-Leste received nutritious food through a Salesian Missions and Rise Against Hunger partnership.
Youth attending Salesian schools, orphanages and youth centers in Timor-Leste had access to better nutrition through a partnership between Salesian Missions and Rise Against Hunger. In the first half of 2025, Rise Against Hunger meals fed 1,766 youth across 24 centers around the country.
Dircia, a 17-year-old young woman, lives at the Franciscan Sister’s Youth Center and Boarding House in Tibar in the Liquica District. Liquica is a coastal and mountainous municipality in the northern part of Timor-Leste, with a population of 75,000. The local economy is based on agriculture with coffee, red bananas, cassava and livestock as key products. Farmers face challenges in accessing markets due to poor infrastructure and terrible roads.
Dircia had nine siblings, with two passing away when they were children due to malnutrition. Her mother passed away after delivering Dircia’s youngest brother. The siblings were sent to different youth centers and orphanages. She and her siblings all have experienced better nutrition through Rise Against Hunger meals.
Dircia is thankful for the Rise Against Hunger meals and said that they have taught her about taking care of others’ well-being first. She promises to study hard because she wants a good job in the future to improve her life and be of service to others.
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Sources:
BETHLEHEM: Salesian Missions supports Salesian Bakery in providing free bread to vulnerable people/ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS)
ETHIOPIA: More than 2,500 families receive nutritional support thanks to partnership between Salesian Missions and Feed My Starving Children/Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)
RWANDA: Young mothers, vulnerable youth graduate from agriculture program/ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS)
TIMOR-LESTE: 24 schools, centers and orphanages receive food through Salesian Missions and Rise Against Hunger partnership/Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)
*Any goods, services, or funds provided by Salesian Missions to programs located in this country were administered in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including sanctions administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control.
