ANGOLA: Salesian representatives from Italy visit centers for vulnerable youth
Visits enhance commitment of teams supporting Salesian centers
ANGOLA
(MissionNewswire) Representatives from the Opera Don Bosco Onlus Foundation in Milan, Italy, joined volunteers from International Volunteering for Development (VIS) to visit Salesian programs in Angola. The visit, which included Michela Vallarino, president of VIS, and Stefano Arosio, coordinator of the foundation, aimed to enhance the commitment of the teams supporting Salesian centers.
The delegation visited some of the main reception centers for children who have been living on the street, such as Casa Magone, the first reception center the Salesian opened in Angola, and Casa Margarida, a residential facility dedicated to the care and protection of the most vulnerable children. The delegation also visited the mother and child health center at the Divina Providencia Hospital in Luanda and the Nutriacção project, now in its second year of activity and aimed at improving nutritional conditions in vulnerable communities.
Arosio said, “The mission shared with VIS consolidates and further strengthens a collaboration that began some time ago. The trip was intense, visiting various Salesian multi-purpose centers and discovering how much work the Salesians do together with the VIS Angola Delegation, especially for street children.”
Vallarino also recounted her experience. She recalled, “Seeing the reality of these children up close means looking into their eyes and seeing their denied rights, immersing oneself in their resilience, their desire to live and dream. It means understanding how little it takes to make them feel loved and how we can work together to protect and promote their rights in a glimpse of future and hope.”
With this trip, the teams from two Salesian organizations reaffirm their shared commitment to human development, promoting inclusion, equity and sustainability in the poorest places around the globe.
Salesian missionaries in Angola also continue to rebuild infrastructure that was damaged during the civil war that lasted from 1975 to 2002. Much was destroyed during the conflict including schools, medical buildings and churches. Living within the communities in which they work, Salesian missionaries have been perfectly positioned to respond to local needs and lead projects for community betterment.
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Sources:
ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS)
Opera Don Bosco Onlus Foundation
Salesian Missions – Angola
UNICEF – Angola
