Salesian Missions Office in Buenos Aires launches campaign to raise funding to feed 150,000 families

(MissionNewswire) The Salesian Missions Office in Buenos Aires, Argentina, known as For the Youth-Don Bosco, has launched a new campaign to raise funds to help poor youth and their families impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The campaign, which runs from Sept. 13-30, is called “Let’s Feed & Educate” and aims to raise funding to provide food assistance to more than 150,000 families and help support educational initiatives in the region.

“As we all know, the health, social and educational crisis caused by COVID-19 continues, and our work as Salesians continues to respond to the needs of those who suffer most,” said Brother Ariel Fresia,  director of the Salesian Missions Office in Argentina. “We encouraged all to give to the campaign to help us provide these important services in our communities.”

The Salesian Missions Office in Argentina supports Salesian projects across the country. The office also publicizes Salesian initiatives and helps to finance many of them with the support of benefactors, companies and other organizations. Argentina is among the five countries most affected by COVID-19 in Latin America.

Salesian programs across Argentina are primarily focused on education. Salesian primary and secondary education in the country prepares youth for technical, vocational or university studies. Other programs help meet the basic needs of poor youth and their families by providing shelter, proper nutrition and medical care, as well as helping youth to engage in their education and have hope for the future.

More than a quarter of the people in Argentina live in conditions of poverty with no formal employment and poor-quality education, according to the World Bank. The country’s high school dropout rate is close to 37 percent and youth account for a third of those unemployed. Almost 12 percent of children ages 5-17 are working instead of being in school and 20 percent need government assistance. Many face malnutrition, a lack of clean water and sewage, and inadequate housing.

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Sources:

ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS) 

ANS – Argentina – The emergency continues, as does the supportive response!

Salesian Missions – Argentina

World Bank – Argentina