BRAZIL: Youth learn to give back
Salesian youth collect toys for children in orphanage
BRAZIL
(MissionNewswire) Youth from the Salesian Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, in Porto Velho, Brazil, collected toys for other youth and children who are in an orphanage at the Madre Mazzarello Social Center run by the Daughters of Mary Help of Christian. The Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima serves close to 300 youth and children who live on the outskirts of Porto Velho.
Youth sharing the gifts are involved in the Salesian parish’s missionary childhood group, which was set up to provide youth opportunities to help their local community.
A Salesian missionary said, “This was a wonderful opportunity for these youth who are learning their catechisms to give back to the local community. They are living their faith in action by supporting those less fortunate than themselves. The youth in the orphanage were grateful for the toys for Christmas.”
Salesian missionaries in Brazil provide education, workforce development and social services throughout the country. Missionaries help to meet the basic needs of poor youth, including street children, to help them break the cycle of poverty and lead productive lives.
According to the World Bank, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on Brazil with poverty tripling in 2021. Nearly 17 million people fell into poverty in the first quarter of the year and the poverty rate now is higher than it was a decade ago. Researchers estimate that 12.8% of Brazil’s population, some 27 million people, are now living below the poverty line.
###
Sources:
ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS)
Salesian Missions – Brazil
World Bank – Brazil
