South Africa - MissionNewswire

SOUTH AFRICA: Youth graduate with skills for economic independence

MissionNewswire — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 08:09:44 +0000

Salesian Institute Youth Projects offers life skills training combined with vocational skills training

SOUTH AFRICA

(MissionNewswire) Salesian Institute Youth Projects, located in Cape Town, South Africa, has graduated 175 youth from its NEET (Not in Employment, Education, or Training) Employability Program, designed to equip youth with critical skills and opportunities for economic independence. These youth have gained SETA (Sector Education and Training Authority) accredited certificates in different sectors such as wholesale and retail sales, business start-up, and solar installation.

The NEET Program is a dynamic vehicle for youth empowerment, serving youth aged 18-27 who are not taking part in employment, education or training. These youth face significant barriers to self-sufficiency and sustainable livelihoods. To address these needs, the institute offers life skills training combined with vocational skills training and project-based learning.

A Salesian explained, “This innovative framework not only reintroduces disengaged youth to education but also nurtures entrepreneurial thinking and provides exposure to real-world work environments. The program targets disadvantaged communities in the greater Cape Town area, fostering social transformation by equipping youth with skills that drive both individual and community-level economic growth.”

The program offers two specialized training streams. The New Venture Creation program is an accredited course that spans 12 months and culminates in a Further Education and Training Certificate. The curriculum provides entrepreneurial skills, business acumen and hands-on workplace experience, enabling youth to launch their own businesses or enter the job market with confidence.

The Solar Photovoltaic Installer/Mounter course recognizes the growing demand for skilled professionals in the renewable energy sector. This accredited course is offered as a six- or 12-month program. Participants are required to have finished at least grade 11. They gain both theoretical knowledge and practical expertise in installing and maintaining solar photovoltaic systems.

Father François Dufour, director, explained, “The program is about restoring dignity and hope. We believe in the resilience and potential of every young person who crosses our threshold. These graduates are now equipped with the skills needed to create opportunities, not only for themselves, but also for the whole community.”

Salesian Institute Youth Projects has been providing education, emotional support and skills development training for youth who are vulnerable or at risk in Cape Town since 1910. It has been instrumental in changing the lives of hundreds of youth who would otherwise not have been able to access the job market.

Poverty is extensive in South Africa with more than half the population and more than 63% of children living below the poverty line, according to UNICEF. A significant percentage of the population struggles to survive on less than $1 a day. The country is plagued by high crime rates and violence against women and girls, and it has been the hardest hit by the HIV/AIDS crisis in the world. There is an urgent need for education to help prevent the spread of the deadly virus and to help lift youth out of poverty.

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ANS – South Africa – 175 NEETs specialise in different job sectors

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SOUTH AFRICA: Students graduate from accredited tailoring program

MissionNewswire — Fri, 25 Jul 2025 08:33:50 +0000

Stitch Ahead Sewing program gives youth marketable skills

SOUTH AFRICA

(MissionNewswire) The Salesian Institute Youth Projects, located in Cape Town, South Africa, has graduated 16 students in its accredited tailor’s program. The Stitch Ahead Sewing program aims to provide youth with marketable skills for sustainable employment in the textile and manufacturing sectors.

The program teaches students hand-sewing and machine-sewing techniques. The course starts with two weeks of life skills training followed by the three-month sewing course that enables participants to sew basic garments for their use or to generate income through a home-based business. Students proudly presented their completed sewing projects at the graduation.

A Salesian said, “The students graduated after completing four months of intensive training, practical assessments and creative projects. The exhibition is not just a point of arrival, but rather a new beginning for the youth. Many any of the new graduates are already exploring job opportunities or considering starting their own micro-enterprises in the textile and clothing sector.”

Since 1910, Salesian Institute Youth Projects has been helping youth who are homeless, unemployed or poor in Cape Town, the second most populous city and legislative capital of South Africa. Salesians provide shelter, education and workforce development services, meeting the basic needs of the youth they serve while helping them break the cycle of poverty.

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ANS – South Africa – Celebration of an important milestone: the first class of SETA-qualified tailors

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SOUTH AFRICA: Youth take part in specialized training to build self-sufficiency

MissionNewswire — Thu, 08 May 2025 08:00:06 +0000

Growing youth unemployment addressed through program

SOUTH AFRICA

(MissionNewswire) Salesian Institute Youth Projects, located in Cape Town, is offering a beacon of hope for youth facing unemployment in South Africa. Its programs include the NEETs (Not in Employment, Education, or Training) Employability Program, designed to equip youth with critical skills and opportunities for economic independence.

NEET serves youth aged 18-27 who are not taking part in employment, education or training. These youth face significant barriers to self-sufficiency and sustainable livelihoods. To address these needs, the institute offers life skills training combined with vocation skills training and project-based learning.

The program offers two specialized training streams. The New Venture Creation program is an accredited course that spans 12 months and culminates in a Further Education and Training Certificate. The curriculum provides entrepreneurial skills, business acumen, and hands-on workplace experience, enabling youth to launch their own businesses or enter the job market with confidence.

“These experiences give young professionals the chance to apply their skills and gain real-world experience. By supporting this initiative, Cape Town’s public and private sectors can actively drive social change, reduce unemployment and create a better trained, more skilled workforce,” said the Salesian.

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ANS – South Africa – Empowering South Africa’s NEET Youth Through Skills Development and Employment Pathways

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SOUTH AFRICA: Youth gain maritime skills to begin careers

MissionNewswire — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 08:16:33 +0000

Waves of Change Maritime Program forges strategic partnerships with companies

SOUTH AFRICA

(MissionNewswire) Salesian Institute Youth Projects is offering a beacon of hope through maritime skills training for youth facing unemployment in South Africa. To address the critical national need for employment and skills training, the Waves of Change Maritime Program specifically targets young people, ages 18 to 35, who come from disadvantaged backgrounds in and around Cape Town. Many of these youth struggle to support their families and build promising futures because of a lack of educational opportunities.

Youth unemployment in Cape Town remains one of the city’s most pressing challenges. Young people also face the temptation of gangs and drugs, with many risking homelessness as well as cycles of violence and dependency.

“Salesian Institute Youth Projects offers a crucial alternative,” said Abraham Lottering, Waves of Change Maritime Program manager. “Through structured, transformative programs, we guide youth toward sustainable employment and skills development.”

Salesian Institute Youth Projects is situated close to the Cape Town harbor and has strategically partnered with leading sea fishing companies and accredited maritime training institutions approved by the South African Maritime Safety Authority. Together, they provide rigorous training that empowers participants to embark on careers at sea, whether on local fishing vessels or through cruise lines which allow youth to travel and see the world.

The program begins with a three-day orientation session, followed by a 10-day life skills program, and preparing participants for the challenges and responsibilities of maritime work. The program then provides formal maritime training required to enter the industry, including safety protocols and technical skills. By the end, participants gain the key qualifications of South African Maritime Safety Authority Medical Certificates, seafarer’s logbooks and certificates of discharge.

“The Waves of Change Maritime Program isn’t just about providing training. It’s about creating a pathway to stability and self-sufficiency for youth who may otherwise have no access to such opportunities,” explained Father Francois Dufour, CEO of the Salesian Institute Youth Projects. “We’re not only giving them skills. We’re instilling hope and enabling them to change their lives and positively impact their communities.”

Salesian Institute Youth Projects has been providing education, emotional support and skills development training for at-risk youth in Cape Town since 1910. It has been instrumental in changing the lives of hundreds of at-risk and vulnerable youth who would otherwise not have been able to access the job market.

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ANS – South Africa – Empowering Cape Town’s Youth Without Hope: Salesian Institute Youth Projects Opens Doors to the Maritime Industry

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SOUTH AFRICA: Students supported with mental health services

MissionNewswire — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 08:47:15 +0000

Salesian Institute Youth Projects changes lives of vulnerable youth

SOUTH AFRICA

(MissionNewswire) Salesian Institute Youth Projects, located in Cape Town, South Africa, provides skills training and education for youth, along with psychosocial support to help ensure youth finish school. Through this approach, every young person attending Salesian programs receives the support needed to overcome and cope with challenges, whether they stem from socio-economic hardships or psychosocial struggles.

A Salesian explained, “The last couple of years have vividly illustrated the need for increased psychosocial support for students as most of them have faced significant disruptions to their education and personal lives, creating barriers to their future aspirations. Recognizing this, we have made a concerted effort to ensure that students not only continue their education and training but also build the social and emotional resilience necessary for success in both the classroom and the workplace.”

In 2023, Salesian Institute Youth Projects made a significant advancement by launching a Wellness Center that is staffed by a multidisciplinary team of mental health professionals. Through strategic partnerships with institutions like the South African College of Applied Psychology and the University of Cape Town, the school provides hands-on experience for final-year students in occupational therapy, social studies, and psychology. These students complete part of their practical training at the center while offering personalized support to other students.

The Wellness Center offers a range of services, including one-on-one counseling and psychosocial workshops. The center benefits from on-site, full-time qualified registered counselors, occupational therapists and a social worker as part of its team.

Gabriel Hamuy, head of the center, explained “The impact of the Wellness Center on our students has been immeasurable. By offering work readiness and integration programs, as well as psychosocial support, the center helps young people build the necessary social skills to navigate both academic settings and professional environments with more confidence. These services ensure that they are not just surviving but thriving, equipped with the tools to manage stress, build positive relationships and maintain a hopeful outlook on their futures. We believe that by addressing the psychosocial needs of our youth, we empower them to unlock their potential and achieve sustainable success in all areas of life.”

Salesian Institute Youth Projects has been providing education, emotional support and skills development training for at-risk youth in Cape Town since 1910. The institute has been instrumental in changing the lives of hundreds of at-risk and vulnerable youth who would otherwise not have been able to access the job market.

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ANS – South Africa – Supporting Mental Well-Being: The Role of Psycho-Social Support at Salesian Institute Youth Projects

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SOUTH AFRICA: 15,000 youth gaining green skills through Salesian project

MissionNewswire — Fri, 13 Sep 2024 08:14:47 +0000

Environmental initiative also targets families and communities

SOUTH AFRICA

(MissionNewswire) The Salesian provincial office in Johannesburg, South Africa, has initiated an environmental project, Eco-Ubuntu, aimed at 15,000 youth from Salesian schools. The project will also target their families and broader community. Salesians have come together with lay partners, Salesian sisters from Mary Help of Christians, Don Bosco Past Pupils and Salesian cooperators.

The initial planning for the project took place in 2022-2023 and then launched with a workshop in January 2024 to bring together 40 delegates from eSwatini, Lesotho and South Africa. Workshop participants were school leaders, teachers and experts representing the five green pillars of the project: renewable energy (solar technology), water access, waste management, hydroponics and sustainable cultivation. The goal of the project is to increase green skills training, interventions and capacity building.

Six months after the launch, more than 4,800 youth from seven communities have been equipped with green life skills and have shown tangible behavior change toward a more sustainable lifestyle. The project has developed a comprehensive curriculum for primary and secondary school education on the environment based on the Green Life Skills Guide. University professors coached the delegates from Salesian schools, parishes, and technical and vocational training centers, and social programs who in turn are leading youth in this transformation.

Climate change information was also disseminated through the Eco-Sports Day, Green Youth Day, Eco-School debates and gardening competitions. Eco Ubuntu Youth Day-Youth Synod was also held in Johannesburg on August 30.

In addition, solar technology workshops and 6- to 12-month courses have started or are in the developing phase, beginning at Manzini Youth Care in eSwatini, Salesian Institute of Youth Projects in Cape Town and Declan Skills Center in Ennerdale, South Africa.

Sustainable farming practices, hydroponics and waste management initiatives were also launched in several Salesian schools in eSwatini and Lesotho. Further, two borehole projects have already been completed in water-challenged areas in rural schools in eSwatini and Bosco Youth Agricultural Center on the outskirts of Manzini.

In an article he wrote about the project, Father Klement Vaclav, superior of the Southern Africa Vice-Province, noted, “The local wider society has been impacted, especially in primary schools in Delft and Cape Town, with a particular engagement of the community around the Salesian schools in Lesotho, both in Maseru and Maputsoe. Salesian missionaries believe that through education we can transform our society, by means of a consistent process, day by day, and little by little, especially in the care of our common home, so close to the hearts of our young generation.”

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Photo courtesy of Salesian Eco-Ubuntu Program

Don Bosco Green Alliance – 15,000 Youths and Their Mentors Show Enthusiasm For The Eco- Ubuntu Project

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SOUTH AFRICA: 9,000 people in at-risk communities receive meal

MissionNewswire — Wed, 21 Aug 2024 08:32:44 +0000

Proceeds from special event to cover student expenses

SOUTH AFRICA

(MissionNewswire) Salesian Institute Youth Projects in South Africa hosted an event on Mandela Day, which falls on July 18, with the support of the well-known chef Jenny Morris and her Soul Food Kitchen. The event had a significant impact on the most disadvantaged youth and communities. Proceeds from the event will cover expenses for students, including three cooked meals a day to support their educational development.

Thanks to the help of sponsors, such as Blue Ribbon, the event served more than 9,000 sandwiches in at-risk communities in Cape Town. The event was also attended by private citizens and local companies that provided products to prepare meals, including almost 700 gallons of soup.

Youth in the NEET program for young people not engaged in study, work or training, along with youth from the Stitch Ahead tailoring training project, distributed other resources in targeted areas of Cape Town.

In addition, Coca Cola provided tables and gazebos and organized entertainment, ensuring a lively and fun atmosphere for all participants. The Salesian Institute’s Learn to Live Marimba Band and the choir performed music for the event. Many youth were given the opportunity to experience a trip aboard an open-top tourist bus. They traveled from the Century City district to the center of Cape Town.

A Salesian said, “We appreciate Jenny Morris and all the companies that contributed. We extend our deepest gratitude to all those who, braving the rain and cold, wanted to help the most disadvantaged.”

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ANS – South Africa – “Mandela Day” a great success: more than 10,000 meals served to disadvantaged communities in Cape Town

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SOUTH AFRICA: Teacher empowers students, showcases work as welder

MissionNewswire — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 08:48:37 +0000

Don Bosco Educational Projects holds graduation

SOUTH AFRICA

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Educational Projects, located in Ennerdale, a suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa, recently held graduation for students finishing intensive courses in electricity, construction and merchandising. During the principal’s address, he urged students to help build their communities with their newly acquired skills. He also said that it was a real joy to educate youth and encouraged them to be grateful to their parents for the sacrifices they made to help them achieve their dreams.

While educating all students, the school also has a focus on empowering women who are studying in male–dominated fields. One teacher, Vilakazi, is also a woman welder.

Vilakazi loves her working environment at the Don Bosco school and enjoys encouraging her students. She explained, “I learn to appreciate these young people because they come from backgrounds that are tough and challenging. I learn to appreciate their talents and skills..”

In all of the work the Vilakazi does, at the heart is challenging her students to always do better and aim higher. She is proud of the work she has done in and out of the classroom. As a welder, she was involved in the construction of the 2010 World Cup Stadium and the construction of the famous Medupi Power Station.

Vilakazi has faced her share of discrimination and notes she is more prone to exploitation. She has had employers look at her resume and think because she is a woman, she can’t work as fast as a man or as hard as a man. She counters that argument by saying, “In actual truth, women are far better welders than men because it is a very delicate skill that requires precision. We live in a very superficial time where everyone wants to look pretty, have our nice nails and then you get girls like me who are welders.”

Poverty is extensive in South Africa with more than half the population and more than 63% percent of children living below the poverty line, according to UNICEF. A significant percentage of the population struggles to survive on less than $1 a day. The country is plagued by high crime rates and violence against women and girls, and it has been the hardest hit in the world by the HIV/AIDS crisis.

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ANS – South Africa – Diploma Ceremony for students at the Don Bosco Educational Projects in Ennerdale

SOUTH AFRICA: A female welding teacher at Don Bosco Educational Projects empowers students to aim high in life

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SOUTH AFRICA: Youth learn hydroponics

MissionNewswire — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 08:34:54 +0000

Salesians engage youth in meaningful work, conservation efforts

SOUTH AFRICA

(MissionNewswire) The Salesian Missions provincial office in Johannesburg launched the Hydroponics Eco-Ubuntu project to instill a green mindset within communities in South Africa by facilitating accessible and practical green interventions. The promotion of hydroponics, a soil-less farming technique that maximizes resource efficiency and minimizes environmental impact, is an important part of the project.

The Salesian Institute Youth Projects, located in Cape Town, serves as a hub for the implementation of the project’s initiatives. Through hydroponics and solar training programs, youth are equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving green economy.

One of the project’s achievements is the integration of hydroponics into education and employment pathways for disadvantaged youth. Under the Salesian Institute Youth Projects NEETs (Not in Education, Employment or Training) Youth Employability Program, youth are actively involved in the roll out and implementation of hydroponics projects in their communities. By engaging youth in meaningful work, the project not only addresses unemployment but also fosters a sense of ownership and pride in environmental conservation efforts.

The project extends its reach to the Learn to Live School of Skills learners, offering them invaluable hands-on experience in hydroponic farming. By cultivating produce using hydroponic systems, these students learn practical skills while also developing a deeper appreciation for sustainable agriculture.

Gabriel Hamuy, NEETs program manager, said, “As we continue to champion the cause of environmental sustainability, the impact of the project reverberates far beyond its immediate communities. It serves as a model for grassroots initiatives that harness the power of education, innovation, and collaboration to create a greener, more inclusive world.”

A Salesian said, “The Salesian Hydroponics Eco-Ubuntu project is more than just a cultivation of plants. It is a cultivation of hope, resilience and unity in the face of environmental challenges. By nurturing both the land and the people who tend to it, the project paves the way for a brighter, more sustainable future for generations to come.”

Since 1910, the Salesian Institute Youth Projects has been helping homeless, unemployed and impoverished youth in Cape Town, the second-most populous city and legislative capital of South Africa. Through the organization’s programs, Salesian missionaries provide shelter, education and workforce development services, meeting the basic needs of the youth they serve while helping them break the cycle of poverty.

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SOUTH AFRICA: Youth succeed in fishing careers

MissionNewswire — Thu, 09 May 2024 08:21:24 +0000

Waves of Change Maritime Training Program educates future fishermen and women

SOUTH AFRICA

(MissionNewswire) The Salesian Institute Youth Projects’ Waves of Change Maritime Training Program is having a big impact for youth interested in commercial fishing. Salesians recognized that sea fishing is a significant industry in South Africa, particularly along the Western Cape coastline. The industry is always in need of qualified workers. At the same time, youth in Cape Town have access to limited education and opportunities. The program was a perfect fit to meet both needs at once.

A Salesian missionary explained, “More than 60% of South Africa’s total population is under the age of 34 years, and many are struggling to gain access to quality education. Inexperienced individuals, especially those who are desperate for employment, are at risk of falling into the vicious cycle of unemployment and a bleak future.”

The Salesian Institute Youth Projects is in close proximity to the Cape Town Harbor. Salesian missionaries were able to establish partnerships with prominent sea fishing companies within the sector, as well as various accredited training institutions approved by the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA).

The Salesian noted, “Together, we provide training facilitation through the Waves of Change Maritime Program to young men and women between the ages of 18-35 coming from disadvantaged backgrounds in and around Cape Town, meeting the industry need for skilled labor and the need for youth to have stable employment opportunities.”

The program begins with a three-day orientation session followed by a 10-day Life Skills Program, equipping students with essential life skills. Those who succeed proceed to the required maritime training courses to ultimately work at sea. These courses culminate in vital SAMSA medical certificates, seafarer’s logbooks and certificates of discharge, all of which are prerequisites for a career in seafaring.

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SOUTH AFRICA: Green project to educate 15,000 youth

MissionNewswire — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 08:59:53 +0000

Salesian missionaries launch Eco Ubuntu environmental project

SOUTH AFRICA

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries with the AFM Vice-Province of Blessed Michael Rua in South Africa held a workshop for 39 delegates and leaders from the Eco Ubuntu project in Johannesburg. The three-year Eco Ubuntu project was inspired by Pope Francis’ 2020 Laudato Si’, which had as its theme “Good Christians and Upright Citizens.” Pope Francis underlined the importance of education and training to help youth foster environmental responsibility.

The green project involves most of the 18 Salesian school networks in Eswatini, Lesotho and South Africa. Salesians will educate more than 15,000 youth about environmental protection through eco camps, debates and festivals. Once youth have the knowledge, the goal is for them to help educate their communities and the broader society about enacting green interventions such as solar energy, borehole installations, hydroponics sites and sustainable gardens.

The workshop brought together Eco Ubuntu project stakeholders including leadership from schools, green delegates (mainly school teachers), and experts in solar technology, water access, waste management, hydroponics and sustainable cultivation. There were educational sessions, time for questions and an open forum.

One Salesian said, “This was a successful kick-off workshop where experts were able to share best practices and the teachers who are our delegates provided creative input and asked questions about the project and how best to educate youth on the subject.”

Salesian programs in South Africa provide a range of educational and social programs to help poor youth and their families have hope for a better future. The environmental education provided by this project is a recent addition to Salesian education. Similar Salesian initiatives are happening in centers and schools around the globe.

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ANS – South Africa – 15,000 Young people involved in Eco Ubuntu Project

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SOUTH AFRICA: Youth empowered by skills program

MissionNewswire — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 08:28:48 +0000

Salesian Institute Youth Projects focuses on youth who lack training, jobs

SOUTH AFRICA

(MissionNewswire) Salesian Institute Youth Projects, located in Cape Town, South Africa, is taking a pivotal role in developing programming for youth ages 18 to 26 who are neither employed, engaged in education, nor receiving training. Salesians empower youth by reintroducing them to learning, nurturing entrepreneurial skills, and providing valuable exposure to real workplace experiences.

The NEETs program combines essential life skills training with vocational skill training. Youth are selected from specific disadvantaged communities within the greater Cape Town area. This strategic choice is intended to foster social change within these communities, creating a ripple effect.

Youth are in the program for 12 months covering three learning modules of life skills and fundamentals such as language and math, an internship in social enterprises, and workplace learning within a partner organization, allowing them to gain practical experience in their field.

“Our aim with the NEETs program is to build on industry partners who will take these students in to provide them with job shadowing opportunities and or potential future employment,” said Gabriel Hamuy, NEETs youth employability program manager. “We call on local Cape Town businesses to work with us in providing these young people with the potential of a career.”

In 2023, 86 students are well underway in completing the “New Venture Creation and Wholesale and Retail Curriculum”, which focuses on hydroponics. This large-scale hydroponics community project involves workshops with students, their families, and community members, as well as the production and distribution of home hydroponics kits and the commercialization of produce.

Since 1910, Salesian Institute Youth Projects has been helping homeless, unemployed and impoverished youth in Cape Town, the second most populous city and legislative capital of South Africa. Salesians provide shelter, education and workforce development services, meeting the basic needs of the youth they serve while helping them break the cycle of poverty.

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ANS – South Africa – Salesian Institute Youth Projects (SIYP) Leading the Way in Empowering NEET Youth in Cape Town

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SOUTH AFRICA: Students graduate with life skills

MissionNewswire — Thu, 02 Nov 2023 08:19:05 +0000

Waves of Change Maritime Training program graduates 242 students

SOUTH AFRICA

(MissionNewswire) The Waves of Change Maritime Training program with Salesian Institute Youth Projects graduated 242 students from life skills training, leading to 200 letters of intent for employment. One of the graduates from earlier this year has landed his dream job with MSC Cruises and is on his first journey to Istanbul.

Salesian Institute Youth Projects has been providing education, emotional support and skills development training for at-risk youth in Cape Town, South Africa, since 1910. The institute has been instrumental in changing the lives of hundreds of at-risk and vulnerable youth who would otherwise not have been able to access the job market.

One Salesian said, “More than 60% percent of South Africa’s total population is under the age of 34 years, and many are struggling to gain access to quality education. Inexperienced individuals, especially those who are desperate for employment, are at risk of falling into the vicious cycle of unemployment and a bleak future.”

The Waves of Change program includes a compulsory five-day life skills course. Students who successfully complete the course are awarded financial assistance toward obtaining the required certification for work in the fishing industry through the South African Maritime Safety Authority.

Salesian missionaries who oversee the project have been able to establish partnerships with training providers such as STC Table Bay, the Academy of Maritime Medicine and Pulse College, all of which offer free training and assistance to Salesian students. In addition, missionaries have continued to nurture long-standing partnerships with Sea Harvest, Premier Fishing, the Oceana Group and others that hire graduates of the project.

The Waves of Change program now includes the Stitch Ahead program, which caters to young women who want to learn how to sew.

The institute also offers additional programs. The “Learn to Live School of Skills” program caters to youth ages 14 to 18, who are no longer part of mainstream schooling. The four-year program provides basic education and vocational skills training. The “Porsche Mechatronics Program” enables youth to work in the automotive sector, and the “NEETs Youth Employability Program” offers a national certificate in small venture creation for youth interested in entrepreneurship. Life skills training is an integral part of the training programs.

All programs are designed to provide a positive alternative to drugs, alcohol, and violence, and they allow youth to learn the skills necessary for employment. After graduating many youth work as entrepreneurs and strive to employ others from their neighborhoods.

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Photo courtesy of Salesian Institute Youth Projects

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SOUTH AFRICA: 15 women graduate with sewing skills

MissionNewswire — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 08:13:09 +0000

Program participants receive items needed to start their own business

SOUTH AFRICA

(MissionNewswire) Salesian Institute Youth Projects’ “Stitch Ahead” program, located in Cape Town, South Africa, recently graduated 15 women who completed the three-month sewing course, according to an article in The Southern Cross. Graduates will go on to start careers or their own entrepreneurial endeavors. At graduation, each participant received a kit that included fabrics and haberdashery items. The goal is to provide them with the necessary items to start a business.

The program, supported by the National Development Agency (NDA), empowers women, ages 18 to 35, to learn machine sewing to make a variety of products. As noted in the article, the training also includes learning to sew reusable sanitary pads, which is a pivotal step in addressing period poverty, an issue that impacts many women in South Africa.

In The Southern Cross article, Ardiel Soeker, NDA’s Western Cape provincial manager, said, “Persistent statistics underscore the alarming rates of youth unemployment across our nation. It is within this concerning context that the NDA ardently champions economic growth and the creation of job prospects for our young population. Our aim is to empower them to enhance not only their own lives but also uplift the communities they call home. As we extend our warmest wishes to these young women on their journey, we are committed, in partnership with the Salesian Institute Youth Projects, to diligently track their progress.”

The program, which started in 2022, also offers business development where students learn brand creation, logo design, letterhead development and digital business card creation. Students also learn digital platforms that enable them to market and operate small businesses successfully. These skills were taught for free by Company Partners, a company specializing in providing compliance services to a multitude of startup businesses.

Since 1910, the Salesian Institute Youth Projects has been helping homeless, unemployed and impoverished youth. Salesian missionaries provide shelter, education and workforce development services in an effort to meet the basic needs of the youth they serve while helping them break the cycle of poverty.

The Salesian Institute Youth Projects provides five main programs: an outreach program, a hostel for homeless youth, a learn-to-live education program and two workforce development programs. The programs are managed by a diverse group of individuals, and some live on the premises to support youth in the hostel and outreach programs.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Salesian Institute Youth Projects

Salesian Institute Youth Projects

Salesian Institute Youth Projects Facebook

Salesian Missions – South Africa

The Southern Cross – Salesian Institute Stitch Ahead Programme Empowers 15 Phenomenal Women

UNICEF – South Africa

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SOUTH AFRICA: 215 students learn digital literacy skills

MissionNewswire — Wed, 20 Sep 2023 08:53:05 +0000

Salesian Institute Youth Projects launches Smart Work Center

SOUTH AFRICA

(MissionNewswire) The Salesian Institute Youth Projects in South Africa recently launched a Smart Work Center to ensure youth have the digital skills needed to compete in the current marketplace, according to an article in The Southern Cross. The center is in the institute’s old computer lab and was supported by the Rotary Club Waterfront and carried out in collaboration with Computers4Kids.

Providing digital literacy across all of the institute’s programs can be challenging given the varied literacy and writing abilities of the students. Salesians have brought on volunteers to assist with literacy programs at the institute’s Learn to Live School of Skills, which is a school designed specifically for vulnerable and at-risk youth. For a variety of socio-economic reasons, these youth are not able to succeed in mainstream schools.

According to the article, Salesians have also partnered with the Ulektz platform so youth can create an online profile highlighting their strengths and interests for potential employers to increase their chances of finding employment. Leveraging its extensive network of industry partners, Salesian Institute Youth Projects ensures that the Smart Work Center provides youth with the digital skills needed for employment and then works to create the bridge between education and industry.

The Smart Work Center has already made a significant impact by educating 215 youth. These students use the center at least twice a week to enhance their digital literacy and academic skills. The Computers4Kids and Reading Eggs programs that are integrated into the curriculum have proved instrumental in improving literacy rates.

Since 1910, the Salesian Institute Youth Projects has been helping homeless, unemployed and impoverished youth in Cape Town, the second most populous city and legislative capital of South Africa. Salesians provide shelter, education and workforce development services, meeting the basic needs of the youth they serve while helping them break the cycle of poverty.

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

The Southern Cross – Salesian Youth Projects empower at-risk youth with digital skills

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SOUTH AFRICA: Youth gain employment, literacy skills

MissionNewswire — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 08:05:07 +0000

Salesian Institute Youth Projects meets needs of youth with 5 main projects

SOUTH AFRICA

(MissionNewswire) Since 1910, the Salesian Institute Youth Projects has been helping homeless, unemployed and impoverished youth in Cape Town, the second most populous city and legislative capital of South Africa. Salesians provide shelter, education and workforce development services, meeting the basic needs of the youth they serve while helping them break the cycle of poverty.

A Salesian missionary explained, “The Salesian Institute Youth Projects has five main projects — an outreach program, the Center of Hope for homeless youth, the Learn to Live School of Skills education program and two workforce development programs. The projects are managed by a diverse team, some of whom live on the premises to support youth in the hostel and outreach programs.”

The Learn to Live School of Skills education program is a school designed specifically for vulnerable and at-risk youth. Recognized as an independent school by the Western Cape Education Department, the program provides basic education and skills training for youth who, for a variety of socio-economic reasons, are not able to succeed in mainstream schools.

The school offers various levels of education for students ages 13-19. There are 26 to 36 students per class, with 14 to 20 students per workshop lesson. Students over the age of 16 take technical skills training workshops to learn basic skills in subjects like hairdressing, hospitality, electrical work and woodworking.

All the students in the program also form part of a literacy program. This program helps students learn to read and overcome reading difficulties, all resulting in the student being able to read independently and be prepared for the workforce.

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Photo courtesy of Salesian Institute Youth Projects

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SOUTH AFRICA: New stitching course empowers young women

MissionNewswire — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 08:06:41 +0000

Salesian Waves of Change program helps young women gain skills for employment

SOUTH AFRICA

(MissionNewswire) The Salesian Institute Youth Projects’ Waves of Change program, located in Cape Town, South Africa, provides education to at least 200 youth each year. The program recently added a “Stitching Ahead” course to teach young women hand-sewing and machine-sewing techniques.

A Salesian missionary explained, “The course starts with two weeks of life skills training followed by the three-month sewing course that will enable participants to sew basic garments for their use or to generate income through a home-based business. The goal is to help young women in Cape Town and surrounding areas gain the skills for employment.”

The Waves of Change program started as a program focused on sea fishing, which is a large industry along the Western Cape coastline in South Africa. The Salesian Institute is close to the Cape Town harbor, which provides an opportunity to train youth interested in fishing. This also ensures a steady labor force for the industry.

The program requires minimal levels of education, but jobs in the fishing industry can provide a significant income and a stable career path. The program is currently training young adults between the ages of 18 and 35.

All participants complete a 10-day life skills program. They then go on to complete safety and familiarization courses, obtain their medical certificates, and meet other requirements. Once all training and document requirements have been completed, youth can be legally employed by a fishing company.

Salesian missionaries have been able to establish partnerships with training providers such as STC Table Bay, the Academy of Maritime Medicine and Pulse College, all of which offer free training and assistance to Salesian students. In addition, missionaries have continued to nurture long-standing partnerships with Sea Harvest, Premier Fishing, the Oceana Group and others that hire graduates of the project.

The Salesian Institute Youth Projects provides five main programs that help youth in the region. Programs include an outreach program, a hostel for homeless youth, a learn-to-live education program and two workforce development programs. The programs are managed by a diverse group of individuals, and some live on the premises to support youth in the hostel and outreach programs.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Salesian Institute Youth Projects

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SOUTH AFRICA: Students prepare for digital world

MissionNewswire — Thu, 29 Jun 2023 08:21:50 +0000

Salesian Institute Youth Projects launches new efforts to teach digital literacy skills

SOUTH AFRICA

(MissionNewswire) The Salesian Institute Youth Projects is working to address South Africa‘s persistent youth unemployment crisis. The organization recently announced in an article in the BizCommunity that it redeveloped an older computer lab into a Smart Work Center, which launched in February 2023.

The new center has been used by the institute’s “Learn to Live School of Skills” program that caters to youth, ages 14-18, who are no longer part of mainstream schooling. The four-year program provides basic education and vocational skills training. Salesians are supporting 215 learners who use the new Smart Work Center at least twice a week to improve their digital literacy and academic skills.

The teaching staff has integrated the Computers4Kids and Reading Eggs programs into their curriculum. These programs are increasing literacy for learners, especially those struggling to read and write. Through the new center, youth are also showing improvement in learning and their enthusiasm to work on the computers. The Salesian Institute’s NEETs Youth Employability Program is also offering an “NQF3 End User Computer” course for students, ensuring they are prepared in the digital world.

According to the article, the Rotary Club of Waterfront was able to develop a collaboration with the IT Academy based at Cape Peninsula University of Technology to bring on a senior student as part of an internship. By leveraging industry partners, the Salesian Institute Youth Projects is ensuring that the Smart Work Center provides youth with real-world exposure and access to employment opportunities.

“Our mission is to foster lifelong learning and cultivate a reservoir of skilled youth ready to contribute to the thriving Cape Town’s economy,” said Father Francois Dufour, CEO of the Salesian Institute Youth Projects, in the article. “A collaborative approach not only bridges the gap between education and industry but also instills a sense of confidence and self-belief in youth, empowering them to pursue meaningful careers and contribute to the country’s economic growth.”

Over its history, the Salesian Institute Youth Projects has been instrumental in changing the lives of hundreds of youth who would otherwise not have been able to access the job market. These youth had been homeless, unemployed and impoverished, but they had access to the education that helped them gain employment.

Committed to making a difference for those who need it the most, the institute’s skills development model focuses on providing opportunities for youth who may not have completed their mainstream schooling or access to skills training.

In addition to the “Learn to Live School of Skills” program there are three other educational programs. The “Waves of Change Maritime Program” is for youth or adults up to age 35 who want to work at sea in the fishing and maritime industry. The “Porsche Mechatronics Program” enables youth to work in the automotive sector, and the “NEETs Youth Employability Program” offers a national certificate in small venture creation for youth interested in entrepreneurship. Life skills training is also an integral part of the training programs.

Poverty is extensive in South Africa with more than half the population and more than 63% of children living below the poverty line, according to UNICEF. A significant percentage of the population struggles to survive on less than $1 a day. The country is plagued by high crime rates and violence against women and girls and has been the hardest hit by the HIV/AIDS crisis in the world. There is an urgent need for education to help prevent the spread of the deadly virus and to help lift youth out of poverty.

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Sources:

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

BizCommunity – Addressing the youth unemployment crisis in South Africa: A call to action

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SOUTH AFRICA: Youth find support to change their lives

MissionNewswire — Fri, 05 Aug 2022 08:48:08 +0000

Salesian Institute Youth Projects helps poor and homeless youth gain the skills for employment

SOUTH AFRICA

(MissionNewswire) Salesian Institute Youth Projects has been providing education, emotional support and skills development training for at-risk youth in Cape Town, South Africa since 1910. Over its history, the institute has been instrumental in changing the lives of hundreds of youth who would otherwise not have been able to access the job market. These youth had been homeless, unemployed and impoverished, but they had access to the education that helped them gain employment.

One Salesian said, “More than 60 percent of South Africa’s total population is under the age of 34 years, and many are struggling to gain access to quality education. Inexperienced individuals, especially those who are desperate for employment, are at risk of falling into the vicious cycle of unemployment and a bleak future.”

There are four main educational tracks youth. The “Learn to Live School of Skills” program caters to youth ages 14 to 18, who are no longer part of mainstream schooling. The four-year program provides basic education and vocational skills training. The “Waves of Change Maritime Program” is for youth or adults up to age 35 who want to work at sea in the fishing and maritime industry. The “Porsche Mechatronics Program” enables youth to work in the automotive sector, and the “NEETs Youth Employability Program” offers a national certificate in small venture creation for youth interested in entrepreneurship. Life skills training is also an integral part of the all the training programs.

Yumnah Baradien, a graduate of Salesian Institute Youth Projects, said, “I learned everything here. Not only entrepreneurship but self-esteem, how to start your own business, where to go, who to talk to and how to ask for help when you need it. I learned many things that I thought I would have to go elsewhere for.”

All of the programs are designed to provide a positive alternative to drugs, alcohol, and violence, and they allow youth to learn the skills necessary for employment. After graduating many youth work as entrepreneurs and strive to employ others from their neighborhoods while others join industries and move forward in changing the dynamics of the workforce.

Poverty is extensive in South Africa with more than half the population and more than 63 percent of children living below the poverty line, according to UNICEF. A significant percentage of the population struggles to survive on less than $1 a day. The country is plagued by high crime rates and violence against women and girls and has been the hardest hit by the HIV/AIDS crisis in the world. There is an urgent need for education to help prevent the spread of the deadly virus and to help lift youth out of poverty.

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Sources:

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

ANS – South Africa – With relevant skills, youth can accelerate country’s progress

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SOUTH AFRICA: Youth gain job skills for fishing industry

MissionNewswire — Fri, 17 Jun 2022 08:53:10 +0000

Salesian Waves of Change program educates more than 200 youth in the fishing industry each year

SOUTH AFRICA

(MissionNewswire) The Salesian Institute Youth Projects’ Waves of Change program, located in Cape Town, South Africa, provides education to at least 200 youth each year. Sea fishing is a large industry in South Africa, especially along the Western Cape coastline. The Cape Town harbor is close by the Salesian Institute providing the opportunity to train youth interested in fishing along with a steady labor force for the industry.

Requiring minimal levels of education, jobs in the fishing industry can provide a significant income and a stable career path. The program is currently training young adults between the ages of 18 and 35.

All 200 participants complete a 10-day life skills program. They then go on to complete safety and familiarization courses, obtain their medical certificates, and meet other requirements to become seafarers. Once all training and document requirements have been completed, youth can be legally employed by a reputable fishing company.

“Salesian Institute Youth Projects offers poor and at-risk youth the opportunity to gain an education in fields they might not otherwise have access to,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “The courses offer high-quality employees to industries that are hiring while providing students meaningful employment.”

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Photo courtesy of Salesian Youth Institute Waves of Change

Salesian Youth Institute Waves of Change

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SOUTH AFRICA: Minister of social development visits Salesian project

MissionNewswire — Thu, 10 Mar 2022 08:05:01 +0000

Salesian Institute Youth Projects in Cape Town welcomes visit by Lindiwe Zulu, minister of social development of South Africa

SOUTH AFRICA

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries with the Salesian Institute Youth Projects in Cape Town, South Africa, welcomed a visit by Lindiwe Zulu, minister of social development of South Africa. Zulu visited community organizations in Cape Town that provide education, vocational training and job placement for youth who are affected by the high levels of unemployment in the country.

While at the Salesian Institute Youth Projects, Zulu visited the Learn to Live Skill School, Porsche Mechatronics, Waves of Change Maritime Training, and Youth Work Preparation Program.

Zulu said she was struck by the enthusiasm of the Salesian alternatives offered to unemployed youth from disadvantaged backgrounds. She highlighted that her brothers attended Salesian schools in Eswatini (Swaziland) and noted that she also attended Catholic school.

Since 1910, the Salesian Institute Youth Projects has been helping homeless, unemployed and impoverished youth. Through various programs, Salesian missionaries provide shelter, education and workforce development services in an effort to meet the basic needs of the youth they serve while helping them break the cycle of poverty.

The Salesian Institute Youth Projects provides five main programs that help youth in the region. Programs are an outreach program, a hostel for homeless youth, a learn-to-live education program and two workforce development programs. The programs are managed by a diverse group of individuals, and some live on the premises to support youth in the hostel and outreach programs.

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Sources:

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

ANS – South Africa – Minister of Social Development of South Africa visits “Salesian Institute Youth Projects”

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SOUTH AFRICA: Waves of Change initiative helps provide stable jobs in fishing industry

MissionNewswire — Tue, 27 Apr 2021 08:50:23 +0000

Salesian Institute Youth Projects’ Waves of Change educates 200 at-risk youth to prepare them for work in the commercial fishing industry

SOUTH AFRICA

(MissionNewswire) Since 1910, the Salesian Institute Youth Projects in Cape Town, the second most populous city and legislative capital of South Africa, has been helping homeless, unemployed and impoverished youth. Through the Institute’s Youth Projects program, Salesian missionaries provide shelter, education and workforce development services in an effort to meet the basic needs of the youth they serve while helping them break the cycle of poverty.

The Salesian Institute Youth Projects’ Waves of Change has been assisting unemployed youth and young adults in finding work in the fishing industry. Requiring minimal levels of education, jobs in the fishing industry can provide a significant income, a stable career path and extensive travel opportunities. The project is currently training 200 at-risk youth and young adults between the ages of 18 and 35.

“The fishing industry offers poor and at-risk youth the opportunity to gain an education in a field they might not otherwise have access to,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “The Waves of Change project is able to offer high-quality employees to the fishing industry while providing its students meaningful employment.”

The Waves of Change project also offers a compulsory five-day life skills course. Students who successfully complete the course are awarded financial assistance toward obtaining the required certification for work in the fishing industry through the South African Maritime Safety Authority.

The Salesian Institute Youth Projects provides five main projects that help youth in the region. There is an outreach program, a hostel for homeless youth, a learn-to-live education program and two workforce development programs. The projects are managed by a diverse group of individuals, some of whom live on the premises to support youth in the hostel and outreach programs.

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

ANS – South Africa – “Waves of Change”: Salesians for redemption of young people in difficult situations

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SOUTH AFRICA: Salesian Missions provides funding for food aid

MissionNewswire — Mon, 21 Dec 2020 14:43:46 +0000

Salesian Missions provides funding for food aid impacting 6,592 people in Swaziland, Lesotho and South Africa

SOUTH AFRICA

(MissionNewswire) Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, provided funding for food relief to Salesian missionaries, with the Salesian Planning and Development Office in Johannesburg, South Africa. Salesian missionaries were able to provide food support to Salesian sites in Eswatini (Swaziland), Lesotho and South Africa as part of COVID-19 relief efforts in these countries.

In order to reach people who most desperately needed help, Salesian missionaries worked with Don Bosco Educational Projects in Johannesburg, Salesian Institute of Youth Projects and Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church in Cape Town, Manzini Youth Center in Eswatini, and St Luke’s Oratory in Lesotho. These local Salesian organizations identified the most vulnerable in their communities and distributed the food aid to them.

In total,1,030 households, impacting 6,592 people, received the aid over three months. Each household received one food package per month to assist in sustaining the family. The contents of food packages varied with each Salesian location and were determined by community needs.

In Cape Town, Linda has two adults and five children in her household. Prior to the national lockdown her husband worked part-time as a gardener. Even at that time, food was scarce. Linda often found herself going from soup kitchen to soup kitchen gathering enough food to feed her family. More often than she wishes to remember, her family survived on dry bread and black tea.

When she received the food aid, Linda said, “The food parcel made a big impact in our daily lives. I could offer my family a cooked meal and save my few cents to buy bread for them. Thank you for your kindness and remembering us, the poor.”

In Eswatini, Tengetile lives in a rural community and is currently in her 11th year in high school. She lives with her grandparents because her father passed away and her mother left to get married and start a new family. Her grandparents are unable to work and survive on a token government pension. Their main food for all meals is pap (a semolina-type porridge made from refined corn) and sometimes they’re able to find edible green leaves in the fields.

Tengetile said, “The food package is a great gift from God and it reminds me of God’s love and care. I am thankful for the food as it relieves stress from my grandparents and will also help me to improve in my studies at school.”

This food aid was not initially intended an ongoing project, but due to lockdown measures, Salesian missionaries were able to secure funding to continue the aid until early 2021, when it is hoped that there will be less severe disruptions in the job market and people might be back to work.

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Photos courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

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UNICEF – South Africa

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SOUTH AFRICA: Salesian Institute Youth Projects’ Learn to Live School of Skills chosen to present at ‘T4 World Education Week’

MissionNewswire — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 08:07:05 +0000

SOUTH AFRICA

(MissionNewswire) The Salesian-run Learn to Live School of Skills project, operated by the Salesian Institute Youth Projects in Cape Town, South Africa, was chosen to present at the “T4 World Education Week” as part of an online event. The showcase gathered 100 schools to share expertise and best practices during World Education Week, which ran from Oct. 5-9.

The schools, chosen from every continent, presented on the theme of “Learning Today” to a worldwide audience of more than 100,000 people. Each school hosted a virtual event to demonstrate how to create change based on their own innovations and successes. World Education Week aims to accelerate progress to achieve UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4, a commitment designed to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning for all.

Before the event, Father Patrick Naughton, CEO of the Salesian Institute Youth Projects, said, “The management of the Salesian Institute Youth Projects and the pupils and teachers of the Learn to Live School of Skills project are delighted to be included in this incredible global showcase of 100 schools. World Education Week will allow us to learn and innovate together with 100 schools from across the world, all committed to transforming education. With our focus on vocational skills training and project-based learning for youth from marginalized backgrounds, we are proud to be a special school of skills and are looking forward to sharing our practice in October.”

The Salesian Institute Youth Projects has five main projects—an outreach program, the Center of Hope for homeless youth, the Learn to Live School of Skills education program and two workforce development programs. The projects are managed by a diverse team, some of whom live on the premises to support youth in the hostel and outreach programs.

The Learn to Live School of Skills education program is a school designed specifically for vulnerable and at-risk children and youth. Recognized as an independent school by the Western Cape Education Department, the program provides basic education and skills training for youth at risk who, for a variety of socio-economic reasons, are not able to succeed in mainstream schools. The school offers various levels of education for 13- to 19-year-old students. All students participate in academic classes and skills workshops and receive a cooked meal each day. Demand for the program is high, and 100 youth from the local communities and shelters in and around Cape Town access the program each day.

As part of the Learn to Live School of Skills program, close to 40 youth over the age of 16 attend technical skills training workshops each day where they are taught basic skills in welding, wood and leather craft as well as panel beating. The items they create are sold at local craft markets.

Poverty is extensive in South Africa with more than half the population and more than 63 percent of children living below the poverty line, according to UNICEF. A significant percentage of the population struggles to survive on less than $1 a day. The country is plagued by high crime rates and violence against women and girls, and it has been the hardest hit in the world by the HIV/AIDS crisis.

Salesian missionaries have been working to restore hope in South Africa, particularly among poor youth. From empowering girls and young women to building schools and teaching trade skills, missionaries have a long history of affecting change in the country.

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

ANS – South Africa – “Learn To Live School of Skills” took part in “T4 World Education Week”

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SOUTH AFRICA: Salesian Institute Youth Projects resumes programs, ensures safety for students and teachers

MissionNewswire — Wed, 07 Oct 2020 14:02:12 +0000

SOUTH AFRICA

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries in Cape Town, South Africa, have been responding to COVID-19 with relief supplies, psychological support and prevention campaigns. In the early months of the pandemic, the Salesian Life Choices program, part of the Salesian Institute Youth Projects, phoned 900 people, sent 800 messages and reached over 50,000 users on Facebook with prevention messages to combat coronavirus.

The Life Choices program also provided remote psychological counseling sessions for adults and youth, professional orientation sessions for teens, and job search advice for their parents. Staff members have also provided 220 vouchers to families for the purchase of food.

As educational lessons have started again, Salesian missionaries are focusing their attention on ensuring students and teachers have the information and resources they need to help prevent the spread of the virus. Salesians have donated sanitizing equipment and approximately 1,000 liters of disinfectants to 30 different schools. They also operate a medical emergency hotline and provided 563 meal tickets.

The Salesian Institute Youth Projects in Cape Town restarted programming on June 1 when the Minister of Fundamental Education announced that students could return to school. As a new school year starts, Salesians want to ensure that their programs are adhering to legal requirements and public health measures to keep everyone safe.

“Safety is the priority of everyone working, living and accessing programs in Salesian educational centers and institutes,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “As students resume their education, Salesian missionaries and teachers have more to address than just basic subjects like math and science. Students are in need of support, nutrition and awareness information to ensure they remain vigilant in their hygiene and prevention efforts.”

The Salesian Institute Youth Projects consists of five main programs—an outreach program, the Center of Hope for homeless youth, the Learn-to-Live education program and two workforce development programs. The projects are managed by a diverse team, some of whom live on the premises to support youth in the hostel and outreach programs.

Poverty is extensive in South Africa with more than half the population and more than 63 percent of children living below the poverty line, according to UNICEF. A significant percentage of the population struggles to survive on less than $1 a day. The country is plagued by high crime rates and violence against women and girls, and it has been the hardest hit in the world by the HIV/AIDS crisis.

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

ANS – South Africa – Salesian life choices

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SOUTH AFRICA: Salesian Missions funding supports food relief in Swaziland, Lesotho and South Africa

MissionNewswire — Mon, 24 Aug 2020 13:46:46 +0000

SOUTH AFRICA

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries, with the Salesian Planning and Development Office in Johannesburg, South Africa, were able to provide food support to Salesian sites in Eswatini (Swaziland), Lesotho and South Africa thanks to funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. The project is part of COVID-19 relief efforts in these countries.

All Salesian sites that have received the donation have distributed the first food packages to youth and families in need and are now preparing for the second distribution in the coming weeks. The feedback Salesians are receiving from people receiving the donation is very positive.

Further funding from Don Bosco Mondo in Germany will also allow Salesian missionaries to continue with this project for the most vulnerable for an extended period of time. This funding also has provided the opportunity to begin production of masks, which will be added to some of the food packages.

“Salesian missionaries have been providing education and social development programs to poor youth and their families long before the pandemic,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions. “With these relief efforts, Salesian missionaries are ensuring families have their most basic needs met. Many people are out of work and unable to care for their families at this time. Salesians know the local landscape and help those most in need.”

Salesian missionaries have been working to restore hope in South Africa, particularly among poor youth. From empowering youth (particularly girls and young women) to building schools and teaching trade skills, Salesian missionaries have a long history of affecting change in the country. Salesian Sisters of Daughters of Mary Help of Christians facilitates an assistance program for families with children who have recently settled in the new settlements on the outskirts of Johannesburg. The children who participate in the program come from extremely poor families and attend educational lessons up to the third grade. They also receive a daily meal while at school.

Also in Johannesburg, Salesian missionaries and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians joined forces to create the Don Bosco Center at Ennerdale, on the outskirts of Johannesburg. The center was 12 years in the making and combined separate programs run by the two organizations, one a skills training program and the other a school. The goal was to create one center offering both services to greater benefit the local youth.

Don Bosco Center offers courses in hydraulics, carpentry, bricklaying, plastering, computers and electronics. Today, there are 200 children attending the school and 60 young people enrolled in the various professional courses. Another 60 youth are attending classes to complete their secondary schooling.

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Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

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SOUTH AFRICA: Salesian Youth Ministry team member coordinates relief efforts in face of coronavirus pandemic

MissionNewswire — Thu, 13 Aug 2020 13:45:53 +0000

SOUTH AFRICA

(MissionNewswire) Nhlanhla Lucky Mdlalose, a member of the Salesian Youth Ministry team at Bosco Youth Center, located in Walkerville, Johannesburg, South Africa, coordinates relief efforts to help those who are most vulnerable during the coronavirus pandemic.

Many people living in poverty are suffering in Johannesburg. Some children don’t even have a blanket to warm them during the winter months. The elderly are sleeping on the floor in unstable shacks that have holes in the roof. Mdlalose asked, “Where do they find the strength that they need to overcome all of this?”

Because of the suffering and overwhelming need, youth of Dobsonville and Snake Park have taken it upon themselves to be the change and give these families blankets, warm clothing and warm food.

Two months after the lockdown and at a time when people were becoming increasingly desperate, Mdlalose and the other youth began to prepare warm meals every Sunday, including vegetable soup, pap, bread and other hot items. The 15 youth gather in the early morning hours and begin preparing nutritious meals. Mostly they use their own funds to get the soup ingredients, but some generous people in the area occasionally donate something. To date, their soup kitchen has fed more than 3,000 people in Snake Park Township in Soweto.

Mdlalose recognizes that feeding the hungry only addresses part of the families’ needs. The group is also providing warm blankets, which will go a long way in alleviating the bitter winter cold. They are also appealing for winter clothes for children, women and men, including tracksuits, jerseys, long-sleeved vests, jackets, warm shoes, pajamas and trousers. The group is also calling for help to provide hygiene items for families in need.

Salesian Brother Clarence Watts, delegate for social communication of the Southern Africa Vice-Province, said, “Nhlanhla is a truly inspiring young man, together with his team of youth. There is no Salesian presence in Soweto, but Nhlanhla has brought the Salesian spirit of generosity and kindness to the most vulnerable youth in Soweto. Don Bosco would be very proud of him.”

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Sources:

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

ANS – South Africa – Struggle of winter and COVID-19 in Snake Park Township near Dobsonville, Soweto

Salesian Missions – South Africa

UNICEF – South Africa

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SOUTH AFRICA: Salesian missionaries provide relief supplies and social support in Cape Town

MissionNewswire — Tue, 02 Jun 2020 14:02:27 +0000

SOUTH AFRICA

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries in Cape Town, South Africa, have been responding to COVID-19 with relief supplies, psychological support and prevention campaigns. The Salesian Life Choices program phoned 900 people, sent 800 messages and reached over 50,000 users on Facebook with prevention messages to combat coronavirus.

Leaders of the Salesian Youth Institute Projects were able to provide 171 beneficiaries, identified in 27 different communities around the city, with weekly packs of food thanks to the support of partner organizations. The Salesian Institute has 16 volunteers who made sure that the food parcels reached the right families.

The Salesian Institute is also preparing to restart some of its programs. The Minister of Fundamental Education announced that students could return to school on June 1. To meet the requirements of the law and public health measures, the Salesian Institute is cleaning and sanitizing buildings and classrooms.

In Ennerdale, a suburb of Johannesburg, Brother Clarence Watts noted that families were grateful for the food support they received from the Salesians. He said, “The families were contacted to inform them to come to the school with their children who attend Laura Vicuna to collect a parcel of food. They had arrived early in the morning and were anxious to receive help. When they arrived at the classroom and saw what they were going to receive, they were amazed. There were tears of joy in their eyes and their faces sparkled with relief. They could not thank us enough for the food supplies. They even danced with joy.”

Bro. Watts added, “They have sent messages to say how much they appreciate this tremendous help and that they could now feed their families for a while. We have also promised more help for food parcels that will be distributed at a later stage.”

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Sources:

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

ANS – South Africa – “Thank you, on behalf of the poorest of the poor!” Salesian generosity changes people’s lives

Salesian Missions – South Africa

UNICEF – South Africa

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SOUTH AFRICA: Salesian missionaries provide ongoing food relief and support during COVID-19 pandemic

MissionNewswire — Tue, 26 May 2020 13:39:34 +0000

SOUTH AFRICA

(MissionNewswire) The prolonged lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic is throwing people in South Africa into despair due to poverty and hunger. Salesian missionaries, staff and volunteers have been working to provide the basic necessities to those most in need.

Volunteers have been making masks and delivering food to more than 400 poor families in the Gong Gong area of the North Cape. Salesian missionaries and sisters in the Ennerdale communities have obtained the necessary permits to distribute food and are waiting to receive food supplies. In addition, they have received a donation of materials to produce hundreds of masks.

“Our surrounding communities are in a struggle just getting by day by day,” said Jessica Poley, a Salesian volunteer in Ennerdale. “What’s very worrying is the young people walking from house to house begging for food. They are aware of all the rules of COVID-19 but have no choice but to go out and beg. Bear in mind, they don’t wear masks while in the streets. We are very concerned about this and have started making masks for the homeless and needy.”

Salesian missionaries have been providing education and social development programs to poor youth and their families long before the pandemic. Salesian programs are ensuring that youth have a firm educational foundation and hope for the future.

For example, since 1910, the Salesian Institute Youth Projects has been helping homeless, unemployed and impoverished youth in Cape Town, the second-most populous city and legislative capital of South Africa. Through the organization’s programs, Salesian missionaries provide shelter, education and workforce development services, meeting the basic needs of the youth they serve while helping them break the cycle of poverty.

The Salesian Institute Youth Projects consists of five main programs—an outreach program, the Center of Hope for homeless youth, a Learn-to-Live education program and two workforce development programs. The projects are managed by a diverse team, some of whom live on the premises to support youth in the hostel and outreach programs.

The Center of Hope provides a home for abandoned youth as well as technical and vocational classes. It is the only recognized school for street children in the country. Every day before the pandemic, 40 to 90 children and teens attended classes. To meet the lockdown orders, Salesian educational programs are taught online. Salesians have had to adapt to changing circumstance—something they are good at doing because they live in the community they work and know the local need better than most.

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Sources:

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

ANS – South Africa – Salesian Family provides aid to desperate population

Salesian Missions – South Africa

UNICEF – South Africa

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SOUTH AFRICA: 50 students graduate from Salesian Institute Youth Projects technical skills training

MissionNewswire — Thu, 05 Dec 2019 14:20:49 +0000

SOUTH AFRICA

(MissionNewswire) On Nov. 28, 50 students graduated from a technical skills training program that is part of the Salesian Institute Youth Projects. The students completed their courses specializing in hotel and catering, hairdressing and electrical work. Some of the students have already secured employment after graduation.

The Center of Hope provides a home for abandoned youth as well as technical and vocational classes. It is the only recognized school for street children in the country. Every day, 40 to 90 children and teens attend classes.

“Teaching these kids is extremely difficult,” says Salesian Father Patrick Naughton, who has been serving youth as a missionary in South Africa for more than 30 years and is currently the economer of the Salesian Institute. “They can’t stay focused for more than a quarter of an hour. The classes are composed of a maximum of 10 pupils and the level is not comparable to that of other schools. Nevertheless, here everyone has the opportunity to learn and change.”

The Salesian Institute’s Learn-to-Live education program is a school designed specifically for vulnerable and at-risk children and youth. Recognized as an independent school by the Western Cape Education Department, the program provides basic education and skills training for youth at risk who, for a variety of socio-economic reasons, are not able to succeed in mainstream schools. The school offers various levels of education for 13- to 19-year-old students. All students participate in academic classes and skills workshops and receive a cooked meal each day. Demand for the program is high, and 100 youth from the local communities and shelters in and around Cape Town access the program each day.

As part of the Learn-to-Live program, close to 40 youth over the age of 16 attend technical skills training workshops each day where they are taught basic skills in welding, wood and leather craft, as well as panel beating. The items they create are sold at local craft markets. Over the past three years, the program has secured partnerships with construction and engineering firms that employ youth from the program.

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Sources:

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

ANS – South Africa – 50 students receive diploma

Salesian Missions – South Africa

UNICEF – South Africa

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SOUTH AFRICA: A female welding teacher at Don Bosco Educational Projects empowers students to aim high in life

MissionNewswire — Fri, 23 Aug 2019 16:14:22 +0000

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries operate the Don Bosco Educational Projects, located in Ennerdale, a suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa. Innocentia Vilakazi is a welding instructor at the school. She succeeds in a male-dominated occupation and has a message for all young South African women who, like her, cultivate a passion. She tells them, “Always remember your worth.”

Vilakazi loves her work and working environment at the Don Bosco school. Mostly especially, she enjoys encouraging her students. She says, “I learn to appreciate these young people because they come from backgrounds that are tough and challenging. I learn to appreciate their talents and skills. Sometimes I want to fix situations that these youngsters go through, but then you realize, you can’t fix every situation. You can listen to what these young people go through. We can only do so much for them.”

One of the reasons Vilakazi likes working at Don Bosco Educational Projects so much is the personal growth that comes with the professional training for her students. She adds, “Here we work on their faith and we work on their personal and interpersonal skills. More is invested in developing the person. Just as the career is important, so too the soul, the spirit has to be taken care of.”

As a female welder, Vilakazi has faced her share of discrimination and notes she is more prone to exploitation. She has had employers look at her resume and think because she is a woman, she can’t work as fast as a man or as hard as a man. She counters that argument and says, “In actual truth, women are far better welders than men because it is a very delicate skill that requires precision. We live in a very superficial time where everyone wants to look pretty, have our nice nails…and then you get girls like me who are welders.”

In all of the work that Vilakazi does, at the heart is challenging her students to always do better and aim higher.

“You get youngsters who start this course and say to themselves, ‘I want to make burglar bars’ and I think to myself—no that’s not enough,” explains Vilakazi. “I tell them you must aim higher, design power stations, make boilers, create bigger things. When you have worked on a big project with others you can say that you made that. My stamp is on that. I’m proud to say that I was involved in the construction of the 2010 World Cup Stadia. I was even involved in the construction of the famous Medupi Power Station.”

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Sources:

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

ANS – South Africa – “Moulding the next generation!”. Interview with Innocentia Vilakazi

UNICEF – South Africa

Salesian Missions – South Africa

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SOUTH AFRICA: New vocational training center aims to educate poor youth, provide alternative to gang life

MissionNewswire — Tue, 13 Feb 2018 16:18:54 +0000

(MissionNewswire) A new Don Bosco Skills Training Center is being constructed in Delft, a small and overcrowded township on the outskirts of Cape Town, South Africa, according to an article in the Global Sisters Report. Salesian Sister Ana Maria Mainero hopes it will begin to provide an alternative to gang life for poor youth. In the Global Sisters Report article, Sr. Mainero, who works in Delft, is worried that gang life is so common in the township that it’s too easy for youth without alternatives to make the wrong decisions.

The Global Sisters Report notes that in 2016 there were 143 murders Delft, which has a population of roughly 152,000 people. That is almost four times the national murder rate of 25.6 murders per 100,000 people. In August 2016 alone, 31 people, most of them teenagers, were killed in as many days in gang-related violence in Delft. The article also indicates that gangs are strongest in areas like Delft with high unemployment, because young people here have no other option to survive economically. Gangs also bring other issues to the neighborhood including violence, crime, and drug and alcohol addiction.

Sr. Mainero said in the article that she believes that teaching young people concrete skills, combined with a healthy dose of confidence-building and faith learning, will help graduates land jobs that will keep them out of gangs. She said, “The great concern is that the gangs take the young people in at a very early age. The children are familiar with gangs, and they grow up with that as something normal.”

Sr. Mainero added in the article that many teenagers who come from broken families are desperate for a sense of belonging. Gangs provide both a surrogate “family” as well as a way to make money through theft or drugs. “It’s all part of the environment that is conducive for the kids to join the gangs,” said Sr. Mainero in the article.

“At any time of the day, there are shootings, because gangsters perceive people are invading their territory,” added Sr. Mainero in the article. “There is total insecurity. It’s devastating when you have to go out of the house and look around the corner to see if there is some suspicion or shooting that can develop. It’s a constant feeling of being alert, because even at lunchtime, the morning—any time is good to shoot.”

Through her work at the Jubilee Church of St. Lawrence, a Catholic church in Delft, Sr. Mainero is overseeing the construction of the Don Bosco Skills Training Center, which is expected to be completed in March 2018. Once built, the center will initially serve 15 youth at a time and provide training in literacy, computer literacy and hospitality skills, along with soft skills like self-confidence and responsibility. These courses will be designed for high school dropouts, a serious problem that further limits employment opportunities in a place where jobs are already scarce.

Poverty is extensive in South Africa with more than 45 percent of the population and more than 63 percent of children living below the poverty line, according to UNICEF. A significant percentage of the population struggles to survive on less than $1 a day. The country is plagued by high crime rates and violence against women and girls. It has been the hardest hit by the HIV/AIDS crisis in the world. There is an urgent need for education to help prevent the spread of the deadly virus and to help lift youth out of poverty.

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Sources:

Global Sisters Report – Where gangs are family, job training offers chance to escape violence

UNICEF – South Africa

Salesian Institute Youth Project (in Cape Town)

Photo courtesy of Don Bosco Delft Skills Training Centre’s Facebook page

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SOUTH AFRICA: Salesian Sisters operate education and social programs to aid youth in poverty

MissionNewswire — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 18:32:00 +0000

(MissionNewswire) Sister Helen Hartnett, with the Salesian Sisters of Daughter of Mary Help of Christians, facilitates an assistance program for families with children who have recently settled in the new settlements on the outskirts of Johannesburg, South Africa. The children who participate in the program come from extremely poor families and attend educational lessons up to the third grade. They also receive a daily meal while at school.

Since the ground is not suitable for the construction of buildings, containers have been set up as classrooms, a cafeteria and bathrooms. This work was mostly made possible through donations from local Hindu and Muslim groups, which also provide students with uniforms, books and food. The locals themselves police over the structure, keeping it safe from theft, vandalism and violence.

Salesian missionaries have been working to restore hope in South Africa, particularly among poor youth. From empowering youth (particularly girls and young women) to building schools and teaching trade skills, Salesian missionaries have a long history of affecting change in the country. Also in Johannesburg, Salesian missionaries and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians joined forces to create the Don Bosco Center at Ennerdale, on the outskirts of Johannesburg.

The center was 12 years in the making and combined separate programs run by the two organizations, one a skills training program and the other a school. The goal was to create one center offering both services to greater benefit the local youth. Through the assistance of donors helping to establish the center, a plot of land was acquired and a number of new buildings erected.

Even before they were completed they were occupied by children and older youth anxious to attend school or learn a trade. Don Bosco Center offers courses in hydraulics, carpentry, bricklaying, plastering, computers and electronics. Today, there are 200 children attending the school and 60 young people enrolled in the various professional courses. Another 60 youth are attending classes to complete their secondary schooling.

“Because Salesian missionaries live within the communities they serve, they see the local need and are able to develop programs to meet that need,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Education is the greatest tool in combating poverty and the collaboration of the two communities will strengthen and enhance the ability to help youth achieve educational success and break the cycle of poverty.”

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Sources:

ANS – South Africa – Over 500 children assisted every day

UNICEF – South Africa

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SOUTH AFRICA: Salesian Institute Gives At-Risk Youth a Second Chance for Productive Future

MissionNewswire — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 17:42:40 +0000

(MissionNewswire) Salesian Father Patrick Naughton, from Ireland, has been serving youth as a missionary in South Africa for more than 30 years. He is currently the economer of the Salesian Institute in Cape Town. Throughout his time as a missionary, Fr. Naughton has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of vulnerable and at-risk children and older youth. Salesian missionaries have been working in South Africa since 1896 and are leaders in the fight against poverty.

Since 1910, the Salesian Institute has been helping homeless, unemployed and impoverished youth in Cape Town, the second most populous city and legislative capital of South Africa. Through the Institute’s Youth Projects program, Salesians provide shelter, education and workforce development services, meeting the basic needs of the youth they serve while helping them break the cycle of poverty.

The Institute’s Youth Projects consist of five main programs—an outreach program, the Center of Hope for homeless youth, a Learn-to-Live education program and two workforce development programs. The projects are managed by a diverse team, some of whom live on the premises to support youth in the hostel and outreach programs.

The Institute’s Center of Hope provides a home for abandoned youth as well as technical and vocational classes. It is the only recognized school for street children in the country. Every day, 40 to 90 children and teens attend classes. The number fluctuates so wildly because the students show up when they feel like it.

“Teaching these kids is extremely difficult,” says Fr. Naughton. “They can’t stay focused for more than a quarter of an hour. The classes are composed of a maximum of 10 pupils and the level is not comparable to that of other schools. Nevertheless, here everyone has the opportunity to learn and change.”

The Institute’s Learn-to-Live education program is a school designed specifically for vulnerable and at-risk children and youth. Recognized as an independent school by the Western Cape Education Department, the program provides basic education and skills training for youth at risk who, for a variety of socio-economic reasons, are not able to succeed in mainstream schools. The school offers various levels of education for 13- to 19-year-old students. All students participate in academic classes and skills workshops and receive a cooked meal each day. Demand for the program is high, and 100 youth from the local communities and shelters in and around Cape Town access the program each day.

As part of the Learn-to-Live program, close to 40 youth over the age of 16 attend technical skills training workshops each day where they are taught basic skills in welding, wood and leather craft as well as panel beating. The items they create are sold at local craft markets. Over the past three years, the program has secured partnerships with construction and engineering firms that employ youth from the program.

Poverty is extensive in South Africa with more than 45 percent of the population and more than 63 percent of children living below the poverty line, according to UNICEF. A significant percentage of the population struggles to survive on less than one dollar a day. The country is plagued by high crime rates and violence against women and girls and has been the hardest hit by the HIV/AIDS crisis in the world. There is an urgent need for education to help prevent the spread of the deadly virus and to help lift youth out of poverty.

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Sources:

ANS – South Africa – Salesians cultivate hope. Through concrete projects

UNICEF – South Africa

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SOUTH AFRICA: Salesian Institute Adds Solar Panels to Save Electricity Costs and Ensure Consistent Power to Classrooms

MissionNewswire — Tue, 10 Jan 2017 19:38:56 +0000

(MissionNewswire) The Salesian Institute in Cape Town, South Africa has recently added solar panels to its campus buildings that provide education and technical skills training to youth. In recent years, the Salesian Institute has been faced with huge expenses for electricity and also frequent power losses that disrupted the educational environment. In response, Salesian missionaries have launched a project to purchase and install solar panels on all of the buildings.

By making this change, the Salesian Institute will have a continuous supply of electricity while reducing the cost. Funding can then be diverted to training and equipment maintenance and upgrades. With the purchase and commissioning of the solar panels, not only will the Salesian Institute have a clean and healthy environment, but it will be reinforcing an additional educational message about environmental impact. This also facilitates the sustainability of the mission and improves the quality of education offered by Salesians missionaries.

“Salesian programs are constantly evolving and advancing to meet local demands and keep up-to-date with technology and changes that can save programs the limited funding they have,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “The Salesian Institute provides a valuable service to the community educating youth and helping them to gain the skills necessary for employment.”

Poverty is extensive in South Africa with more than 45 percent of the population living below the poverty line, according to UNICEF. A significant percentage of the population struggles to survive on less than one dollar a day. Salesian missionaries have been working to bring hope, particularly to poor youth in South Africa. From empowering girls and young women to building schools and teaching trade skills, Salesian missionaries have a long history of affecting change in the country.

Through the Institute’s Youth Projects program, Salesian missionaries provide shelter, education and workforce development services, meeting the basic needs of the youth they serve while helping them break the cycle of poverty. The Institute’s Youth Projects program consists of five main programs – an outreach program, a hostel for homeless youth, the Learn-to-Live education program and two workforce development programs. The projects are managed by a diverse team, some of whom live on the premises to support youth in the hostel and outreach programs.

The Institute’s outreach program functions as a drop-in center working to build relationships with youth who live on the street or in government-built townships in the southeast of Cape Town, called the Cape Flats. Outreach workers provide support and assistance to close to 125 youth each month whose lives are often characterized by drugs, gangs, violence and abuse. Youth are able to access counseling, drug awareness and prevention programs, educational services and job assistance.

For those in need of additional care, a youth hostel accommodates 24 males between the ages of 18 and 26 who would not otherwise be able to access the Institute’s two workforce development programs. In addition to offering formal education, youth are invited to participate in informal life skills training and recreational activities, which help them focus on their studies and plan for their futures. Once training courses have been completed, job placement officers assist students in finding and retaining employment. Each year the hostel serves more than 60 young men.

The Learn-to-Live education program is a school designed specifically for vulnerable and at-risk children and youth. Recognized as an independent school by the Western Cape Education Department, the program provides basic education and skills training for youth at risk who, for a variety of socio-economic reasons, are not able to succeed in mainstream schools. The school offers various levels of education for 13- to 19-year-old students. All students participate in academic classes and skills workshops and receive a cooked meal each day. Demand for the program is high, and 100 youth from the local communities and shelters in and around Cape Town access the program each day.

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Sources:

ANS – South Africa – solar panels to reduce the cost of electricity and improve education

UNICEF – South Africa

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SOUTH AFRICA: New Porsche Program to Provide Training to 75 Youth

MissionNewswire — Thu, 08 Dec 2016 13:05:17 +0000

(MissionNewswire) Starting in July 2017, 75 disadvantaged youth in South Africa will have an opportunity to take part in a new training program known as the Porsche Aftersales Vocational Education program to learn the skills to become mechanics. This training is intended to open up new professional opportunities not only in Porsche but also in other brands of the Volkswagen Group. The program will be based in Cape Town and focus mainly on underprivileged youth from areas such as the Cape Flats.

The training program is organized in association with Don Bosco Mondo together with Don Bosco Salesian Institute Youth Projects in Cape Town and the Porsche importer in South Africa, LSM Distributors. The three parties signed an official memorandum of understanding on Nov. 30 at the Porsche Center in Johannesburg.

“A total of 75 young men and women will be given the opportunity to train as service mechatronics at the new Porsche Training and Recruitment Center in South Africa across three academic years,” noted a Porsche representative in a Wheels 24 article about the new training. “This training will unlock career opportunities for young adults, not only at Porsche itself, but also with other brands in the VW Group.”

Youth from disadvantaged backgrounds who are interested can apply for the training. They will have three different routes into the program, depending on their level of qualification. If an applicant is already sufficiently qualified for vocational training, he or she can access the two-year service mechatronic training program directly. Any applicants who do not possess the required qualifications can complete a six- to eight-week life skills training course at the Don Bosco Salesian Institute Youth Projects. If an applicant is lacking basic skills, he or she will be given the opportunity to complete a year-long vocational preparation course to prepare for the workforce. This option will be available for up to 50 people per year and will enable them to make significant progress in their personal development.

“A well-founded education is the key to success. Sadly, there are still too many people in this country who drop out of their course because they don’t see any prospects for them at the end of their training,” said Toby Venter, owner of LSM Distributors in the Wheels 24 article. “We want to encourage them and accompany them each step of the way. I am confident that they will emerge from the comprehensive 24-month training program with a stronger sense of self-confidence that will enable them to seize the opportunities that come their way.”

At the end of the program, 25 youth will be placed in jobs at Porsche or at one of its sister companies in the group such as Audi, VW or Bentley. The project is spearheaded by the Porsche Training and Recruitment Center Asia located in Manila, the Philippines where disadvantaged youth have had access to this training as service and bodywork technicians since 2008. In 2015, Volkswagen and Audi also took part in this program and, in collaboration with Don Bosco Mondo, more than 120 young Filipinos each year have received special training for a job in the post-sales sector of the three companies.

While the goal of the program is to train qualified staff for Porsche dealerships, the program in South Africa is also designed to establish a new training program. Porsche is developing curricula and examination regulations, training instructors, and equipping theoretical and practical lecture areas at the Don Bosco Salesian Institute Youth Projects in Cape Town.

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Sources:

ANS – South Africa – Salesians and Porsche working together for young people

UNICEF – South Africa

Wheels 24 – Want to work with sports cars? Porsche to train, employ 75 youngsters in SA

Salesian Missions – South Africa

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GLOBAL: World AIDS Day: Salesian Missions Highlights Programs Providing HIV/AIDS Education and Health Services

MissionNewswire — Thu, 01 Dec 2016 19:34:49 +0000

(MissionNewswire) Salesian Missions joins UNAIDS, the United Nations’ AIDS organization, and many other organizations around the globe in highlighting World AIDS Day 2015 celebrated each year on December 1. The day is held to honor AIDS victims and focus on prevention and treatment issues surrounding HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome).

This year’s theme is a continuation of “Getting to Zero” which has been an ongoing theme and focus of UNAIDS since 2011. In the last week of November, UNAIDS released a new report showing that countries are getting on the “Fast-Track to end AIDS by 2030” as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. The report notes that by adapting to a changing global environment and maximizing innovations, countries are seeing greater efficiencies and better results in treatment and prevention of the disease.

The report highlights that at the end of 2014, 36.9 million people were living with HIV and as of June 2015, 15.8 million people living with HIV were accessing antiretroviral therapy, up from 13.6 million in June 2014. This is a significant increase compared to 7.5 million people in 2010 and 2.2 million people in 2005. At the end of 2014, UNAIDS estimated that new HIV infections had fallen by 35 percent since the peak in 2000 and AIDS-related deaths had fallen by 42 percent since the 2004 peak.

“Every five years we have more than doubled the number of people on life-saving treatment,” said Michel Sidibé, executive director of UNAIDS in a recent press release about the new report. “We need to do it just one more time to break the AIDS epidemic and keep it from rebounding.”

In the report, UNAIDS urged countries to ‘break the AIDS epidemic’ by doubling the number of people receiving HIV treatment within the next five years. The organization highlighted the life-changing benefits of antiretroviral therapy that helps people with HIV live longer, healthier lives and has contributed to an increase in the global number of people living with HIV.

Salesian Missions, the U.S development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, has a long-standing commitment to prevention education, testing and access to treatment for those living with HIV/AIDS.

In South Africa, youth living on the streets are often faced with severe poverty, lack of education, abandonment, abuse and exploitation. Many have also been affected by HIV/AIDS as the country has been the hardest hit by the epidemic. To address these issues, the Salesian-run Life Choices organization has been providing health education, leadership classes, life skills training and HIV/AIDS services that have impacted more than 138,000 youth since its inception in 2005. Originally started with the support of the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) grant funding, Life Choices has been able to expand over the years with the support of donors and corporate sponsors.

Life Choices programs are offered in schools and students in grades 4 through 12 participate in educational workshops and activities designed specifically for each age group. The programs benefit youth by employing a multipronged approach to HIV/AIDS prevention. This approach not only offers health education on HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, but also offers life skills training, parent/teacher/community support, recreational activities, sports, youth camps, counseling and job placement services.

Life Choices’ Health4Life program provides one-on-one services to youth in schools and communities. It offers group talks around reproductive health, one-on-one psychosocial support and HIV counseling and testing sessions. The program also helps to connect youth who test positive to the medical services for ongoing support and antiretroviral therapy they need. The services aim to promote physical, mental and social well-being among youth with a special focus on HIV prevention and intervention.

“Access to healthcare and education as well as supportive services help youth improve their quality of life,” says Sofia Neves, managing director of the Life Choices program. It is important for young people to have access to the information and support that enables them to make healthy life choices in a supportive atmosphere with trusting adults they can turn to for information about prevention, testing and treatment options for those affected by HIV/AIDS.”

In Cambodia, the Don Bosco Children Fund provides services and support for AIDS orphans and children affected by HIV/AIDS in Phnom Penh, the capital and largest city of Cambodia and surrounding areas. More than 840 youth are receiving education and health services as a part of the fund’s Project HIV/AIDS. Through Project HIV/AIDS, the Don Bosco Children Fund aims to provide holistic and proactive programs on primary healthcare and education, improve children’s health and welfare with antiretroviral therapy and encourage public awareness and community involvement.

Salesian missionaries educate more than 1 million youth in more than 5,300 primary and secondary schools and nearly 1,000 vocational, technical and agricultural schools. To date, more than 3 million youth have participated in Salesian programs operated by more than 30,000 Salesian missionaries in more than 130 countries around the globe. Salesian programs provide poor youth and their families access to education, workforce development, humanitarian relief, youth clubs, health services, feeding programs and more.

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Sources:

Salesian Missions

UNAIDS – World AIDS Day 2015

2015 UNAID World AIDS Day Report

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SOUTH AFRICA: Salesian Life Choices Program Provides Hope and a Better Future for At-Risk Youth

MissionNewswire — Tue, 04 Aug 2015 15:19:21 +0000

(MissionNewswire) Youth living on the streets of South Africa are often faced with severe poverty, lack of education, abandonment, abuse and exploitation. Many have also been affected by HIV/AIDS as the country has been the hardest hit by the epidemic. To address these issues, the Salesian-run Life Choices organization has been providing health education, leadership classes, life skills training and HIV/AIDS services that have impacted more than 138,000 youth since its inception in 2005. Originally started with the support of the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) grant funding, Life Choices has been able to expand over the years with the support of donors and corporate sponsors.

In 2005, in partnership with South Africa’s Departments of Health and Education, Life Choices was established to provide youth living in the southwestern port city of Cape Town with education, training and support around the issues of HIV/AIDS, teen pregnancy, substance abuse, violence and unemployment. The organization’s programs are offered to youth in the communities of Athlone, Delft and Manenberg and are based on the belief that sustained and positive behavior change requires significant investment of time, one-on-one support and resources.

According to UNAIDS, the Joint United Nations program on HIV/AIDS, South Africa has been the country hardest hit by HIV/AIDS worldwide. There are 6.1 million people living with HIV in the country but the rate of new transmissions of the virus has slowed. UNAIDS data shows that new HIV infections have been reduced from 540,000 new infections in 2004 to 370,000 in 2012. That same year, according to South Africa’s National Department of Health, some 2.2 million people were accessing HIV treatment, making it the largest HIV treatment program in the world.

Life Choices programs are offered in schools and students in grades 4 through 12 participate in educational workshops and activities designed specifically for each age group. The programs benefit youth by employing a multipronged approach to HIV/AIDS prevention. This approach not only offers health education on HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, but also life skills training, parental/teacher/community support, recreational activities, sports, youth camps, counseling and job placement services.

For youth like Sinethemba who very early on in life joined a Cape Town gang, his life was a cycle of substance abuse, theft and violence. He was born to young and absent parents and abandoned by his extended family. He began drinking at the age of 13, was first arrested for robbery at 16 and was back on the streets within five months and this time with gang affiliation.

“I didn’t have any family to stop me,” says Sinethemba. “And the gang gave me a sense of belonging. It supported me financially and made me feel safer out on the streets. I felt powerful and respected and no longer a nobody.”

Thanks to a prison outreach program offered in parallel with the life-skills and vocational training programs provided by Life Choices, Sinethemba found his way out of despair and gained a renewed sense of belonging. Today, Sinethemba has become the role model he never had and aspires to be a leader and a good father one day. He is studying electrical engineering and theology and works directly with youth involved in substance abuse and gang activity.

“Salesian missionaries understand how important it is for youth to have the skills and knowledge to make healthy choices in life,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “The training and education provided by the Life Choices programs help young people of all ages gain the skills needed to make positive changes while understanding the consequences of their actions.”

Poverty is extensive in South Africa with more than 45 percent of the population living below the poverty line, according to UNICEF. A significant percentage of the population struggles to survive on less than one dollar a day. The country is plagued by high crime rates and violence against women and girls and has been the hardest hit by the HIV/AIDS crisis in the world. There is an urgent need for education to help prevent the spread of the deadly virus and to help lift youth out of poverty.

Salesian missionaries have been working to restore hope in South Africa, particularly among poor youth. From empowering girls and young women to building schools and teaching trade skills, Salesian missionaries have a long history of affecting change in the country.

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Sources:

Salesian Missions – South Africa: From Gang Member to Role Model

Salesian Institute’s Youth Projects

UNICEF – South Africa

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SOUTH AFRICA: Waves of Change Project Connects Disadvantaged Youth to Stable Employment in the Fishing Industry

MissionNewswire — Tue, 23 Dec 2014 23:57:38 +0000

(MissionNewswire) Poverty is extensive in South Africa with more than 45 percent of the population living below the poverty line, according to UNICEF. A significant percentage of the population struggles to survive on less than one dollar a day. South Africa is plagued by high crime rates and violence against women and girls and is the country hardest hit by the HIV/AIDS crisis in the world. There is an urgent need for education to help prevent the spread of the deadly virus and to help lift youth out of poverty.

For many years, Salesian missionaries have been working to bring hope, particularly to poor youth in South Africa. From empowering girls and young women to building schools and teaching trade skills, Salesian missionaries have a long history of affecting change in the country.

Since 1910, the Salesian Institute in Cape Town, the second most populous city and legislative capital of South Africa, has been helping homeless, unemployed and impoverished youth. Through the Institute’s Youth Projects program, Salesian missionaries provide shelter, education and workforce development services in an effort to meet the basic needs of the youth they serve while helping them break the cycle of poverty.

For the last four years, one of the Salesian Institute’s Youth Projects called the Waves of Change has been assisting unemployed youth in finding work in the fishing industry. Requiring minimal levels of education, jobs in the fishing industry can provide a significant income, a stable career path and extensive travel opportunities for poor youth. Some youth employed through the project have had the opportunity to travel as far as Antarctica.

“The fishing industry offers youth who may not have had the opportunity for extensive education to find a long-term stable career path in a field they might not otherwise have access to,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “The Waves of Change project is able to offer high-quality employees to the fishing industry while providing its students meaningful employment.”

The Waves of Change project offers a compulsory five-day life skills course after which, students who successfully complete the course are awarded financial assistance towards obtaining the required certification for work in the fishing industry through the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA). During the 2013 school year, more than 300 youth received education and life skills training through this program. Nearly 75 percent have already been placed into jobs within the fishing industry.

Recently, Salesian missionaries who oversee the project have been able to establish partnerships with training providers such as STC Table Bay, the Academy of Maritime Medicine and Pulse College, all of which offer free training and assistance to Salesian students. In addition, missionaries have continued to nurture long standing partnerships with Sea Harvest, Premier Fishing, the Oceana Group and others that hire graduates of the project.

“Partnerships with employers are a critical part of the Waves of Change project in order to help youth make a smooth transition from the classroom into the workforce,” adds Fr. Hyde.

The Salesian Institute’s Youth Projects consist of five main programs that include the Waves of Change project. In addition, the Institute provides an outreach program, a hostel for homeless youth, a learn-to-live education program and two workforce development programs. The projects are managed by a diverse group of individuals, some of whom live on the premises to support youth in the hostel and outreach programs.

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Sources:

Salesian Institute Youth Projects

UNICEF – South Africa

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SOUTH AFRICA: Salesian YES Project Provides Employment Opportunities to More than 300 Youth Each Year

MissionNewswire — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 20:29:30 +0000

Salesian missionaries have been working to bring hope, particularly to poor youth in South Africa. From empowering girls and young women to building schools and teaching trade skills, Salesian missionaries have a long history of affecting change in the country.

Since 1910, the Salesian Institute has been helping homeless, unemployed and impoverished youth in Cape Town, the second most populous city and legislative capital of South Africa. Through the Institute’s Youth Projects program, Salesian missionaries provide shelter, education and workforce development services in an effort to meet the basic needs of the youth they serve while helping them break the cycle of poverty.

The Institute’s Youth Employment Skills (YES) project provides training and job placement assistance to 320 disadvantaged, unemployed youth each year. Young people between the ages of 18 and 26 complete an intensive three-week life skills course before undergoing a five-week employment skills course. Students are taught employment skills in much needed industry sectors including bricklaying, tiling and laminated flooring, computer maintenance, computer literacy and office management. The Institute’s goal is to place every graduate into a job once courses have been completed. More than 80 percent of graduates have found employment to date.

“Salesian missionaries living and working in South Africa know the local economy and are able to tailor educational programs to ensure the best employment opportunities for students after they graduate,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “The addition of life skills training helps students make good life choices and be better employees.”

Most recently, the project has secured a partnership with Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) to ensure ongoing employment opportunities for youth in the program. To date, more than 100 youth have initiated their work experience at KFC. Because of the growing local demand for employment skills training, the YES project fills to capacity within a few hours of registration opening. As a result, Salesian staff are looking for avenues to expand that can offer additional employment training and job opportunities.

“The YES project has been very successful and continues to grow. The training is a win-win for the local economy and the students. Students receive the employment training they need to lead productive lives while employers gain access to highly skilled employees,” adds Fr. Hyde.

The Salesian Institute’s Youth Projects consist of five main programs that include the YES project. In addition, there is an outreach program, a hostel for homeless youth, a learn-to-live education program and two workforce development programs. The projects are managed by a diverse group of individuals, some of whom live on the premises to support youth in the hostel and outreach programs.

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Sources:

Salesian Institute Youth Projects

UNICEF – South Africa

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SOUTH AFRICA: Salesian Institute’s Youth Projects Provide Safety, Shelter and Education for Poor Youth

MissionNewswire — Thu, 23 Oct 2014 20:26:09 +0000

(MissionNewswire) Poverty is extensive in South Africa with more than 45 percent of the population living below the poverty line, according to UNICEF. A significant percentage of the population struggles to survive on less than one dollar a day. The country is plagued by high crime rates and violence against women and girls and has been the hardest hit by the HIV/AIDS crisis in the world. There is an urgent need for education to help prevent the spread of the deadly virus and to help lift youth out of poverty.

Salesians have been working to restore hope in South Africa, particularly among poor youth. From empowering girls and young women to building schools and teaching trade skills, the Salesians have a long history of affecting change in the country.

“Salesians living and working in South Africa tailor programs to specifically meet the needs of youth in the local communities they serve,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Homeless and hungry youth are not able to focus on educational pursuits or reach their full potential until their most basic needs are met.”

The Institute’s Youth Projects consist of five main programs – an outreach program, a hostel for homeless youth, a learn-to-live education program and two workforce development programs. The projects are managed by a diverse team, some of whom live on the premises to support youth in the hostel and outreach programs.

The Learn-to-Live education program is a school designed specifically for vulnerable and at-risk children and youth. Recognized as an independent school by the Western Cape Education Department, the program provides basic education and skills training for youth at-risk who, for a variety of socio-economic reasons, are not able to succeed in mainstream schools. The school offers various levels of education for 13 to 19 year old students. All students participate in academic classes and skills workshops and receive a cooked meal each day. Demand for the program is high and 100 youth from the local communities and shelters in and around Cape Town access the program each day.

As part of the Learn-to-Live program, close to 40 youth over the age of 16 attend technical skills training workshops each day where they are taught basic skills in welding, wood and leather craft as well as panel beating. The items they create are sold at local craft markets. Over the past three years, the program has secured partnerships with construction and engineering firms that employ youth from the program.

“Education is a direct path out of poverty, and once youth are able to enter a stable household and have their basic needs met, they are able to excel in school and lead a more productive life,” adds Fr. Hyde.

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Sources

Salesian Institute Youth Projects

UNICEF – South Africa

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SOUTH AFRICA: Salesians Collaborate to Open New Don Bosco Center

MissionNewswire — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 20:08:41 +0000

(MissionNewswire) Poverty is extensive in South Africa with almost 50 percent of the population living below the poverty line, according to UNICEF. A significant percentage of the population struggles to survive on less than one dollar a day. The country is plagued by high crime rates and gender-based violence against women and girls and has been the hardest hit by the HIV/AIDS crisis in the world. There is an urgent need for education to help prevent the spread of the deadly virus and to help lift youth out of poverty.

The Salesians have been working to restore hope in South Africa, particularly among poor youth. From empowering youth (particularly girls and young women) to building schools and teaching trade skills, the Salesians have a long history of affecting change in the country.

Most recently, the Salesians and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians joined forces to create the Don Bosco Center at Ennerdale, in the outskirts of Johannesburg. The Center was 12 years in the making and combined separate programs run by the two organizations, one a skills training program and the other a school. The goal was to create one center offering both services to greater benefit the local youth.

In late May, the new buildings of Don Bosco Center were completed and opened. The Center is dedicated to the memory of Father Declan Collins, an Irish missionary dedicated to working with street children, who was murdered in 2002. His murder aroused anger and great sorrow among the communities he helped. Far from deterring them, his death motivated the Salesians and Daughters of Mary Help of Christians to pursue his dream with greater commitment and collaboration.

“There are many children and youth on the streets not attending school or finding employment,” explains Father Robert Gore, administrator of the Southern African Vice-Province. “A single program was envisioned to provide schooling and trade skills to the poor youth in the community.”

Through the assistance of donors helping to establish the new center, a plot of land was acquired and a number of new buildings erected. Even before they were completed they were occupied by children and older youth anxious to attend school or learn a trade. Don Bosco Center offers courses in hydraulics, carpentry, bricklaying, plastering, computers and electronics.

Today, there are 200 children attending the school and 60 young people enrolled in the various professional courses. Another 60 youth are attending classes to complete their secondary schooling.

“The Salesians see a need in a community and develop programs to meet that need,” adds Father Mark Hyde, executive director of South Africa, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Education is the greatest tool in combating poverty and the collaboration of the two communities will strengthen and enhance the ability to help youth achieve educational success and break the cycle of poverty.”

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Sources

ANS – South Africa – Salesians and Daughters of Mary Help of Christians working together for disadvantaged young people

UNICEF – Poverty Rates in South Africa

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SOUTH AFRICA: First Lady’s Visit Highlights Importance of Youth Leadership for Country’s Future

MissionNewswire — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 19:35:50 +0000

(MissionNewswire) U.S. first lady Michelle Obama’s visit to South Africa has brought the world’s attention to a country where a significant percentage of the population must struggle to survive on less than $1 a day, according to the United Nations.

During her week-long goodwill tour through South Africa, the first lady’s focus was on the country’s youth and their vital role in its future.

During her June 22 speech addressing the Young African Women Leaders Forum in a Soweto township in Johannesburg, Mrs. Obama touched on the fact that in Africa, “people under 25 make up 60 percent of the population. And here in South Africa, nearly two-thirds of citizens are under the age of 30. So over the next 20 years, the next 50 years, our future will be shaped by your leadership.”

She then paused and asked the audience to think about the meaning of the word “leadership.”

“Because I know that so often, when we think about what that word means, what it means to be a leader, we think of presidents and prime ministers,” Mrs. Obama said in her speech. “And most young people don’t fit that image.”

She went on to talk about her belief that youth can be true leaders, and that the time is now.

“I am here because I know that true leadership—leadership that lifts families, leadership that sustains communities and transforms nations—that kind of leadership rarely starts in palaces or parliaments. That kind of leadership is not limited only to those of a certain age or status. And that kind of leadership is not just about dramatic events that change the course of history in an instant.”

Throughout South Africa, there are programs dedicated to the empowerment of youth—providing education and teaching leadership skills that will reshape the country and the world.

“It is only through the youth, that change truly happens,” says Father Mark Hyde, director of Salesian Missions, which operates such programs. “Through education and opportunities, we can fight poverty and open doors to a better life for the people of South Africa, and the world.”

The Salesians are providing hope to South African young people, he adds, many of which struggle to find their way in a country hardest hit by the HIV/AIDS crisis and plagued with high crime, and gender-based violence against women and girls.

“There is an urgent need for education to help prevent the spread of the deadly virus,” says Fr. Hyde, noting that the Salesians have been helping the children of South Africa since 1951.

Most recently, the Salesians have been working on HIV/AIDS prevention through a U.S. government-funded project that is part of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

Working in schools from grades 4 through 12, the “Life Choices” program aims to decrease HIV/AIDS prevalence, teen pregnancy, substance abuse and violence among youth.

“An important component is HIV voluntary counseling and testing as an effective method of preventing new infections,” says Nolawi Eshetu of the Salesian Missions Office for International Programs headquartered in New Rochelle, NY.

“The program also offers one-on-one counseling, career and guidance counseling, parental skills workshops and teacher sensitivity,” Eshetu adds, speaking from his home country of Ethiopia, where he is working on a program similar to the one in South Africa.

In a country devastated by HIV/AIDS and where 10 million people die every year from hunger-related diseases—according to the United Nations—breaking the cycle of poverty is a challenge that requires a comprehensive approach.

“But fighting disease and feeding them alone will not create brighter futures,” says Fr. Hyde. “We work each and every day in South Africa—and around the globe—to teach youth to care for themselves and for others. We work to create educated leaders from youth that otherwise would see little in their futures.”

At the Salesian Missions “Learn to Live” educational program in Cape Town, homeless street children arrive each day eager to learn and escape their lives on the street. Children ages 16 and younger learn math, literacy and life skills. Older students receive technical and vocational training.

“All youth become empowered to permanently leave the streets, continue schooling, obtain jobs and be reintegrated with their families and society,” says Fr. Hyde. “They receive the tools and guidance to do this. But most importantly, they have someone who believes in them.”

Photo: CHARLES DHARAPAK/AFP/Getty Images (2011)

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