NIGERIA

(MissionNewswire) The Youth Employability Booster Project celebrated its first graduation ceremonies across the three Salesian hubs in Nigeria of Abuja, Lagos and Obosi. The project equips Nigerian youth with market‑relevant skills designed to meet the demands of today’s workforce and is supported by the Mastercard Foundation and implemented in collaboration with Young Africa Nigeria.

A Salesian said, “Across the three centers, the graduations represent more than ceremonial achievements. They signify a strategic investment in Nigeria’s youth. Through strong partnerships and a shared vision, the Youth Employability Booster Project continues to foster economic inclusion, resilience and dignity among young Nigerians.”

At the Abuja Center in Kubwa, the first students celebrated the completion of the course. The ceremony was described as a moment of reflection and inspiration, as organizers commended the graduates for their consistency, resilience, and determination.

A Salesian noted, “Speakers emphasized that graduation marks not an end, but a significant step forward in the professional journeys of the young participants. Representatives of partner organizations reaffirmed their shared commitment to empowering Nigerian youth with employable skills.”

The graduation at Lagos Center featured industry engagement. Delivering the keynote address, Mayowa Adanlawo, a business development manager at Wema Bank, encouraged the graduates to embrace financial literacy, entrepreneurship and business growth as critical tools for long-term success. Theresa Amaechi, head of people, culture, and transformation at Workforce Group, shared practical perspectives on workplace culture, adaptability and professional excellence.

In Obosi, 114 participants celebrated their graduation. The mobile training model was widely praised for its transformative impact. By bringing high‑quality vocational education directly into local communities, the initiative has made skills training more accessible, practical, and life‑changing for young people..

About 64% of households in Nigeria consider themselves to be poor while 32% of households say their economic situation had worsened over a period of one year, according to UNICEF. Poverty still remains one of the most critical challenges facing the country and population growth rates have meant a steady increase in the number of people living in conditions of poverty.

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

ANS – Nigeria – Youth Employability Booster Project Celebrates Maiden Graduations

Salesian Missions – Nigeria

UNICEF – Nigeria

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(MissionNewswire) Salesians were able to provide scholarships to 325 youth thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. The youth came from 18 communities in five countries in West Africa, including Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea Conakry, Mali* and The Gambia. The Antonio César scholarships covered schooling, supplies and support for transportation.

Salesians also held awareness days to promote the importance of education for these youth, to encourage them in their studies and to prepare them for the future. These activities supported parents and Salesian confreres as well as helped schools address challenges in getting these youth to remain in school.

One of the youth supported through the program was 16-year-old Nathan. He is a student at St. Jean Bosco in Cotonou, Benin. Nathan lost his father when he was young and lives with his mother who has few resources.

Nathan said, “For a long time, I thought that my school journey would stop due to a lack of resources. I didn’t believe I’d be able to continue my studies, let alone be able to attend professional training. But everything changed thanks to the scholarship that I received. I was able to complete my secondary education and obtain my baccalaureate. I am now pursuing professional training with the firm desire to succeed and learn a profession and one day be able to support my family like they have supported me.”

He added, “This scholarship transformed my life. It gave me hope, confidence and a real direction to follow. I would like to express my deep gratitude the school and to all partners and benefactors who make this project possible. Thanks to you, young people like me can dream again and especially believe in a better future.”

According to the UNESCO Statistical Institute, sub-Saharan Africa has the highest rates of exclusion from education. More than a fifth of children aged about 6-11 are out of school, a third of children aged about 12-14 and nearly 60% of young people aged about 15-17. The region faces a growing demand for education due to its steadily increasing school-age population. Girls face greater exclusion from school than boys of the same age.

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Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions

UNESCO Institute for Statistics

*Any goods, services, or funds provided by Salesian Missions to programs located in this country were administered in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including sanctions administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control.

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IVORY COAST

(MissionNewswire) Salesian pre-novitiates in Korhogo, Ivory Coast, have a new residential accommodation thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. With the funding an addition was constructed and renovations were made which impacted the 25 young aspirants who live and are educated there.

The variety of facilities were designed and constructed to support residential, educational, and communal needs. This includes two dormitory rooms, one dedicated training room, a chapel for spiritual activities, a dining hall, and three rooms allocated for trainers, along with an administrative office. These spaces form a comprehensive complex aimed at fostering a supportive environment for residents and pre-novices.

Stephen Akyene, an aspirant, said, “The house now is perfect for young aspirants. The various pastoral activities that we take part in there are helping to form us into good Salesians. The house and space we now share will aid us in our growth both spiritually and academically.”

According to the World Bank, 46% of people in the Ivory Coast live in conditions of poverty — with 12% of the population living in severe poverty on less than $1.25 a day. The Ivory Coast has one of the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rates in West Africa. While a wide range of national and international initiatives focus on HIV/AIDS awareness, prevention and testing, the collapse of public health facilities in the north as a result of years of conflict has made the situation worse.

Salesian missionaries continue their work providing shelter, education and social development services to youth and their families. They also work with the victims of war to heal the country’s deep wounds. They listen, help victims seek compensation and work for social reconciliation between opposing groups. Known for their work with child soldiers around the globe, Salesian missionaries are also providing training for youth, some who had been aggressors during the war.

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Salesian Missions – Ivory Coast

World Bank – Ivory Coast

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BENIN

(MissionNewswire) Youth attending Foyer Don Bosco, located in Porto-Novo, Benin, received a shipment of nutritious meals through a partnership between Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, and Rise Against Hunger, a nonprofit that helps underserved people worldwide achieve food security and resilience through nutrition, education and economic empowerment. The meals fed 550 youth in the first half of 2025.

Porto-Novo faces issues related to urbanization, sanitation and high vulnerability of families. The need for food remains constant. Even when families manage to meet this need temporarily, the lack of stable income often causes the issue to resurface.

A Salesian noted, “One of the main successes of the project has been its strong emotional impact and positive reaction of the children. The project also contributed to improving the community’s nutrition with fewer cases of malnutrition-related illness reported. The feeding program also allowed children to remain focused on their education without interruptions from hunger.”

One of the recipients is Franck, age 10, who lives at Foyer Don Bosco. He said, “Beforehand, many of us did not always have enough to eat. Sometimes, we were hungry, and it was difficult to follow the lessons being taught. Today, we’re able to have meals and eat properly. When I eat, I am happy, I feel strong and I can learn well at school. For us, a meal is not just about eating. It is about finding joy, no longer thinking about the streets, and no longer being afraid to resort to stealing or begging. It is also knowing that someone, somewhere, is thinking of us and loves us.”

Fr. Emannuel Azagba noted, “On behalf of the Don Bosco Center in Porto-Novo, I extend our heartfelt thanks for the food assistance received through Rise Against Hunger. Providing a meal to a vulnerable child goes far beyond feeding. It is helping them believe in their future and grow in good health while keeping them in school without the burden of survival and protecting them from the street. It is also a way of preserving family unity in contexts where poverty often breaks bonds.”

For 30 years, the Don Bosco Center has been welcoming the most vulnerable children. Salesians protect, educate, train, and reintegrate them, restoring dignity and hope.

Children in Benin face significant challenges gaining an education within the country’s poor educational system. According to UNICEF, Benin remains one of the poorest countries in the world, with close to 70% of its population living in poverty. About half of all children between the ages of 5-13 are engaged in some kind of forced labor in the country, and almost 20% are chronically undernourished.

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Salesian Missions – Benin

UNICEF – Benin

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NIGERIA

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries were able to complete a water project at the Don Bosco Secondary School, located in Onitsha, Nigeria, thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. The project is part of the Salesian WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) program and funded by the Salesian Missions “Clean Water Initiative”. The project impacts 450 students at the school, 500 youth who use the youth center and 45 staff, as well as 1,340 members of the community who use the compound for training, summer camp, vocational training, formative programs and more.

With the funding, an additional borehole was installed, and the existing one was maintained. This significantly increased the availability of potable water within the compound. Enhanced hand-washing stations have been constructed at strategic locations, facilitating better hygiene practices among students and others. The project also included a total bathroom renovation with more toilets and sinks.

In addition, funding allowed for minor repairs of 18 classrooms, improving safety and comfort for learners. Salesians also installed solar lighting in various areas of the compound, enhancing visibility and security, especially at night.

A Salesian noted, “The local community expressed great satisfaction with the project and actively participated throughout its implementation. Many members generously contributed their time and resources, while some volunteered to assist with labor-related tasks. Their involvement was instrumental in the successful execution of the project and reflects a strong spirit of solidarity and ownership.”

Mike Okechukwu, a senior at the school, said the project had a great impact on students. He explained, “Before the construction of the new WASH facilities, we faced serious challenges. The old facilities were few, often overcrowded and difficult to maintain due to their deteriorated condition. Water flow was inconsistent, which made it hard to keep the environment clean. Students with physical disabilities also struggled, as the previous setup did not accommodate their needs. With the recent upgrade, everything has changed for the better. We now have easy access to clean toilets, hand-washing basins and waste bins placed around the school compound. The new facilities have significantly improved hygiene and the overall standard of our school.”

He added, “Students with physical challenges can now use the facilities comfortably, and they are truly happy about this inclusion. When our parents visited, they were very impressed with the transformation. I’ve shared this experience with my friends in other schools, and many of them wish for similar improvements in their own learning environments. We are deeply grateful to Salesian Missions for bringing such a meaningful development to our school. May God bless you abundantly.”

About 64% of households in Nigeria consider themselves to be poor while 32% of households say their economic situation had worsened over a period of one year, according to UNICEF. Poverty still remains one of the most critical challenges facing the country and population growth rates have meant a steady increase in the number of people living in conditions of poverty.

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Salesian Missions – Nigeria

UNICEF – Nigeria

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NIGERIA

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries with the Mary Help of Christians community have received the funding to support the Don Bosco Stitches project in Lagos, Nigeria. The donor funding is from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. The project is teaching young women an employable skill that they can utilize in seeking a job or starting their own business.

Donor funding was utilized to buy the necessary equipment for the classroom, which allows for hands-on experience to teach the students the sewing skills they need. Once they are ready to graduate, each student has a portfolio of samples to showcase their work. Each year, up to 45 young women will be prepared for the workforce.

One of the students said, “I’ve been here for four weeks and my experience so far with Don Bosco Stitches has been supportive and educational. Our teachers teach us with love. They are professional with everything they do, and they are calm when they instruct us. What some people learn in one year with other programs, we have learned in a month. We have achieved a lot, and the fear I once had about the future is gone. This is a great opportunity for all of us.”

Father Michael Conway, director of Salesian Missions, noted, “The goal is to empower and improve the livelihood of girls and young women, fostering social inclusion, financial independence and ensuring that they know their rights. Educating young women can raise entire families out of poverty.”

About 64% of households in Nigeria consider themselves to be poor while 32% of households say their economic situation had worsened over a period of one year, according to UNICEF. Poverty still remains one of the most critical challenges facing the country and population growth rates have meant a steady increase in the number of people living in conditions of poverty.

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Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions – Nigeria

UNICEF – Nigeria

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MALI

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco 2000 Association has started its second phase of a training project for migrants returning to Africa from Italy. The initiative, one of the few still operational in the area, has recently started training 150 people, with 60% of them women, for agricultural and commercial cooperatives. Aly Traoré, a migrant who has returned to Mali* as a bridge between Italy and Africa, is leading the training.

An event, coordinated by the Treccani Foundation, launched the project with an international video call with mayors, village chiefs and local leaders. The project’s circular cooperation model, based on the skills of migrants trained in Italy and who have returned to their countries, represents how training can advance people living in difficult circumstances. The project is financed by the Italian Ministry of the Interior.

“Many youth leave the region for a better life elsewhere,” said a Salesian. “We want to ensure that they are able to either have the skills and training they need to remain in their communities or have support after they return home with new skills. This project is ensuring that those trained elsewhere, like in Italy, are able to come back and put their skills to work. We want people to be employed and contributing members of their families and communities.”

Since 2012, Mali has faced a political and security crisis that has been concentrated mainly in the north of the country. The crisis has now reached the center of the country and is affecting hundreds of people, especially children. Since 2018, the country has seen an increase in violence, insecurity and serious violations of international humanitarian law. The country faced two coup d’états in August 2020 and May 2021, and it continues to be marked by political and economic instability.

UNICEF has indicated that more than 2 million children between 5 and 17 do not go to school. More than half of children are still not literate. Children in Mali often have to drop out of school to work, enter child marriages or because of school closures. The country also struggles to find enough qualified teachers and textbooks for students. Only 73.8% of girls and 85.5% of boys are enrolled in primary school and only 15% of girls and 21% of boys continue to secondary school, UNICEF reports.

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

ANS – Mali – Amid conflict and insecurity, ‘Don Bosco 2000’ starts training 150 young people and women with the RELINT project

Salesian Missions

UNICEF – Mali

*Any goods, services, or funds provided by Salesian Missions to programs located in this country were administered in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including sanctions administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control.

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NIGERIA

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries in Nigeria received donations thanks to partnerships developed by Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. Through the donations, students received laptops for their school work and religious items. They also received soccer balls from the men’s soccer team from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut.

The laptops were distributed to communities where the needs are greatest, including the Salesian Technical and Vocational Training Center in Ondo, the Vocational Training Center in Koko, and students in formation in Ibadan and Akure. The soccer balls were shared across Salesian youth centers in Osogbo, Ibadan, Lagos, Koko and Onitsha, bringing excitement for youth at these centers.

A Salesian said in a letter to donors, “On behalf of our youth ministry and communities, I write with great honor to express our heartfelt joy, appreciation, and thanksgiving for the generous gifts of laptops and balls we received. Your thoughtful donations have brought immense joy to our young people and to our centers.”

The Salesian added, “We are deeply grateful for this partnership and the tangible impact it has made. Your support strengthens our mission and inspires hope among the youth we serve. We remain open and hopeful to continue receiving such generous contributions in the future.”

According to UNICEF, Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country and the ninth most populous country in the world. By United Nations estimates, Nigeria will be one of the countries responsible for most of the world’s total population increase by 2050. While Nigeria has the second strongest economy in Africa, it also has extreme rates of poverty with 100 million people living on less than $1 a day.

About 64% of households in Nigeria consider themselves to be poor while 32% of households say their economic situation had worsened over a period of one year, according to UNICEF. Poverty still remains one of the most critical challenges facing the country and population growth rates have meant a steady increase in the number of people living in conditions of poverty.

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Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions – Nigeria

UNICEF – Nigeria

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NIGERIA

(MissionNewswire) St. Jude Science and Technical College in Nigeria has been able to upgrade its water system thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. The funding came from the Salesian Missions “Clean Water Initiative” and impacted 1,300 students, 70 staff and 350 youth from the community.

Salesians conducted a survey to understand the gaps in water supply, sanitation facilities, and hygiene practices in order to determine the best course of action for the project. This was followed by the construction and rehabilitation of the boreholes, wells and water storage. Salesians then launched school-based WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) clubs and outreach campaigns. Students and staff were trained on the operation and maintenance of the facilities.

Through the project, hand-washing points have been constructed at different places in the school compound. Existing toilets were renovated, and the project added more toilets in both the bathrooms for men and women and two for people with disabilities. Students and staff have easy access to the use of toilet facilities without any issue of overcrowding.

A Salesian noted, “The community played an active and enthusiastic role throughout the implementation of the WASH project. For many residents, both adults and children, the initiative introduced facilities and practices they had never encountered before. Their willingness to embrace the new systems and participate in training and maintenance activities reflects a promising foundation for long-term sustainability.”

Kumaga Joseph Tersor is a boarding student enrolled in the Department of Electrical Installation and Maintenance. He aspires to become a renowned engineer. He recalls that, until recently, the school only had a few pit toilets, which were inadequate for the student population.

Tesor recounted, “When the new toilet project began, we were thrilled. Our excitement grew even more when the project was completed. In fact, no other school in the entire Gboko area has a facility like this. For many students, this is their first encounter with modern sanitation. Our duties as prefects have become much easier — students no longer defecate in the bush, and they have been taught how to use the new toilets properly. When I shared this development with my friends, they were overjoyed. We are deeply grateful for this facility and extend our heartfelt thanks to the donor from Salesian Missions.”

About 64% of households in Nigeria consider themselves to be poor while 32% of households say their economic situation had worsened over a period of one year, according to UNICEF. Poverty still remains one of the most critical challenges facing the country and population growth rates have meant a steady increase in the number of people living in conditions of poverty.

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Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions – Nigeria

UNICEF – Nigeria

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(MissionNewswire) Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, joins humanitarian organizations and countries around the globe in honoring World AIDS Day celebrated each year on Dec. 1. The day is held to honor AIDS victims and focuses on prevention and treatment issues surrounding HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome).

World AIDS Day originated at the 1988 World Summit of Ministers of Health on Programs for AIDS Prevention. Every year since then, United Nations agencies, governments and civil society join together to campaign around specific themes related to AIDS.

U.N. AIDS has estimated 38 million people live with the virus, and more than 35 million people have died of HIV or AIDS-related illnesses over the past 40 years, making it one of the most destructive pandemics in history.

In the U.N. AIDS Global Update report, it is noted that in 2023 there were an estimated 1.9 million adolescent girls and young women aged 15-24 years living with HIV compared with 1.2 million adolescent boys and young men of the same age. Globally, 44% of all new HIV infections were among women and girls (all ages).

The agency has noted the world is off track to meet the 2025 targets for new infections and AIDS-related deaths. U.N. AIDS has indicated, “The urgency of now is that significant gaps remain in access to HIV prevention and treatment services that need to be filled. Further, unfair laws, discrimination and violence must be stopped to ensure access to treatment and prevention for all.”

Father Michael Conway, director of Salesian Missions, explained, “Salesian missionaries offer more than 150 medical clinics and hospitals around the globe that handle a wide range of medical care needs and are mostly in rural areas. HIV/AIDS prevention and testing programs are vital components of Salesian health care initiatives in Africa. The work of Salesian missionaries around the globe goes beyond education to ensure the well-being of our students.”

Navajeevan Bala Bhavan, a Salesian community within the Province of St. Joseph, Hyderabad, based in Vijayawada, India, recently received a certificate of recognition acknowledging the Salesian organization’s exemplary nutrition support programs for children impacted by HIV/AIDS. The certificate was given by the Andhra Pradesh State AIDS Control Society.

The Navajeevan Bala Bhavan’s Neethodu Integrated Counseling Center has been working across Vijayawada to serve individuals and families grappling with HIV since 2021. To date, the organization has reached 390 individuals, 234 adults and 156 children across 106 families, offering essential support to improve their quality of life.

Another program specific to addressing the risk of HIV/AIDS for young women is Don Bosco Fambul, one of Sierra Leone’s leading child-welfare organizations located in Freetown. Here Salesians offer the Girls Shelter GO+ program to support young girls who have been forced into sex work. Some of the girls are as young as 9 years old. Most of them have faced violence and sexual abuse. They include girls from other countries, villages or the poorest areas of Freetown who often are forced to provide financially for themselves and their families. Many of the girls have been infected with sexually transmitted diseases, as well as HIV, and are in need of medical care.

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INDIA: Salesians recognized for nutrition programs serving children impacted by HIV/AIDS

Salesian Missions

Sierra Leone: Over 600 girls rescued through program

World AIDS Day

Global AIDS Update 2024

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TOGO

Project part of ‘Clean Water Initiative’

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries at the Don Bosco Post-Novitiate House in St. John Bosco Community in Akodessewa, Lomé, Togo, added a new water purification and filtration system thanks to funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. The funding came from the Salesian Missions “Clean Water Initiative.”

The project included the construction of a water tower and tank for water storage, ensuring a reliable supply of water. Salesians also installed a filtration and purification system for potable and safe drinking water. This fresh water supply has improved the living conditions of the more than 130 members of the Salesian community in Lomé.

The community includes Salesians and students from several countries who are there to live and learn. The project also improves the lives of those who visit the community, including trainers and future students.

A Salesian explained, “Togo faces significant challenges with access to safe water and sanitation, particularly in rural areas where water is polluted by waste and wastewater. Even in the city, the cost of water to the general public is very expensive. Even if you decide to drill a borehole, you have to go deep and install a filtration system in order to get safe drinking water since it’s closer to the sea.”

One of the students impacted by the donation is Ombisa Salian Fred Germelan, a third-year philosophy student at the Don Bosco Institute who lives in the St. John Bosco community in Akodessewa. Since arriving on Sept. 5, 2023, he and his peers faced a significant challenge with accessing potable water due to a road project that rendered piped water undrinkable.

For two years, the community relied on kitchen water as a temporary solution, which was inconvenient. Since the project has been completed, there are no major issues with water supply and everyone in the community is grateful for the new clean water access.

More than 80% of Togo’s rural population lives in conditions of poverty making the country one of the world’s poorest, according to the World Bank. Children in the country suffer the most, with close to 50% of those living in poverty under the age of 18. One in eight children will not reach their fifth birthday, and the number of children who drop out of school because their parents cannot afford to educate them is high. Children are also often forced to work in exploitative and dangerous conditions to help support their families.

To learn more about the Salesian Missions Clean Water Initiative, go to SalesianMissions.org/water.

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Salesian Missions – Togo

World Bank – Togo

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SIERRA LEONE

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Fambul, located in Freetown, Sierra Leone, conducted a week-long cataract surgery campaign at a hospital in Waterloo in partnership with Visio Sense Fronteres from Spain. During the campaign, 217 people received free cataract surgeries to restore their sight and improve their quality of life.

The campaign was open to all and was free, reflecting the Salesian shared commitment to accessible, inclusive health care for vulnerable communities. In addition to the surgeries, post-operative medications were provided and reading lenses were distributed to those in need.

A Salesian explained, “We are very proud of the impact this initiative continues to have, not only in restoring vision, but also restoring the dignity and independence for hundreds of individuals. The success of this campaign has deepened our partnership with Visio Sense Fronteres, and we remain grateful for their continued collaboration as we work together to expand medical access and serve those who need it most in Sierra Leone.”

Don Bosco Fambul is a national leader in child protection, operating the largest interim care and therapeutic centers for abused children in the country. Since it was established in 1998 to rehabilitate and reintegrate child soldiers, it has grown to support the country’s most vulnerable children and youth through two main campuses in Freetown. Young people in the country face significant challenges in accessing education. With too few teachers and many school buildings destroyed in the war, resources are thin. Persistently high illiteracy rates mean that an estimated 70% of Sierra Leone’s youth are unemployed or underemployed.

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Don Bosco Fambul

Don Bosco Fambul Facebook

Salesian Missions – Sierra Leone

UNICEF – Sierra Leone

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Sierra Leone

(MissionNewswire) Young women with Don Bosco Fambul Girls Shelter Hope Plus Project, located in Freetown, Sierra Leone, received essential support including nutritional assistance, clothing and financial assistance. This support is provided to help ease some of the basic challenges they face while focusing on their education and skills training. With guidance from Father Edwin Tangie and the Hope Plus team, this initiative continues to serve young women who are poor and vulnerable.

A Salesian said, “The goal is to provide the stability and encouragement they need to prioritize learning, build sustainable skills, and move away from harmful coping mechanisms. We thank the sponsors of this project for keeping it alive and helping to create and build a better future for those in need.”

In May, eight young women were reintegrated back into society after spending two years at the shelter. These young women faced significant challenges with not being accepted back into their families, even after extensive mediation efforts. Despite these challenging circumstances, their determination to rebuild their lives never wavered.

The Salesian said, “Recognizing their potential, Don Bosco Fambul made the decision to empower these young women through comprehensive skills training in tailoring, catering and cosmetology. After successfully completing their vocational training, we provided them with household items, feeding support and business startup packages to help them establish independent, self-reliant lives.”

Don Bosco Fambul is one of Sierra Leone’s leading child-welfare organizations. Among the many services offered at the organization is a Girls Shelter for girls who have faced sexual and physical abuse. Hope Plus assists young women who have been forced into prostitution and youth in trouble with the law. It’s the only program in West Africa that provides services of this kind helping young women with a safe environment to overcome their traumas and start a new life.

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Photo courtesy of Don Bosco Fambul

Don Bosco Fambul

Don Bosco Fambul Facebook

Salesian Missions – Sierra Leone

UNICEF – Sierra Leone

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BURKINA FASO

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries in the St. Francis of Assisi community of Burkina Faso have a new chapel thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. The chapel is located in Bobo-Dioulasso, which is roughly 20% Catholic.

The community has nearly 300 people who lacked an adequate place for liturgical celebrations on Sundays or for on-site activities such as catechesis and spiritual meetings. The community only had a makeshift hangar that could not withstand bad weather, making it difficult to use at all times of the year.

A Salesian noted, “The construction of the chapel is stabilizing the Christian community and promoting a welcoming environment for families who have come to settle in the area. Catechesis and faith education activities will help the community grow and endure over time.”

Salesian missionaries have been working in Burkina Faso since March 1993. Missionaries first began their work in Bobo-Dioulasso, the second largest city in the country. Salesian missionaries provide education and social development services designed to create a sense of family among the most vulnerable children and those most at risk of social exclusion.

According to the World Bank, more than 46% of the country’s population lives in poverty on less than $1.25 per day. Burkina Faso has suffered from several serious droughts that have driven up food prices, affecting the country’s food supply and causing malnutrition among the poorest residents and children. Up until the 1980s, the country also dealt with devastating military coups.

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Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions – Burkina Faso

World Bank – Burkina Faso

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(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries in Kunkundjan Mariama, a small locality in Banjul, The Gambia, were able to increase their beekeeping activities thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. The Don Bosco Garden at the school now has an additional 30 hives, which brings the total number of hives up to 50. Salesians also trained 33 students how to care for the hives and extract honey.

The hives provide the school and the students a new opportunity for a source of income. The honey from the hives is collected and sold to those in the local community. A Salesian noted, “The additional hives serve as an additional revenue source and small income-generating opportunity, allowing the population to meet their needs.”

One of the participants, Edouard, noted, “I appreciated the training and hope to become a leader in beekeeping training. I’m going to take all that I’ve learned and train other students here at the school in how to tend to the hives and extract the honey.”

The World Bank has noted that with increasing labor incomes and decreasing inflationary pressure the extreme poverty rate dropped to 15.5% in 2024 in The Gambia. There remain struggles in the labor market leading to accelerating migration, including low labor-force participation, especially among young adults and women, few high-productivity job opportunities, and a widespread informal labor market.

The World Bank has further noted that while The Gambia made progress toward better living standards, large disparities remain. Access to water, electricity and other services rose for those of a middle income bracket while the poorest saw no improvements. Access to electricity and water remained below 20%.

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Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

World Bank – Gambia

Salesian Missions

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NIGERIA

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Institute, located in Ibadan, Nigeria, celebrated the graduation of students who gained skills for employment. The event was a joyous celebration of achievement, reflection and gratitude.

Among the graduating students, special mention was given to Ngambia Francois Rostand, Obayi Edward Ekene, Onwuliri Emmanuel and Anthony Nsika. The special awards emphasized the power of perseverance and commitment.

A Salesian noted, “Each graduate is a witness to perseverance and personal growth. It is the hope of the Salesian Institute that their journey will be one of meaning, service and continued success.”

Ibadan is the capital of Oyo State in southwestern Nigeria and the third most populous city in the country. According to a 2021 report by the United Nations Children’s Fund, one in 10 children in Ibadan can be considered homeless.

The Salesian noted, “Many of the youth in our region have faced significant challenges to access their education. They have experience abuse or exploitation. Through the Salesian holistic approach to education and protection, we offer youth the tools to become empowered and stronger, enabling them to set small goals, hone their abilities, and regain self-confidence through education.”

About 64% of households in Nigeria consider themselves to be poor while 32% of households say their economic situation had worsened over a period of one year, according to UNICEF. Poverty still remains one of the most critical challenges facing the country and population growth rates have meant a steady increase in the number of people living in conditions of poverty.

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Nigeria – Graduation ceremony for the young people from the Don Bosco Institute: a joyful celebration of achievements

Salesian Missions – Nigeria

UNICEF – Nigeria

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NIGERIA

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries have opened the Don Bosco Child Protection Center in Lagos, Nigeria, to provide shelter, education, and psychosocial support for children facing abandonment, abuse, or neglect. The opening is a milestone in the Salesians’ expanding efforts to support the future of youth who are disadvantaged.

This is the second protection center of its kind for the Salesians in Nigeria. They have been running a similar facility in Ibadan where children and youth study, learn a trade and, if possible, return to their families of origin. The Salesians, together with a team of social workers and educators, provide them with food, health care and psychosocial support.

A Salesian noted, “The Ibadan center aims to offer children at risk of abuse, abandonment or exploitation a safe and stimulating environment, where they can have the opportunity to grow in all dimensions, physical, emotional, intellectual and social, just like children who come from stable family contexts. Through a holistic approach to education and protection, the center offers these children the tools to become empowered and stronger, empowering them to redefine small goals, know their abilities and regain self-confidence.”

The Don Bosco Child Protection Center in Lagos was officially opened in a celebration attended by dignitaries and supporters of the Salesians. Among the special guests was Dr. Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, first lady of Lagos State, who praised the initiative as a vital step toward supporting vulnerable and at-risk children. She said, “This initiative aligns with the Themes Plus agenda of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu in ensuring inclusive growth and support for the most vulnerable.”

According to UNICEF, Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country and the ninth most populous country in the world. By United Nations estimates, Nigeria will be one of the countries responsible for most of the world’s total population increase by 2050. While Nigeria has the second strongest economy in Africa, it also has extreme rates of poverty with 100 million people living on less than $1 a day.

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ANS – Nigeria – Don Bosco Child Protection Centre Opens in Lagos with the Presence of Lagos First Lady

Salesian Missions – Nigeria

UNICEF – Nigeria

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MALI

(MissionNewswire) The St. John Bosco Center in Sikasso, Mali*, organized an “Open Day” to present the work and achievements of the institute to teachers, students, partners and guests. Visitors were able to admire original works, ranging from handicrafts to technical productions, all created by students as part of their training.

A Salesian explained, “The day was an opportunity for the students to showcase the fruits of their learning through the sale of products and a series of exhibitions. It also allowed the center and its partners to strengthen ties and open the school’s doors to the local community, curious to discover the skills developed in this place of education.”

Teachers and students guided visitors through the stands, explaining the techniques used and the educational objectives pursued. With this initiative, the Salesian center reaffirmed its commitment to quality vocational training, showcasing how the student’s newly learned skills could improve their lives and their futures.

Since 2012, Mali has faced a political and security crisis that has been concentrated mainly in the north of the country. The crisis has now reached the center of the country and is affecting hundreds of people, especially children. Since 2018, the country has seen an increase in violence, insecurity and serious violations of international humanitarian law. The country faced two coup d’états in August 2020 and May 2021 and continues to be marked by political and economic instability.

UNICEF has indicated that more than 2 million children between 5 and 17 do not go to school. More than half of children are still not literate. Children in Mali often have to drop out of school to work, enter child marriages or because of school closures. The country also struggles to find enough qualified teachers and textbooks for students. Only 73.8% of girls and 85.5% of boys are enrolled in primary school and only 15% of girls and 21% of boys continue to secondary school, UNICEF reports.

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ANS – Mali – Open Day at the St John Bosco Centre in Sikasso

UNICEF – Mali

Salesian Missions

*Any goods, services, or funds provided by Salesian Missions to programs located in this country were administered in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including sanctions administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control.

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NIGERIA

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries were able to renovate the Zefferino Namuncura Hostel in the St. John Bosco Community of Ondo, Nigeria, thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. Funding provided for structural repairs, and improvements to tiling, painting, plumbing, and the electrical system. The hostel was also able to install fire safety measures.

With this project completed, Salesians are able to provide affordable accommodations in a positive environment for students. This is enhancing their academic performance and providing a sense of social cohesion for the students.

Ogendengbe Gabriel, aged 24, is studying to be a computer programmer at the Don Bosco Institute and is one of the students living at the hotel. He explained, “Before this renovation, the drainage systems were very bad and severely polluting the environment. The building was looking unkept because it had not been painted for a very long time and some areas were never painted. The floor was rough and untiled.”

Gabriel was excited about the renovations. He added, “Now the hostel is better and habitable. Many of my friends were very happy with the renovation and more are willing to move into the hostel now.”

Salesian missionaries in Nigeria provide a range of social development and educational programs for youth who are poor and marginalized. The goal is always education, but Salesians know that youth often need extra support. Youth centers, feeding programs, health clinics and other programs help to ensure that youth are healthy and have their basic needs met so they can focus on school.

According to UNICEF, Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country and the ninth most populous country in the world. By United Nations estimates, Nigeria will be one of the countries responsible for most of the world’s total population increase by 2050. While Nigeria has the second strongest economy in Africa, it also has extreme rates of poverty with 100 million people living on less than $1 a day.

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Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions – Nigeria

UNICEF – Nigeria

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GHANA

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries at the Don Bosco Technical Institute and hostel, located in Odumase, Sunyani, Ghana, were able to expand the Don Bosco Chapel thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. The expansion allows the chapel to accommodate up to 400 people, an increase from 150 in the previous space.

The new chapel will be able to provide space for the 300 students who attend the institute, as well as the 60 children from the Don Bosco Boys Home and parishioners from the Mary Help of Christians outstation.

Michael Akornoba, a Salesian cooperator and member of the Don Bosco community, said, “The extension of the Don Bosco Chapel has brought freedom of worship and relief from harsh weather. We are now able to sit inside the church to listen to the priest. Some time ago, I used to sit outside because the chapel could not accommodate us all.”

Don Bosco Boys Home provides social support and education to boys in the care of Salesian missionaries. The center was established in 1989 for the rehabilitation of youth who are at risk. The rehabilitation and development process at the center is based on the needs and situation of each individual. The Don Bosco Technical Institute ensures that youth have the skills needed for later employment.

While Ghana’s economy continues to improve, nearly 45% of the population lives on less than $1 a day, according to UNICEF. Rural poverty remains widespread in the dry savannah region that covers roughly two thirds of Ghana’s northern territory. Small-scale farms suffer from a lack of infrastructure and equipment, both of which are needed to shift from subsistence farming to more modern commercial farming which would yield greater incomes and a chance to escape poverty.

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Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions – Ghana

UNICEF – Ghana

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NIGERIA

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries have been able to provide clean water for people in the village of Isi-Obi Ukwu, Nigeria, thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. The project, part of the Salesian Missions “Clean Water Initiative”, is positively impacting more than 3,300 people living in the village.

Isi-Obi Ukwu has poor road conditions and no stable electricity. The area lacked any safe drinking water. If there is water in the rainy season, it’s often polluted as flood waters drain into two rivers where villagers wash their clothes and soak their cassava bags for fermentation. Before drinking the water, people sift it and let it settle, and even then, the water can make them sick. In dry periods, the volume of the rivers is greatly reduced, leaving people with little water.

With donor funding, Salesians were able to drill a borewell then install a tank and solar pump. The new system provides safe drinking water and water for other uses, like cooking. As a result, there has been a decrease in waterborne illness and an increase in better hygiene practices.

One of the villagers impacted by the donation is Ebere Egbechuo. He said, “Before the borewell, we had to walk long distances for unsafe water. It was leading to health issues and took the time that could have been spent on more productive activities. My hope for the future is better health for all of us, especially the children in the village. I am concerned about making sure the borewell and pump remain working, and so we in the village are meeting to make sure we can do the upkeep and maintenance.”

According to UNICEF, Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country and the ninth most populous country in the world. By United Nations estimates, Nigeria will be one of the countries responsible for most of the world’s total population increase by 2050. While Nigeria has the second strongest economy in Africa, it also has extreme rates of poverty with 100 million people living on less than $1 a day.

About 64% of households in Nigeria consider themselves to be poor while 32% of households say their economic situation had worsened over a period of one year, according to UNICEF. Poverty still remains one of the most critical challenges facing the country and population growth rates have meant a steady increase in the number of people living in conditions of poverty.

To learn more about the Salesian Missions Clean Water Initiative, go to SalesianMissions.org/water.

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Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions – Nigeria

UNICEF – Nigeria

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NIGERIA

(MissionNewswire) Salesian sisters with Mary Help of Christians were able to start construction for a nursery and primary school in Ikorodu, Nigeria, thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. The foundation and raising of the walls of the new structure have been completed, and work is continuing. When finished, the school will educate 250 children, with priority given to young girls.

Salesian sisters have been in Nigeria since 2019 providing education for youth. In 2021, they bought land in Mowo-Kekere. They developed a skills training center for short-term courses to help educate youth to give them employable skills, and they also run an oratory. The structure is made of containers.

The sisters have been working in the community long enough that they are able to identify challenges for people in the community. One of the biggest is the lack of public primary schooling for the children, especially girls. The few private schools that are available have tuition that is too high for families who are poor. The project to develop a new school will ensure that children from these families will be able to access quality education.

“Education is the primary focus of Salesians and providing education, especially where there is a lack, is essential for community development,” said Father Michael Conway, director of Salesian Missions. “We support the Salesian sisters in their endeavor to ensure there is quality, accessible education for children from marginalized families. Education is one of the most effective pathways out of poverty.”

Salesian missionaries in Nigeria provide a range of social development and educational programs for youth who are poor and marginalized. The goal is always education, but Salesians know that youth often need extra support. Youth centers, feeding programs, health clinics and other programs help to ensure that youth are healthy and have their basic needs met so they can focus on school.

About 64% of households in Nigeria consider themselves to be poor while 32% of households say their economic situation had worsened over a period of one year, according to UNICEF. Poverty still remains one of the most critical challenges facing the country and population growth rates have meant a steady increase in the number of people living in conditions of poverty.

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Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions – Nigeria

UNICEF – Nigeria

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SIERRA LEONE

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Fambul, located in Freetown, Sierra Leone and one of the country’s leading child-welfare organizations, supports young women who have been victims of the sex trade by providing them with training in hotel, catering, tailoring, or hairdressing disciplines, or formal education. Recently, 35 school pupils and 50 skills training students received financial aid, food and clothing through support from donors including Medicor Foundation, Jugend Eine Welt, and the City of Vienna.

Every beneficiary received a bag of rice to help meet their nutritional needs, a cash contribution to support daily expenses, and a packet of assorted clothing items to enhance their comfort and dignity. This support is crucial in improving the overall well-being of the youth and enabling them to thrive in their respective environments.

Don Bosco Fambul also facilitates the Mobil Project, designed to identify areas where children living on the streets and girls involved in commercial sex work face significant risks. The project’s primary mission is to recruit youth in need into the program, provide them with rehabilitation and support, and reintegrate them into society as empowered individuals. In the 2024-2025 academic year, the Mobil Project proudly supported 55 students in grades ranging from primary and senior secondary school. The students received school bags, learning materials, and financial aid to cover their school fees and other associated expenses.

A Salesian said, “This crucial support ensures that these students can concentrate on their education without the burden of financial challenges. This remarkable achievement would not have been possible without the generous contributions of our incredible donors. Their unwavering support is making a lasting impact, transforming lives and paving the way for a brighter future for these children. We thank them for being a part of this journey.”

Over the last few years, Don Bosco Fambul has provided assistance for nearly 11,000 children and youth suffering violations of their fundamental rights. Through education, Salesians and a large multidisciplinary team of social workers transform the lives of youth to allow them to take control of their own lives. Don Bosco Fambul also offers a 525 Childline toll-free number, available throughout the country, 24 hours a day/7 days a week for youth who suffer any type of violence.

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

AOS – Embrace Newsletter October – December 2024

Don Bosco Fambul

Don Bosco Fambul Facebook

Salesian Missions – Sierra Leone

UNICEF – Sierra Leone

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NIGERIA

(MissionNewswire) The Salesian Technical and Vocational Training Center and Oratory in the Dominic Savio Community in Kubwa, Abuja, Nigeria, has new basketball and volleyball courts thanks to funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. The new courts will benefit more than 200 youth, families who visit the center on the weekend and the broader community.

With the new courts, Salesians will identify and nurture the talents of young people while encouraging them to engage with their peers through sports and physical activity. Sports will also help provide youth with life skills by promoting leadership, teamwork, discipline and communication. Further, the center will offer youth the opportunity to socialize and build stronger ties to their community.

Salesian missionaries in Nigeria provide a range of social development and educational programs for youth who are poor and marginalized. The goal is always education, but Salesians know that youth often need extra support. Youth centers, feeding programs, health clinics and other programs help to ensure that youth are healthy and have their basic needs met so they can focus on school.

According to UNICEF, Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country and the ninth most populous country in the world. By United Nations estimates, Nigeria will be one of the countries responsible for most of the world’s total population increase by 2050. While Nigeria has the second strongest economy in Africa, it also has extreme rates of poverty with 100 million people living on less than $1 a day.

About 64% of households in Nigeria consider themselves to be poor while 32% of households say their economic situation had worsened over a period of one year, according to UNICEF. Poverty still remains one of the most critical challenges facing the country and population growth rates have meant a steady increase in the number of people living in conditions of poverty.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions – Nigeria

UNICEF – Nigeria

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GHANA

(MissionNewswire) The Don Bosco Boys Home in Ghana recently held several educational competitions for youth to test their skills in debate, storytelling and math. The educational activities were designed to be fun and allow youth to connect with their peers while showing what they have learned.

Debate provided youth with the opportunity to enhance their English communication skills, learn teamwork and build confidence in public speaking. Four groups presented arguments on their assigned topics, structuring their points and responding to counterarguments, with the Magone Group declared the winner.

A Salesian explained, “Their excellent presentation skills, logical reasoning, and teamwork earned them the top position. The event was an exciting and educational experience, fostering a spirit of collaboration and friendly rivalry among the participants. It also served as an excellent platform to improve English skills and boost self-confidence.”

The boys also participated in a storytelling activity. Each of the four groups presented their story followed by a lesson-sharing session where feedback and advice were given. This activity allowed the boys to express themselves and learn from one another. The focus was not only on the stories but also on providing valuable advice to help youth develop their potential.

Finally, a math competition included various problem-solving tasks, fostering teamwork and friendly competition. The competition ended with the recognition of the winning team for their outstanding performance. Overall, the event was a success, offering both academic growth and a sense of camaraderie among the students.

While Ghana’s economy continues to improve, nearly 45% of the population lives on less than $1 a day, according to UNICEF. Rural poverty remains widespread in the dry savannah region that covers roughly two thirds of Ghana’s northern territory. Small-scale farms suffer from a lack of infrastructure and equipment, both of which are needed to shift from subsistence farming to more modern commercial farming which would yield greater incomes and a chance to escape poverty.

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AOS – Embrace Newsletter October – December 2024

Salesian Missions – Ghana

UNICEF – Ghana

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GHANA

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Solar Center, located in Tema, Ghana, launched the country’s first green hydrogen production system that generates hydrogen through water electrolysis powered by renewable electricity. Ghana’s national power grid often faces reliability issues and frequent outages. The project aims to mitigate these challenges by integrating a solar-powered hydrogen energy system consisting of an electrolyzer, a storage unit, and a fuel cell, all installed at the Salesian school as a pilot site.

An event marking the milestone was attended by distinguished guests, including the German Ambassador to Ghana Hon. Daniel Krull, along with industry professionals, students, and individuals with an interest in renewable energy. It was opened with a prayer and welcome speech by Father Krzysztof Nizniak who highlighted the significance of this achievement. Krull commended the collaborative efforts between Ghana and Germany in advancing renewable energy solutions. He reiterated Germany’s commitment to supporting sustainable energy initiatives in Africa.

Eleanor Mensah, from German Trade & Invest, spoke on the economic and environmental benefits of green hydrogen for Ghana and sub-Saharan Africa as a whole. Agnes Duband, representative of the European Union, joined via video link to congratulate the company, the people of Ghana and all stakeholders involved in the project. An afternoon tour included hands-on experience and an in-depth understanding of how green hydrogen can contribute to Ghana’s energy sector.

The project is coordinated by the Sustainable  Technology Laboratory at Bochum University of Applied Sciences in Germany, in collaboration with Don Bosco School in Tema, alongside Green Power Brains, SFC Energy and the Renewable Energy Center.

A Salesian said, “The launch of Ghana’s first green hydrogen system, with Salesians at the forefront, marks a significant step toward energy sustainability and lays the foundation for future advancements in renewable energy.”

While Ghana’s economy continues to improve, nearly 45% of the population lives on less than $1 a day, according to UNICEF. Rural poverty remains widespread in the dry savannah region that covers roughly two thirds of Ghana’s northern territory. Small-scale farms suffer from a lack of infrastructure and equipment, both of which are needed to shift from subsistence farming to more modern commercial farming which would yield greater incomes and a chance to escape poverty.

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

ANS – Ghana – Inauguration of Ghana’s First Green Hydrogen System

Salesian Missions – Ghana

UNICEF – Ghana

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MALI

(MissionNewswire) Youth from Touba, Mali* have been able to strengthen their education and personal development thanks to a project promoted by Bosco Global with the support of the Government of the Autonomous Community of the Balearic Islands in Spain. This project improved the facilities and activities of the Saint Jean Bosco Youth Center and school complex to expand educational opportunities for 150 youth in the rural community.

The youth center is a safe space where youth can learn, share and grow in an environment of trust. Through the project, educational, cultural and sports activities have been implemented. In addition, workshops on intercultural dialogue, human rights awareness, a culture of peace and co-education were conducted, increasing the participation of youth in building a more just and cohesive society.

One of the main initiatives of the project was the renovation and expansion of the youth center, with the construction of a new multi-purpose hall to accommodate more youth. This renovation allowed for new training activities and created a more suitable environment for youth development. In addition, the youth center achieved energy self-sufficiency thanks to the installation of 12 solar panels for a stable electricity supply, a crucial resource in a region where power outages are frequent.

The project placed a special emphasis on the empowerment of young women and girls, who are often in a more vulnerable situation. At least 30 young women and girls participated in specific events where they learned about their rights and acquired professional skills to improve their future opportunities. These events included training in basic literacy and income-generating activities such as soap and oil production. Salesians also provided meeting spaces to strengthen their participation in community life.

A Salesian noted, “This approach has been instrumental in breaking down barriers of inequality and encouraging women’s participation in all areas of the center. The space allowed young women to feel valued and express their opinions without inhibition.”

The results of the project were very positive. Eighty percent of the youth who participated have improved their educational and social skills. Youth have noted that the youth center is a place that offers them support and tools to face the future with more confidence and security. Their awareness of their rights and their active role in society was also strengthened, promoting a more engaged citizenship.

The project leader said, “The project experience demonstrates the importance of continuing to invest in education and in spaces that foster the personal and collective growth of young people. Bosco Global and the local Salesian community reaffirm our commitment to continue working to ensure that the youth of Touba have access to quality education and opportunities that allow them to build a better future.”

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

ANS – Mali – Education as a tool for change

Bosco Global

Salesian Missions

*Any goods, services, or funds provided by Salesian Missions to programs located in this country were administered in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including sanctions administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control.

The post MALI: Youth improve educational and social skills with new project first appeared on MissionNewswire.

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries in the Our Lady of Peace provincial community were able to provide 209 scholarships to youth who are disadvantaged thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. The Antonio César scholarship program took place in Benin, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Guinea, Mali* and Senegal.

According to the UNESCO Statistical Institute, sub-Saharan Africa has the highest rates of exclusion from education. More than a fifth of children aged about 6-11 are out of school, a third of children aged about 12-14 and nearly 60% of young people aged about 15-17. The region faces a growing demand for education due to its steadily increasing school-age population. Girls face greater exclusion from school than boys of the same age.

Youth receiving the scholarships were aged 8-25, and they were either orphaned or from families that could not afford their schooling.

A Salesian explained, “We want to ensure that all youth have a chance to gain an education, particularly girls who face greater disadvantages in accessing education. Salesians provide education and social development programs to support poor youth and their families. It is our goal to connect all youth, despite their disadvantages, to education where they can gain skills for later employment and to succeed in life.”

Salesians also promoted the importance of literacy and education among students to encourage them to remain in school. In 14 training centers, four colleges, two primary schools and one nursery school in the Salesian province, Salesians held 15-minute dialogue sessions with the youth before class each day. They encouraged youth, especially those whose parents do not have many resources, to count on Salesian support and to excel in their studies.

One of the lessons learned from the project was identifying how much support was needed by the 209 scholarship recipients. The Salesian said, “We have taken an individual approach to follow up for each student. To do this, we have ensured that we maintain constant communication. Next year, we will also have group activities to engage them more.”

The Salesian added, “We intend to continue supporting these 209 students as well as adding new youth who will benefit from our support. We express our gratitude to the donors of Salesian Missions, who have made this project possible.”

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Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions

UNESCO Institute for Statistics

*Any goods, services, or funds provided by Salesian Missions to programs located in this country were administered in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including sanctions administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control.

The post WEST AFRICA: Donor funding from Salesian Missions provides scholarships for 209 students first appeared on MissionNewswire.

SIERRA LEONE

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Fambul, located in Freetown, Sierra Leone, is a national leader in child protection, operating the largest interim care and therapeutic centers for abused children in the country. Since it was established in 1998 to rehabilitate and reintegrate child soldiers, it has grown to support the country’s most vulnerable children and youth through two main campuses in Freetown.

The Fort Street Campus includes a mobile project that conducts outreach programs and interventions for youth living on the street, while the Hope Plus Project provides education, skills training, and reintegration support for girls exploited in prostitution. In addition, the Pademba Project focuses on rehabilitating boys in conflict with the law, including those in detention. Salesians also operate the ChildLine, a 24/7 toll-free helpline for children in crisis, ensuring rapid response and referral to appropriate services.

At the Therapy Center Campus, Salesians operate a shelter for girls who have experienced abuse, trafficking, and cruelty. Staff provide psychosocial, medical, educational and legal assistance. At the Girls’ Shelter Plus, staff focus on rescuing and rehabilitating girls exploited in prostitution. The Child Care Center provides temporary shelter, care, and rehabilitation for boys, including those living on the street. Finally, the Group Home offers long-term alternative care for boys who have been rejected, neglected or abandoned, helping them rebuild their lives in a supportive environment.

A Salesian explained, “The Don Bosco Fambul Therapy Center operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week with qualified personnel, offering innovative programs and strategic partnerships. It features a metal training workshop and an automotive mechanic garage for beneficiaries engaged in skill development. The organization also works closely with local and international organizations to enhance its impact.”

Yappoh, age 18, is one of the youth who benefited from Don Bosco Fambul. Orphaned at a young age and a victim of child trafficking, he faced immense challenges with no family support. Through the intervention of the Sierra Leone Police and the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Yappoh was connected to Don Bosco Fambul.

Despite efforts to trace his relatives, none were found. Recognizing his potential, Don Bosco Fambul enrolled Yappoh in an auto mechanic workshop. He thrived in this environment, and his skills earned him the opportunity to assist at the Don Bosco garage, where he further honed his expertise.

The Salesian noted, “Yappoh’s transformation from a vulnerable trafficking victim to a skilled and promising young auto mechanic showcases the power of opportunity and determination. His story inspires others to overcome adversity with perseverance and the right support system.”

Another youth who sought safety at Don Bosco Fambul is Sando, age 9, who is a victim of sexual abuse. Sando and her sisters have been staying at Don Bosco Fambul for the past three years.

The Salesian said, “Sando faces significant challenges as she deals with the trauma of abuse while managing a difficult family situation. After losing her father, her mother, who is deaf, mute, and partially blind, is unable to provide support. It’s heartbreaking that other family members have not stepped in to help, and her uncle has even suggested adoption, feeling overwhelmed by the responsibility. This situation is incredibly tough for Sando and her siblings, and they truly deserve compassion and support.”

Despite Sando’s challenges, her determination to continue her education at Don Bosco Fambul is inspiring. Now in class three and performing well academically, she also engages in cultural dance, quiz competitions, and choir, which bring her joy and connection during this journey.

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Sources:

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

ANS – RMG – The social works that give life to Don Bosco today: “Don Bosco Fambul” in Freetown

Don Bosco Fambul

Don Bosco Fambul Facebook

Salesian Missions – Sierra Leone

UNICEF – Sierra Leone

The post SIERRA LEONE: Youth thrive with life-changing programs first appeared on MissionNewswire.

NIGERIA

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries are working in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, to provide education and support to youth who deserve a second chance at life. The first Salesians started parishes which have grown to larger educational facilities where youth go to get an education and skills for future employment.

In Gaduwa, Salesians began in 1992 with three families praying together. Today, a Salesian said, “The Salesian parish is now a full center with catechesis and social programs for the poor. Special attention is given to young people. For them, in the limited space available, there are small facilities for recreational, social and cultural activities, after-school activities, and opportunities to acquire manual skills.”

The St. John Mary Vianney Parish in Kubwa is the second Salesian location. It is located in a populous suburb characterized by a wide variety of ethnic groups from all over Nigeria. The parish was entrusted to the Salesians in 2017. It’s an established parish that is quickly growing, and new church is under construction to meet the needs of the community.

A Salesian noted, “The new large spaces available will allow us to further open our oratory, which has become a meeting point for the whole neighborhood. Recreational, cultural and educational activities help to create a spirit of peaceful coexistence, which breaks down ethnic barriers and makes social integration easier.”

Don Bosco Technical Institute is a part of this parish and offers a variety of courses for youth including electricity, solar technology, construction, plumbing, tailoring, aesthetics, catering, IT and communication. It was opened in 2023, and the demand for an education there is great.

The Salesian explained, “Faced with the difficulty of obtaining a degree in the country, a growing number of graduates without employment, and industrial complexes in search of skilled workers, youth are leaning increasingly toward the acquisition of a technical qualification that allows them immediate access to a job. The institute has fully responded to this new growing need.”

According to UNICEF, Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country and the ninth most populous country in the world. By United Nations estimates, Nigeria will be one of the countries responsible for most of the world’s total population increase by 2050. While Nigeria has the second strongest economy in Africa, it also has extreme rates of poverty with 100 million people living on less than $1 a day.

About 64% of households in Nigeria consider themselves to be poor while 32% of households say their economic situation had worsened over a period of one year, according to UNICEF. Poverty still remains one of the most critical challenges facing the country and population growth rates have meant a steady increase in the number of people living in conditions of poverty.

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Photo courtesy of Missioni Don Bosco

ANS – Nigeria – The two Salesian presences in Abuja, outposts of education, evangelisation and development

Salesian Missions – Nigeria

UNICEF – Nigeria

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GHANA

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Technical Institute, located in Ashaiman, Ghana, has new computers to aid the education and career development of students thanks to funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. With the funding, the institute was able to purchase new laptops with software that are housed in the computer laboratory.

Students at the institute are between the ages of 17-25 and are studying to gain skills for later employment or higher education.

One of the students who benefited is Noah Ahiabu, who struggled with completing assignments before the new computers. He says that in the span of just a few weeks, the students were working with the new computers, offering faster internet speeds, up-to-date software, and the necessary tools to bring learning to life.

He noted, “I remember using computers that took forever to load. Sometimes, I couldn’t even access the websites or tools needed for my assignments. Everything changed when we received funding from Salesian Missions for the new computers. This was a game-changer for me personally and the institute at large.”

Ahiabu added, “Salesian Missions’ commitment to supporting projects like this will provide myself and the school with a pathway to success — one that was once limited by outdated technology. Thanks to the donors and supporters of this initiative, students like me now have the tools to build my future, pursue my dreams, and shape a better tomorrow.”

Teachers at the institute are also grateful for the donation. Mary Efibah Tandoh, a teacher in the graphic design department and a staff member of the social communication department in the West Africa South (AOS) Province, said, “My biggest hope is to help my students prepare for the future, especially with technology. As a teacher, I want to give them all the tools they need to succeed, whether that’s in higher education or in their careers. As the person in charge of social communication of the province, this laptop will also help us to publish a range of informative newsletters and keep our websites up to date. It is also hoped that we can continue to grow as a school or institute, improving resources and opportunities for everyone.”

Tandoh added, “The new computers definitely helped ease a lot of the challenges we faced. The students can now access learning materials and do assignments more efficiently, and I can incorporate more interactive tools into my lessons.”

While Ghana’s economy continues to improve, nearly 45% of the population lives on less than $1 a day, according to UNICEF. Rural poverty remains widespread in the dry savannah region that covers roughly two thirds of Ghana’s northern territory. Small-scale farms suffer from a lack of infrastructure and equipment, both of which are needed to shift from subsistence farming to more modern commercial farming which would yield greater incomes and a chance to escape poverty.

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Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions – Ghana

UNICEF – Ghana

The post GHANA: Students benefit from new computers thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions first appeared on MissionNewswire.

(MissionNewswire) The Don Bosco 2000 Association has expanded its commitment in Africa with the launch of the Beteya Guinar project in The Gambia. The project provides a pathway to fight against irregular migration via an integrated supply chain for breeding and distributing chickens. Youth at risk of emigration will receive specific training, develop professional skills and find stable employment in their communities of origin.

This project comes after the positive results of a similar project in Tambacounda, Senegal, which received support from the Fondazione Opera Don Bosco Onlus in Milan, Italy and Opera Don Bosco Mondo in Lugano, Switzerland. The project in Senegal trained three youth who are now engaged in the management of the business.

Agostino Sella, president of Don Bosco 2000 Association, said, “We are excited to extend the project in The Gambia. The goal is to build a self-sufficient system that offers concrete perspectives to young people, preventing forced departures and promoting local development.”

The initiative works to ensure access to quality food products for local communities while strengthening the economic and social fabric. As in Senegal, technological innovations will be introduced in The Gambia with new sales methods to improve the quality of the services offered.

Sella added, “For us, the relationship with Salesian foundations is fundamental to support activities in Africa. We wish to deeply thank the foundations in Lugano and Milan, which allow us to carry out innovative projects. Thanks to their support, we can continue to build bridges of solidarity and promote a better future for communities.”

The Beteya Guinar project is one of the many elements of the Don Bosco 2000 Association’s commitment in Africa, which began in 2016 and grew thanks to the contribution of international partners and the enthusiasm of youth taking part in the projects.

The World Bank has noted that with increasing labor incomes and decreasing inflationary pressure the extreme poverty rate dropped to 15.5% in 2024 in The Gambia. There remain struggles in the labor market leading to accelerating migration, including low labor-force participation, especially among young adults and women, few high-productivity job opportunities, and a widespread informal labor market.

The World Bank has further noted that while The Gambia made progress toward better living standards, large disparities remain. Access to water, electricity and other services rose for those of a middle income bracket while the poorest saw no improvements. Access to electricity and water remained below 20%.

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

ANS – Gambia – Don Bosco 2000 launches the Beteya Guinar project in the Gambia, after the success in Senegal

World Bank – Gambia

Salesian Missions

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SIERRA LEONE

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries with Don Bosco Fambul, one of Sierra Leone’s leading child-welfare organizations located in Freetown, provided support to 217 girls who had been rescued from prostitution. Funding was possible through a Christmas concert at the Vatican in 2023 to raise awareness about human trafficking and child prostitution in Sierra Leone.

All of the girls received care and resources, while 86 underwent long-term rehabilitation and training sessions. Additionally, 137 girls participated in a shorter intervention program that included immediate crisis response, medical care and psychological counseling. The 217 girls had access to therapeutic rehabilitation as well as educational sessions designed to enhance their motor skills, concentration and physical fitness.

Each year, 160-180 girls undergo screening which help determine the root causes of their trauma. Following these thorough assessments, personalized plans are created to help the girls overcome symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.

At the Girls Shelter, Salesians provide three daily meals, clothing and personal hygiene products for 40-50 girls. Special assistance is offered to young mothers to meet the needs of their small children. Each week, 10-15 girls receive medical assistance including first aid, malaria treatment, and care for other ailments at the Don Bosco Fambul Hospital.

Approximately 40-50 girls have participated in customized informal lessons to prepare for reintegration into the formal educational system. Eight workshops have focused on hygiene, health, human rights, sexuality, sexually transmitted diseases, friendship, trauma healing techniques and anger management.

Not all the support at the Girls Shelter is so formal. A Salesian noted, “We organize outings to various locations to help the girls overcome their traumas. These precious moments provide opportunities for personal growth, relaxation and fun, allowing the girls to engage in activities such as swimming, beach volleyball, and sandcastle building.”

Support is rounded out with legal assistance and education about their fundamental human rights. Salesians engage in mediation with law enforcement to address minor offenses committed by the girls before arriving at Don Bosco Fambul, seeking alternative solutions to resolve disputes positively.

The Salesian explained, “This extensive project is divided into five phases including identification and reception, rehabilitation, support and legal representation, networking, and finally, tracing and family reunification. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of all those involved in the project, a remarkable 196 girls have been reintegrated into their families or have found placements with extended or foster families in the area.”

Salesian missionaries have been serving in Sierra Leone since 2001 when they began working to rehabilitate former child soldiers through Don Bosco Fambul. In the years since, Don Bosco Fambul, has been offering food, clothing, crisis intervention services, shelter, educational opportunities, long-term counseling and family reunification.

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Photo courtesy of Missioni Don Bosco

ANS – A Refuge of Hope – The Successes of the Girls Shelter

Don Bosco Fambul

Salesian Missions – Sierra Leone

UNICEF – Sierra Leone

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BENIN

(MissionNewswire) Salesian volunteers from Malta and France recently visited Cotonou, Benin to help provide support and resources for children who had been living on the streets. Two volunteers, Albert and Fay, were part of a mission led by “No Limits”, from the Friends of Don Bosco under the guidance and mentorship of Bryan Magro, the president of the World Confederation of Past Pupils.

The volunteers visited a center for street children run by the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. Thanks to the generosity of many sponsors, Albert and Fay were able to provide the children with essentials including school supplies, hygiene products, and large bags of rice and pasta.

Magro explained, “This year was the volunteers’ second visit to Benin. Nothing is impossible when you believe in Don Bosco’s mission for the young, especially the poor, because love really opens all doors, and these children teach us the best lesson of love.”

Salesian programs in Cotonou provide education and care. At the centers, children have their basic needs met including shelter, nutrition, clothing, and access to adults who help them feel safe and protected from the exploitation and violence many faced while living on the streets.

These centers often first provide psychological assistance when a child enters the program. Staff members work to understand the family or child labor issues facing each child. Then, children receive health care, food support, hospitality, housing, school reintegration and vocational training. Education ranges from primary and secondary school to skills training to prepare them for the workforce.

Children in Benin face significant challenges gaining an education within the country’s poor educational system. According to UNICEF, Benin remains one of the poorest countries in the world with close to 70% of its population living in poverty. About half of all children between the ages of 5-13 are engaged in some kind of forced labor in the country and almost 20% are chronically undernourished. Youth in Benin also face overwhelming challenges in combating poverty, one of the root causes of child trafficking.

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

ANS – Benin – The Friends of Don Bosco reach Benin: a dream realised with love and dedication

Salesian Missions – Benin

UNICEF – Benin

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NIGERIA

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries have been operating Bosco Boys Home since 2009 to meet the needs of children and youth living on the street in Ibadan, Nigeria. Salesians provide a peaceful environment where children and youth can study, learn a trade and have hope for a better life. They also have access to food, health care and psycho-social support through a team of social workers and educators.

A Salesian explained, “Growing wealth disparities, the high rate of people fleeing their homeland due to security problems and internal crises have made Nigeria one of the West African countries with troubling rates of abandoned children living on the streets.”

Ibadan is the capital of Oyo State in southwestern Nigeria and the third most populous city in the country. According to a 2021 report by the United Nations Children’s Fund, one in 10 children in Ibadan can be considered homeless.

A Salesian noted, “These children have faced abuse, abandonment or exploitation. At the Bosco Boys Home they have a safe and stimulating environment where they can grow physically, emotionally, intellectually and socially. Through a holistic approach to education and protection, the team offers these children the tools to become empowered and stronger, enabling them to set small goals, hone their abilities, and regain self-confidence.”

The Salesian Mission Office in Turin, Italy supports the Bosco Boys Home by providing funding to ensure that 30 children and youth access the services, including family reunification, if possible. In addition, funding supports the provision of teaching materials and vocational training courses as well as awareness programs about children living on the street.

About 64% of households in Nigeria consider themselves to be poor while 32% of households say their economic situation had worsened over a period of one year, according to UNICEF. Poverty still remains one of the most critical challenges facing the country and population growth rates have meant a steady increase in the number of people living in conditions of poverty.

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Photo courtesy of Missioni Don Bosco

ANS – Nigeria – Help for street children in Ibadan thanks to “Missioni Don Bosco”

Salesian Missions – Nigeria

UNICEF – Nigeria

The post NIGERIA: Children and youth receive shelter, nutrition and education first appeared on MissionNewswire.

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries have improved the socio-economic living conditions of youth and young adults through job market training in Kankan and Siguiri, Guinea. The funding for the project came from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco.

Donor funds were used to purchase training equipment for the St. John Bosco Centers in the two communities. The donation impacted 880 youth including 130 young women, ages 16-25, from the Kankan and Nzérékoré regions. The students come from families with low levels of education who earn their living mainly through the subsistence economy.

A Salesian explained, “Thanks to the additional training equipment available, the St. John Bosco Centers have been able to increase the number of classrooms where young people can receive training. This has made it possible to offer training to even more youth. In Siguiri, we have gone from 61 students in 2022-2023 to 100 students in 2023-2024. Similarly in Kankan, we have gone from 165 pupils in 2022-2023 to 181 pupils in 2023-2024. This project has been a great success.”

One of the students impacted was Emmanuel, who is attending vocational training at the center in Siguiri. He said, “The reason I came to the center was because I failed secondary school. I tried several times without success to take the baccalaureate exam, even though I had difficulty reaching the final year of secondary school. My classmates and parents advised me to do vocational training. I decided to train in building electricity and I’m in my second year.”

Emmanuel believes vocational training is important. He added, “My advice to my Guinean colleagues is to tell them that vocational training has a lot of advantages. We study to gain skills and a technical diploma that are in demand in companies. We can find work but also set up our own business and work privately to earn a living. That’s why I encourage my fellow students, because I’m proud to be doing vocational training.”

Despite its enormous human and natural potential, the Republic of Guinea is one of the world’s poorest countries. In the northeast of the country, about 74% of the population lives in extreme poverty. In other areas, many look to subsistence farming and employment in the informal sector, because people do not have the skills for the formal labor market.

The lack of prospects, but also the violations of human rights and ethnic tensions have led many Guineans to undertake the arduous journey to Europe. The number of asylum seekers originating in the country has risen sharply in Europe in recent years.

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Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions

UNICEF – Republic of Guinea

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TOGO

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries in Cinkassé, Togo, have a new vehicle to help them provide more outreach services to youth thanks to Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. Salesians have 10 outstations that they need to travel to beyond the main parish, which requires reliable transportation. Prior to the donation, the Salesians had one old car that broke often. Most of the time, Salesians had to use a motorbike or public transport, which limited what they could provide.

A Salesian noted, “Through well-defined outreach programs for youth, especially the poorest among them, we provide education and support to help them acquire the life skills necessary for holistic development to become better people, good Christians and honest citizens. We appreciate the donors who have made travel to the outstations possible, so we can reach even more youth.”

The Salesian community in Cinkassé was established in 1991. It is located on the border with Burkina Faso. The conflict in Burkina Faso has brought a wave of migration of people to Cinkassé.

Salesians operate a junior school with 411 students, secondary school with the hostel for 235 students, agricultural training, a small health center, youth education programs and the Catholic parish. They also provide pastoral care for those displaced.

More than 80% of Togo’s rural population lives in conditions of poverty making the country one of the world’s poorest, according to the World Bank. Children in the country suffer the most, with close to 50% of those living in poverty under the age of 18. One in eight children will not reach their fifth birthday and the number of children who drop out of school because their parents cannot afford to educate them is high. Children are also often forced to work in exploitative and dangerous conditions to help support their families.

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Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions – Togo

World Bank – Togo

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SIERRA LEONE

(MissionNewswire) People who were victims of a devastating fire in Bo City, Sierra Leone, received support and resources to ensure their safety, thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. Many of the people have a disability, such as blindness or a physical disability, and do not have jobs.

With donor funding, Salesians were able to provide shelter, health and hygiene support, education, and livelihood resources for 34 people including 15 children. Salesians were able to help the children enroll in school, cover their tuition and help with school supplies.

Mariama, who is blind and in her 40s, has spent most of her life asking for money on the streets of Bo City to help support her family. After the fire destroyed her home, she and her two children were left homeless and forced to seek shelter in an unfinished school with other families. The living conditions were poor, and they were at risk of violence. Salesians were able to provide immediate aid with nutrition for her family and medical support.

A Salesian noted, “To ensure that families will have ongoing support, we also strengthened our collaboration with local authorities and organizations to help families access health care, food and educational services. The goal is to provide for these families beyond the initial aid, so their lives are permanently changed for the better.”

Salesian missionaries have been serving in Sierra Leone since 2001 when they began working to rehabilitate former child soldiers through the organization Don Bosco Fambul. Young people in the country face significant challenges in accessing education. With too few teachers and many school buildings destroyed in the war, resources are thin. Persistently high illiteracy rates mean that an estimated 70% of Sierra Leone’s youth are unemployed or underemployed.

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Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions – Sierra Leone

UNICEF – Sierra Leone

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(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries in Niamey, Niger, have funding to support 250 families displaced from the communities of Makalondi and Torodi thanks to funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. Salesians are feeding 350 children who are at risk of dying from starvation. They have also been able to establish an emergency fund for the immediate needs of displaced persons.

A Salesian explained, “Being displaced from their communities, parents found it difficult to provide food for their children over the weeks of terrorist displacement. This lack of food was already degenerating to starvation and death until the support was provided. Since the provision of the support, the children have been cared for and nourished.”

Salesians are also providing a range of other services for families including temporary shelter for 61 families; water and kitchen items for cooking; and medical tests and treatments, especially for malnourished children and elderly people. Salesians are also ensuring access to education with preschool activities for children, literacy training for out-of-school adolescents, and awareness programs around personal hygiene, safety, first aid and security. Those who need extra support are also able to access counseling.

Niger, which is hosting more than 900,000 displaced people, is the main country of asylum in West Africa, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

According to the World Bank, Niger has a poorly diversified economy and is mainly dependent on agriculture. The extreme poverty remained stagnant at 48.4% in 2023 and is projected to increase to 49.9% by 2026. Close to 4.5 million people need humanitarian assistance, a number that rose from 3.7 million in 2022.

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Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions

UNHCR – Niger

World Bank – Niger

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SENEGAL

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries in Tambacounda, Senegal, have opened the Beteya Guinar Boutique to sell chickens. The boutique is the result of a collaborative project promoted by the Don Bosco 2000 Association and co-funded by the Don Bosco Works in the World Foundations in Lugano and Milan, Italy.

The boutique is the culmination of work to create a supply chain for the production and sale of locally raised chickens in the projects facilitated by the Don Bosco 2000 Association. Part of the strategy to combat irregular migration, the boutique provided three Senegalese youth at-risk of emigration with an opportunity for training in Italy and a stable job upon their return to Senegal.

During the opening of the boutique, Father Giovanni D’Andrea, provincial of the Salesians in Sicily, stressed the importance of projects like this one for sustainable development of local communities. Agostino Sella, president of the Don Bosco 2000 Association, highlighted the success achieved in making the project economically self-sufficient. Through the model, the youth participating in the project are able to independently manage the sale of chickens, guaranteeing a stable future for themselves and their families.

A Salesian explained, “The Beteya Guinar Boutique offers high-quality products. In addition, the initiative has introduced innovative forms of sales such as spit chicken, which has already met with great success among local consumers. Don Bosco 2000 Association will continue supporting similar projects in other regions of Senegal, contributing to the economic and social development of the country.”

Located on the west coast of Africa, Senegal has nearly half its population living in poverty. Crop failures due to extreme weather have impacted the economy, and 1.3 million people faced acute food insecurity during the lean season in 2023. Salesian provide education and social programs for poor and at-risk youth and their families in the county to help them break the cycle of poverty and become self-sufficient.

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

ANS – Senegal – “Beteya Guinar” Boutique opened in Tambacounda: an innovative and sustainable project by Don Bosco 2000

Salesian Missions – Senegal

World Bank – Senegal

The post SENEGAL: Youth gain opportunity through chicken sales project first appeared on MissionNewswire.

GHANA

(MissionNewswire) The Salesian St. Artemide Zatti Community in Ashaiman, Ghana, held a youth ministry leadership capacity-building and training workshop thanks in part to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco.

The goal of the week-long workshop in March was to increase the training capacity in the new province by promoting leadership skills, ideas and resources to help youth ministry managers become effective leaders to support youth.

At the end of the training, 33 youth ministry coordinators were trained in leadership skills, business development competencies and entrepreneurship. In addition, 20 Salesian communities are now equipped with materials for pastoral planning and vocational promotion to help establish the educative and pastoral community.

Father Krzysztof Nizniak, provincial economer, thanked Salesian Missions for its contribution. He said, “Your timely intervention for contributing to the capacity-building and training workshop will not be forgotten, as it has provided youth ministry coordinators and directors in our various youth centers and oratories with the knowledge, skills and capacity to improve the lives of youth and help them to build the competencies needed to become successful adults.”

While Ghana’s economy continues to improve, nearly 45% of the population lives on less than $1 a day, according to UNICEF. Rural poverty remains widespread in the dry savannah region that covers roughly two thirds of Ghana’s northern territory. Small-scale farms suffer from a lack of infrastructure and equipment, both of which are needed to shift from subsistence farming to more modern commercial farming which would yield greater incomes and a chance to escape poverty.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions – Ghana

UNICEF – Ghana

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SIERRA LEONE

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries operate the Don Bosco Socio-Sports School in Lungi, Sierra Leone, thanks to support from the Real Madrid Foundation and the Salesian Mission Office in Madrid. Through soccer, basketball and volleyball, youth, ages 5-17, are learning values and healthy hygiene and habits while improving their school performance.

Both the Real Madrid Foundation and Salesians are aware that sports are important for social integration and the promotion of values like teamwork, communication, respect and team spirit. As part of the Real Madrid Foundation’s “They play, we educate” program, participants receive nutrition, family and psychological support, regular health checkups, the opportunity to participate in social and educational workshops, gymnastics, crafts, reading, and citizenship activities. Training sessions on topics such as health, hygiene, values, and the prevention of alcohol, tobacco, and drug abuse are also provided.

The Don Bosco School has four soccer teams, two basketball teams and three volleyball teams, involving 70, 45 and 98 students, respectively. The school has been renovated for this season, and youth have access to all the equipment they need to learn and practice the sports. Students will also engage in competitions.

Ansuma, one of the youth involved in the school, said, “The school taught me much more than soccer. I have learned to control my temperament and now I also help at home and in school activities.”

M’Balia plays on the women’s soccer team. She explained, “In addition to my skills in dribbling, passing and controlling the ball, now I don’t get sick so easily. I discovered my vocation thanks to one of the sports subjects we are taught — physical health education.”

The partnership between the Salesians in Madrid and the Real Madrid Foundation began in 2010 in a Salesian school in Senegal. Today, the collaboration has 21 projects in 15 countries and serves nearly 4,000 children each season, using educational sport and its values as a catalyst for the social betterment of youth and communities.

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

ANS – Sierra Leone – Sport and health, with the Salesians and the Real Madrid Foundation, at the “Don Bosco” socio-sports school in Lungi

Salesian Missions – Sierra Leone

UNICEF – Sierra Leone

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LIBERIA

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries opened a multifunctional sports facility in Monrovia Central Prison in Liberia to provide support to the prisoners. The facility was built thanks to Don Bosco Mondo in Bonn, Germany, and has been dedicated to Pope Francis. Don Bosco Mondo received support from financier Peter Friemel. For years, he got on his bicycle and collected money from sponsors and donors on his tours. The 85-year-old has already collected €200,000.

Archbishop Walter Erbi, the Nuncio for Liberia, Sierra Leone and Gambia, opened and blessed the new sports facility. This was followed by the first soccer, basketball and volleyball games. After the awards ceremony, local music bands played and inmates celebrated the new facility.

The Monrovia Central Prison is constantly overcrowded due to the slow and sluggish judiciary. While the prison was built for 325 inmates, today there are over 1,500 prisoners crammed into the narrow cells. Overcrowding in the prison leads to a lack of food, water, hygienic standards and psycho-social support. These challenges often result in increased aggression and frustration among prisoners, as well as physical and mental illnesses and injuries. There were no opportunities previously for sports in the narrow area. The new arena is primarily intended to promote sport and health.

Salesians have been offering social and pastoral support in the prison since they arrived in Liberia in 1979. A Salesian explained, “Today, we work in the prison every day from morning to evening. The malnourished receive a warm and nutritious meal, the sick receive medical assistance, children and young prisoners receive psycho-social care in a specially built living area, and those wrongly held prisoner receive free legal assistance from lawyers. What is particularly important, however, is the pastoral offering, which is strongly geared to the situation and needs of the prisoners.”

An estimated 64% of Liberians live below the poverty line and 1.3 million live in extreme poverty, out of a population of 4.6 million, according to the World Food Programme. Food security is also affecting 41% of the population and making chronic malnutrition high.

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

ANS – Liberia – Opening and blessing of the “Pope Francis Arena” in the Central Prison of Liberia

Salesian Missions – Liberia

World Bank – Liberia

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GHANA

(MissionNewswire) Salesians in Ghana had the support they need to facilitate pastoral work and social programs thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. The St. Joseph Province in Ashaiman received funding to purchase a car so that Salesians could travel among the Salesian centers in Ghana, Togo, Liberia, Sierra Leone and the Ivory Coast. This enables Salesians to meet the needs of the various communities efficiently.

Additional donor funding was used to help support the activities at the Saint Dominic Savio Community in Tatale. Funding was utilized to provide basic needs for pastoral works of the parish and its 52 outstations. This included the provision of food items, electricity, medical treatment and fuel for transportation.

A Salesian said, “This funding goes a long way in ensuring that Salesians are able to meet the needs of those in their community and the surrounding outstations that they serve. Salesians must travel long distances for pastoral visits and to celebrate Catholic Mass. The travel is costly as is the upkeep of cars and motorbikes. Having reliable transportation is critical. The funding further supported meeting the basic needs of Salesians and routine maintenance of the facilities. We are grateful to the donors for their support of our work.”

While Ghana’s economy continues to improve, nearly 45% of the population lives on less than $1 a day, according to UNICEF. Rural poverty remains widespread in the dry savannah region that covers roughly two thirds of Ghana’s northern territory. Small-scale farms suffer from a lack of infrastructure and equipment, both of which are needed to shift from subsistence farming to more modern commercial farming which would yield greater incomes and a chance to escape poverty.

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Salesian Missions – Ghana

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SIERRA LEONE

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Fambul Hospital, along with its partners from Spain, conducted a medical outreach program early this year in During Town, Peninsula, Sierra Leone. The medical team, consisting of specialized eye doctors from Visió Sense Fronteres, offered a wide range of services including diagnoses and treatments for various eye conditions.

Care provided also included detailed examinations, prescriptions for corrective lenses and necessary surgical interventions. During the medical camp, 212 people received cataract surgeries.

A Salesian said, “We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the generous donors and partners who supported and made this impactful mission possible.”

The hospital is part of the broader Don Bosco Fambul, which is one of the country’s leading child-welfare organizations and located in Freetown. The organization has been on the forefront of efforts to help save young women who have faced abuse and prostitution and to rehabilitate street children and reunite them with their families.

Over the last four years, Don Bosco Fambul has provided assistance for nearly 11,000 children and youth suffering violations of their fundamental rights. Through education, Salesians and a large multidisciplinary team of social workers transform the lives of youth to allow them to take control of their own lives. Don Bosco Fambul also offers a 525 Childline toll-free number, available throughout the country, 24 hours a day/7 days a week for youth who suffer any type of violence.

In the last 25 years, Don Bosco Fambul has also earned recognition for having been at people’s side during the civil war and the Ebola epidemic. In addition, Salesians are on the front lines of helping residents during the floods and landslides that the capital suffers every year.

Salesian missionaries have been serving in Sierra Leone since 2001 when they began working to rehabilitate former child soldiers through the organization Don Bosco Fambul. Young people in the country face significant challenges in accessing education. With too few teachers and many school buildings destroyed in the war, resources are thin. Persistently high illiteracy rates mean that an estimated 70% of Sierra Leone’s youth are unemployed or underemployed.

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Photo courtesy of Don Bosco Child Protection Newsletter

Don Bosco Child Protection Newsletter Embrace Jan-March 2024, Page 21

Don Bosco Fambul

Don Bosco Fambul Facebook

Salesian Missions – Sierra Leone

UNICEF – Sierra Leone

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TOGO

(MissionNewswire) A group of people from Taltha Kum-Togo worked to raise awareness among children in vulnerable situations about the dangers of child trafficking. A total of 55 children, including 55 boys and 10 girls, benefited from the training. The presentations focused on the causes, consequences, and practices of child and human trafficking, as well as ways of denouncing and deterring such practices.

A Salesian said, “The children who attended the presentation were touched from the bottom of their hearts and are determined to fight against child trafficking. Together, let’s say no to smuggling and trafficking in persons.”

Salesians across Togo are working with street children and other populations who are vulnerable to trafficking. One of the centers is the Don Bosco Immaculate Child Protection Center, which was created in Kara in 1985 to provide shelter and support for street children. Salesian missionaries help engage them in productive activities to deter them from delinquent situations. Salesians also facilitate social and family reintegration.

The center provides support for youth between the ages of 5-17 who come from towns and villages in Togo. The youth live on the streets or are in conflict with the law, victims of early marriages, or orphans. While at the center, they attend primary, middle and high school. The center also provides trade courses for older students, which include carpentry and automobile mechanics.

In Kara, many youth do not have access to education, and youth unemployment is very high. Most young people have unskilled jobs and precarious working conditions, which makes them even more vulnerable. Salesian education is sometimes the only education they are able to access to become productive members of their community.

At the center, youth can receive help with their homework or tutoring if they are struggling with a school subject. The center also provides educational talks every Friday evening. During these sessions, youth have the opportunity to learn social skills for better engaging with peers, adults and their community.

More than 80% of Togo’s rural population lives in conditions of poverty making the country one of the world’s poorest, according to UNICEF. Children in the country suffer the most, with close to 50% of those living in poverty under the age of 18. One in eight children will not reach their fifth birthday and the number of children who drop out of school because their parents cannot afford to educate them is high. Children are also often forced to work in exploitative and dangerous conditions to help support their families.

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Photo courtesy of Don Bosco Child Protection

Don Bosco Child Protection Newsletter Embrace January-March 2024, Page 25

Salesian Missions – Togo

UNICEF – Togo

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SIERRA LEONE

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Fambul Childline, with the support of AEXCID and Atabal Foundation, launched a countrywide initiative to combat gender-based violence in Sierra Leone. The goals are to increase awareness on violence and mistreatment of youth, provide support for those impacted, and promote the 525 toll-free line. The program includes training sessions for a variety of stakeholders including students, educators, family support units, women and girls, and community members.

A Salesian explained, “Educating these groups about the nature of violence and mistreatment against women and children, how to recognize it, understanding the laws related to gender-based violence, and knowing where to report such incidents is crucial for the well-being and safety of the community. This 18-month campaign will be replicated in each of the 16 districts in Sierra Leone. We are thankful to our donors.”

The campaign aims to establish a network of support and resources for survivors of gender-based violence, as well as to challenge the social norms and attitudes that perpetuate such violence.

Don Bosco Fambul’s 525 Childline toll-free number is available throughout the country, 24 hours a day/7 days a week for youth who suffer any type of violence. Over the last four years, Don Bosco Fambul has provided assistance for nearly 11,000 children and youth suffering violations of their fundamental rights. Through education, Salesians and a large multidisciplinary team of social workers transform the lives of youth to allow them to take control of their own lives.

Salesian missionaries have been serving in Sierra Leone since 2001 when they began working to rehabilitate former child soldiers through the organization Don Bosco Fambul. Young people in the country face significant challenges in accessing education. With too few teachers and many school buildings destroyed in the war, resources are thin. Persistently high illiteracy rates mean that an estimated 70% of Sierra Leone’s youth are unemployed or underemployed.

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Sources:

Don Bosco Child Protection Newsletter Embrace January-March 2024, Page 18

Don Bosco Fambul

Don Bosco Fambul Facebook

Salesian Missions – Sierra Leone

UNICEF – Sierra Leone

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NIGERIA

(MissionNewswire) Children who live at and visit the Don Bosco Child Protection Center, in Onipetesi, Lagos, Nigeria, have fresh, clean water thanks to donor funding from the Salesian Missions “Clean Water Initiative.” Salesian Missions is the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. With the funding, the center was able to construct a borehole and tank stand, as well as provide maintenance for an old well.

The project is providing safe water for the 20 children who live at the center as well as the 80-100 children who visit it each day. Other members of the Onipetesi community who visit the center and Salesian staff at the center also benefit.

Salesians report that there are upwards of 100,000 children who live on the streets of Lagos. The center is a refuge for abandoned and homeless street children who have nowhere else to go. Some of the children are orphans while others have been physically abused or accused of witchcraft and sorcery. Salesians provide them shelter, meet their basic needs, and give them psychological and moral support.

A Salesian noted, “We are working in collaboration with social workers, lay collaborators, and the Lagos State government to provide protection to children, offering them an educative and sane environment to grow. The Child Protection Center also has a youth initiative program open to other children who visit the youth center for recreational activities and educative programs.”

One of the challenges for the center has been the lack of consistent potable water capable of serving the growing needs of the children, educators and Salesians who visit the center each day. The old well did not produce adequate water and constantly broke down. The new borewell will alleviate these issues and ensure that those at the center have the water they need.

Salesian missionaries in Nigeria provide a range of social development and educational programs for poor and marginalized youth. The goal is always education, but Salesians know that youth often need extra support. Youth centers, feeding programs, health clinics and other programs help to ensure that youth are healthy and have their basic needs met so they can focus on school.

About 64% of households in Nigeria consider themselves to be poor while 32% of households say their economic situation had worsened over a period of one year, according to UNICEF. Poverty still remains one of the most critical challenges facing the country and population growth rates have meant a steady increase in the number of people living in conditions of poverty.

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Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions – Nigeria

UNICEF – Nigeria

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IVORY COAST

(MissionNewswire) At the Marie Dominique Center, located in the Koumassi suburb near Abidjan, the capital of the Ivory Coast, 236 young women started professional training to help them improve their skills and living conditions. The center is run by the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians to improve women’s access to work in an area that has high levels of illiteracy. Young women receive high-quality education and recreational options in the Koumassi district.

The educational project is known as “Guaranteeing access to the labor market through vocational training for young women at the Marie Dominique Center in the district of Koumassi, Abidjan, Ivory Coast” and aims to respond to the needs of young women. The project is facilitated by Bosco Global.

Virginia Martín Lorenzo, with Salesian Bosco Global, said, “Thanks to this quality training as beauticians, hairdressers, seamstresses, cooks, and in the hotel disciplines, young women have access to the labor market and now have the opportunity to generate their own income, which benefits them as well as their families and communities.”

Lorenzo added, “Links will be established with local companies and employers, which will facilitate the integration of young graduates into the labor market, creating a bridge between training and employment.”

The Daughters of Mary Help of Christians settled in Koumassi in October 1993 to respond to Bishop Akichi’s call to provide educational support for the many women in the region who lacked educational options and faced social isolation and exclusion. In 1995, a socio-educational complex for youth was built. This complex includes a Center for the Promotion of Women and Vocational Training and a Youth Center, which offers socio-cultural and sports activities.

According to the World Bank, 46% of those living in the Ivory Coast live in conditions of poverty — with 12% of the population living in severe poverty on less than $1.25 a day. The Ivory Coast has one of the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rates in West Africa. While a wide range of national and international initiatives focus on HIV/AIDS awareness, prevention and testing, the collapse of public health facilities in the north as a result of years of conflict has made the situation worse.

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

ANS – Ivory Coast – Providing formation and development opportunities to young women in need

Salesian Missions – Ivory Coast

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NIGERIA

(MissionNewswire) The Salesian Hostel in the Don Bosco community of Onitsha, located in the Anambra State of Nigeria, has the support needed for a new roof project thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. While the roof is not yet completed, the funding helped pay for construction of roof beams, fabrication of the iron trusses, and connection, fixing and anchorages of the structural steel works.

Close to 800 youth, ages 11-18, are boarders of the hostel and will benefit from this project. The roof also creates a safer workplace for educators, Salesian staff and personnel at the hostel. A Salesian noted, “This new roof is ensuring a safe and comfortable environment for everyone who is staying and working at the hostel. We are grateful for donor support.”

Salesians have been working in Nigeria since 1982, providing social and educational support for poor youth and their families. Currently, Salesians have five technical and training centers in the country, two child protection centers, a health care center, a secondary school, nine youth centers and one formation center.

Salesians also operate a school of philosophy and six job service offices to help youth who are graduating from Salesian schools with access to employment. In addition, Salesians have two farm projects and a migration office, and they have completed 41 water boreholes to ensure clean water across Nigeria.

According to UNICEF, Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country and the ninth most populous country in the world. By United Nations estimates, Nigeria will be one of the countries responsible for most of the world’s total population increase by 2050. While Nigeria has the second strongest economy in Africa, it also has extreme rates of poverty with 100 million people living on less than $1 a day.

About 64% of households in Nigeria consider themselves to be poor while 32% of households say their economic situation had worsened over a period of one year, according to UNICEF. Poverty still remains one of the most critical challenges facing the country and population growth rates have meant a steady increase in the number of people living in conditions of poverty.

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Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions – Nigeria

UNICEF – Nigeria

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SIERRA LEONE

(MissionNewswire) Located in Sierra Leone’s capital city of Freetown, Don Bosco Fambul is one of the country’s leading child-welfare organizations. It has been on the forefront of efforts to help save young women who have faced abuse and prostitution and to rehabilitate street children and reunite them with their families. In December 2023, the Salesian organization celebrated its 25-year anniversary.

Over the last four years, Don Bosco Fambul has provided assistance for nearly 11,000 children and youth suffering violations of their fundamental rights. Through education, Salesians and a large multidisciplinary team of social workers transform the lives of youth to allow them to take control of their own lives. Don Bosco Fambul also offers a 525 Childline toll-free number, available throughout the country, 24 hours a day/7 days a week for youth who suffer any type of violence.

In the last 25 years, Don Bosco Fambul has also earned recognition for having been at people’s side during the civil war and the Ebola epidemic. In addition, Salesians are on the front lines of helping residents during the floods and landslides that the capital suffers every year.

Don Bosco Fambul has two buildings where youth receive assistance. The original building houses the 525 Childline staff as well as the staff for the bus that goes out at night to meet with youth on the streets. There are also staff that go to the Pademba Prison each day to provide food, psychosocial support and recreational activities to the most vulnerable inmates, especially the youngest and the sick.

The original building also supports the Girls Shelter and the Girls OS+ (Hope Plus) program that aids victims of the sex trade through training in hotel, catering, tailoring or hairdressing disciplines, or formal education. The Eco project focused on reducing plastic waste and increasing tree planting is in this original building.

The second location was built outside the city. The Fambul Therapeutic Center complex near the sea is surrounded by greenery and large recreational areas. The complex includes four large residential buildings for youth accepted into the various programs. They receive education and legal and psychological support as well as family reunification, when applicable. The complex also has sports fields, a health clinic, a nursery and accommodations for volunteers.

During a celebration of the anniversary, Salesian organizations that support Don Bosco Fambul came from around the globe for an event. The event was also attended by members of various ministries of the government of Sierra Leone, international organizations and official representatives of the embassies of Spain and Germany.

Raquel Fuente, head of the Department of International Cooperation for the Development of Salesian Missions, together with Dr. María Eugenia Hernández, head of Anglophone Africa, delivered a commemorative plaque to Father Piotr Wojnarowki, director of Don Bosco Fambul, in recognition of this collaboration.

“The work of Don Bosco Fambul is the best example of child protection. Don Bosco worked all his life in Italy for the most vulnerable minors and young people, and Don Bosco Fambul does just that, thus expressing the best demonstration of Salesianity,” said Hernández.

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

ANS – Sierra Leone – Don Bosco Fambul, a reference point for the protection of children’s rights in Sierra Leone, celebrates 25 years of service

Don Bosco Fambul

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LIBERIA

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries support inmates at the Monrovia Central Prison for Juveniles in Liberia. Their newest initiative is the construction of a multifunctional sports arena on the prison grounds. The construction project, which is supported by Don Bosco Mondo in Bonn, Germany, will be dedicated to Pope Francis.

“This project is a very significant step forward in our educational-pastoral work with prisoners, especially with young offenders,” said Father Augustine Okeke, rector of the Salesian community in Monrovia-Matadi.

Salesians have been giving support in the prison since they arrived in the country in 1979. Today, they provide food for those who are malnourished, medical assistance and psycho-social care in a specially built living area of the prison. For those who are wrongly held, Salesians help connect young inmates with lawyers who offer free legal assistance. Salesians also offer pastoral care including prayer, individual and group discussions, Bible lessons, the Sacraments of the Eucharist, and confession.

The prison is overcrowded due to the slow work of the judiciary system in the country. It was initially built for 325 inmates, but today, there are over 1,500 prisoners in the narrow cells. Overcrowding has led to a lack of food and water, poor hygienic standards, and a lack of psycho-social support. These in turn have led to increased aggression and frustration among prisoners, resulting in physical and mental illnesses and injuries.

Salesians hope that the addition of an area where prisoners can exercise and form sports teams will encourage working together and moments of peer-to-peer support. Prison officials are rallying behind the project.

Varney Lake, superintendent and head of the Central Prison, said, “It is only through this initiative that sport activities will soon return after so many years. That’s what I call a real Don Bosco celebration.” He emphasized the importance of sports as a therapeutic measure in the prison system.

Salesians noted that the donor was involved from the very first moment of planning. Fr. Okeke explained, “It is important to us that the donor is also involved during and after the project implementation. Even though he lives far away, he should know that he can make a difference with his own resources.”

The donor, 85-year-old Peter Friemel from Germany, has been collecting money from sponsors for his bicycle tours for many years. After some time, the project was granted permission to go ahead.

An estimated 64% of Liberians live below the poverty line and 1.3 million live in extreme poverty, out of a population of 4.6 million, according to the World Food Programme. Food security is also affecting 41% of the population and making chronic malnutrition high.

Whether working to rehabilitate former child soldiers or assist young women in overcoming barriers to education, Salesian programs in Liberia are providing opportunities for youth to live up to their potential through both academic and social programs.

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

ANS – Liberia – Salesians build “Pope Francis Arena” in Liberia State Prison

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SIERRA LEONE

(MissionNewswire) Youth at Don Bosco Fambul in Freetown, one of Sierra Leone’s leading child-welfare organizations, have a new chapel thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. Don Bosco Fambul provides a range of programs to support youth who are living on the streets, girls who have faced sexual abuse, young women who have been forced into prostitution and youth in trouble with the law.

A Salesian missionary at Don Bosco Fambul noted, “The Don Bosco chapel in Don Bosco Fambul’s Child Protection Center provides a safe and nurturing environment where youth can find comfort, solace and hope. Many of the youth who come to the center have suffered physical, emotional or sexual abuse and are traumatized by their experiences.”

Before the chapel, Salesians were holding Catholic Mass in the corridors of the building, By providing a chapel within the center’s facilities, youth now have a designated space where they can reflect, meditate and receive spiritual guidance. The chapel provides a peaceful and calming environment, which can aid in the healing process. It also offers a sense of community where youth can connect with caring adults and their peers, developing a sense of belonging essential for their well-being.

The Salesian added, “The chapel also provides a space for staff, volunteers and supporters who understand the importance of helping youth who have been through such difficult times, allowing them to experience a sense of hope and comfort. The chapel will complete the therapy center and give staff a place to reflect during their breaks. Their mental health while doing this critical work is as important as that of the youth we serve.”

Don Bosco Fambul social workers go out to the streets, poor neighborhoods, and marketplaces to engage with vulnerable youth and encourage them to join Don Bosco Fambul’s programs. The organization has four large buildings, a clinic, accommodations for volunteers and social workers, a house for the Salesian community, and the chapel. The Child Protection Center, where the chapel is located, currently serves 125 young men who stay an average of three months.

One of the beneficiaries is Osman, who experienced child trafficking and was intercepted along the Sierra Leone-Guinean border. The whereabouts of his parent are unknown. Osman takes the auto mechanic’s course at the Don Bosco garage, and Salesians have been impressed with his commitment to skills training.

Another beneficiary is Musa, who had been living with his father and mother in the eastern part of Sierra Leone. After his father’s sudden death, he came to Freetown because his mother could not provide for him. He ended up living with his elderly sister who forced him into child labor. He left to live on the street and survived for more than a year washing dishes and sleeping in market stalls. Staff of the mobile unit at Don Bosco Fambul found him and brought him into the group home. Musa is now honing his skills in welding and improving every day.

In addition to the youth and staff at Don Bosco Fambul who will use the chapel, it is also open to the more than 2,000 in the village community. While nearly 80% are Muslim, because of the pastoral work of the Salesians, they will join the congregation for prayers, especially on Sundays.

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Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Don Bosco Fambul

Salesian Missions – Sierra Leone

UNICEF – Sierra Leone

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SIERRA LEONE

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Fambul in Freetown, one of Sierra Leone’s leading child-welfare organizations, has added staffing support thanks to a grant from the Flora Family Foundation secured by Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. The Flora Family Foundation was established in 1998 by the family of William R. Hewlett (co-founder of the Hewlett-Packard Company) and his wife Flora Lamson Hewlett to support social progress, environmental well-being and cultural vibrancy.

Don Bosco Fambul provides a range of programs to help support youth who are living on the streets, girls who have faced sexual abuse, young women who have forced into prostitution and youth in trouble with the law. With the funding, Don Bosco Fambul was able to add a program manager, advocacy officer and communications officer.

Thanks to the staffing support, Don Bosco Fambul raised public awareness about child sexual exploitation and promoted its Child Line 525 for reporting child abuse and crimes committed against children. Through an advocacy campaign, Don Bosco Fambul staff educated the public about sex offenses, child rights, sexual exploitation and the consequences when these laws are broken. They also provided information on the channels by which the public can access justice in such cases.

Don Bosco Fambul celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2023. It is operating a shelter for young girls who have faced sexual abuse and are in need of support and education. Recognizing the specific need for girls who had been forced into prostitution, Father Jorge Crisafulli, former director of Don Bosco Fambul, created the Girls OS+ (Hope Plus) program inside a therapeutic center. Since the program launched six years ago, it has changed the lives of more than 600 girls.

Fr. Crisafulli said, “The main aim of the Girls Shelter OS+ program is to reach out to underage girls who are involved in prostitution and help them off the streets, offering a safe environment where they can access holistic rehabilitation and physical, psychological, and spiritual healing. The goal is to help them recover their dignity through education and skills training and reintegrate back into their community.”

A young woman named Mable was one of the beneficiaries of the program. She explained, “I was able to access the resources I needed to change my life. This included education at the Portree Vocational Training Center where I studied hairdressing. During the training, I was given food, clothing and financial assistance. I was even given a start-up kit when I graduated. Today, I make a good living in my salon.”

In addition to these services, Don Bosco Fambul also has social workers who go out to the streets, poor neighborhoods and marketplaces. They engage with vulnerable youth and encourage them to join Don Bosco Fambul’s programs. The organization has four large buildings, a clinic, accommodations for volunteers and social workers, a house for the Salesian community, and a chapel. It’s the only program of its kind in West Africa that provides girls who have been sexually abused or forced into prostitution with a safe environment to overcome their traumas and start a new life.

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

Don Bosco Fambul

Flora Family Foundation

Salesian Missions – Sierra Leone

UNICEF – Sierra Leone

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SIERRA LEONE

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries have been serving in Sierra Leone since 2001, when they began working to rehabilitate former child soldiers. In the years since, Don Bosco Fambul, located in the capital city of Freetown, has become one of the country’s leading child welfare organizations. It offers food, clothing, crisis intervention services, shelter, educational opportunities, long-term counseling and family reunification.

At the core of Don Bosco Fambul’s work is a program for street children. The organization has a staff of 120, including Salesian social workers who go out to the streets, poor areas and marketplaces. They engage with vulnerable youth and encourage them to join Don Bosco Fambul’s programs.

The success of the street children rehabilitation program is credited to its holistic approach which focuses on meeting basic needs like food and shelter in addition to personalized medical, psychological, pedagogical, social and spiritual care. Salesians reach out to an estimated 2,500 street children in the region each year.

Rehabilitation is a gradual process that includes formal classes, daily games, sports, music, drama, dancing, counseling and prayer. The parents and extended families of participants are contacted several times by social workers before final reunification.

Don Bosco Fambul has also been operating a shelter for young girls who have faced sexual abuse and are in need of shelter, support and education. Recognizing the specific need for girls who had been forced into prostitution, the Girls Shelter GO+ program was created. Since the program launched six years ago, it has changed the lives of more than 600 girls, given them the opportunity to start a new life and provided access to education.

Whether working with a young boy who has been living on the street or a young woman forced into prostitution, psychological support is a critical part of the work at Don Bosco Fambul. A Salesian noted, “Don Bosco Fambul Therapy Center is the first and one of the biggest in Sierra Leone. We offer therapeutic sessions for minors and survivors of all forms of abuse.”

The organization has four large buildings, a clinic, accommodations for volunteers and social workers, a house for the Salesian community, and a chapel. It’s the only program of its kind in West Africa that enables girls to live in a safe environment to overcome their traumas and start a new life.

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Photo courtesy of Don Bosco Fambul

Don Bosco Fambul

Salesian Missions – Sierra Leone

UNICEF – Sierra Leone

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NIGERIA

(MissionNewswire) Salesians with the Provincial Youth Ministry in the Nigeria and Niger Africa Province launched a new program that helps to educate and support youth with their life choices. The initiative is aimed at young people between the ages of 18 and 30 and encourages participants to reflect on their passions, interests, values and strengths.

A Salesian said, “The goal is to help these youth identify potential career paths and explore ways to align their personal and professional goals. We want each participant to discover their purpose in life, increase their potential and channel their passion in the direction that most satisfies them.”

Salesian missionaries in Nigeria provide a range of social development and educational programs for poor and marginalized youth. The goal is always education, but Salesians know that youth are living in conditions that make educational attainment possible and they need extra support. Youth centers, feeding programs, health clinics and other programs help to ensure that youth are healthy and have their basic needs met so they can focus on school.

According to UNICEF, Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country and the ninth most populous country in the world. By United Nations estimates, Nigeria will be one of the countries responsible for most of the world’s total population increase by 2050. While Nigeria has the second strongest economy in Africa, it also has extreme rates of poverty with 100 million people living on less than $1 a day.

About 64% of households in Nigeria consider themselves to be poor while 32% of households say their economic situation had worsened over a period of one year, according to UNICEF. Poverty still remains one of the most critical challenges facing the country and population growth rates have meant a steady increase in the number of people living in conditions of poverty.

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

ANS – Nigeria – A vocation programme to accompany young people in their life choices

Salesian Missions – Nigeria

UNICEF – Nigeria

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LIBERIA

(MissionNewswire) Brother Lothar Wagner, a Salesian missionary who has worked as a chaplain at Monrovia Central Prison in Liberia since 2016, is demanding the immediate release of 63 young men who have been locked up without ever being served with an indictment. This deprives them of the right to defend themselves in court. The situation is occurring at what is known as Criminal Court D (1st Judicial Circuit Court of Montserrado County), which has jurisdiction over armed robbery crimes.

A press release in Front Page Africa Online noted that there are 282 inmates in Monrovia Central Prison whose cases are handled by Court D. Only three of the 282 inmates have received an indictment from the public prosecutor’s office. Of the 279 without a charge, 63 have been in prison for more than two years. Eight of these inmates are serving five or more years in prison.

Without an indictment, these inmates are unable to defend themselves because they don’t know what they are being accused of doing. None of these inmates have legal assistance. They are either not financially able to provide for it or they do not have access to a mandatory public defender.

Bro. Wagner explained, “It is difficult to see these young men being robbed of their future. They are disillusioned, depressed and simply dejected. The families of the prisoners are also at the end. They have lost trust in the rule of law. The vast majority of the inmates in prison are deprived of the right of legal defense.”

Bro. Wagner, his collaborators and a public defender have been working on this issue for months. He explained, “On Jan. 6, 2023, two of my colleagues and I handed over a list of names to the judge of Court D. In May 2023, a lawyer filed a motion for dismissal for 63 inmates who had not been given an opportunity to defend themselves and had already served at least two years in prison.”

The lawyer referred to Section 18.1 of the criminal procedure law entitled “Dismissal for failure to proceed with prosecution.” To date, no hearing has been scheduled by Court D. Bro. Wagner added, “This is more than very frustrating.”

Salesian missionaries have been working to support inmates at Monrovia Central Prison. The prison fellowship program takes place two mornings a week and includes group counseling and psychosocial support. Salesians also provide clothing, washing materials, medical help, spiritual support and legal assistance. Every day, Salesians bring the juvenile and sick inmates a warm meal and a drink.

From the very first contact with an inmate during their admission to the prison, Salesians work to reduce fear and build trust. The focus is on the youth’s situation and future planning. If trust is established early, youth are more likely to positively engage in the activities that help with rehabilitation and long-term planning for the future.

Salesians also provide education. School lessons takes place Monday to Friday between 12-2 p.m. In addition to English and mathematics, life-relevant topics are addressed with a focus on anti-aggression training. Once youth are released, Salesians facilitate access to continued education and vocational training to help with reintegration back into the community.

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Sources:

Front Page Africa Online – Liberia: Don Bosco Demands Release Of 63 Prisoners

Salesian Missions – Liberia

World Bank – Liberia

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LIBERIA

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries with the St. Joseph Community in Monrovia, Liberia, have a new Toyota pick-up truck to help with growing transportation needs thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. The vehicle will help Salesians in the process of developing 20 acres of land for a new Salesian center, which will include a residence, rehabilitation center for at-risk youth and youth in conflict with the law, and a technical training center.

Reliable transportation is needed for Salesians to travel between the center in Monrovia and the western suburb of Virginia, where the land is located, to oversee land development and construction of the new center. Transportation is also needed to carry out other educational and social development programs for youth in the area.

One Salesian noted, “We appreciate the funding for this new vehicle. This will now empower us logistically to visit the villages to help poor youth and their families while also aiding us in our work of the development of this new center.”

Salesians in Monrovia provide a range of education and social services to help poor and at-risk youth have a chance at a better life. This includes work they are doing to support inmates at Monrovia Central Prison for Juveniles. The prison fellowship program takes place two mornings a week and includes group counseling and psychosocial support. Salesians also provide clothing, washing materials, medical help, spiritual support and legal assistance. Every day, Salesians bring the juvenile and sick inmates a warm meal and a drink.

An estimated 64% of Liberians live below the poverty line and 1.3 million live in extreme poverty, out of a population of 4.6 million, according to the World Food Programme. Food security is also affecting 41% of the population and making chronic malnutrition high.

Whether working to rehabilitate former child soldiers or assist young women in overcoming barriers to education, Salesian programs in Liberia are providing opportunities for youth to live up to their potential through both academic and social programs.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions – Liberia

World Bank – Liberia

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SIERRA LEONE

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Fambul, one of Sierra Leone’s leading child-welfare organizations located in Freetown, offers the Girls Shelter GO+ program to support young girls who have been forced into sex work. Some of the girls are as young as 9 years old. Most of them have faced violence and sexual abuse. They include girls from other countries, villages or the poorest areas of Freetown, who all often are forced to provide financially for themselves and their families.

Don Bosco Fambul has been operating a shelter for young girls who have faced sexual abuse and are in need of shelter, support and education. Recognizing the specific need for girls who had been forced into prostitution, Father Jorge Crisafulli asked a group of girls if they wanted to change their lives.

He was able to create the Girls Shelter GO+ program inside a therapeutic center. Since the program was launched six years ago, it has changed the lives of more than 600 girls, given them the opportunity to start a new life, and provided access to education.

A Salesian said, “The main aim of the Girls Shelter GO+ program is to reach out to underage girls who are involved in prostitution and help them off the streets, offering a safe environment where they can access holistic rehabilitation and physical, psychological, and spiritual healing. The goal is to help them recover their dignity through education and skills training and reintegrate back into their community.”

Don Bosco Fambul has a staff of 120, including Salesian social workers who go out to the streets, slums and marketplaces. They engage with vulnerable youth and encourage them to join Don Bosco Fambul’s programs. The organization has four large buildings, a clinic, accommodations for volunteers and social workers, a house for the Salesian community, and a chapel. It’s the only program of its kind in West Africa that enables girls to live in a safe environment to overcome their traumas and start a new life.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Don Bosco Fambul

Don Bosco Fambul Girls Shelter GO+

Salesian Missions – Sierra Leone

UNICEF – Sierra Leone

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TOGO

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Immaculate Child Protection Center in Kara, Togo, organized training courses for vulnerable and at-risk youth to help them prepare for the future. The goal is to provide skills training in areas that will benefit them later in life. Training was offered in cooking, information technology, agroecology, and making artisanal crafts, soaps and chalk.

“Skills training for employment is important but so is teaching youth general life skills,” said a Salesian missionary at the center. “We want youth to find their bearings and learn about the world around them. We teach good manners and a whole host of other life skills to ensure youth are ready for life beyond the center.”

Don Bosco Immaculate Child Protection Center was created in 1985 to provide shelter and support for street children. Salesian missionaries help engage them in productive activities to deter them from delinquent situations. Salesians also facilitate social and family reintegration.

The center provides support for youth between the ages of 5-17 who come from towns and villages in Togo. The youth live on the streets or are in conflict with the law, victims of early marriages, or orphans. While at the center, they attend primary, middle and high school. The center also provides trade courses for older students, which include carpentry and automobile mechanics.

In Kara, many youth do not have access to education, and youth unemployment is very high. Most young people have unskilled jobs and precarious working conditions, which makes them even more vulnerable. Salesian education is sometimes the only education they are able to access to become productive members of their community.

At the center, youth can receive help with their homework or tutoring if they are struggling with a school subject. The center also provides educational talks every Friday evening. During these sessions, youth have the opportunity to learn social skills for better engaging with peers, adults and their community.

Youth also have a chance for recreational activities and socialization through oratory activities that take place twice a week. Youth play soccer and engage in dance therapy, do-it-yourself projects, theater, and board games. Other youth from the community also participate in these activities and connect with youth from the center. This helps with socialization and integration into the local neighborhood.

More than 80% of Togo’s rural population lives in conditions of poverty making the country one of the world’s poorest, according to UNICEF. Children in the country suffer the most, with close to 50% of those living in poverty under the age of 18. One in eight children will not reach their fifth birthday and the number of children who drop out of school because their parents cannot afford to educate them is high. Children are also often forced to work in exploitative and dangerous conditions to help support their families.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of  Don Bosco AOS Province

Child Protection and Safeguarding Centers April – June 2023  – Page 21

Salesian Missions – Togo

UNICEF – Togo

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GHANA

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries with Don Bosco Boys Home, located in Sunyani, Ghana, facilitated an environmental education project, “Boys Home Friends of Nature” from March to June 2023. This program helped youth develop skills in organic agriculture and educated them about the importance of respecting nature.

An agronomist had previously conducted training in organic agriculture and helped youth start an organic garden. The boys were able to cultivate maize, tomatoes, zucchini, salad greens, and peppers, and each week the boys continue to work with the agronomist. The garden complements the other the farm facilities, improving the self-sufficiency of the center with organic vegetables. It also promotes healthy nutrition for the boys.

At the end of April, volunteers with Salesian International Volunteering for Development (VIS) held a series of educational activities focused on the water cycle. VIS used theoretical and practical experiences, including a science lesson on the characteristics and the three states of water. The boys then took part in practical experiments to learn more about water and its importance.

“Youth at Don Bosco Boys Home have been given a chance to engage in educational activities that focus on the environment,” said Father Timothy Ploch, interim director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Many Salesian programs have launched projects to help youth understand their environmental impact and improve agriculture and other practices for greater sustainability. The education provided goes beyond traditional classroom lectures and allows youth to better understand the environment and their place in it.”

While Ghana’s economy continues to improve, nearly 45% of the population lives on less than $1 a day, according to UNICEF. Rural poverty remains widespread in the dry savannah region that covers roughly two thirds of Ghana’s northern territory. Small-scale farms suffer from a lack of infrastructure and equipment, both of which are needed to shift from subsistence farming to more modern commercial farming which would yield greater incomes and a chance to escape poverty.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of AOS Province

Don Bosco Child Protection and Safeguarding Centers Project report April – June 2023

Salesian Missions – Ghana

UNICEF – Ghana

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NIGERIA

(MissionNewswire) The Salesian Center in Ibadan, Nigeria, has a new computer lab thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. The project known as “Provision of Vocational Skills for Young Girls & Boys for the Improvement of Livelihoods” has provided 31 desktop computers, six laptops, software, computer tables and chairs, among other items.

Salesians established the center in 2002 to offer poor youth educational and social services. Today, the center has the Institute of Philosophy with 200 students, a youth center that is visited by 500 youth each day, an oratory where 100 youth visit each day and a child protection home with 40 children. Salesians also offer an outreach program where street children who cannot be accommodated in the child protection home are able to visit for support and assistance. More than 1,000 youth have sought help through the outreach program.

Prior to the donor funding for the project, the center only had four computers available for all of these youth in addition to teachers, staff and Salesians. The new computer lab will accommodate more youth and allow them to learn digital skills for employment.

A Salesian said, “We aim to negate the impacts of unemployment and underemployment on the teeming number of young people in Nigeria. As the world evolves, most organizations, businesses and companies have gone through a certain degree of digital transformation. The digital age is expanding into all areas of human existence, and it is not just those who work in the information technology world that need to be alert of this change. Digital skills are highly valued and will be very vital in the future.”

According to UNICEF, Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country and the ninth most populous country in the world. By United Nations estimates, Nigeria will be one of the countries responsible for most of the world’s total population increase by 2050. While Nigeria has the second strongest economy in Africa, it also has extreme rates of poverty with 100 million people living on less than $1 a day.

About 64 percent of households in Nigeria consider themselves to be poor while 32 percent of households say their economic situation had worsened over a period of one year, according to UNICEF. Poverty still remains one of the most critical challenges facing the country and population growth rates have meant a steady increase in the number of people living in conditions of poverty.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions – Nigeria

UNICEF – Nigeria

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NIGERIA

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries operate the Bosco Home Child Protection Center in Lagos, Nigeria. The center is a beacon of hope for youth who face uncertainty and despair. Currently, the center can accommodate 20 children, but Salesians are mobilizing to start a new project that will accommodate 80 vulnerable girls and boys. In addition, there is a Salesian Vocational Training Center that provides youth the necessary skills for employment to help them become self-sufficient.

A Salesian described the situation of homeless children in Nigeria. He said, “The city of Lagos, the most populous city with its 24 million inhabitants, has more than 100,000 children living on the streets. The situation they face is not simple. First of all, a differentiation must be made between street children, those who live on the streets of Lagos, and minors who are forced to beg or steal during the day but who still have a home to return to every night. These two situations combined generate very high numbers of children forced into insecurity, theft, delinquency or pick-pocketing. This is caused by extreme poverty, neglect, abuse and domestic violence.”

The center responds to the needs of these youth through a specific rehabilitation program that includes accommodation, meals, education, medical care, clothing, counseling and psychotherapy sessions, acquisition of professional skills, contacts with the family, and reintegration.

According to UNICEF, Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country and the ninth most populous country in the world. By United Nations estimates, Nigeria will be one of the countries responsible for most of the world’s total population increase by 2050. While Nigeria has the second strongest economy in Africa, it also has extreme rates of poverty with 100 million people living on less than $1 a day.

About 64% of households in Nigeria consider themselves to be poor while 32% of households say their economic situation had worsened over a period of one year, according to UNICEF. Poverty still remains one of the most critical challenges facing the country and population growth rates have meant a steady increase in the number of people living in conditions of poverty.

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Sources:

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

ANS – Nigeria – A concrete response for street children in Lagos

Salesian Missions – Nigeria

UNICEF – Nigeria

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GHANA

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Renewable Energy Center for West Africa (Don Bosco Solar) is a center of excellence in renewable energy and provides training at Don Bosco technical centers in nine African countries. Training is provided in Ghana, Nigeria, Liberia, Ethiopia*, Burundi*, Uganda, Togo, Ivory Coast and Guinea-Conakry. Don Bosco Solar recently graduated 21 trainees from the center in Ghana.

The ceremony was attended by parents, industry professionals and partners including the Ghana Association of Industries and the German Industry and Commerce in Ghana. Graduates highlighted the projects they have produced. Among these were a solar energy powered bicycle, solar extractor, air-conditioning and pumping machines, among others.

To date, 1,487 students have graduated from the program. Students can take courses in solar basics, professional and advanced levels. The courses aim to provide students a better understanding and hands-on practice in the different areas of solar energy.

Brother Christof Baum, technical director at Don Bosco Solar, said, “Energy remains the major resource to transform a developing country into a developed one. We use energy for cooking, light, communication, transport and industry. The Africa continent contains a growing share of the world´s population, with its energy mainly derived from woody biomass, petroleum fuels and electricity. These competing energy sources have impacted negatively on the environment.”

He added, “To reverse the trend of overdependence on fossils fuels, as well as enhance access to cheap and reliable energy, there is the need for the continent to diversify its energy sources. As a result, renewable energy technologies including solar, wind, hydroelectricity and biomass should be embraced to generate energy.”

While Ghana’s economy continues to improve, nearly 45% of the population lives on less than $1 a day, according to UNICEF. Rural poverty remains widespread in the dry savannah region that covers roughly two thirds of Ghana’s northern territory. Small-scale farms suffer from a lack of infrastructure and equipment, both of which are needed to shift from subsistence farming to more modern commercial farming which would yield greater incomes and a chance to escape poverty.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Don Bosco Green Alliance

Don Bosco Green Alliance – 21 trainees graduated from the Don Bosco Renewable Energy Center for West Africa

Don Bosco Renewable Energy Center (Don Bosco Solar)

Salesian Missions – Ghana

UNICEF – Ghana

*Any goods, services or funds provided by Salesian Missions to programs located in this country were administered in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including sanctions administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control.

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NIGERIA

(MissionNewswire) Six youth from the Salesian ANN Province in Nigeria were among the 1.5 million participants at World Youth Day 2023 in Lisbon, Portugal. The youth stood as beacons of faith, sharing the cultural richness of Nigeria and fostering a deeper connection to the global youth community.

Isaac Ojo shared his excitement, “The Salesian family is one of a kind. Even as I was not in my own country, it still felt like my home. Getting to meet Salesians from different parts of the world and sharing our experiences together makes you feel the Don Bosco spirit among us. At World Youth Day, the vibe was on a different level, you could feel the  vibe from each country, vibrant and youthful.”

Fasehun Oluwakorede Mary expressed her awe at the event and her own spiritual awakening. “The program was really a pilgrimage journey as everyone had to walk from their different locations to the centers where the events were to take place. It was indeed spirit filled and enlightening. There were both Catholics and non-Catholics in attendance along with 30 cardinals, 700 bishops and 10,000 priests.”

Father Ángel Fernández Artime, rector major of the Salesians, emphasized, “By God’s grace, I have the great gift of experiencing World Youth Day in Lisbon with hundreds of thousands of young people from all over the world, including about 9,000 boys and girls from the Salesian Youth Movement who come from 134 countries of the many continents where our works are present. I am convinced that all the young people who have traveled to Lisbon feel in their hearts that something beautiful and good is about to happen in their lives.”

Among the many activities at World Youth Day, Pope Francis met with dignitaries, clergy, and victims of abuse as he underscored his commitment to dialogue, healing, and renewal. The youth held a special place in his agenda, with encounters that encouraged them to seek and take risks in creating a world that centers on the human person. Pope Francis’ visit to the Hill of Encounter and the Park of Forgiveness symbolized his belief in the transformative power of faith and reconciliation.

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Sources:

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

ANS – Nigeria – “WYD was a transformative experience for us”, affirm ANN Youth

Salesian Missions

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GHANA

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Boys Home, located in Sunyani, Ghana, provides social support and education for boys in the care of Salesian missionaries. The center, which currently houses 65 youth ages 4-24, was established in 1989 for the rehabilitation of at-risk homeless youth. Services are based on the needs and situation of each individual.

During the January to March 2023 term, Salesian International Volunteering for Development (VIS), donated 88 textbooks, 100 notebooks, and many pens, rulers, crayons, erasers and pencil cases for the youth at the Don Bosco Boys Home. The distribution of school supplies was necessary for the new academic year and helped youth be prepared for their studies.

VIS volunteers also worked with the boys to plant 10 mango trees on the home’s property. The trees were donated by the Caracol Association. VIS volunteers wanted to increase the well-being of youth and raise awareness on the importance of protecting the environment. VIS has also launched projects around organic agriculture and ecotourist activities.

One Salesian noted, “It was good to get the boys in nature for the tree planting. They were taught how to take care of the mango trees and plant the trees properly. The fruit from the trees will also be used to feed the boys.”

While Ghana’s economy continues to improve, nearly 45% of the population lives on less than $1 a day, according to UNICEF. Rural poverty remains widespread in the dry savannah region that covers roughly two thirds of Ghana’s northern territory. Small-scale farms suffer from a lack of infrastructure and equipment, both of which are needed to shift from subsistence farming to more modern commercial farming which would yield greater incomes and a chance to escape poverty.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Don Bosco Child Protection & Youth Empowerment Projects

Don Bosco Child Protection & Youth Empowerment Projects Newsletter January – March 2023

Salesian Missions – Ghana

UNICEF – Ghana

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SIERRA LEONE

(MissionNewswire) Located in Sierra Leone’s capital city of Freetown, Don Bosco Fambul is one of the country’s leading child-welfare organizations. It has been on the forefront of efforts to help save young women who have faced abuse and prostitution and to rehabilitate street children and reunite them with their families.

Don Bosco Fambul operates a medical clinic that provides services to youth in its program and members of the community. The clinic was officially certified and verified as a hospital by the government of Sierra Leone. This enables the clinic to do even more for the community and expands medical services to those in poverty. Donors provided the equipment necessary to help the clinic pass the certification.

The organization has also increased medical outreach to the community. Don Bosco Fambul hosted two specialists who provided medical assistance to the new Don Bosco hospital. A partner organization, ACISS from Malaga, Spain, visited the Don Bosco Fambul hospital with a team of medical practitioners. They offered free medical surgeries, focusing on hernias, hydroceles, and lipomas, for 41 patients who are now fully recovered.

In addition, vision specialists and dentists provided a one-week health outreach at the Don Bosco hospital. They focused on giving community members free cataract operations and eye and dental exams.

In the last quarter of 2022, Salesians held a 10-day medical camp including eye screening, cataract operations and dental care. More than 300 people had tooth extractions and fillings, more than 1,000 people had eye screenings and 100 people received cataract operations.

A Salesian missionary said, “Medical outreach is one of our significant arms for reaching out to our communities as an institution. We are grateful for all the specialists who volunteered their time to help our community members.”

When Salesians are not able to provide the care needed at the hospital, they sometimes are able to connect with organizations in other countries to help those in need. This was the case for 11-year-old Emmanuel, an orphan with congenital knee dislocation. Because of his condition, his peers bullied and taunted him. This caused him to drop out of school and become a loner.

Don Bosco Fambul assigned him to a social worker who supported him in undergoing play therapy, counseling and informal schooling. During their counseling sessions, Emmanuel told her that people called him names because of his condition. Don Bosco Fambul, through Salesian Missions in Madrid, Spain, organized a medical trip to Spain for Emmanuel to have the corrective surgery he needed.

The Salesian said, “This was only possible thanks to our partners and donors from Clinica Centro in Madrid. He went through a successful surgery and is now in physical rehabilitation. We are so grateful.”

Salesian missionaries have been serving in Sierra Leone since 2001 when they began working to rehabilitate former child soldiers through Don Bosco Fambul. In the years since, Don Bosco Fambul, has been offering food, clothing, crisis intervention services, shelter, educational opportunities, long-term counseling and family reunification.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Don Bosco Fambul

Don Bosco Fambul

Don Bosco Fambul Facebook

Don Bosco Fambul Newsletter First Edition 2023

Salesian Missions – Sierra Leone

UNICEF – Sierra Leone

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GHANA

(MissionNewswire) Two communities in Ghana have access to clean water thanks to funding from the Salesian Missions “Clean Water Initiative.” Salesian Missions is the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. The 2021 water project was part of the Salesian efforts to bring water access to the Bono Region of the country.

Water remains one of the main challenges in the region. People, mainly poor farmers, depend on stream water sources for all their needs including sharing it with grazing animals. The water project improved access to quality water for a community and school that are part of the Odumase Mary Help of Christians Parish, which has 16 outstations and 22 villages.

Funding provided for a borehole with a hand-pump in the Kojokesekrom community. The community has 700 residents and 300 people who come to the area to farm but do not live there. Most of the youth in the community migrate to seek a better life. Some of them lose their lives in the process while some are arrested in Libya and sold into slavery. In recent years, many of them have been rescued and returned to the region, and they then go into farming.

The project also provided a mechanical borehole with a water tower and spouts in the community of Chiraa for 340 students, staff and Salesian sisters. In addition, 30 families are also benefiting from this new water access.

The Sisters of Holy Family of Nazareth started Holy Family of Nazareth School in Chiraa in 2015. The school has eight classes from nursery school to grade four. The school is located in an undeveloped area and is isolated. The nearby community did not have stable water access. Until this new project, the school had to rely on a stream, which wasn’t a safe water source.

A Salesian missionary said, “We have come a long way. Our daily headache of searching for water has come to an end. This is particularly important with the COVID-19 pandemic. It was difficult for people to wash their hands when we didn’t even have water to drink. We are grateful for the donors who made this new water source possible.”

To learn more about the Salesian Missions Clean Water Initiative, go to SalesianMissions.org/water.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions – Ghana

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SIERRA LEONE

(MissionNewswire) St. Augustine Agricultural Junior Secondary School, located in Lungi, Sierra Leone, received support from donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. The school, which was established in 1984, has 14 classrooms, a computer lab, an infirmary/clinic and an administrative building.

The school provides education to marginalized students in the region. It currently has 700 students, 34 teachers and four auxiliary staff, including a nurse. Given the economic condition of the country and the challenges faced by students, the school recently reintroduced its feeding program. A portion of the donor funding went to support this program and ensure students in need have access to healthy nutrition through school lunch.

In addition, funding provided for school uniforms and to support salaries for the auxiliary staff. Maintenance and repairs of the school buildings, assembly and sport grounds, school fence, bathrooms and canteen also took place with the funding.

At the school, Salesian sports programming provides much-needed recreation and life skills for the students. Funding provided for table tennis equipment, balls, and jerseys for soccer, basketball and volleyball.

One Salesian at the school said, “On behalf of the school community, we want to take this time to say our profound thanks and appreciation to all the donors who helped support these efforts. This was the first time in the history of our school that we have been able to make such far-reaching and important improvements for our students, staff and school grounds.”

Salesian missionaries have been serving in Sierra Leone since 2001 when they began working to rehabilitate former child soldiers through the organization Don Bosco Fambul. Youth across the country face significant challenges in accessing education. With too few teachers and many school buildings destroyed in the war, resources are thin. Persistently high illiteracy rates mean that an estimated 70% of Sierra Leone’s youth are unemployed or underemployed.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions – Sierra Leone

UNICEF – Sierra Leone

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SIERRA LEONE

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries in Tikonko, in the Bo district of Sierra Leone, have transformed the economy of an entire village by employing 30 families in harvesting and drying the leaves of the Moringa oleifera plant. The plant, imported from India, is also called a miracle plant and makes a black tea powder that acts as a food supplement and is used to enrich soups.

Once the leaves are dried, they are processed inside a machine and turned into a black tea powder. The tea is then packaged into sachets and its final packaging. Brother Riccardo Racca, a Salesian coadjutor, along with three others, have grown this successful project in just three years. Funding for the project, including the machinery to package the product, came from the Salesian German Cooperation.

“Moringa plants grow very well in our area. It has white flowers, can grow a lot and become a real tree, and is good for people,” explained Bro. Racca. “There is nothing thrown away on the shrub. We harvest and dry the leaves, which is simple but a time-consuming process.”

The Gola Rainforest National Park, in the southeast of Sierra Leone where the project is taking place, has rich forests and natural beauty but also has a troubled history. Bro. Racca said, “Outside of here we are known for three things — diamonds, child soldiers, and Ebola, but it is clear that Sierra Leone is not just that.”

He added, “Salesians work with youth to give them a chance to build a future. We teach them trades in our vocational schools so they can find a job. This is where the success of an entire African country like Sierra Leone starts.”

Salesian missionaries have been serving in Sierra Leone since 2001 when they began working to rehabilitate former child soldiers through the organization Don Bosco Fambul. Youth across the country face significant challenges in accessing education. With too few teachers and many school buildings destroyed in the war, resources are thin. Persistently high illiteracy rates mean that an estimated 70% of Sierra Leone’s youth are unemployed or underemployed.

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Sources:

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

ANS – Sierra Leone – Moringa oleifera and the Salesian tea “brand”

Salesian Missions – Sierra Leone

UNICEF – Sierra Leone

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NIGERIA

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries in the Imo state of Nigeria had the funding to help local farmers thanks to donor support from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. The project “Post-COVID Empowerment through the Provision of Poultry and Farm Crops for Poor Young People and Women in Nigeria” supported four poor families with their farms in 2022.

These families had established small-scale farms and saw improved revenues at harvest time given the training and support received from the Salesians. Training topics included crops, organic manure, pest control and spacing of crops. Additional training was provided directly at the farm locations, and it included clearing, mapping and planting periods.

One Salesian involved with the project noted, “The project has immensely boosted the morale and determination of the beneficiaries. The funds received have greatly supported and enhanced the farm activities, especially the capacity and new knowledge they have received. Now the people are equipped with skills, knowledge, and capacity to improve their farms and revenues. They have better knowledge of farm management and will be able to improve on their harvest for the years ahead.”

According to UNICEF, Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country and the ninth most populous country in the world. By United Nations estimates, Nigeria will be one of the countries responsible for most of the world’s total population increase by 2050. While Nigeria has the second strongest economy in Africa, it also has extreme rates of poverty with 100 million people living on less than $1 a day.

About 64% of households in Nigeria consider themselves to be poor while 32% of households say their economic situation had worsened over a period of one year, according to UNICEF. Poverty still remains one of the most critical challenges facing the country and population growth rates have meant a steady increase in the number of people living in conditions of poverty.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions – Nigeria

UNICEF – Nigeria

The post NIGERIA: Farmers improve harvest with training funded by Salesian Missions first appeared on MissionNewswire.

TOGO

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Immaculate Child Protection Center in Kara, Togo, was created in 1985 to provide shelter and support for street children. Salesian missionaries help engage them in productive activities to deter them from delinquent situations. Salesians also facilitate social and family reintegration.

The center provides support for youth between the ages of 5-17 who come from towns and villages in Togo. The youth live on the streets or are in conflict with the law, victims of early marriages, or orphans. While at the center, they attend primary, middle and high school. The center also provides trade courses for older students, which include carpentry and automobile mechanics among other subjects.

In Kara, many youth do not have access to education, and youth unemployment is very high. Most young people have unskilled jobs and precarious working conditions, which makes them even more vulnerable. Salesian education is sometimes the only education they are able to access to become productive members of their community.

At the center, youth can receive help with their homework or tutoring if they are struggling with a school subject. The center’s educators check their notebooks, see whether they copied their lessons correctly, and help them correct spelling mistakes and grammar. The center also provides educational talks every Friday evening. During these sessions, youth have the opportunity to learn social skills for better engaging with peers, adults and their community.

Youth also have a chance for recreational activities and socialization through oratory activities that take place on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Youth play soccer and engage in dance therapy, do-it-yourself projects, theater, and board games. Other youth from the community also participate in these activities and connect with youth from the center. This helps with socialization and integration into the local neighborhood.

“Salesian missionaries play a vital role in their communities helping to provide support and assistance to at-risk youth and those in need of an education,” said Father Timothy Ploch, interim director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “The Don Bosco Center is helping youth have hope for a better future through education, soft skills training and recreation activities that give them a chance to connect with their peers. All of the activities work to help youth reintegrate back into society and live a good life.”

More than 80% of Togo’s rural population lives in conditions of poverty making the country one of the world’s poorest, according to UNICEF. Children in the country suffer the most, with close to 50% of those living in poverty under the age of 18. One in eight children will not reach their fifth birthday and the number of children who drop out of school because their parents cannot afford to educate them is high. Children are also often forced to work in exploitative and dangerous conditions to help support their families.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Don Bosco Child Protection & Youth Empowerment Projects Newsletter Oct.-Dec. 2022

Don Bosco Child Protection & Youth Empowerment Projects Newsletter Oct.-Dec. 2022

Salesian Missions – Togo

UNICEF – Togo

The post TOGO: Vulnerable youth obtain education first appeared on MissionNewswire.

LIBERIA

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries have been working to support inmates at Monrovia Central Prison for Juveniles in Liberia. The prison fellowship program takes place two mornings a week and includes group counseling and psychosocial support. Salesians also provide clothing, washing materials, medical help, spiritual support and legal assistance. Every day, Salesians bring the juvenile and sick inmates a warm meal and a drink.

From the very first contact with an inmate during their admission to the prison, Salesians work to reduce fear and build trust. The focus is on the youth’s situation and future planning. If trust is established early, youth are more likely to positively engage in the activities that help with rehabilitation and long-term planning for the future.

Salesians also provide education. School lessons takes place Monday to Friday between 12-2 p.m. In addition to English and mathematics, life-relevant topics are addressed with a focus on anti-aggression training. After the last session, games are organized for the youth.

The prison has a small house where sick inmates are taken to receive medical care. Medical staff provides exams and can administer medication. This is done in consultation with the prison administration so that the medication is not resold. Those who are seriously ill are transported to the Catholic Hospital in Monrovia.

Salesians also support youth after they are released. Salesians facilitate access to continued education and vocational training to help with reintegration back into the community. From October to December 2022, support was provided to 11 school students and three vocational trainees.

During this same time period, Salesians also renovated the kitchen at Don Bosco Matadi to increase the food supply for the inmates. In order to keep the costs for feeding the young and sick inmates as low as possible, the food was prepared by employees from Don Bosco Matadi. This also made it possible to offer the food to as many inmates as possible.

“Providing services like this for young people in prisons gives them a fighting chance at a better life once they are released,” said Father Timothy Ploch, interim director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Youth need access to counseling to process why they are there and then activities like skills training so that when they are released, they can find legitimate work. The goal is to make sure they are contributing members of their communities and do not return to prison.”

An estimated 64 percent of Liberians live below the poverty line and 1.3 million live in extreme poverty, out of a population of 4.6 million, according to the World Food Programme. Food security is also affecting 41 percent of the population and making chronic malnutrition high.

Whether working to rehabilitate former child soldiers or assist young women in overcoming barriers to education, Salesian programs in Liberia are providing opportunities for youth to live up to their potential through both academic and social programs.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Don Bosco Child Protection & Youth Empowerment Projects

Don Bosco Child Protection & Youth Empowerment Projects Newsletter Oct.-Dec. 2022

Salesian Missions – Liberia

World Bank – Liberia

The post LIBERIA: Salesian missionaries support youth in prison first appeared on MissionNewswire.

GHANA

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Boys Home, located in Sunyani, Ghana, provides social support and education to boys in the care of Salesian missionaries. The center was established in 1989 for the rehabilitation of at-risk youth. The rehabilitation and development process at the center is based on the needs and situation of each individual.

During the October to December 2022, term, youth took part in activities including music rehearsals, a holiday camp and other celebrations, recreational activities, a cultural day celebration and medical assessments.

A special educational visit to the airport was a made possible by a donation from the Catholic Students Union. Youth were able to view the various sectors of the airport, as well as shadow those in charge. They also saw and learned about the airplanes taking off and landing.

The center’s brass band group is among one of the popular activities. Frequently the boys meet to practice and learn different brass instruments, and they then play as a group. During the Don Bosco Holiday Camp held at Mary Help of Christians Parish, youth showed off their musical talents and participated in classes, talent development groups and games.

Another enjoyable and educational activity for the boys is Saturday night soccer on the multipurpose court. Boys engage in exercise and connect with their peers while learning how to follow rules and be a part of a team working toward the same objective.

“It’s important that youth gain an education as well as leave the Salesian center as well-rounded individuals,” said Father Timothy Ploch, interim director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Activities like sports and music help students engage with their peers while learning important lessons.”

While Ghana’s economy continues to improve, nearly 45 percent of the population lives on less than $1 a day, according to UNICEF. Rural poverty remains widespread in the dry savannah region that covers roughly two thirds of Ghana’s northern territory. Small-scale farms suffer from a lack of infrastructure and equipment, both of which are needed to shift from subsistence farming to more modern commercial farming which would yield greater incomes and a chance to escape poverty.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Don Bosco Child Protection & Youth Empowerment Projects Newsletter October – December 2022

Don Bosco Child Protection & Youth Empowerment Projects Newsletter October – December 2022

Salesian Missions – Ghana

UNICEF – Ghana

The post GHANA: At-risk youth gain support and education first appeared on MissionNewswire.

GHANA

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries are providing psychological support for youth at Don Bosco Child Protection Center in Ashaiman, Ghana. The counseling is supported by the Salesian-run International Voluntary Service (VIS) and ensures children and their families receive the help they need for family reintegration.

The counseling helps youth gain insight and understanding about why they are at the center and supports them in choosing good behaviors. Youth are also provided counseling to explore their future aspirations, along with encouragement to study hard and take advantage of the lessons provided at the center.

Those who do well in classroom education are taught in the local dialect. Youth who do not excel in school receive training in work like fishing and farming with a chance to see what fits them. The psychological counseling supports both groups of students in finding the path that works best for them.

In addition to individual and group psychological interventions, the center provides computing classes, basic literacy, and additional courses in photography, drama and swimming. After every session, homework is given to encourage commitment to their education.

“The children at the center have gone through a great deal of challenges in their short lives and psychological support is essential to ensure successful family reunification,” said Father Timothy Ploch, interim director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “At Salesian centers, youth access the supportive services they need to start the rehabilitation process, reunite with their families and return to school so they can start skills training.”

While Ghana’s economy continues to improve, nearly 45 percent of the population lives on less than $1 a day, according to UNICEF. Rural poverty remains widespread in the dry savannah region that covers roughly two thirds of Ghana’s northern territory. Small-scale farms suffer from a lack of infrastructure and equipment, both of which are needed to shift from subsistence farming to more modern commercial farming which would yield greater incomes and a chance to escape poverty.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Don Bosco Child Protection Center

Don Bosco Child Protection & Youth Empowerment Projects Newsletter October – December 2022

Salesian Missions – Ghana

UNICEF – Ghana

The post GHANA: Youth receive psychological support first appeared on MissionNewswire.

GHANA

(MissionNewswire) St. Dominic Savio Youth Center, located in Tema New Town, a neighborhood in Tema, Ghana, provides a place for street children to seek shelter, live comfortably and access mainstream education at nearby schools. At the center, which was established in 2003, youth receive a range of support to help them recover from their life on the streets and prepare for a brighter future.

The center provides daily education where youth learn reading, writing, comprehension and simple mathematics. They are also provided a hot lunch in the afternoon.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the center’s oratory had been closed to prevent the spread of the virus. It was finally reopened and oratory activities have resumed. Each Friday, children from different schools come together to play and are assisted with their homework.

At the end of 2022, youth at the center were taken on an excursion as part of the curriculum activities and to see beautiful places in Ghana. The 2022 trip was to the Chill River Resort. A Salesian noted, “The trip was so refreshing, and the children were very happy.”

“Salesian missionaries in Ghana and around the globe are working to support street children and restore their childhoods,” said Father Timothy Ploch, interim director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “In addition to supporting youth, St. Dominic Savio Youth Center also supports parents. They are provided the opportunity to share the difficulties they face in their various homes and receive support as well as report back to the teachers how well their children are responding to the training they are receiving at the center.”

While Ghana’s economy continues to improve, nearly 45 percent of the population lives on less than $1 a day, according to UNICEF. Rural poverty remains widespread in the dry savannah region that covers roughly two thirds of Ghana’s northern territory. Small-scale farms suffer from a lack of infrastructure and equipment, both of which are needed to shift from subsistence farming to more modern commercial farming which would yield greater incomes and a chance to escape poverty.

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Sources:

Don Bosco Child Protection & Youth Empowerment Projects Newsletter Oct. – Dec. 2022

Photo courtesy of Don Bosco Child Protection & Youth Empowerment Projects Newsletter Oct. – Dec. 2022

Salesian Missions – Ghana

UNICEF – Ghana

The post GHANA: Center is safe haven and source of hope for street children first appeared on MissionNewswire.

BURKINA FASO

(MissionNewswire) The Women’s Vocational Training Center, located in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, trains more than 300 young women each year in specializations like tailoring, hairstyling, fabric design and pattern making, computer maintenance, and secretarial work. The center, which provides inclusive, equitable and quality education, receives funding from Bosco Global.

Recently, the cutting-tailoring and hairstyling workshops were equipped with supplies, and the spaces for theoretical-practical courses were expanded. Refresher courses were also provided for the center’s teaching staff. In addition, students in extremely vulnerable situations were provided with the necessary kits to carry out their courses of study.

Father Joseph Basson, director of the center, said, “There are many student stories that have touched my heart. One young woman pedaled 25 kilometers every day to get to the center to take classes, never arriving late. Today, she has achieved her dream of owning her own sewing workshop.”

The Women’s Vocational Training Center was developed to address the precarious situation experienced by many women and girls. It includes literacy courses, support for work placement, and education in values and time management. The main objective of the project is to train women and girls so they can work and earn an income while breaking free from a life of poverty.

Salesian missionaries have been working in Burkina Faso since March 1993. Missionaries first began their work in Bobo-Dioulasso, the second largest city in the country. They settled in a neighborhood known as Ouezzin, an expanding area of the city. The nearby area is crossed by several rivers. On those riverbanks, crops are cultivated then sold in the city and exported to the city of Ouagadougou. Salesian missionaries provide education and social development services designed to create a sense of family among the most vulnerable children and those most at risk of social exclusion.

According to the World Bank, more than 46 percent of the country’s population lives in poverty on less than $1.25 per day. Burkina Faso has suffered from several serious droughts that have driven up food prices, affecting the country’s food supply and causing malnutrition among the poorest residents and children. Up until the 1980s, the country also dealt with devastating military coups.

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Sources:

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

ANS – Burkina Faso – Salesian Women’s Vocational Training Center in Ouagadougou trains 300 young women each year

Salesian Missions – Burkina Faso

World Bank – Burkina Faso

The post BURKINA FASO: Women gain skills for better future first appeared on MissionNewswire.

BENIN

(MissionNewswire) Children at Foyer Don Bosco (Don Bosco Kandi), a home for abused and abandoned children in Kandi, Benin, have their needs met thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. The funding covered food for three months, school fees for 10 children and clothing for 50 children at Christmas.

Leon Kansomede, age 8, was appreciative of the clothing he received. He said, “I celebrated Christmas well at Don Bosco Kandi and received beautiful clothes and had a nice party. Thank you and may the Lord bless you.”

Kaifatou Tino is a sewing apprentice who had her school fees paid so she could continue her education. “I thank Don Bosco for the financial help. It has enabled me to remain in school and have hope for the future.”

Foyer Don Bosco serves boys and girls in very complex situations, including those who have been abandoned by their families, victims of abuse, and victims of forced marriages. The area of Kandi often has an influx of children who are on their own. Children are sometimes sold on the black market and exploited in the workforce. A transit home was started with the support of UNICEF to host these children, while guiding them to other homes or trying to find their families.

Foyer Don Bosco was created for children who have nowhere else to go or need to stay for long periods of time. In collaboration with the juvenile courts of Benin, minors who are in conflict with the law and in high-risk situations are assisted by the Salesians. The border police also intercept children being trafficked from Niger and Burkina Faso.

Foyer Don Bosco relies on donations so that Salesians can provide youth with food, clothing, education and medical care. Salesians also work with families and try to provide reunification when appropriate.

Children in Benin face significant challenges gaining an education within the country’s poor educational system. According to UNICEF, Benin remains one of the poorest countries in the world with close to 70 percent of its population living in poverty. About half of all children between the ages of 5 and 13 are engaged in some kind of forced labor in the country and almost 20 percent are chronically undernourished. Youth in Benin also face overwhelming challenges in combating poverty, one of the root causes of child trafficking.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions – Benin

UNICEF – Benin

The post BENIN: At-risk children receive food, clothing first appeared on MissionNewswire.

(MissionNewswire) Salesians provide education and social development programs for poor youth and their families in Conakry, Guinea. While Conakry is a modern city, most people rely on informal jobs that yield very little in economic terms.

After school, many youth spend their time trying to contribute to their family’s needs. They sell handkerchiefs and food at traffic lights, polish shoes, and act as window cleaners. In reality, these efforts do little to improve their parents’ economic condition. The government does not prioritize education and youth educational performance is at the bottom of countries in West Africa.

Salesians began their work in the country in 1986 and in 2015 started the Saint Jean Bosco School Group. In Kankan, they built the Don Bosco Vocational Training Center and in Siguiri, they created a school complex where the most vulnerable children and youth are prioritized.

At Saint Jean Bosco School, 370 students receive an education. The elementary school was established in October 2021 to improve the academic level of children, especially those with learning difficulties. The school has grown rapidly both in the number of students and the quality of education offered. Ninety percent of the children attending the school come from families with little means.

Don Bosco Missions has provided 39 scholarships for these students and aims to support 23 more in the upcoming school term. This is financial aid is for children who are 5- to 9-years old-and the funding will cover the first three years of elementary school.

One of the biggest challenges to education is creating awareness among families of the importance of sending their children to school instead of work.

Conakry has a population of about 12 million people who live in a subsistence economy that is not supported by the revenues derived from the natural resources that make the country rich. The country has the world’s largest deposit of bauxite, a mineral essential for aluminum production. A difficult world economic situation due to the COVID-19 pandemic has been compounded by the war in Ukraine and sanctions on Russia.

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Sources:

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

ANS – Guinea Conakry – Distance support for children of Guinea Conakry

Salesian Missions

UNICEF – Republic of Guinea

The post GUINEA: Scholarships give youth opportunity first appeared on MissionNewswire.

NIGERIA

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries have continued to develop the St. Joseph’s Farm, in Sagamu, Nigeria, thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. The farm is a center for training, research and production on 25 hectares of land acquired by the Salesians.

Since it started, the farm has improved the farming skills of many local and small farmers, brought awareness to youth on the importance of farming, trained local people on various farming techniques, and created a cooperative of small farmers.

With the funding from Salesian Missions, the farm developed both a fishery and a pig farm, which is being expanded. The current pig barn has 20 rooms for the pigs and two rooms for feed storage. A total of 29 boars and sows are at the farm, along with 135 piglets that have been purchased or reared at the farm.

The pig barn still needs to be plastered, as well as have proper flooring and plumbing completed. With the high cost of materials and services caused by national economic inflation, construction has been delayed. It is currently about 90 percent completed.

The facility also needs better water, a regular generator and solar power supply for the survival of the pigs. An eight-feet tall water tank was installed for the provision of regular water. In addition, another 7,000-liter water tank is needed to supplement the water supply.

There are six paid workers who ensure that the piggery is properly cared for and the pigs well fed and nourished. These are local farmers who have been trained over time to rear animals especially pigs. To date, more than 100 people have received farm training.

With a population close to 256,000, including a mix of Christians, Muslims and traditionalists, Sagamu is known for its agricultural products such as cocoa and kola nuts. The region’s rich vegetation and large masses of unoccupied or unused land attract people who develop an interest in agriculture. Yet, the region has high rates of unemployment and underemployment, as well as a low rate of formal education. St. Joseph’s Farm is one among many programs that Salesian missionaries have launched since they first started working in the region in 2014. There is also a parish ministry, missionary out-stations, youth ministry, chaplaincy and agro-projects.

According to UNICEF, Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country and the ninth most populous country in the world. By United Nations estimates, Nigeria will be one of the countries responsible for most of the world’s total population increase by 2050. While Nigeria has the second strongest economy in Africa, it also has extreme rates of poverty with 100 million people living on less than $1 a day.

About 64 percent of households in Nigeria consider themselves to be poor while 32 percent of households say their economic situation had worsened over a period of one year, according to UNICEF. Poverty still remains one of the most critical challenges facing the country and population growth rates have meant a steady increase in the number of people living in conditions of poverty.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions – Nigeria

UNICEF – Nigeria

The post NIGERIA: Pig farm improves economic opportunities first appeared on MissionNewswire.

NIGERIA

(MissionNewswire) Salesians with Don Bosco Tech Africa in Nigeria are providing training about safeguarding and protecting children. Brother John Njuguna, deputy director of Don Bosco Tech Africa, in collaboration with Cathrine Kisasa and Sister Damaris, is conducting the training for Salesian rectors and the provincial council.

In-depth knowledge and skills in safeguarding can prevent harm to both children and practitioners. One five-day training was held in early November, and another followed in late November in the Ibadan location for 92 post-novitiates. The group includes young people from different congregations.

One Salesian said, “Child safeguarding and protection are important in our daily work given that we are working with young people who are in most cases coming from disadvantaged backgrounds. The trainers were excited about the diverse methodologies. It was well attended and an eye-opener for all involved.”

Salesians work with abandoned children in two centers in Nigeria. One is in Lagos, opened in 2018, and the other is Ibadan, opened in 2009. These centers are changing the lives of hundreds of children who are trafficked, abused, orphaned, in conflict with the law or are facing addiction. Through scholarships and grants, Salesians are able to ensure that youth have a stable foundation and gain an education.

According to UNICEF, Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country and the ninth most populous country in the world. By United Nations estimates, Nigeria will be one of the countries responsible for most of the world’s total population increase by 2050. While Nigeria has the second strongest economy in Africa, it also has extreme rates of poverty with 100 million people living on less than $1 a day.

About 64 percent of households in Nigeria consider themselves to be poor while 32 percent of households say their economic situation had worsened over a period of one year, according to UNICEF. Poverty still remains one of the most critical challenges facing the country and population growth rates have meant a steady increase in the number of people living in conditions of poverty.

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Sources:

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

ANS – Nigeria – Child safeguarding and protection Training – ANN Province

Don Bosco Tech Africa

Salesian Missions – Nigeria

UNICEF – Nigeria

The post NIGERIA: Training helps protect children first appeared on MissionNewswire.

GHANA

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Boys Home, located in Sunyani, Ghana, provides social support and education to young boys in the care of Salesian missionaries. Recently, the International Voluntary Service (VIS) contributed funding for materials, textbooks, and uniforms for youth to attend school with the supplies they need.

VIS also launched an environmental education and organic agriculture training program. As part of this initiative, VIS brought 52 young boys to the Boabeng Fiema Monkey Sanctuary and the Kristo Buase Monastery. The guides facilitated an exploration of the rainforest, century-old trees and huge rock formations.

In addition, agronomists conducted training in organic agriculture and helped youth start an organic garden. The boys are cultivating maize, tomatoes, zucchini, salad greens and peppers. The garden complements the other the farm facilities, improving the self-sufficiency of the center with organic vegetables. Youth are also able to have hands-on practice with sustainable agriculture techniques.

“Youth at Don Bosco Boys Home have been given a chance to get out of the classroom and engage in educational activities that focus on the environment,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Many Salesian programs have launched projects to help youth understand their environmental impact and improve agriculture and other practices for greater sustainability.”

While Ghana’s economy continues to improve, nearly 45 percent of the population lives on less than $1 a day, according to UNICEF. Rural poverty remains widespread in the dry savannah region that covers roughly two thirds of Ghana’s northern territory. Small-scale farms suffer from a lack of infrastructure and equipment, both of which are needed to shift from subsistence farming to more modern commercial farming which would yield greater incomes and a chance to escape poverty.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Don Bosco Child Protection & Youth Empowerment Projects Newsletter July – Sept. 2022

Don Bosco Child Protection & Youth Empowerment Projects Newsletter July – Sept. 2022

Salesian Missions – Ghana

UNICEF – Ghana

The post GHANA: Youth take part in environmental activities first appeared on MissionNewswire.

NIGERIA

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Online Radio, located in Lagos, Nigeria, recently hosted the third edition of the Africa Face of Peace Pageant. This year, there was a focus on environmental sustainability and a selection of a king and queen and three members of their court. The radio station first put out a call for sponsors and released information for the applicants to register.

An audition was conducted online, given the various locations of the contestants. At the end of the process, 13 applicants were chosen to formally compete in the pageant. The contestants came together at the Don Bosco Animation Center in Akure in October.

During the event, they had to perform a defense of the topic “Environmental sustainability: How to battle plastic pollution as a pageant king or queen.” They also had to present any home appliance made from plastic or glass bottles. The contestants impressed the judges with the creative things fashioned out of bottles, including flower vases, a waste bin, a pencil and brush holder, pencil cases, toys, a table and a flower.

Contestants also participated in a skills program, karaoke night, movie night, drama presentation, environmental talk with an expert, and dance lessons. On Oct. 6, the contestants went to the ancient town of Idanre, in southwestern Nigeria, to climb the 660 steps up the ancient hills and experience the once thriving civilization.

The grand finale started with a unity dance performance by the contestants, and after the dance, contestants were each introduced. From there, they wore creative outfits portraying an African deity of their choosing and then performed in traditional outfits representing their ethnicity. The final event was a formal dinner outfit made from Ankara and other traditional African attire. At the end of the night, Franklin Ezeigbo was crowned king and Zita Akinrimisi was crowned queen.

“Salesian organizations around the globe have been focused on environmental sustainability projects and this pageant was a unique way to highlight youth talent and skills while promoting the topic,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “This pageant also brought youth from all over Nigeria together to connect and learn from each other while focusing on an important topic that impacts us all. It was a great event for everyone involved.”

According to UNICEF, Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country and the ninth most populous country in the world. By United Nations estimates, Nigeria will be one of the countries responsible for most of the world’s total population increase by 2050. While Nigeria has the second strongest economy in Africa, it also has extreme rates of poverty with 100 million people living on less than $1 a day.

About 64 percent of households in Nigeria consider themselves to be poor while 32 percent of households say their economic situation had worsened over a period of one year, according to UNICEF. Poverty still remains one of the most critical challenges facing the country and population growth rates have meant a steady increase in the number of people living in conditions of poverty.

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Sources:

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

ANS – Nigeria – ANN Province promotes environmental sustainability with beauty pageant

Salesian Missions – Nigeria

UNICEF – Nigeria

The post NIGERIA: Pageant focuses on environmental sustainability first appeared on MissionNewswire.

GHANA

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries are providing psychological support for children at the Don Bosco Child Protection Center in Ashaiman, Ghana. The initiative, which was funded by the Italian institution CAI and coordinated by AiBi in collaboration with International Voluntary Service (VIS), ensures children and their families receive counseling to encourage school attendance and support family reintegration.

Diana is a young psychologist who has been working at the center and providing sessions to children and their families. Through the sessions, Diana learned of the severe difficulties that many families face including food insecurity. Some of the children did well enough in the counseling sessions that they have expressed a desire to go back home and return to school. Youth also work in group therapy sessions so they can connect with and learn from others their age to begin to understand and address their life challenges.

“The children at the center have gone through a great deal of challenges in their short lives and psychological support is essential to ensure successful family reunification,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “At Salesian centers, youth access the supportive services they need to start the rehabilitation process, reunite with their families and return to school so they can start skills training.”

AiBi and VIS also provided funding for personal hygiene materials for children including bathing and washing soap, toothpaste and toothbrushes, hair creams, body creams, and other essential products.

While Ghana’s economy continues to improve, nearly 45 percent of the population lives on less than $1 a day, according to UNICEF. Rural poverty remains widespread in the dry savannah region that covers roughly two thirds of Ghana’s northern territory. Small-scale farms suffer from a lack of infrastructure and equipment, both of which are needed to shift from subsistence farming to more modern commercial farming which would yield greater incomes and a chance to escape poverty.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Don Bosco Child Protection & Youth Empowerment Projects

Don Bosco Child Protection & Youth Empowerment Projects Newsletter July – Sept. 2022

Salesian Missions – Ghana

UNICEF – Ghana

The post GHANA: Children receive psychological support first appeared on MissionNewswire.

IVORY COAST

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Child Protection Center, located in Koumassi, Abidjan, Ivory Coast, has been in operation since 1994, providing education and social support for street children and children in poverty. At the center, youth are fed a hot meal in the morning before heading off to school so they have the nutrition they need to focus on their studies.

After school youth engage in recreational activities as part of the rehabilitation process. With the help of a coach, sports instructor or staff, youth participate in sports and physical education to stay healthy. These activities also enable socialization and teach morals and values.

“Salesian missionaries focus their attention on working with youth in need and their families to provide education and social services to provide them hope for a better life,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Youth who are able to engage in productive activities are able to pay forward what they have learned in Salesian centers. They connect with their communities and increase their self-confidence.”

According to the World Bank, 46 percent of those living in the Ivory Coast live in conditions of poverty — with more than a quarter of the population living in severe poverty on less than $1.25 a day. The Ivory Coast has one of the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rates in West Africa. While a wide range of national and international initiatives focus on HIV/AIDS awareness, prevention and testing, the collapse of public health facilities in the north, as a result of years of conflict, has made the situation worse.

During the country’s time of war, Salesian missionaries provided life-saving shelter, food and security for the thousands fleeing violence and seeking refuge on their grounds. Today, Salesian missionaries continue their work providing shelter, education and social development services to youth and their families. They also work with the victims of war to heal the country’s deep wounds. They listen, help victims seek compensation and work for social reconciliation between opposing groups. Known for their work with child soldiers around the globe, Salesian missionaries are also providing training for youth, some who had been aggressors during the war.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Don Bosco Child Protection & Youth Empowerment Projects

Don Bosco Child Protection & Youth Empowerment Projects Newsletter July – Sept. 2022

Don Bosco Foyer Facebook

Salesian Missions – Ivory Coast

World Bank – Ivory Coast

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TOGO

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Immaculate Child Protection Center in Kara, Togo, was created in 1985 to provide shelter and support for street children. The aim was to help engage them in productive activities to deter them from delinquent situations. The goal was to also facilitate social and family reintegration. The street children, between the ages of 5-17, come from towns and villages in Togo.

In August, students took part in educational classes during the school break to help prepare them for the school year. Each morning, primary and high school students took courses at Don Bosco College and High School. These courses included math, written and spoken expression, civic and moral education, history, geography, English and French language, and philosophy.

Students also engaged in socio-educational activities in the afternoon. This included sports and activities that help youth express themselves artistically. With the collaboration of the educators and volunteers, youth acquired physical, moral and psychological skills through activities which promote their full development.

The center also hosted a digital and creative workshop focused on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) to help students in these subjects and motivate them to learn.

This workshop was organized by youth from EDU Association of Togo, led by the Binary’Hub company. The theme was “Give young people a taste for initiative and creativity, openness to the world of work.” The workshop focused on three objectives, equipping youth from disadvantaged backgrounds to embrace professional careers through practical training, fostering creativity and divergent thinking alongside core disciplines, and providing knowledge that will facilitate a successful transition into the labor market. There were prizes and certificates at the end of the workshop.

In Kara, many youth do not have access to education, and youth unemployment is very high. Most young people have unskilled jobs and precarious working conditions, which makes them even more vulnerable. Salesian education is sometimes the only education they are able to access to become productive members of their community.

“Salesian missionaries play a vital role in their communities helping to provide support and assistance to at-risk youth and those in need of an education,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Activities like the Don Bosco Center is facilitating encourage youth to gain an education in order to find stable employment. They are then able to support themselves and give back to their families and communities.”

More than 80 percent of Togo’s rural population lives in conditions of poverty making the country one of the world’s poorest, according to UNICEF. Children in the country suffer the most, with close to 50 percent of those living in poverty under the age of 18. One in eight children will not reach their fifth birthday and the number of children who drop out of school because their parents cannot afford to educate them is high. Children are also often forced to work in exploitative and dangerous conditions to help support their families.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Don Bosco Child Protection & Youth Empowerment Projects

Don Bosco Child Protection & Youth Empowerment Projects Newsletter July – Sept. 2022

Salesian Missions – Togo

UNICEF – Togo

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GHANA

(MissionNewswire) St. Dominic Savio Youth Center, located in Tema Newtown, a neighborhood in Tema, Ghana, was established in 2003 to provide education and rehabilitation for street children. The center provides a place for children to seek shelter, live comfortably and access mainstream education at nearby schools. At the center, youth receive a range of support to help them recover from their life on the streets and prepare for a brighter future.

Part of that recovery involves having a structured day. While at the center, youth have literacy lessons in the morning followed by a hot meal prepared by the center’s cook. After lunch, youth return to class.

Students enter in mainstream education at nearby schools when they are ready. The center provides scholarships for mainstream education for those who cannot afford to pay the schools fees and for the learning material. This helps poor children without family support as well as children from poor families.

As part of the rehabilitation process, and with the help of Don Bosco Youth Network and Don Bosco Project, Salesian staff take youth on excursions twice a year to places in Ghana including Sajuna Beach Resort, Adomi Bridge, Akosombo Continental Hotel, Ada Crocodile Island and Treasure Island.

At the end of each term, Salesian staff have meetings with the guardians of youth at the center, and they also monitor family visits. The goal is to encourage guardians to be involved in the re-integration process and support youth in their academic pursuits.

“Salesian missionaries in Ghana and around the globe are working to support street children and restore their childhoods,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “At Salesian centers, youth have their basic needs met and access the supportive services they need to start the rehabilitation process and begin schools and skills training.”

While Ghana’s economy continues to improve, nearly 45 percent of the population lives on less than $1 a day, according to UNICEF. Rural poverty remains widespread in the dry savannah region that covers roughly two thirds of Ghana’s northern territory. Small-scale farms suffer from a lack of infrastructure and equipment, both of which are needed to shift from subsistence farming to more modern commercial farming which would yield greater incomes and a chance to escape poverty.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Don Bosco Child Protection & Youth Empowerment Projects

Don Bosco Child Protection & Youth Empowerment Projects Newsletter July – Sept. 2022

Salesian Missions – Ghana

UNICEF – Ghana

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NIGERIA

(MissionNewswire) The Bosco Boys Home Center in Abuja, Nigeria, offers many services for homeless boys who want to change their lives. Youth can resume their education, learn a trade and return to their families, if possible. When Salesian missionaries arrived in Nigeria in 1982, they soon realized that there were many youth living on the street. Youth, even today, travel from remote areas to bigger cities looking for something to eat or to do odd jobs. There are also those who are forced to steal to feed themselves.

Adeyi, a 14-year-old boy who lived in Ogbomosho, a town in southwestern Nigeria, lost his mother when he was very young and grew up with his uncle. He suffered all kinds of abuse as a child and ran away to escape. Adeyi ended up living on the street and working several jobs in Lagos, the country’s largest city. He said, “I used to sell water and cookies. I often went to help people sell drinking water, but street children are given very little money. I was mistreated, but when I met the Salesians everything changed.”

Asanam, age 15, ran away from home after being mistreated by his family. He explained, “On the street, I didn’t know where to sleep. I met some boys who had also run away from their families, and I was begging so I could have something to eat, but life on the street is very difficult and you always have to be careful. It is a hard life and only the strongest survive. I felt discouraged and lost until I came to the Bosco Boys Home Center, where I realized that life could be different.”

The Bosco Boys houses are designed to make youth who once had nothing feel comfortable and welcomed. The Salesians, together with a team of social workers and educators, provide them with proper nutrition, care, and psychological support. Youth can then access formal education or vocational training to help them reach small goals, learn about their abilities, and regain self-confidence.

Today, Adeyi has completed a vocational training course and re-established contact with family members. He has managed to enroll in school, and his life has changed completely. With vocational training courses, Asanam is slowly discovering his skills. He said, “I now know that I am worth more than the street led me to believe. Thanks to the help of Bosco Boys Home, I am learning many new things and I know what I want to do when I grow up. For me, home is the place where I can be happy without being mistreated.”

Salesians also work with abandoned children in two centers in Nigeria. One is in Lagos, opened in 2018, and the other is Ibadan, opened in 2009. They are changing the lives of hundreds of children who are trafficked, abused, orphaned, in conflict with the law, or are facing addiction. Through scholarships and grants, Salesians are able to ensure that youth have a stable foundation and gain an education.

According to UNICEF, Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country and the ninth most populous country in the world. By United Nations estimates, Nigeria will be one of the countries responsible for most of the world’s total population increase by 2050. While Nigeria has the second strongest economy in Africa, it also has extreme rates of poverty with 100 million people living on less than $1 a day.

About 64 percent of households in Nigeria consider themselves to be poor while 32 percent of households say their economic situation had worsened over a period of one year, according to UNICEF. Poverty still remains one of the most critical challenges facing the country and population growth rates have meant a steady increase in the number of people living in conditions of poverty.

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Sources:

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

ANS – Nigeria – Adeyi and Asanam, two success stories of “Bosco Boys Home” program

Salesian Missions – Nigeria

UNICEF – Nigeria

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GHANA

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Solar and Renewable Energy Center, located in Ashaiman in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana, recently graduated 16 students as certified solar photovoltaic installers. The program works in collaboration with the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Ghana, the Jakob-Christian Adam Foundation, and the Association of Ghana Industries, according to a recent news article from Graphic Online.

The program lasts six months and includes practical, hands-on training that meets German dual standards, which require 70 percent practical training and 30 percent theory. The graduates, including three women, were presented with certificates at a graduation ceremony. These certificates enhance their ability to operate as advanced solar professionals, according to the article.

Ramona Simon, deputy head of development cooperation at the German Embassy in Ghana, spoke at the graduation. She commended the organizers of the training for investing in a sustainable and green future for Ghana. According to the article, she also expressed her happiness over the relationship between Ghana and Germany, which established the reform and investment partnership with a focus on renewable energy in October 2017.

In the article, Simon said, “The partnership is supporting the rebuilding of the foundations for a viable energy sector, thus enabling sustainable private sector participation and investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency for climate protection.”

Burkhardt Hellemann, head of the delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Ghana, also spoke at the graduation and underscored the importance of technical and vocational education. He stressed the importance of apprenticeships that provide standardization in practice across the country. Hellemann also hoped that these opportunities would help youth in the job market.

The article also highlighted two trainees, Eric Kwenor and Jemima Adongo, who both stressed that if Ghanian youth are given the opportunity to better their lives, they would take it. Kwenor appealed to employers to employ young men and women with valuable skills, instead of demanding years of experience. He said, “People do not gain experience if they are not given the exposure to explore the reality of whatever career path they choose or are pursuing.” Adongo urged young women not to restrict their abilities and encouraged them to venture into male-dominated fields.

While Ghana’s economy continues to improve, nearly 45 percent of the population lives on less than $1 a day, according to UNICEF. Rural poverty remains widespread in the dry savannah region that covers roughly two thirds of Ghana’s northern territory. Small-scale farms suffer from a lack of infrastructure and equipment, both of which are needed to shift from subsistence farming to more modern commercial farming which would yield greater incomes and a chance to escape poverty.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Don Bosco Youth Network West Africa Annual Report 2018

Graphic Online – 16 Certified solar photovoltaic installers graduate

Salesian Missions – Ghana

UNICEF – Ghana

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SPAIN

(MissionNewswire) Emmanuel, a 12-year-old boy from Sierra Leone, has a new lease on life thanks to the medical team of Dr. Pedro Guillén, the CEMTRO Clinic in Madrid and many volunteers. Emmanuel was born with a leg disability and was abandoned by his mother. After being abused by his family, he ran away from home and survived on the streets. It was there that Salesian missionaries found him.

Emmanuel was asked to join Don Bosco Fambul, located in Sierra Leone’s capital city of Freetown and one of the country’s leading child-welfare organizations. Over the past two years, his life has changed. He has found an environment free from discrimination where he studies and dreams of becoming a soccer player. Thanks to his recent operation, he is now able to walk normally and “be like everyone else” as he has said.

The plan was put into place last summer, and volunteers worked to make the trip to Spain and the surgery possible. Emmanuel arrived in Madrid on April 22. On April 26 he was admitted to the operating room of the CEMTRO Clinic and underwent a successful surgery. Guillén explained, “We were clear that it had to be an operation on the soft parts, without touching the bone, although we realized that the bone was also affected after years of resting the leg badly.”

Dozens of volunteers, including the staff of the CEMTRO Clinic, and university students from Francisco de Vitoria and CEU-San Pablo Universities, took turns spending time with Emmanuel, going on walks, and playing games. A nurse said, “He arrived as a weak child and in these few weeks he has grown, gained weight, and has shown that he is very intelligent and adapts very well to any situation.”

In just a few weeks, Emmanuel experienced things he never imagined, including seeing snow for the first time, attending a Real Madrid game, and receiving a jersey with his name on it from the president of the Real Madrid club. For the past month, Emmanuel has spent most of his time with a foster family and has only gone to the hospital for rehabilitation. He has integrated seamlessly with his new siblings and has begun to enjoy his time being like everyone else.

The medical team will continue to follow him over the next year. Emmanuel will have to wear an insole in his shoe to walk properly and continue to strengthen his muscles. Next year, he may return to Spain for another corrective operation, but in the meantime, at Don Bosco Fambul everyone is waiting for him.

Salesian Father Jorge Crisafulli, former rector of Don Bosco Fambul and now provincial of the new Africa Nigeria Niger Province, said, “Thank you to all those who make these miracles possible. The world is a little more beautiful with each of these boys and the miracle of Don Bosco Fambul continues. We are all together part of this dream and we are the miracle in motion.”

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Sources:

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

ANS – Spain – Emmanuel, Freetown street boy whose life has changed thanks to a leg operation

CEMTRO Clinic

Don Bosco Fambul

Don Bosco Fambul Facebook

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SIERRA LEONE

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries with St. Augustine’s Parish, located in the Dworzak community within Freetown, Sierra Leone, have partially completed construction of a new church thanks to donor funding provided by Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. Salesians are seeking additional funding to finalize the project.

With the additional funding, the next phase of the project will include electrical, plumbing, floors, walls and painting. Once completed, the church will be able to accommodate 800 parishioners indoors for celebrating liturgies and holy Masses. There will also be a youth center for children when schools are on holiday. The parish currently has two schools, St. Augustine’s Pre-School and St. Augustine’s Primary School.

St. Augustine’s Parish is one of the poorest parishes in the Archdiocese of Freetown and parishioners are making personal efforts to bring the building to completion. As the number of parishioners and the size of the community have increased, Salesian missionaries embarked on a multi-phase project to expand their outgrown church.

“We appreciate the funding donors have provided to date to help with the construction of this church,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions. “With the construction of the building, Salesians in Sierra Leone are now in need of funding to finish the internal parts of the church to make it operational for the community. Our donors are generous and we hope to provide the funding to finalize this project.”

Salesian missionaries have been serving in Sierra Leone since 2001 when they began working to rehabilitate former child soldiers through the organization Don Bosco Fambul. Don Bosco Fambul, located in the capital city of Freetown, has become one of the country’s leading child welfare organizations — offering food, clothing, crisis intervention services, shelter, educational opportunities, long-term counseling and family reunification.

Young people also face significant challenges in accessing education. With too few teachers and many school buildings destroyed in the war, resources are thin. Persistently high illiteracy rates mean that an estimated 70 percent of Sierra Leone’s youth are unemployed or underemployed.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions – Sierra Leone

UNICEF – Sierra Leone

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BENIN

(MissionNewswire) Children at Foyer Don Bosco, a home for abused and abandoned children in Kandi, Benin, have received food support thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. The funding provided food support for 36 children, as well as cleaning products and medicines for the infirmary. Ten girls and boys have also benefited from the purchase of toolboxes for various trades.

Lamidi Mounira, age 17, was one of the recipients. “I dropped out of school because my parents couldn’t afford it. I was at home when I was approached by Foyer Don Bosco and convinced to continue my education so I can learn a trade.”

Foyer Don Bosco serves boys and girls in very complex situations, including those who have been abandoned by their families, victims of abuse, and victims of forced marriages. The area of Kandi often has an influx of children who are on their own. Children are sometimes sold on the black market and exploited in the workforce. A transit home was started with the support of UNICEF to host these children, while guiding them to other homes or trying to find their families.

Foyer Don Bosco was created for children who have nowhere else to go or need to stay for long periods of time. In collaboration with the juvenile courts of Benin, minors who are in conflict with the law and in high-risk situations are assisted by the Salesians. The border police also intercept children being trafficked from Niger and Burkina Faso.

Foyer Don Bosco relies on donations so that Salesians can provide youth with food, clothing, education and medical care. Salesians also work with families and try to provide reunification when appropriate. Currently, there are 40 youth in the home, ranging in age from 5 to 15.

Children in Benin face significant challenges gaining an education within the country’s poor educational system. According to UNICEF, Benin remains one of the poorest countries in the world with close to 70 percent of its population living in poverty. About half of all children between the ages of 5 and 13 are engaged in some kind of forced labor in the country and almost 20 percent are chronically undernourished. Youth in Benin also face overwhelming challenges in combating poverty, one of the root causes of child trafficking.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions – Benin

UNICEF – Benin

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NIGERIA

(MissionNewswire) John Bosco Institute of Technology, located in Obosi in the Anambra state of Nigeria, has launched a new Technical Education in Communities program thanks to the support and investment of Cummins, a global power solutions provider. Cummins started technical education for communities because the sector requires employees with specialized skills and technical engineering ability, according to an article in The Sun, a publication in Nigeria.

In the article, Thierry Pimi, vice president of Cummins Africa and Middle East, who spoke during the program launch, said that technical education delivers a “standardized education platform to help education partners develop market relevant curricula, teacher training, career guidance and the practical experience needed by the students.”

Okechi Igwebuike, managing director of Cummins in Nigeria, said in the article that the company believes in giving back to society. The company currently has a technical education school in Lagos but wanted to branch out to other parts of the country. It chose the John Bosco Institute of Technology because their missions aligned.

As part of the program, Cummins West Africa Ltd. commissioned newly refurbished mechanical and electrical workshops, and donated three ISF engines, one ISD engine, tools, and equipment to the institute. It also provided ongoing teacher training and development.

“Salesian technical and vocational education helps youth gain the skills for employment,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Developing new partnership and programs like this enables poor youth to be able to gain the skills for later employment.”

According to UNICEF, Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country and the ninth most populous country in the world. By United Nations estimates, Nigeria will be one of the countries responsible for most of the world’s total population increase by 2050. While Nigeria has the second strongest economy in Africa, it also has extreme rates of poverty with 100 million people living on less than $1 a day.

About 64 percent of households in Nigeria consider themselves to be poor while 32 percent of households say their economic situation had worsened over a period of one year, according to UNICEF. Poverty still remains one of the most critical challenges facing the country and population growth rates have meant a steady increase in the number of people living in conditions of poverty.

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Sources:

Salesian Missions – Nigeria

The Sun – Cummins Inc.  launches technical training  project in Anambra

UNICEF – Nigeria

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BENIN

(MissionNewswire) Children at Foyer Don Bosco, a home for abused and abandoned children in Kandi, Benin, have their needs met thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. The funding covered new clothing for 30 children. Additional funding provided food support for 36 children, as well as cleaning products and medicines for the infirmary. Ten girls and boys have also benefited from the purchase of toolboxes for various trades.

Coco Benie, one young boarder at Foyer Don Bosco, said, “Thank you for your support. My housemates and I are happy to have new outfits to celebrate like other children who are with their parents.”

Mounanvi Mariano is an apprentice tailor with Foyer Don Bosco who was supported by this donation. She said, “Thanks to the help of Salesian Missions, I was able to get glasses which have allowed me to see better and to accelerate my learning.”

Foyer Don Bosco serves boys and girls in very complex situations, including those who have been abandoned by their families, victims of abuse, and victims of forced marriages. The area of Kandi often has an influx of children who are on their own. Children are sometimes sold on the black market and exploited in the workforce. A transit home was started with the support of UNICEF to host these children, while guiding them to other homes or trying to find their families.

Foyer Don Bosco was created for children who have nowhere else to go or need to stay for long periods of time. In collaboration with the juvenile courts of Benin, minors who are in conflict with the law and in high-risk situations are assisted by the Salesians. The border police also intercept children being trafficked from Niger and Burkina Faso.

Foyer Don Bosco relies on donations so that Salesians can provide youth with food, clothing, education and medical care. Salesians also work with families and try to provide reunification when appropriate. Currently, there are 40 youth in the home, ranging in age from 5 to 15.

Children in Benin face significant challenges gaining an education within the country’s poor educational system. According to UNICEF, Benin remains one of the poorest countries in the world with close to 70 percent of its population living in poverty. About half of all children between the ages of 5 and 13 are engaged in some kind of forced labor in the country and almost 20 percent are chronically undernourished. Youth in Benin also face overwhelming challenges in combating poverty, one of the root causes of child trafficking.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions – Benin

UNICEF – Benin

The post BENIN: Children in need receive clothing first appeared on MissionNewswire.

TOGO

(MissionNewswire) Mary Help of Christians Technical and Vocational Training Center in Lomé, Togo, has been providing skills training for poor youth in the region for more than 30 years. Recently, with the support of Bosco Global and the financial support from the Municipality of Malaga, Spain, Salesians were able to provide teaching training and equipment renovation at the center.

“This project is an opportunity to improve the work we do here at the center,” said Antoine Koudokpo, a workshop instructor at Mary Help of Christians Technical and Vocational Training Center. “This opportunity is not only in the interest of the students but also of the teachers, because it facilitates teaching and improves the performance of the students’ work because what we do not have the opportunity to teach in theory, we have the opportunity to do in practice.”

In the beginning of the project, equipment was purchased for electrical training to replace outdated equipment no longer in use in the labor market. Once the equipment was installed, teachers were trained on its use and how to teach students to use it properly. Other activities will be forthcoming in the project.

Since the center opened, thousands of youth have received training. Over the years, the center has gradually expanded and improved its educational offerings. Today, several fields of study are taught including electricity (with various levels of vocational qualifications), electrical installations, metal construction, carpentry and computer maintenance.

Being able to access specialized vocational training in Lomé makes the difference between having well-trained youth prepared for employment or having young apprentices left with insufficient training and exploited in the workplace. The goal is to not only to train Salesian students properly so they can obtain employment, but also to ensure that they understand proper working conditions and are paid a wage based on their skills.

More than 80 percent of Togo’s rural population lives in conditions of poverty making the country one of the world’s poorest, according to UNICEF. Children in the country suffer the most with close to 50 percent of those living in poverty under the age of 18. One in eight children will not reach their fifth birthday and the number of children who drop out of school because their parents cannot afford to educate them is high. Children are also often forced to work in exploitative and dangerous conditions in order to help support their families.

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Sources:

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

ANS – Togo – Salesian vocational training offers a promising future for young people in Lomé

Salesian Missions – Togo

UNICEF – Togo

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NIGERIA

(MissionNewswire) The Salesian movie “The Oratory,” produced by The Nollywood Factory in collaboration with Salesians of Don Bosco, is premiering in theaters across Europe, according to a Vatican News story. The plight of street children in Nigeria and the work of Salesian missionaries with them are highlighted in the movie. It was directed by Obi Emelonye, a Nigerian film director, and produced by Dr. Cyril Odia, a Nigerian Salesian priest presently serving in Dublin, Ireland.

The story raises awareness of homeless and street children in Nigeria and takes viewers through the life of Father Michael Simmons, an American Catholic priest on a missionary trip from Turin, Italy to Ikoyi, Lagos. Once in Lagos, Fr. Simmons witnesses the harsh life of street children in Makoko and resolves to help them. To do that, Fr. Simmons must confront Shuga, a dangerous Makoko kingpin who has the street boys locked in criminal servitude.

According to a Vanguard article, Gbenga Adebija, the chairperson of the organizing committee of the premiere, said, “‘The Oratory’ is not just a movie, it is actually an integral aspect of a multi-dimensional initiative of the Salesians of Don Bosco, which not only reminds us individually and as a collective of our civic responsibilities toward street children, but it’s aimed at creating an inclusionary framework for the upliftment of homeless, delinquent and juvenile youths who are at risk of negative social issues such as violence, sexual abuse, trafficking and crime.”

The Salesian-run Bosco Boys Home in Lagos has been a refuge and life-changing program for many homeless, and at-risk youth. Father Augustine Okeke, director of outreach, explained that many youth leave their homes in search of work and wealth, but once they get to Lagos, they realize they are alone, have nothing, and end up living on the streets.

Bosco Boys has become a refuge of safety for the boys and also a chance to turn their lives around. Once youth are part of the Bosco Boys program, they are provided counseling, skills training and daily support. The goal is to help prepare them for the next stage of life. Family reunification takes place later if it is possible. Salesian staff work with the family and each boy to help reintegrate him into family life. They then follow up with the family to ensure that all is well and to address ongoing challenges.

The movie not only shows the importance of the work of Salesians, it also reinforces Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ message about caring for the environment. Makoko is a poor settlement with homes built on stilts on the Lagos lagoon. According to the Vatican News article, the town was at the center of a serious social-political conflict in 2012, when some Nigerian government officials attempted to eliminate the settlement, deeming it “embarrassing for the city’s image” after the BBC had reported on it. As a result, they initiated a general eviction and set fire to the town, actions that triggered heavy repercussions for the entire city.

“The choice of this location was effective in highlighting the critical environmental conditions, due to pollution and poverty, which further worsen the reality of those living in this precarious environment,” explained Fr. Odia in the Vatican News article.

The positive response from film critics and audiences, even with all the limitations of movie attendance caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, has inspired the film’s production crew to start a crowdfunding campaign to distribute it on a larger scale.

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Sources:

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

ANS – Nigeria – “The Oratory”: a Salesian film in tune with Pope Francis

Bosco Boys Facebook

Vanguard – From Street to Stardom: Untold story of Salesian’s Bosco Boys

Vanguard – The Oratory movie premieres for street children

Salesian Missions – Nigeria

Vatican News – “The Oratory”: From the streets of Lagos, a film on the cry of the poor

World Bank – Nigeria

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SIERRA LEONE

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Fambul, one of Sierra Leone’s leading child-welfare organizations and located in Freetown, has received the “Solidarity Project Award” from the Spanish daily newspaper ABC. Don Bosco Fambul receives the support of the Salesian Missions Office in Madrid, and this partnership is highlighted in the award. Don Bosco Fambul has been awarded 40,000 euros.

Don Bosco Fambul won for the Girls Os+ program, which provides support and recovery for underage girls who are victims of sexual violence and abuse and forced into prostitution. Since the program was launched five years ago, it has changed the lives of more than 600 girls and given them the opportunity to start a new life and access education.

The project began by accident when Father Jorge Crisafulli asked a group of underage girls forced to be prostitutes on the streets if they wanted to change their lives. He was able to create a new program inside an already thriving organization. Don Bosco Fambul has a staff of 120, including Salesian social workers who go out to the streets, slums and marketplaces. They engage with vulnerable youth and encourage them to join Don Bosco Fambul’s successful programs.

To support the Girls Os+ program, Don Bosco Fambul launched a therapeutic center with four large buildings, a clinic, accommodations for volunteers and social workers, a house for the Salesian community, and a chapel. It’s the only program of its kind in West Africa that enables girls to live in a safe environment to overcome their traumas and start a new life.

Salesian missionaries, professional social workers, and pastoral workers provide crisis intervention and follow-up care for girls and young women who have been victims of sexual assault. Girls that access services at the shelter are also able to attend educational programs that are a part of the broader Don Bosco Fambul network of programs. These educational programs give young women the skills necessary to find and retain employment.

“I am very grateful for this award, which gives recognition to all the work behind it including support from Salesian Missions in Madrid, social workers, nurses, and psychotherapists. It is a daily miracle to see these girls come back and smile. This means that they have overcome their traumas and are working on leading full lives,” said Fr. Crisafulli.

In 2018, Salesian Missions Madrid produced the documentary “Love” which showed the work of Don Bosco Fambul’s efforts to help these young women. Fr. Crisafulli said, “We succeeded in getting the minors to be seen for what they are, victims and not perpetrators. Thanks to the documentary and the testimony of young women at European institutions, Sierra Leone’s president decreed a national emergency on child sexual abuse, and laws were changed in the country to benefit and protect young victims.”

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Sources:

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

ANS – Spain – “ABC Awards” for solidarity acknowledge success of Salesian project to save girls from prostitution in Sierra Leone

Don Bosco Fambul

Don Bosco Fambul Facebook

Salesian Missions – Sierra Leone

UNICEF – Sierra Leone

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NIGERIA

(MissionNewswire) Youth attending the Don Bosco Vocational Training Center in Koko, within the Kebbi State of Nigeria, received scholarships thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. The 150 students who received scholarships were selected based on criteria developed at the school.

Among the students were youth who were directly affected by bandit attacks, teenage girls who were about to be forced into marriage, youth from poor backgrounds, and orphans who lost either parent. Other students selected had not received any formal education and were willing to learn a skill.

Lydia, one of the recipients, is the oldest of seven daughters. Three years ago, her father died and her mother passed away last year. Lydia was left to take care of her siblings, but she cannot afford the fees to send them to school. She is continuing her education to be able to help her siblings.

Markus lost his mother a few years ago and helps to take care of the family. Because of a bandit attack, the family was unable to access their farm produce this year. He is studying to have a chance to earn a living. Sabastine is a brilliant student but was about to stop her education because her family could not financially support her education. The scholarship allowed her to take part in the skills development program.

After the students finish their education, the center has a job service office that will help them make good career choices. They will develop a plan, receive assistance applying and interviewing for jobs, and then transition into the workforce. The job service office will monitor their progress and assess them going forward to see their success.

“Salesian technical and vocational education centers help youth gain the skills for employment,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions. “Providing scholarships enables poor and unfortunate youth to be able to attend school and later find long-term, stable employment. This, in turn, helps their families and communities.”

Salesian missionaries arrived in Koko in 2014 and began developing pastoral programs. This opened up other avenues to serve the local population and the Don Bosco Vocational Training Center was opened in October 2021. The center has four departments including electrical building and construction, fashion and design, and computers. Student take six-month long courses. Currently, there are 154 students, mostly from poor families who would like their children to be enrolled in the training offered.

According to UNICEF, Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country and the ninth most populous country in the world. By United Nations estimates, Nigeria will be one of the countries responsible for most of the world’s total population increase by 2050. While Nigeria has the second strongest economy in Africa, it also has extreme rates of poverty with 100 million people living on less than $1 a day.

About 64 percent of households in Nigeria consider themselves to be poor while 32 percent of households say their economic situation had worsened over a period of one year, according to UNICEF. Poverty still remains one of the most critical challenges facing the country and population growth rates have meant a steady increase in the number of people living in conditions of poverty.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions – Nigeria

UNICEF – Nigeria

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NIGERIA

(MissionNewswire) Students from the Don Bosco Vocational Training Center in Koko, in the Kebbi State of Nigeria, have access to new computer equipment thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. Each year, 60 students receive an education at the training center.

Donor funding helped provide the purchase and installation of desktop and laptop computers, computer accessories, printers, and a smart TV. The school trains students in classes with 15 students each, and now every student in the class will be able to use computer equipment for learning. The school caters to students who come from vulnerable groups including at-risk youth and migrants.

The students will bring their knowledge back to 30 villages that make up the local Koko region and are home to the students and their families. Indirectly, this project can impact up to thousands of village residents.

“It’s important that students are able to access technology in their studies so they are prepared for the workforce,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions. “We appreciate our donors who are able to make projects like this possible, especially in remote areas where students might not otherwise have access to the same education and technology.”

According to UNICEF, Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country and the ninth most populous country in the world. By United Nations estimates, Nigeria will be one of the countries responsible for most of the world’s total population increase by 2050. While Nigeria has the second strongest economy in Africa, it also has extreme rates of poverty with 100 million people living on less than $1 a day.

About 64 percent of households in Nigeria consider themselves to be poor while 32 percent of households say their economic situation had worsened over a period of one year, according to UNICEF. Poverty still remains one of the most critical challenges facing the country and population growth rates have meant a steady increase in the number of people living in conditions of poverty.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions – Nigeria

UNICEF – Nigeria

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NIGERIA

(MissionNewswire) People living in the village of Akwa Umuikwele in Nigeria have access to clean water thanks to funding from the Salesian Missions “Clean Water Initiative.” The funding provided for the implementation of a new water borehole. This will contribute to the livelihood of the local community, curtail the outbreak of waterborne diseases and infections, and help ensure the safety of women and children searching for water.

The 12,900 residents in Akwa Umuikwele depend on streams from neighboring villages to survive. Making the journey to distant communities has put a heavy burden on the villagers. With the new borehole, girls and women—who shoulder most of the stress of getting water—will be relieved of the burden. The new borewell will impact more than 12,000 people annually.

U.N.-Water estimates that worldwide 2.2 billion people are living without access to safe water. One in four primary schools has no drinking water service, with students using unprotected water sources or going thirsty. In addition, U.N.-Water notes that more than 700 children under age 5 die every day from diarrheal disease linked to unsafe water and poor sanitation.

Salesian Missions has made it a priority that Salesian programs around the globe have access to safe, clean water for the health and safety of those they serve. Improving water access brings a sense of dignity to people and promotes proper hygiene. This reduces the number of waterborne illnesses that impact children and families.

Recently, people living in the villages of Abajah and Mbaukwu in Nigeria also gained access to clean water thanks to funding from the “Clean Water Initiative.”

According to UNICEF, Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country and the ninth most populous country in the world. By United Nations estimates, Nigeria will be one of the countries responsible for most of the world’s total population increase by 2050. While Nigeria has the second strongest economy in Africa, it also has extreme rates of poverty with 100 million people living on less than $1 a day.

About 64 percent of households in Nigeria consider themselves to be poor while 32 percent of households say their economic situation had worsened over a period of one year, according to UNICEF. Poverty still remains one of the most critical challenges facing the country and population growth rates have meant a steady increase in the number of people living in conditions of poverty.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions – Nigeria

UNICEF – Nigeria

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