UNITED STATES

(MissionNewswire) Salesian Family Youth Center, located in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, California, recently hosted high school senior students from Loyola High School who were looking to complete community service hours.

JC Montenegro, executive director of Salesian Family Youth Center, explained, “It all started with an email from Gabriela Gordillo-Banuelos, director of the Center for Service and Justice, saying that students in their final year at Loyola High School were looking for a place to do their compulsory community service hours. The students had to serve for three days, four hours a day, in the community, and she felt that the Salesian Family Youth Center was the ideal solution.”

Over the three days, the students thoroughly cleaned classrooms, polished the vans, painted, organized the spaces and spent meaningful time with the children. The students’ ability to step in and serve wherever needed reflected their strong character and sincere willingness to help.

The students were also invited to reflect on what they had learned and what they would commit to doing in the future. They spoke about the importance of practicing empathy and appreciating every moment, every opportunity, and every person they encounter. Many shared how even small interactions can have a powerful impact. Several students expressed a desire to continue serving others, particularly those from marginalized or immigrant communities.

Gabriela Gordillo-Banuelos’ previous connection with the Salesians made this partnership possible, demonstrating how long-term relationships and networking continue to create opportunities for service and impact.

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

(MissionNewswire) Students with the Red Cross Club at Don Bosco Tech in Rosemead, California, organized a campaign to gather essential items for veterans in need. Thanks to the generosity of students, parents and school staff, over 2,100 essential items and other comfort items were collected.

After taking their school exams, a group of volunteers from the club loaded the packages into cars and delivered them to the Red Cross headquarters in Arcadia.

Victoria Phung, head of youth programs at the Red Cross, thanked the school for its valuable annual contribution. She said, “We are fortunate to have Don Bosco Tech to count on. These young people are among our best allies in helping our veterans.”

Don Bosco students around the globe frequently give back to their communities and other communities in need. Working in more than 130 countries, Salesian missionaries have created a vast network of primary, secondary, vocational and technical schools serving youth who are poor or disadvantaged. With a focus on education and workforce development, Salesians worldwide provide youth valuable resources to aid them in finding livable wage employment.

Don Bosco Tech in Rosemead combines a rigorous college preparatory program with technology focused education. The innovative science, engineering, technology and math curriculum allows students to exceed university admission requirements while completing extensive integrated coursework in one of several applied science and engineering fields.

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ANS – United States – A solidarity campaign by Don Bosco Tech in favour of the most disadvantaged

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UNITED STATES

(MissionNewswire) The Salesian Mission Center in Boyle Heights, California, has become a place where people of all ages aim to help others. The Burrito Project and the Clothing the Poor project are two projects that are bringing people together, especially youth, to give back to community members in need.

The Burrito Project, involving members of the Association of Mary Help of Christians Youth and students from St. Dominic Savio, works to help serve food to those in need. People from different generations join forces, working side by side, for the common good. One volunteer said, “It was inspiring to see so many young people choosing to serve God, instead of spending time with video games.”

As part of the monthly initiative, volunteers can join one of two groups to either prepare the meals to be distributed at the Mission Center or deliver them to the people who do not have homes, sharing a moment of prayer with them and offering compassionate support.

Another project, Clothing the Poor, has brought together student support from volunteers from St. Mary’s Academy and Sacred Heart of Jesus High School. Young women played a key role in setting up and running the charity shop. This is an ongoing initiative ready to welcome new volunteers to distribute clothes to those most in need.

A Salesian noted, “It’s important for Salesian youth to give back to the community through charitable acts and volunteerism. Helping the community in which they live is also a way for these students to learn skills while completing tasks and engaging with their peers.”

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MEXICO

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Children’s Project, located in León, Mexico, is targeting youth addiction through collaboration with the Salesian province’s planning and development office and Don Bosco Mondo on the “Social Rehabilitation of Systemically Vulnerable Young People” project. The project is aimed at teens aged 14-17 who are at high risk of addiction and other issues related to tobacco, alcohol, marijuana and crystal meth.

Specialized centers have been designed to meet the specific needs of youth after a 2023 feasibility study highlighted the growing demand for initiatives that address addiction. CEJUSA Valdocco Don Bosco will provide services to young men while Patio Don Bosco will offer support to young women. Both centers will be equipped to provide a safe environment in which youth can begin their journey to recovery.

Under the guidance of a qualified multidisciplinary team, the planned activities include individual, group and family therapy, along with artistic and sporting activities, all aimed at alleviating the effects of withdrawal and fostering personal development.

A Salesian noted, “The implementation of the project has also been made possible thanks to strategic agreements with the Municipal Institute of Youth and the Municipal Presidency of León. These alliances seek to coordinate efforts to offer comprehensive care. The Municipal Institute of Youth is committed to providing resources and managing support for the certification of the centers under the standards of the National Commission against Addictions, thus promoting a quality service.”

The Salesian added, “Through the feasibility study, we were able to see that the consumption of these substances and addictive behavior in youth is deeply related to two main factors — the influence of organized criminal groups and a dysfunctional family environment. Youth are also facing situations of poverty, have little access to education and are in families where there is domestic violence. Faced with this situation, this project will provide professional, ethical and alternative supports that not only treat these behaviors but also promotes the social reintegration.”

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UNITED STATES

(MissionNewswire) Representatives from the Salesian Lay Missionary volunteer programs of the United States and other members of the Salesian Family recently attended the SEEK 2025 Conference, facilitated by FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students). The conference was held from Jan. 1-5 in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Washington, D.C. At SEEK 2025, more than 21,000 students who want to make a difference came together to share in faith and find ways to serve.

The Salesian volunteer programs included the Salesian Lay Missioners and Salesian Volunteers alongside Salesian sisters and Salesian priests and brothers. Together, they shared the joy and mission of Don Bosco with everyone who visited their booths.

A Salesian noted, “The conference focused on service and helping others. Students had opportunities to attend daily Mass, spend time in Eucharistic adoration, and listen to talks designed to inspire young men and women. At the Salesian booths, students learned about the work Salesians do worldwide and how they could get involved in this mission of faith and love.”

SEEK 2025 provided a platform where faith and service came together. The Salesian Family’s participation helped many students see how to live their faith in action. From the conference, 270 youth are interested in becoming lay missionaries and giving back to those in need.

The Salesian said, “The presence of the Salesians brought an extra layer of inspiration. They shared stories of missionary work and showed the students how Salesian spirituality is centered on joy, community, and service to the young and marginalized. Their enthusiasm made a lasting impression on everyone who stopped by.”

The Salesian concluded, “SEEK 2025 reminded us of the importance of this mission. We are excited to see how these connections grow and how the spirit of Don Bosco inspires more people to serve. Together, we can continue spreading faith, hope and love worldwide. Now, it is our time to accompany these young adults who desire to serve God as missionaries. Maybe they will choose to serve with us.”

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UNITED STATES

(MissionNewswire) As Los Angeles, Calif. faces devastating fires that have displaced families and strained local resources, the Salesian Family Youth Center has stepped up to support people in need. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the center quickly mobilized to support organizations on the front lines of the crisis.

One of the center’s contributions has been partnering with A Place for Youth, an organization assembling food and clothing donations for families affected by the fires. The Salesian center’s young volunteers are working side by side with community members to sort, pack and prepare essential supplies for distribution.

The center has also continued its outreach to some of the city’s youth who are homeless. A Salesian noted, “This ongoing initiative has taken on even greater significance during this crisis. The harsh conditions in Los Angeles have further exposed the daily struggles of those without shelter. The youth center has been actively visiting and supporting homeless youth, offering not just basic necessities but also compassion and human connection.”

The Salesian explained, “At the heart of every one of our initiatives is the belief that young people are powerful agents of change. By involving youth in relief efforts, we are teaching them the value of empathy, leadership and community engagement. Whether it’s packing supplies, delivering goods to first responders, or lending a hand to local organizations, these experiences empower young people to become active contributors to their community’s well-being.”

The center is calling on the community to help in anyway they can. Whether it’s volunteering time, donating supplies or offering words of encouragement and prayers, the Salesian center is committed to continuing its work and invites the community to join in these efforts.

“Together, we are stronger. Together, we can rise above this crisis and rebuild with compassion and unity,” said Juan Carlos Montenegro, the executive director of the Salesian Family Youth Center.

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UNITED STATES

(MissionNewswire) The Salesian Family in Los Angeles is working to aid people in need during the fires that are ravaging the city. To date, there are dozens of casualties, more than 150,000 displaced and billions of dollars in damages. Salesian organizations are responding with donation drives, support for families, and more, while the Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles has set up an Emergency Relief Fund and additional resources online.

Salesians have several schools in Los Angeles County that are responding with calls for help. The Bishop Mora Salesian High School Facebook page stated: “Our school community is devastated to learn two of our current Salesian families lost their homes as a result of the Southern California wildfires. Both families are safe, but have lost everything. Various members in their local communities have assisted the families by providing clothing and personal items. Salesian High School will be collecting monetary donations to provide both families with financial support to cover immediate needs.” St. John Bosco High School is also sharing information for how to help.

The Salesian Family Youth Center Girl Scout Troop #82563 expressed gratitude and solidarity toward the Los Angeles City Fire Department, Station 2 firefighters. The troop gathered gathered donations of energy drinks, protein shakes, snacks, water, and wipes for the firefighters protecting their community. The troop was welcomed and allowed to talk to the firefighters, ask questions, see their firefighting uniforms, get their autographs, and explore the fire truck and ambulance.

In addition, Daughters of Mary Help of Christians of the Mary Immaculate Province, based in San Antonio, Calif., north of San Francisco, announced, “Our two communities in the Los Angeles area ― Mary Help of Christians in Bellflower and St. Thomas the Apostle in Los Angeles ― continue to be present in their respective educational communities. The sisters are taking safety precautions in the mission. At the current time, they are working with evacuation warnings still in place.”

The statement went on, “As members of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, we join Archbishop José Gomez in praying for all those affected by the devastating fires in Southern California. Our hearts are heavy as we witness the destruction that is affecting so many of our neighbors, friends, and loved ones. We hold all those impacted, especially those who have lost homes, in our prayers. We also extend our gratitude to all firefighters and first responders who are working tirelessly to ensure further devastation is mitigated. Please keep praying for all those suffering in the wildfires sweeping through southern California. Our hearts go out to our neighbors who have lost their homes and livelihoods. May God keep all of our brothers and sisters safe and bring end to these fires.”

Salesians will continue to monitor the situation for their safety and the safety of the youth and families they serve. They will also continue to find ways to support the community in need.

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MEXICO

(MissionNewswire) The Salesian Tijuana Project in Tijuana, Mexico offers migrant women and children a safe place to stay and an opportunity to plan their future through the Salesian Refuge, a center offering support. These vulnerable groups are most at risk of violence, exploitation and violation of their rights.

The building that houses the Salesian Refuge is home for 120 migrant women between the ages of 25-50 and their children. Currently, there are 80 children between the ages of 6-12. With the assistance of the Salesians of Don Bosco and a staff of 12, women and children are welcomed and access services.

Children are able to receive education to ensure they continue in school. Salesians also offer psychological support and professional training for women to help them recover emotionally and gain employment skills, allowing them to become self-sufficient. In addition, Salesians offer health care and legal assistance to process asylum requests or any requests for documents necessary to resume the journey in safety.

A Salesian noted, “The vocational training and interpersonal skills training is important to help empower these women to find jobs in employment sectors that are hiring, such as cooking and nursing. The children can take advantage of multi-stage educational programs at the Don Bosco Salesian School in Tijuana.”

The Salesian added, “None of this is possible though without ensuring the safety of these women and children. That’s why Salesians offer medical and psychological care, focusing on both physical well-being and socio-emotional recovery. This also includes weekly therapy sessions focused on stress management.”

The Salesian Tijuana Project is led by Father Juan Carlos Solís Pérez from the Salesian Christ the King and Mary Help of Christians Province of Mexico-Guadalajara. The Salesian Tijuana Project has been committed to the most vulnerable, especially migrants and refugees since 1987 in Tijuana, Mexico. The project was chosen by Don Bosco Nel Mondo Foundation in Rome, Italy for its Christmas campaign this year.

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ANS – Mexico – A new tomorrow for migrants: the Salesian Refuge in Tijuana

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UNITED STATES

(MissionNewswire) The Salesian Family Youth Center in Los Angeles, Calif., hosted an event for seven young writers from Boyle Heights who presented their first published book. The event, led by Luis Chacon and JC Montenegro, drew more than 50 attendees to support and celebrate the achievements of these young authors.

Three of the young writers shared their journeys and spoke openly about their initial fears of traveling, such as the first time boarding a plane, and their struggles with self-doubt. They also emphasized the importance of vulnerability in leadership and how stepping out of their comfort zones had opened doors to growth and self-discovery.

A Salesian explained, “When asked how their friends reacted to the news that they had written a book, the young authors credited the Salesian Family Youth Center for the opportunity. They acknowledged the center’s role in empowering them to say yes to challenges, rise above insecurities and achieve something extraordinary.”

Three key lessons emerged from the presentation. The first was the acknowledgement that youth have deep thoughts and it’s the responsibility of adults to ask the right questions, listen and learn from them. The second was that youth are capable of greatness and need support and belief in their potential. Lastly, the Salesian Family Youth Center is transforming lives by providing opportunities like this and giving youth the tools to make a lasting impact on society.

The Salesian noted, “The evening was a powerful reminder that when we give young people a platform to express themselves, they have the ability to change not just their own lives but the world around them. The achievements of these young writers are a testament to the power of support, encouragement and opportunity. But their journey is just beginning, and countless other young people are waiting for someone to believe in them.”

He added, “Everyone can make a difference by getting involved. Whether through mentorship, volunteering, or supporting programs like the Salesian Family Youth Center, we all need to be involved in empowering the next generation. Together, we can create more opportunities for young people to share their voices, overcome their fears, and step confidently into their future.”

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(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries have launched the first international school of French, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, after two years of preparation. It is the ninth school of this type in Canada, but the only Salesian school of its kind. Officially named the International French High School of the Atlantic Provinces (LIFPA, in French), it is commonly known as Don Bosco Halifax.

France has a worldwide network of French schools abroad that includes 580 institutes in 139 countries. It is the first time that one of these institutes has been part of the Catholic education network.

“Eight teachers have been working for a long time to prepare for the new school year,” said Sylvain Olivier, director general of LIFP and rector of the Don Bosco Salesian House in Nice, France. “Six of them have been trained in France and already have extensive experience acquired either in mainland France or in the United States. The other two already have a job in Halifax and come to do a few hours of Arabic and physical education.”

Most of the students are immigrants or children of the teaching staff. Some of the older students are French who were living in other parts of Europe. Mélina, who attended a Salesian center in Nice, and Maëlys, who is from Marseilles came to the school with Father Jean-Marie Petitclerc, vice-provincial of Province of France and Southern Belgium. They will be hosted by English-speaking families for three to four months and started the second class on Sept. 10.

The school held its first open day in August, which was attended by close to 100 people who were able to get to know the facilities and talk to the teams. The school belongs to the network of Don Bosco schools in the Salesian Province of France and Southern Belgium.

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UNITED STATES

(MissionNewswire) Students from Don Bosco Technical Institute (Bosco Tech) in Rosemead, Calif., had the opportunity to get hands-on experience through summer internships in various industries. These opportunities allow students to apply their technical knowledge in real-world settings, while developing confidence in their skills and gaining valuable experience for their future careers.

Sophomore Aditya Kumar completed a software engineering internship with the University of Southern California (USC) Viterbi Startup Garage Office, a tech startup incubator. Although Startup Garage internships are usually reserved for current USC students, Kumar, who is part of Bosco Tech’s computer science and electrical engineering program, was able to secure the opportunity while still a high school freshman.

Kumar said, “Overall, it was a very memorable and fun learning experience, especially as a freshman. I was able to help a well-known fan engagement platform with their software using programming languages such as Javascript and CSS and programming frameworks like React and NextJS.”

He added, “My main project involved building the front-end components for a new AI model that they’re integrating into their platform. I also got to experience first-hand what it’s like running and working in an early-stage tech startup, inspiring me to continue working on my engineering and entrepreneurial skills throughout high school and college so that I can one day run a startup of my own.”

Jaedon Vo, a senior who is part of the biological, medical and environmental technology program, used his experience at Los Angeles General Medical Center where he volunteers in the surgical ICU and the orthopedics department. He explained, “Through the many tasks and shadowing opportunities, I’ve gained a great deal of knowledge compared to what I knew before about how hospitals operate and what career choices fit me the most. Not only that, but I now grasp the importance of good health care for patients.”

Boeing continued its support of Bosco Tech in offering summer internships. Seniors John Lugo, Dominic Diaz, Vincent Hernandez and Micah Wong were the interns chosen this summer. Ashley Jackett, Boeing’s engineering resources project manager, oversees the summer internship program and said of the students, “Our Bosco boys are awesome, per usual.”

Bosco Tech had a special thanks for alum Daniel Martinez from the class of 2017 who is a former Boeing intern and now a satellite production engineer. He’s paying it forward by mentoring Vincent Hernandez on the job. Hernandez is using AI algorithms to improve speed and safety for a space engineering tool.

Hernandez said, “The past several weeks, I noticed a strong sense of how much the engineering opportunities and networking experiences, through brotherhood at Bosco Tech, are reflected at Boeing.”

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ANS – United States – Don Bosco Technical Institute: Summer Internship Check-In

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UNITED STATES

(MissionNewswire) Two Salesian camps in the United States, Camp Savio in Bellflower, Calif., and Camp Salesian in Los Angeles, recently collaborated to train 50 summer camp youth leaders on peer-to-peer trauma management. The training was held in response to the escalating mental health challenges faced by youth today.

This initiative comes at a critical time as the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to impact youth mental health. A survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in August 2020 revealed that 25.5% of respondents ages 18-24 had seriously considered suicide in the past 30 days, underscoring the urgent need for effective mental health support mechanisms.

The training, held in May, equipped camp leaders with the skills necessary to support their peers as well as campers who might be struggling with anxiety, depression or trauma. To better support those with mental health challenges, the Salesian camps adopted a trauma-informed approach, guided by principles from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Trauma-informed peer recovery support focuses on a strength-based framework that emphasizes physical, psychological and emotional safety, allowing to rebuild a sense of control and empowerment.

Dr. Jess Shatkin, a child and adolescent psychiatrist, emphasized the importance of support systems for young people. “Young people are resilient, but they also need support and resources to navigate the challenges they face. Building strong relationships with caring adults and peers can help young people develop coping skills and resilience.”

The two youth summer camp programs provide a safe and nurturing environment where youth can experience a sense of belonging. Further, the camps allow youth to explore their personalities, set goals and develop essential life skills. Through collaborative activities and supportive relationships, campers learn the importance of trust, clear boundaries and empowerment.

A Salesian noted, “The recent supplemental training session marks a significant step forward in our mission to support youth mental health. By equipping our youth leaders with the knowledge and skills to manage trauma and provide peer support, Salesian summer programs are better prepared to create a positive, life-affirming experience for participating young people. This initiative reaffirms the Salesian commitment to empowering young people to overcome challenges and thrive in their summer activities and friendships.”

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MEXICO

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries in Mexico are developing the Youth Residences Project in Salesian communities in Tijuana and San Luis Potosí to provide support to youth who are in the process of migrating. The three-year project, launched in November 2023, was developed with support from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Don Bosco Mondo, and the Salesian organizations that host the project.

Both Salesian communities will provide job training, psychological assistance, housing, food and other basic services in order to support people who are facing challenging circumstances. Each site will also offer training. In Tijuana, courses will be offered for hairdressing and cosmetics, cooking, construction trades, and educational assistance. In San Luis Potosí, courses will cover electricity, machinery and tools, welding, and customer service.

A Salesian noted, “This is a wide-ranging and well-structured initiative, and the Mexico-Guadalajara Province is very grateful for the contribution and trust, both financial and structural, that the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development has provided. We also give recognition to the great work and the profound social impact of Don Bosco Mondo’s development proposals.”

The Blessed Philip Rinaldi Salesian community in Tijuana has been serving caravans of migrants on their way to the United States for over 30 years. Salesians offer the Padre Chava Refectory and Hostel and the Don Bosco Women’s Shelter. They will now offer services directly to youth who are migrating.

In the Salesian San José community in San Luis Potosí, Salesians will work with those who have been internally displaced and who migrate in smaller numbers in search of new educational and work opportunities, especially those who are victims of organized crime, structural violence and other situations of vulnerability.

Salesians are currently working to remodel, equip and staff the two communities in order to serve those who will access the project services.

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MEXICO

(MissionNewswire) The Salesian Tijuana Project in Mexico has been committed to the most vulnerable people, especially migrants and refugees, since 1987. On Jan. 26, UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), the Mexican Refugee Aid Commission and the Salesian Tijuana Project reaffirmed their commitment to working together on behalf of refugees and migrants in Tijuana.

Three years ago the Multiservice Center was created to house the Mexican government offices processing visas for refugees in Mexico, a UNHCR counseling office, and several civil associations offering legal advice, childcare, free medical consultations. Added this year is the National Employment System desk where any migrant, refugee or member of the community can apply for formal employment. The three organizations have decided to expand the range of services offered in the coming years.

This joint work model was presented at the Global Refugee Forum, held in Geneva in December 2023. The Multiservice Center was internationally recognized for its unique service model.

Father Agustín Novoa Leyva, director of the Salesian Tijuana Project, said, “The sum of efforts in this community space is unprecedented in Mexico. The center is a strong and decisive response of solidarity and support for all refugees, displaced persons and those in need of protection.”

This alliance began in 2021 with the aim of providing better care to those seeking refuge in Tijuana. The three key agents have gradually gained endorsements from other government organizations, international agencies and civil society organizations. From 2021 to 2023, 15 organizations collaborated to assist 22,614 people.

“It is part of the Salesian essence to be able to offer welcoming spaces to protect, promote and integrate the migrant community that arrives in our centers,” explained Fr. Leyva. “In this way, we want to join the call of the Salesian Congregation to take care of vulnerable children and adolescents, working in networks and adapting our structures for this purpose.”

He added, “It is in our DNA to meet people and provide them with safe spaces so that they can integrate into our society and progress. We defend and promote the rights of all people, especially the most vulnerable, such as those who are forced to leave their place of origin, fleeing with the knowledge that they will never be able to return because their lives are in danger.”

The goal of the Salesian Tijuana Project is to create an extensive educational network in areas where poor youth are at risk of social exclusion. The project took shape through Salesian oratories and educational centers where children grow up learning to share faith, culture, and sports within their communities.

A Salesian center acts as a hub for migrants who, besides much-needed material help, are also offered a familiar and welcoming environment. They can access haircuts, a change of clothes, a shower, and an opportunity to call and make contact with their families. The Salesian center also has a partnership with the Red Cross and local volunteer doctors who offer psychological and medical help.

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NICARAGUA

(MissionNewswire) Students attending Saint John Bosco Salesian School in Granada, Nicaragua, received scholarships thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. In 2023, 62 primary and secondary students benefited from this scholarship funding.

The students come from poor families who do not earn a substantial wage or who are led by single mothers. The families have serious financial difficulties and struggle to pay tuition on their own. The scholarship funding ensures youth from these families have access to high-quality education.

A Salesian noted, “Salesian education responds to today’s challenges and seeks to educate and empower youth to develop a sense of responsibility for one’s own life, overcoming obstacles with courage and perseverance.”

The school was founded in May 1912, the year in which the first Salesians arrived in the city. Education is offered for preschool, primary and secondary school.

Nicaragua, the poorest country in Central America and the second poorest in the Western Hemisphere, has widespread underemployment and poverty with a quarter of its population living below the poverty line, according to the World Bank. More than 80% of Nicaragua’s poor live in remote rural communities where access to basic services is a daily challenge.

Years of widespread poverty have taken their toll. In addition, crime, violence against women, gang violence and high unemployment result in challenging economic and social conditions, particularly for young people and women.

More than 70% of the population is under 30 years old, which is youth play such central role in the development of the country. However, Salesians report that youth have few prospects because of poverty. Salesians are working to provide education and social development programs to help youth have stability so they can gain an education and become self-reliant.

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UNITED STATES

(MissionNewswire) The Salesian Boys & Girls Club in East Boston, Massachusetts offers a vacation camp during the week after Christmas and winter and spring breaks. Youth who attended the camp in December were excited to participate in the various activities offered.

The vacation camp supports working parents who need a place for their children to go during the school break. The club’s staff facilitate games, gym activities, and various competitions for prizes in the morning. The club provides breakfast, lunch and snacks.

Salesian Brother Bob Metell explained, “Over the course of the week during this Christmas break camp, youth had a choice to go on a field trip, either bowling, going to video arcades or going to the movies. This year, some of the youth went to an art studio and created their own works of art, assisted by art students.”

Salesian camps in the United States and around the globe provide disadvantaged youth a chance to have an enriching break where they can connect with friends and engage in safe activities. The camps provide much more than recreational activities. There is also an educational component that instills teamwork, skill building and problem solving.

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Salesians of Don Bosco Canada & Eastern USA – East Boston: Vacation Camp at the Salesian Boys & Girls Club

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MEXICO

(MissionNewswire) Salesian Tijuana Project has been committed to the most vulnerable people, especially migrants and refugees since 1987 in Tijuana, Mexico. The Salesian Center houses a refectory and other project activities and provides services to migrants and poor youth living on the border between Mexico and the United States.

Kristiñe Azpiazu is a young psychologist who spent three months as a Salesian missionary volunteer in Tijuana. Azpiazu, who was part of the Basque government volunteer program in Spain, became a Salesian volunteer through the Salesian Mission Office in Madrid.

Salesian Tijuana Project has youth centers, where cultural and sports activities are offered to children and older youth, both native to the city and migrants. In addition, there is a large Salesian Center that acts as a hub for migrants who, besides much-needed material help, are offered a familiar and welcoming environment. They can access haircuts, a change of clothes, a shower, and an opportunity to call and contact their families.

The Salesian Center also has a partnership with the Red Cross and local volunteer doctors who offer psychological and medical help. Nearly 1,500 are offered support through this center at any given time.

In her first weeks of service, Azpiazu was assigned to the San Juan Bosco Salesian Oratory which provides quality educational opportunities to youth from vulnerable families. Nearly 1,000 people access services each day. Later, Azpiazu spent time at the Padre Chava Salesian Refectory and Reception Center, an initiative that began 21 years ago to assist migrants and people living on the street.

The Padre Chava Salesian Refectory offers meals and a safe space for those reaching the border and within the community. Migrants and people who are homeless can access nutrition, safe shelter and human interaction. The welcoming environment helps people integrate into society and provides tools for personal and professional growth.

While spending time with both the refectory and the reception center, Azpiazu was able to use her professional skills as a psychologist to lend support. She found her experience invaluable. Azpiazu said, “I recommend everyone be informed and participate in this volunteer program. For me, it represented a before and after in my life. It has helped me to grow personally and to know a situation that otherwise I would never have known and felt as I feel it now.”

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ANS – Mexico – Kristiñe’s volunteering experience in Mexico marked “a before and after in my life”

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ECUADOR

(MissionNewswire) Juan Carlos Montenegro, originally from Ecuador and now living in Los Angeles, Calif., credits a volunteer experience with the Salesians in 1994 for changing his life. He spoke about the experience and the importance of volunteerism at his recent TEDxOneonta Talk, an independently organized TED event. The talk was entitled “Unleashing Human Potential Through Volunteerism.”

As a young man, Montenegro struggled in school due to his dyslexia. He failed tests and was not able to advance his education. At age 18 he took an opportunity to volunteer in a Salesian community in Wasak’entsa, Ecuador, in the Amazon jungle. When he asked what to do, a Salesian priest told Montenegro that he was going to be a teacher.

Montenegro was astounded given his poor performance in school. As he noted in the talk, he wasn’t even good at studying. He was given the keys to the library and he says that is when his life began to change. When he returned home, he was ready to continue his studies. He entered university where he earned numerous advanced degrees.

Today, Montenegro is a commercial engineer with a master’s degree in business administration, a master’s degree in youth ministry and a certificate in coordination of youth ministry. He also holds a Ph. D. in individuals, family and society, which is a multidisciplinary vision from the University of Comillas, Spain. He is dedicated to offering support to people and organizations in their processes of self-knowledge and in the discovery of their abilities to achieve their freedom and success.

Through his talk, Montenegro sheds light on the potential within individuals that can be unleashed through acts of service and compassion. He challenges the audience to envision a world where everyone volunteers to make the world a more compassionate and better place to live.

A Salesian missionary echoed Montenegro’s words, “The power of volunteerism goes beyond the immediate impact on those being served — it also has the potential to transform the volunteers’ lives. By engaging in volunteer work, individuals have the opportunity to cultivate empathy, develop leadership skills and gain a deeper understanding of the world around them. By volunteering, individuals can build strong communities, develop social skills, improve self-esteem and increase happiness. Moreover, giving back fosters a sense of purpose and fulfillment that can be profoundly enriching on a personal level.”

Montenegro’s TEDxOneonta Talk is currently available on YouTube.

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UNITED STATES

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Technical Institute, located in Downey, Calif., is participating in the “Space Shuttle Inspiration Pathfinder” project, which aims to restore an original mock-up of the space shuttle. This full-scale model was originally used to gain approval for the space shuttle program and to contribute to the final design. Used in the following years for the development of hardware and software, it is now part of the “Columbia Memorial Space Science Learning Center” in Downey.

A Salesian explained, “Don Bosco Technical Institute is the only high school participating in this project. Students, under the guidance of teachers and former students who played a fundamental role in the space program, will dismantle, document, refurbish, and restore the landing gear. This is an exciting opportunity for students to put into action skills they have learned.”

For more than 65 years, Don Bosco Technical Institute has been producing engineers, scientists, lawyers, entrepreneurs and leaders in all sectors of industry. Young men of all religious, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds leave the school prepared to be lifelong learners, with the tools to succeed in college and beyond.

Working throughout the United States and around the globe, Salesian missionaries have created a vast network of primary, secondary, vocational and technical schools serving poor youth. With a focus on education and workforce development, Salesians worldwide provide disadvantaged youth valuable resources to help them find livable wage employment to break the cycle of poverty and lead meaningful and productive lives.

Functioning side by side with Salesian schools, youth centers and after-school programs offer youth opportunities for engaging in constructive activities. Through organized programs, which often include sports and music, youth are taught teamwork and social skills while gaining opportunities for personal growth. Some youth centers also offer small medical clinics and, where needed, nutritional programs to protect children from malnutrition. Youth programs also offer valuable volunteer opportunities for youth to have a chance to engage with others and support their own communities.

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NICARAGUA

(MissionNewswire) Youth from the Salesian center in Granada, Nicaragua, recently carried out a campaign called “Sharing dreams and smiles”. The initiative aimed at sharing Salesian joy and promoting charity and empathy with the children at the St. Vincent de Paul Special School and the elderly people living in the La Providencia Care Home.

Representing the educational community, students brought sweets and food to share with the students and the elderly. Youth were able to meet new people, listen, converse and be part of the daily life of these places.

“Volunteering is a great way for youth not only to give back but to share in new experiences,” said Father Timothy Ploch, interim director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “While education in the classroom is the primary focus, Salesian schools also provide youth an opportunity to get out into their communities and provide support for those in need. The exchange brings joy and growth on both sides.”

Nicaragua, the poorest country in Central America and the second poorest in the Western Hemisphere, has widespread underemployment and poverty with a quarter of its population living below the poverty line, according to the World Bank. More than 80% of Nicaragua’s poor live in remote rural communities where access to basic services is a daily challenge.

Years of widespread poverty have taken their toll and many residents suffer from poor health conditions including HIV/AIDS. In addition, crime, violence against women, gang violence and high unemployment result in challenging economic and social conditions, particularly for young people and women.

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UNITED STATES

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Youth Center, in Los Angeles, Calif., hosted the grand finale of the Don Bosco Global Youth Film Festival on Oct. 13 with the participation of noted dignitaries and youth. Other screenings of the film festival were held in Chennai, India, and more than 200 other locations in 60 countries. Twenty-four films were selected to be screened at the finale in Los Angeles.

The theme for the event was “Love Builds Peace and Solidarity” and showcased international talent from multiple countries. The finale awarded 10 youth film makers from Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, India, Malawi, Spain and Vietnam.

Youth were encouraged to pursue their dreams by Father Mel Trinidad, provincial of Salesians of Don Bosco in USA West; Stanley Ng, art director and VFX supervisor from Hollywood; Father Ricardo Campoli, from the social communication sector from Salesians in Rome; and Father Harris Pakkam, the film festival director.

After the screening, Ng spoke on behalf of the global jury to encourage youth to dream big so that they can attain their goals. He noted that goals are achievable if everything is done with love and passion.

At the end of the event, Brother Alphonse Vu, coordinator for Salesian schools in the Province of USA West, expressed his gratitude to all those who contributed to the planning of the festival. He said, “It was a great dream come true, and the excellent efforts, teamwork, commitment and planning that the festival team displayed was very much appreciated. The memories will linger in the hearts of youth who dream of Hollywood, and the festival will continue to serve as a unique platform for youth empowerment.”

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UNITED STATES

(MissionNewswire) St. John Bosco High School, located in Bellflower, Calif., is set to launch a streaming network, known as Bosco+, for high school sports coverage. The school partnered with the For A Bright Future Foundation, which added a new media lab to the campus and enabled this new streaming service. The school also has an affiliate partnership with the NFHS Network, which is operated by PlayOn! Sports and the leading network for access to high school sports in the country, offering audiences unlimited access to live and on-demand games.

St. John Bosco High School, as an NFHS Network Affiliate, will produce selected Bosco home and away games, and other games in the CIF Southern Section for the Network. The NFHS Network will provide camera systems for the school’s baseball, basketball, football, lacrosse, soccer and swimming facilities as well as production software for the school’s media lab. Further, the NFHS Network will collaborate with St. John Bosco’s Film & Media Arts Pathway program on training and curriculum development for its students, who will produce each live event.

The Film and Media Arts Pathway is a professional industry preparation program at St. John Bosco High School designed to prepare students for collegiate film school. From screenwriting, production and design to directing and producing, students learn about the business side of the media industry through a hands-on, project-based approach.

Dr. Brian Wickstrom, St. John Bosco president and CEO, said, “St. John Bosco is thrilled to be at the forefront of this exciting step forward in high school sports media. By forming an affiliate partnership with the NFHS Network, the leader in high school sports broadcasting, we’re not only providing wider coverage for our championship-winning athletic programs to our fans, but we’re also providing an incredible learning opportunity to our Film & Media Arts Pathway students who will be producing the games. This step, made possible by the For a Bright Future Foundation Media Lab that opened at St. John Bosco in February, is huge for our school community and for high school sports across the country.”

David Rudolph, PlayOn! Sports CEO, said, “The NFHS Network is proud to partner with St. John Bosco to empower students to gain real-world experience in broadcast journalism through the prestigious Film & Media Arts Pathway program. We look forward to seeing the talent of the student-broadcasters and student-athletes at St. John Bosco showcased to a wider audience.”

Jerrod Montgomery, a senior Film & Media Arts Pathway student, is excited to get started. He said, “To have this opportunity to learn from the best in the business and to actually produce a game at a professional level for a platform like the NFHS Network is something I never thought I’d be doing in high school.”

The partnership kicked off with St. John Bosco’s National Championship winning football team’s home opener on Aug. 18 versus Liberty High School.

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MEXICO

(MissionNewswire) Salesian Tijuana Project in Mexico is committed to the most vulnerable people, especially migrants and refugees, and it facilitates Salesian social programs in the city. The organization recently strengthened its network by signing a collaboration agreement with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), a United Nations agency.

The city of Tijuana is one of the busiest border crossings in the world, with people arriving from other countries or from other states in Mexico. Those who arrive have faced many hardships including the lack of food, hygiene and security, which can impact their physical and mental health. Comprehensive care has become a necessity.

Salesian Tijuana Project and IOM want to offer complete care for migrants including psychological, recreational, legal and social benefits. While the services will be available to all ages, they particularly want to focus on youth who are often traveling alone through the city with the goal of crossing into the United States in hope for a better life.

“The Salesian Tijuana Project aims to guarantee educational and pastoral assistance,” said Father Agustín Novoa Leyva, director general of the Salesian Tijuana Project. “The emerging reality in which we live involves many challenges. We will continue to assist all migrants and vulnerable people who approach our center, with quality and human warmth, and with clear responses to their needs.”

Since 1987, the Salesian Center, where most of the activities are centered, has been providing services to migrants and poor youth living on the border between Mexico and the U.S. The center houses a refectory and acts as a hub for migrants who, besides much-needed material help, are also offered a familiar and welcoming environment. They can access haircuts, a change of clothes, a shower, and an opportunity to call and make contact with their families.

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MEXICO

(MissionNewswire) Salesian Tijuana Project is committed to the most vulnerable people in the city of Tijuana, Mexico, especially migrants and refugees. The Salesian Center houses a refectory and other project activities. Since 1987, it has been providing services to migrants and poor youth living on the border between Mexico and the United States.

The goal of the Salesian Tijuana Project is to create an extensive educational network in areas where poor youth are at risk of social exclusion. The project took shape through Salesian oratories and educational centers where children grow up learning to share faith, culture, and sports within their communities.

The Salesian Center also acts as a hub for migrants who, besides much-needed material help, are also offered a familiar and welcoming environment. They can access haircuts, a change of clothes, a shower, and an opportunity to call and make contact with their families. The Salesian Center has a partnership with the Red Cross and local volunteer doctors who offer psychological and medical help.

Salesians at the center have been working to strengthen ties of friendship and collaboration with other government organizations and United Nations agencies. On April 5, the Salesian Tijuana Project received an official thank you from Giovanni Lepri, representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Mexico.

The message of recognition reads: “The team of Proyecto Salesiano Tijuana (Salesian Tijuana Project) has always shown a great spirit of cooperation towards refugee persons and the actions carried out by UNHCR for their protection: in their assistance in the reception centers, in the defense of their rights and in the coordination of integration and coexistence activities (…) Proyecto Salesiano has played a key role in the care and support of refugee persons in the Mexican Commission of Aid to Refugees (COMAR) as well as in the work and operations of UNHCR in Tijuana.”

In response to this recognition, Father Agustín Novoa Leyy, director general of the Salesian Tijuana Project, said, “Our work on this frontier, guided by Pope Francis’ encyclical ‘Fratelli Tutti’, has been to welcome on a daily basis women, children and men arriving in Tijuana from the south of our country or in repatriated status under Title 42, and it entails a great humanitarian responsibility, which goes beyond providing shelter or a plate of food. It means welcoming them emotionally, guiding and supporting them in the situation that prompted them to leave their country of origin and come here. It means listening to them, soothing their grieving and broken hearts because of what they experienced in their country, but also because of the harshness of the journey, along with the xenophobic manifestations that we, unfortunately, encounter more and more often.”

Fr. Leyy added, “The fact that this task that we carry out with passion is perceived and appreciated by an agency of the United Nations encourages us to go forward, to continue to raise our voices and open our arms to welcome, to embrace with our souls our migrant and refugee brothers and sisters.”

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ANS – Mexico – Official thanks from UN High Commissioner for Refugees to Proyecto Salesiano Tijuana

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MEXICO

(MissionNewswire) Salesian Missionary Volunteer Program with the Salesian Province of the United States in California recently carried out its first missionary expedition since the COVID-19 pandemic. Twelve students from St. Francis High School in Watsonville, Calif., guided by two of their teachers, the school’s director, and the provincial coordinator of the volunteer program, carried out their volunteer experience with the Salesian Tijuana Project in Mexico.

Volunteers spent their time feeding more than 800 homeless people who had been deported from the U.S. or were trying to cross the border. They also visited an orphanage for children living with AIDS who had been abandoned by their parents.

In addition, volunteers helped maintain and clean two youth centers, both located on the outskirts of the city. Domingo Savio Oratory is situated in an area with two gangs that have violent tension but respect the youth center. At the Don Bosco Oratory, the Salesian religious community lives and hosts a group of 80 mothers and their children from all over Latin America. There is also an elementary school and workshops.

The experience was transformative for the young volunteers. One said, “It has been an experience that definitely changed the way I see the world.” Another volunteer expressed a desire to become a missionary for a longer period.

A program representative said, “Salesian Missionary Volunteer Program is not only making a difference in the lives of those it serves, but it is also helping to shape the next generation of compassionate leaders who will continue to bring positive change to the world. In a time where the world seems to be divided by borders and politics, the Salesian Missionary Volunteer Program reminds us of the importance of reaching out to those in need, regardless of where they come from. The program is an inspiring example of how we can all make a difference, one person at a time, and how we can work toward creating a more compassionate and just world.”

The Salesian Center in Tijuana houses a refectory and other project activities. Since 1987, it has been providing services to migrants and poor youth living on the border between Mexico and the U.S. The goal of the Tijuana Salesian Project is to create an extensive educational network in areas where poor youth are at risk of social exclusion. The project took shape through Salesian oratories and educational centers where children grow up learning to share faith, culture, and sports within their communities.

The Salesian Center acts as a hub for migrants who, besides much-needed material help, are also offered a familiar and welcoming environment. They can access haircuts, a change of clothes, a shower, and an opportunity to call and make contact with their families. The Salesian Center also has a partnership with the Red Cross and local volunteer doctors who offer psychological and medical help.

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MEXICO

(MissionNewswire) The new Latin American Center for Comprehensive Care for Spinal Cord Injuries was inaugurated on Aug. 16 in Guadalajara, Mexico. The event included a Catholic Mass, the ribbon cutting, a ceremony of speeches and videos, and a social hour. The new treatment center was developed for people living with spinal cord injuries thanks to funding Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, received from the U.S. Agency for International Development’s American Schools and Hospitals Abroad (USAID/ASHA) program.

The “Raising Standards of Care for Spinal Cord Injury Patients” project constructed and equipped Mexico’s first comprehensive treatment and rehabilitation center to assist patients who have been paralyzed by spinal cord injuries, with a special focus on youth. The center is outfitted with state-of-the-art equipment such as advanced rehab exercise bikes, kinesitherapy equipment for upper and lower limbs, walking support and electric standing frames. The center also generates and promotes new science and technology for the treatment, care, and rehabilitation of patients with spinal cord injuries for their independence and reintegration.

It is anticipated that in the first four years in operation, the center will treat at least 500 patients with spinal cord injuries, mainly youth and adults between the ages of 12-35 who live in poverty and a state of high vulnerability. This will also indirectly benefit thousands of family members who are responsible for the care of the patients, as well as health care professionals who will benefit from new technologies and methods for treating spinal cord injuries.

Fr. Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, in a message spoke of Salesian Missions’ partnership with USAID/ASHA. He said, “Together, we have enhanced cooperation by strengthening local capacity and leadership to help young people and vulnerable populations become self-sufficient, contributing members of society.”

The “Raising Standards” project will also provide specialized occupational therapy to retrain people in skills needed to independently carry out typical household chores and activities. This includes a simulated kitchen to help patients to learn how to maneuver and cook with their new physical circumstances. Office and bedroom simulation areas will also be a part of the project.

Salesian Missions has two local implementation partners including Don Bosco Wheels and Vinculos y Redes, a civil organization providing support in the education field. Don Boco Wheels currently connects with people newly afflicted by spinal cord injuries in the hospital and provides information to help them overcome mobility challenges. Don Bosco Wheels will continue to meet with women patients to provide services and will encourage them to participate in the treatment center as the project develops. A 2021 donation of a passenger truck to transfer patients to the rehabilitation center has encouraged more patients to participate.

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MEXICO

(MissionNewswire) Salesian Padre Chava Refectory, part of the Salesian Tijuana Project, recently received an award from Dr. José Adrián Medina Amarillas, the secretary of health of the Mexican State of Baja California, Mexico. The award is for the work the refectory does for the city’s most vulnerable people, especially migrants and refugees.

Since 1987, the Salesian Center in Tijuana, which houses the refectory and other project activities, has been providing services to migrants and poor youth living on the border between Mexico and the U.S. The goal of the Tijuana Salesian Project is to create an extensive educational network in areas where poor youth are at risk of social exclusion. The project took shape through Salesian oratories and educational centers where children grow up learning to share faith, culture, and sports within their communities.

The Salesian Center acts as a hub for migrants who, besides much-needed material help, are also offered a familiar and welcoming environment. They can access haircuts, a change of clothes, a shower, and an opportunity to call and make contact with their families. The Salesian Center also has a partnership with the Red Cross and local volunteer doctors who offer psychological and medical help.

The Padre Chava Refectory played a significant role during the COVID-19 pandemic even after it was forced to close its dining room. Each day, the Padre Chava Refectory provided upwards of 1,200 meals. Because of the overwhelming need, the refectory never closed, and it instead turned to take-away meals. In the first days of the lockdown, 500 food boxes were distributed. Over the first week, 10,000 food boxes were provided, and that pace continued.

Many workers lost their jobs due to the closure of their workplace, and they had to decide whether to pay the rent or buy food. Informal workers such as domestic workers were urged to stay home and remained unpaid. The closure of the U.S.-Mexican border also left many asylum seekers stuck in Tijuana, and even though many have been deported, others keep arriving. The Salesian Center was a refuge to many.

During the award event, there was a tour of the refectory and conversations with people who use the service. Salesians were able to highlight the great need for what they do while also humanizing the people who come through its doors.

Father Agustín Novoa Leyva, director of the Tijuana Project, accepted the award. He highlighted the right to health for all people, a right that is often denied to those who belong to the city’s most disadvantaged sectors, such as the elderly, those in poverty, those who have disabilities, and especially migrants.

Fr. Novoa said, “As a Salesian work, present on this frontier, which for us is a land of mission, we feel more and more committed every day to the cause of the defense of human rights, in a clearly evangelical perspective.”

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MEXICO

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries held a service fair at the Santo Domingo Savio Oratory in Tijuana, Mexico. The oratory is one of six in the Salesian Tijuana Project and located in one of the poorest and most violent neighborhoods of the city. Youth are faced with increased crime including murder and drug trafficking. There is also a lack of access to health and social services.

The civil registry office was at the fair to provide issuance and regularization of birth certificates. There were also medical personnel to provide medical and dental services. In addition, the fair featured crime prevention, activities for children and older youth, welfare programs for people with disabilities and the elderly, land regularization, delivery of trees for reforestation, and access to public services such as water and electricity.

At the event, Father Agustín Novoa Leyva, director of the Tijuana Project, met with Dr. Catalino Zabala, secretary general of the Mexican Baja California state government, to discuss migrants and people in situations of social vulnerability on the border of Mexico and the United States. It was decided that with the support of various government agencies, activities in Salesian centers will bring services closer to the local community and enable the staff of these agencies to better understand the needs of the local population.

Authorities from the secretariats of welfare and security of the State of Baja California, the director of the Faculty of Dentistry of the Autonomous University of Baja California (UABC), the state chairwoman of the System for Integral Family Development, and the commander of the Tijuana National Guard were also present during these discussions.

In a statement at the fair, Fr. Novoa Leyva said, “Since our objective is to form good Christians and upright citizens, all our activities must take into account the wholeness and spirituality of the human being. This is what motivates us and what drives us to ensure that people, on the one hand, encounter God, the engine and center of our lives, and on the other hand, can also assert their rights within the society in which they live.”

Since 1987, the Tijuana Project has been providing services to migrants and poor youth living on the border between Mexico and the U.S. The goal of the Tijuana Project is to create an extensive educational network in areas where poor youth are at risk of social exclusion. The project took shape through Salesian oratories and educational centers where children grow up learning to share faith, culture and sports within their communities.

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MEXICO

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries with the Tijuana Project run a summer camp in Tijuana, Mexico, that offers children a chance to engage with their peers in a safe environment. They can play and engage in fun activities while under the supervision of caring adults.

Since 1987, the Salesian Center in Tijuana has been providing services to migrants and poor youth living on the border between Mexico and the U.S. The goal of the project is to create an extensive educational network in areas where poor youth are at risk of social exclusion. The project took shape through Salesian oratories and educational centers where children grow up learning to share faith, culture, and sports within their communities.

The Salesian Center acts as a hub for migrants who, besides much-needed material help, are also offered a familiar and welcoming environment. They can access haircuts, a change of clothes, a shower and an opportunity to call and make contact with family. The Salesian Center also has a partnership with the Red Cross and local volunteer doctors who offer psychological and medical help and assistance.

More than 400 children and older youth took part in the camp, which was supported by 130 Salesian staff and volunteers. The camp was a respite for youth in a city that has been hit by a gruesome wave of violence, with more than 2,000 deaths in the first half of the year. Many innocent people have paid with their lives for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Salesians are trying to provide a place of peace for these youth. A Salesian missionary in Tijuana said, “We must be builders of peace with concrete actions, with convincing examples of life, but above all by telling the truth, by bearing witness to truth and justice in all our environments, especially in the youth environments of each of our works in Tijuana. Every Salesian playground we have played in these weeks has been a time of healthy sharing, a place where problems are solved without using physical and verbal violence.”

In addition to the camp, Salesians organized a March for Peace featuring shouts of joy and placards. Salesians, youth and lay collaborators marched through the streets of Tijuana. A Catholic Mass was held after the march, and then everyone viewed artistic and cultural presentations that were created during the summer camp.

The Salesian missionary added, “We cannot remain indifferent to the pain caused by delinquency and organized crime, which is why we want to imbue our spaces with the values that can promote peace and social justice.”

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ANS – Mexico – “Peace begins with a smile”: amid violence, “Happy Holidays with Jesus” bring joy and hope to Tijuana

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UNITED STATES

(MissionNewswire) On June 18, the Salesian Boys’ and Girls’ Club of St. Peter and St. Paul Church in San Francisco, California, celebrated its 100th anniversary. The Salesian Center at the church is deeply rooted in the community and includes the parish, a grammar school, and the club.

Today, the club has more than 600 youth members. It provides athletics, theater, educational support, and a safe place for youth to come together supported by adults, some of whom are former club members. Last year, the club awarded more than $250,000 in scholarships to approximately 50 club members to assist with grammar school, high school and college tuition assistance.

Father Mel Trinidad, provincial of the U.S. West province, presided at Mass before the evening celebration and was assisted by Father Tho Bui, pastor of the church. Close to 450 former club members and friends came together to enjoy performances by the club youth’s theatrical group. It also premiered a 40-minute video documentary chronicling the club’s history.

Likely the oldest living former club member, Father Armand Oliveri enjoyed the evening and the recognition given to him. The current club directors, Randal De Martini and Sherri Hughston, are both club alumni. De Martini has been ministering there for over 40 years. Former director, Russ Gumina, who served for almost 50 years, was on a pilgrimage to Salesian holy places and praying for the club at Don Bosco’s tomb during the festivities. Many past pupils enjoyed visiting the Salesian sisters who were their teachers and who have served at the school since 1950.

The Salesian parish started in 1897 after many requests from the San Francisco archbishops. Salesians came to the city and started working with boys who were at risk of juvenile delinquency. Over time, youth activities such as athletics, dramatics, and scouting, in addition to religious and educational instruction, gave the boys a more positive path to follow.

By 1921, an official Boys’ Club with a full-time director started. Over the 100 years, the club helped develop young boys into community leaders, successful businessmen, devoted Catholic fathers and husbands, and loyal club benefactors.

Although an official Girls’ Club ran alongside the larger Boys’ Club, what was known as the “wandering girls oratory” was finally folded into it and the Salesian Boys’ and Girls’ Club became a reality in 1994.

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ANS – United States – Salesian Boys and Girls club at Sts. Peter and Paul, San Francisco Celebrates 100 Years

Salesian Missions

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NICARAGUA

(MissionNewswire) Students at San Juan Bosco Salesian School, located in Granada, Nicaragua, have access to a new computer lab thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. The funds received, together with a contribution from the school, purchased 36 new computers for a computer lab at the preschool and primary school in 2021.

The project benefited 287 students who come from vulnerable households, mostly children whose parents work in the informal market. With the new computer lab, Salesians are able to provide computer literacy training and digital technology access for youth in poverty.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had severe impacts on learning opportunities for Nicaraguans—a country where almost three-quarters of youth suffer from lack of access to quality education. This is far worse compared to its neighbors in Latin America and the Caribbean region, according to the World Bank. Although the enactment of universal free education has led to increased enrollment rates, the quality of education suffers because of a lack of resources.

The Nicaraguan education system needs strengthening and improvements in school infrastructure, teaching material, and modalities of education. The COVID-19 pandemic has made it challenging for schools to deliver education to their students. A recent study showed that the main needs of students are connectivity in homes as well as access to technological tools. Over half of children in Nicaraguan primary schools lack access to the internet while more than 80 percent of secondary students lack access.

A Salesian in Nicaragua explained, “Most children are currently enrolled in a hybrid model of learning, splitting their time equally between in-person and remote learning. The knowledge gained through this new technology access will provide the necessary skills to succeed in a post-COVID economy. Computer literacy is more essential than ever now as societies are rapidly digitizing. Instilling this knowledge will help prevent students from falling behind in their education. The students will become proficient in computer programs and will transfer these skills to their education, becoming more efficient in navigating the technology that is used to deliver the content.”

Access to computers will mitigate school closures and challenges with remote learning, protecting the children’s right to education. UNICEF predicts that over 3 million children will drop out of school in the Latin American/Caribbean region because of the effects of the pandemic. Students who do not have access to a computer or internet at home will be able to utilize the computer lab to complete their schoolwork, thus preventing them from dropping out.

Nicaragua, the poorest country in Central America and the second poorest in the Western Hemisphere, has widespread underemployment and poverty with a quarter of its population living below the poverty line, according to the World Bank. More than 80 percent of Nicaragua’s poor live in remote rural communities where access to basic services is a daily challenge.

Years of widespread poverty have taken their toll and many residents suffer from poor health conditions including HIV/AIDS. In addition, crime, violence against women, gang violence and high unemployment result in challenging economic and social conditions, particularly for young people and women.

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Salesian Missions – Nicaragua

World Bank – Nicaragua

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(MissionNewswire) Thanks to funding Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, received from the U.S. Agency for International Development’s American Schools and Hospitals Abroad (USAID/ASHA) program, Salesian missionaries have been able to launch building projects to improve the standard of medical care for people in El Salvador and Mexico. The projects are a mix of construction, equipment purchases and training to improve health care outcomes for people with physical disabilities.

Don Bosco University in San Salvador, El Salvador, is empowering the next generation of medical rehabilitation practitioners to transform the lives of people with mobile disabilities through its “Walking Anew!” project. The project has expanded and upgraded the facilities at Don Bosco University’s School of Rehabilitation Science and the equipment used to train medical rehabilitation professionals. The project is pioneering innovative techniques in the treatment of people with disabilities.

The construction of the new building, which houses the Applied Research Center, allows for the exchange of information with professionals in the field at an international level as well as provides space for a new podiatry laboratory and other specialized practices. The program has already trained people from El Salvador, other countries in Central America, South America, Haiti, Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Following the success of the project in El Salvador, the “Raising Standards of Care for Spinal Cord Injury Patients” project is constructing and equipping Mexico’s first comprehensive treatment and rehabilitation center to assist patients who have been paralyzed by spinal cord injuries, with a special focus on youth.

The project runs from October 2018 through the end of September 2023. The Latin American Center for the Treatment of Spinal Cord Injuries, which is being built in Guadalajara, will be the only center in Mexico dedicated to serving the target population. Construction for the new center is continuing to progress as scheduled. Equipment is expected to be acquired in early 2022.

The “Raising Standards” project will provide specialized occupational therapy to retrain people in the skills they need to independently carry out typical household chores and activities. This includes a simulated kitchen to help patients to learn how to maneuver and cook with their new physical circumstances. Office and bedroom simulation areas will also be a part of the project.

“We are grateful to USAID for its support and funding for the construction projects in El Salvador and Mexico,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions. “People with disabilities have the same ability to achieve as their peers if given the opportunity. Projects like these help pave the way for advanced research, learning and innovation that help aid inclusion of people with disabilities in every facet of life, particularly in countries where limited services existed until now.”

These critical health infrastructure projects would not be possible without the support of USAID/ASHA funding, which is making a significant impact in these countries. Salesian Missions is grateful for the continued support and ability to impact health outcomes for people in poverty.

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Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Don Bosco University

EL SALVADOR: New building receives sustainable construction award

MEXICO: Construction continues on new spinal cord treatment center

Salesian Missions

USAID

USAID American Schools and Hospitals Abroad

The post GLOBAL: Projects improve care for people with disabilities in Mexico and El Salvador first appeared on MissionNewswire.

MEXICO

(MissionNewswire) The Don Bosco Reception Center, a new space dedicated to giving shelter to women with children, was launched in Tijuana, Mexico. The reception center was set up to help women at risk, especially migrants. Women can receive legal, psychological, medical and spiritual services.

Both Salesian missionaries and the authorities in charge of assisting migrants have noted an increase in the flow of migrant women into Tijuana. Salesians developed the new reception center in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and UNICEF.

According to Father Agustín Novoa, director of the Salesian Center in Tijuana, the reception center’s model promotes “social friendship” in which international agencies involved in the project, governmental entities and the host community all work together to support women.

The common interest of the institutions involved is to work together without competition to provide a safe space for women and their children, and to put the woman, her dignity and the defense of her rights at the center of attention. Fr. Novoa said, “This is a great challenge that involves getting out of our comfort zone, being open to dialogue, going out to meet others, learning to live with others and looking for our commonalities.”

This new reception center is one project among many launched by the Salesian Center in Tijuana, which since 1987 has been providing services to migrants and poor youth living on the border between Mexico and the U.S.

The Salesian Center acts as a hub for migrants who, besides much-needed material help, are also offered a familiar and welcoming environment. They can access haircuts, a change of clothes, a shower, and an opportunity to call and make contact with families. The Salesian Center also has a partnership with the Red Cross and local volunteer doctors who offer psychological and medical help and assistance.

Within the Salesian Center is the Padre Chava Refectory which provides meals and other assistance to migrants from Mexico, Central America and Haiti, as well as to the homeless, the elderly, people with disabilities and those suffering from extreme poverty. Staff members at the refectory also help migrants obtain or manage their official papers and play a very important role in caring for migrants stuck at the border. In addition, the Padre Chava Refectory acts as a hub for care packages, such as food and clothing, that have been sent as aid to those in Mexico.

Fr. Nova added, “We are known and appreciated for the service we offer in the community. We provide food, nutrition, medical and psychological services, and legal advice, and we also offer a hospitality service for men and now for women with this new center. We serve migrants, deportees, people in street situations, entire families and the elderly. For years we have seen many people suffer from the lack of opportunities, and during the pandemic, the population in difficulty has increased.”

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ANS – Mexico – Opening of the “Don Bosco” Salesian Welcome Centre specifically for women

Salesian Missions – Mexico

UNICEF – Mexico

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MEXICO

(MissionNewswire) A new treatment center is being developed for people living with spinal cord injuries thanks to funding Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, received from the U.S. Agency for International Development’s American Schools and Hospitals Abroad (USAID-ASHA) program. The “Raising Standards of Care for Spinal Cord Injury Patients” project will construct and equip Mexico’s first comprehensive treatment and rehabilitation center to assist patients who have been paralyzed by spinal cord injuries, with a special focus on youth.

The project runs from October 2018 through the end of September 2023. The Latin American Center for the Treatment of Spinal Cord Injuries, which will be built in Guadalajara, will be the only center in Mexico dedicated to serving the target population. Construction for the new center is continuing to progress as scheduled. In July, the foundation was laid, and the walls, including masonry work, were built. The roof work began in August, and roofing for the physical therapy, electrotherapy and gym sections of the building was completed in September. Work also began on the façade, electrical installation, and distribution of the connections. Equipment is expected to be acquired in the beginning of 2022.

“The state-of-the-art treatment and rehabilitation center will be equipped with cutting-edge technology and innovative resources,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions. “In addition to treating patients, the center will also generate and disseminate new science and technology. Within its first four years, it is anticipated that the center will treat 500 patients with spinal cord injuries, mainly youth and young adults between the ages of 12-35 who live in poverty and in a state of high vulnerability.”

People who use wheelchairs in Mexico face difficulties in traversing city streets independently. With a lack of elevators and accessibility in public transportation and work places, people with spinal cord injuries struggle to be given the chance to succeed.

Women who have endured spinal cord injuries face challenges in completing typical household chores that were once under their care, such as cooking, cleaning, and laundry. Statistical research by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development shows that Mexican women dedicate more than triple the amount of time on household chores and activities as compared to Mexican men.

The “Raising Standards” project will provide specialized occupational therapy for both women and men to retrain them in skills needed to independently carry out typical household chores and activities. This includes a simulated kitchen to help patients to learn how to maneuver and cook with their new physical circumstances. Office and bedroom simulation areas will also be a part of the project.

Don Bosco on Wheels, Salesian Missions’ implementation partner in Mexico, currently connects with people newly afflicted by spinal cord injuries in the hospital and provides information to help them overcome mobility challenges. Don Bosco Wheels will continue to meet with women patients to provide services and will encourage them to participate in the treatment center as the project develops. The recent donation of a passenger truck to transfer patients to the rehabilitation center has encouraged more patients to participate.

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Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions – Mexico

USAID

World Bank – Mexico

The post MEXICO: Construction continues on new spinal cord treatment center first appeared on MissionNewswire.

NICARAGUA

(MissionNewswire) The University Clinic for Women and Children Santa Rita de Casia, part of the Catholic University of the Dry Tropics in Estelí, Nicaragua, is working to improve medical care for people with limited economic resources in the northern zone in the departments of Estelí, Madriz and Nueva Segovia. This project was made possible thanks to a grant from the U.S. Agency for International Development’s American Schools and Hospitals Abroad (USAID-ASHA) program secured by Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco.

The project, which runs from October 2019 to the end of September 2023, is currently in initial stages of construction with initial planning nearing completion. Once the facility is completed and equipped, the medical-surgical clinic for women and children will provide high-quality obstetrics, pediatrics and gynecology services. The clinic, created according to U.S. standards, will promote the U.S. values of gender equity, scientific excellence and equal access to quality medical care.

“With the support of USAID, Salesians in Nicaragua are improving access to medical care for people with limited economic resources, particularly women and children,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions. “This project is also providing practical experience for medical students as they train to become medical professionals. This will help to improve the overall medical care and expertise available in this part of Nicaragua.”

Santa Rita de Casia Medical Dispensary, which is also a part of this project and the Catholic University of the Dry Tropics medical school program, started providing outpatient care to the general public in July. There are 25 fourth-year medical students who help manage the patients through assigned rotations four days a week. These students work under the supervision of three teachers, two specialists and a general practitioner.

First-year medical students have also benefited from the clinic. One hundred first-year students had the opportunity to take part in training and practice in medical-surgical procedures, including first aid, taking vital signs and primary health care. These students were under the supervision of a specialist teacher.

To date, 180 patients have received general or specialty medical care. The clinic has seen an increasing number of patients since it opened.

There is also a dental clinic available for the general public. From July to September, 1,096 patients received dental check-ups and 1,306 dental treatments have been performed including regular dental cleanings, dental implants, surgeries and restorations.

Nicaragua, the poorest country in Central America and the second poorest in the Western Hemisphere, has widespread underemployment and poverty with a quarter of its population living below the poverty line, according to the World Bank. More than 80 percent of Nicaragua’s poor live in remote rural communities where access to basic services is a daily challenge.

Years of widespread poverty have taken their toll and many residents suffer from poor health conditions including HIV/AIDS. In addition, crime, violence against women, gang violence and high unemployment result in challenging economic and social conditions, particularly for young people and women.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Catholic University of the Dry Tropics

Salesian Missions – Nicaragua

World Bank – Nicaragua

The post NICARAGUA: USAID-funded project to improve medical care for women and children with limited resources first appeared on MissionNewswire.

MEXICO

(MissionNewswire) Salesian Institute Carlos Gómez, located in the city of San Luis Potosí, Mexico, has launched a senior technician university diploma program. This course provides a higher level of education than previously offered and is designed to help students obtain an engineering degree. The two curriculum pathways for this course are in industrial maintenance and mechatronics.

The program went through a lengthy certification process to be accredited by technology education authorities in Mexico and through the Salesian Provincial. Feasibility studies were done prior to the course creation that indicated its success given the industrial job sector’s growth in Mexico, particularly in the automotive sector, which requires technicians with advanced skills.

The course lasts three years and eight months. Currently, the lessons and internships are being held in the same space as the technical course at Salesian Institute Carlos Gómez. The institute is in the process of restructuring and configuring spaces for new laboratories and workshops, as well as their equipment. Once updated, the structures will allow workers from different local industries to be trained in new processes and technologies through specific collaboration programs.

According to Father Agapito Francisco Espinoza, director of Salesian Institute Carlos Gómez, these courses make the institute the first technological institution run by a religious community in the Mexican lowland area. Fr. Espinoza said, “Many young people will have the opportunity to be qualified to transform their environments according to a humanistic-Christian vision, as Don Bosco did in his time in Turin.”

Close to 52 million people in Mexico lack access to education, health care, transportation and the most basic necessities such as food and shelter. Youth in the country face a higher rate of poverty at more than 53 percent, which accounts for 20 million children and adolescents, with 5 million of those living in extreme poverty.

Salesian missionaries in Mexico primarily direct their efforts toward the country’s at-risk youth, including girls and young mothers. Creating safe havens and improving educational opportunities are essential to deter youth from life on the streets where they are susceptible to drugs and gang violence.

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

ANS – Mexico – New impulse for Salesian technical education

Salesian Missions – Mexico

UNICEF – Mexico

The post MEXICO: New course to help students obtain engineering degree first appeared on MissionNewswire.

MEXICO

(MissionNewswire) People living with spinal cord injuries will have a new treatment center thanks to funding Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, received from the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) American Schools and Hospitals Abroad (ASHA) program for the “Raising Standards of Care for Spinal Cord Injury Patients” project. The project will construct and equip Mexico’s first comprehensive treatment and rehabilitation center to assist patients who have been paralyzed by spinal cord injuries, with a special focus on youth.

The project runs from October 2018 through the end of September 2023. Construction is currently underway. The Latin American Center for the Treatment of Spinal Cord Injuries, which will be built in Guadalajara, will be the only center in Mexico dedicated to serving the target population. The treatment center aims to promote the American values of equal access and opportunity by empowering young people with spinal cord injuries with the physical independence and renewed self-esteem needed to actively participate in society.

The state-of-the-art treatment and rehabilitation center will be equipped with cutting-edge technology and innovative resources. In addition to treating patients, the center will also generate and disseminate new science and technology. Within its first four years, it is anticipated that the center will treat 500 patients with spinal cord injuries, mainly youth and young adults between the ages of 12-35 who live in poverty and in a state of high vulnerability.

“The Latin American Center for the Treatment of Spinal Cord Injuries will ensure that youth with spinal cord injuries have access to the treatment and rehabilitation care they need,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions. “Educational and community inclusion for youth with physical disabilities has been a focus for Salesian missionaries in Mexico for several years now. Missionaries help youth with disabilities access education and workforce development training and increase their sense of community and support among their peers.”

People who use wheelchairs in Mexico face difficulties in traversing city streets independently. Between dilapidated road conditions and a lack of elevators and accessibility in public transportation and work places, people with spinal cord injuries struggle to be given the chance to succeed.

It was only in 1999 that people with disabilities were granted access to full health care rights in Mexico. According to the international resource center Global Disability Rights Now!, 4.16 million people in Mexico have mobility disabilities. This marginalized population experiences significantly higher rates of poverty and unemployment than people without disabilities. Due to these disadvantages, people with disabilities are often more dependent on family and government support and lack individual empowerment to enhance their lives. Change is occurring in Mexico benefiting people with disabilities; however, an absence of opportunities still exists.

Spinal cord injuries require a high degree of specialized care and rehabilitation in order to help patients recover from the trauma of their injury and adjust to a radically new way of life in a wheelchair. The majority of hospitals in Mexico are ill-equipped to provide this level of personalized attention and care. In addition to receiving physical rehabilitation and psychological assistance, patients must learn new techniques of navigating everyday life situations, such as accessing education, cooking, using the bathroom, getting in and out of bed, being effective in their workplace or securing employment. Furthermore, both patients and families need to be educated in preventive measures to avoid potentially deadly complications associated with sedentary life.

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Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions – Mexico

USAID

World Bank – Mexico

The post MEXICO: Construction underway for the new Latin American Center for the Treatment of Spinal Cord Injuries funded by USAID first appeared on MissionNewswire.

NICARAGUA

(MissionNewswire) The University Clinic for Women and Children Santa Rita de Casia, part of the Catholic University of the Dry Tropics in Estelí, Nicaragua, will improve medical care for people with limited economic resources in the northern zone of Nicaragua in the departments of Estelí, Madriz and Nueva Segovia. This project was made possible thanks to a grant from the U.S. Agency for International Development’s American Schools and Hospitals Abroad (USAID-ASHA) program secured by Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco.

The project, which runs from October 2019 to the end of September 2023, is currently in initial stages of construction. Once the facility is completed and equipped, the medical-surgical clinic for women and children will provide high-quality obstetrics, pediatrics and gynecology services. The clinic, created according to U.S. standards, will promote the U.S. values of gender equity, scientific excellence and equal access to quality medical care.

“We extend our gratitude to USAID for funding this important project that will help to improve the medical care available for women and children,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions. “This project will also help to provide practical experience for medical students as they train to become medical professionals. This will help to improve the overall medical care and expertise available in this part of Nicaragua.”

As part of this project, meetings were held to finalize the rehabilitation and refurbishment of the Santa Rita de Casia Medical Dispensary, which is also part of the Catholic University of the Dry Tropics medical school program, in order to start providing outpatient care to people with limited economic resources.

The medical dispensary, which opened on Aug. 4, features two areas for primary health care and specialties and one area for the performance of and training in minor surgery procedures. It features three hospital beds, washbasins, shelves for files, and didactic materials such as dolls and posters for learning cardiopulmonary resuscitation, cannulation, and endotracheal intubation. Other types of medical and educational services will be provided, including care for children and adults, electrocardiograms, and nebulization, among others.

Medical students in their first to third years of study will train at the medical dispensary and then move onto more advanced training in obstetrics, gynecology and pediatrics at the new medical-surgical clinic.

Thanks to donor funding, Salesian Missions was able to provide furniture for the medical dispensary for offices, meeting rooms and classrooms. The furniture will improve the space for doctors as well as for students and patients.

Nicaragua, the poorest country in Central America and the second poorest in the Western Hemisphere, has widespread underemployment and poverty with a quarter of its population living below the poverty line, according to the World Bank. More than 80 percent of Nicaragua’s poor live in remote rural communities where access to basic services is a daily challenge.

Years of widespread poverty have taken their toll and many residents suffer from poor health conditions including HIV/AIDS. In addition, crime, violence against women, gang violence and high unemployment result in challenging economic and social conditions, particularly for young people and women.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Catholic University of the Dry Tropics

Salesian Missions – Nicaragua

World Bank – Nicaragua

The post NICARAGUA: Medical care for people with limited resources to improve through USAID funding first appeared on MissionNewswire.

MEXICO

(MissionNewswire) After only serving take-away meals for 15 months, the Salesian Padre Chava Refectory, located at the Salesian Center in Tijuana, Mexico, is open again to the public. The refectory provides meals and other assistance to migrants from Mexico, Central America and Haiti, as well as to the homeless, the elderly, people with disabilities and those suffering from extreme poverty.

Forced to close in-person dining because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Salesians reopened the facility in early June and are now able to provide better service to those in need. People are able to eat in a quiet and safe space instead of on the ground. Despite the pandemic, Salesians continued to offer services outside, benefiting more than 1,000 people a day.

“Hunger and the needs of the people facing scarcity increased in the city during the pandemic, and we had to response the best we could given the circumstances,” explained Father Agustín Novoa, director of the Salesian Center in Tijuana. “Now, the refectory is open once again and serving people in the dining room. There are still a great number of people in need and we are meeting that day to day.”

Many workers have lost their jobs due to the closure of their workplace, and they have to decide whether to pay rent or buy food. Informal workers, such as domestic workers, were urged to stay home and remained unpaid. The challenges at the United States-Mexican border has also left many asylum seekers stuck in Tijuana, and even though many have been deported, others keep arriving.

Since 1987, the Salesian Center has been providing services to migrants and poor youth living on the border between Mexico and the U.S. The goal of the Tijuana Salesian Project is to create an extensive educational network in areas where poor youth are at risk of social exclusion. The project took shape through Salesian oratories and educational centers where children grow up learning to share faith, culture and sports within their communities.

The Salesian Center acts as a hub for migrants who, besides much-needed material help, are also offered a familiar and welcoming environment. They can access haircuts, a change of clothes, a shower, and an opportunity to call and make contact with families. The Salesian Center also has a partnership with the Red Cross and local volunteer doctors who offer psychological and medical help and assistance.

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

ANS – Mexico – Salesian Refectory “Padre Chava” reopens its doors to needy

Salesian Missions – Mexico

UNICEF – Mexico

The post MEXICO: Dining room reopens for migrants and other vulnerable people first appeared on MissionNewswire.

MEXICO

(MissionNewswire) The Salesian Tijuana Project has been providing services to migrants and poor youth living on the border between Mexico and the U.S. for 34 years. The Salesian organization is divided into eight programs including five oratories, two educational institutions and a public meal program, known as the Salesian Padre Chava Refectory. Salesian services are located in the city’s most vulnerable and high-conflict areas. Every month, 30,000 people access food, medical and psychological services, legal advice, sports, cultural activities, and basic education.

The goal of the Salesian Tijuana Project is to create an extensive educational network in areas where poor youth are at risk of social exclusion. The project took shape through Salesian oratories and educational centers where children grow up learning to share faith, culture and sports within their communities.

At the Salesian Tijuana Project, migrants can access haircuts, a change of clothes, a shower, and an opportunity to call and make contact with families.

The Salesian Tijuana Project also acts as a hub for migrants who, besides much-needed material help, are offered a familiar and welcoming environment. They can access haircuts, a change of clothes, a shower, and an opportunity to call and make contact with families. The Salesian center also has a partnership with the Red Cross and local volunteer doctors who offer psychological and medical help and assistance.

During the pandemic, the Salesian Tijuana Project was forced to suspend many of its activities. The Salesian schools provided education online when they could and also enacted safety measures, meeting the protocols set forth by the government. The only program that never closed its door was the Salesian Padre Chava Refectory, which had to make adjustments in its food delivery. The refectory is one of the youngest programs of the Salesian Tijuana Project, but it is among the best known.

A Salesian missionary said, “We are known and appreciated for the service we offer in the community. We provide food, nutrition, medical and psychological services, legal advice, and we also offer a hospitality service for men. We serve migrants, deportees, people in street situations, entire families and the elderly. For years we have seen many people suffer from the lack of opportunities, and during the pandemic, the population in difficulty has increased.”

At the beginning of the pandemic, services were limited to the delivery of food and medical service. Claudia Portela, coordinator of the refectory, remembers that one morning she had to go out and tell those waiting for services that from that moment, the method of access and administration would be different. People would have to queue, and before entering they had to wash their hands, put on antibacterial gel and then collect the food in several stages.

The pandemic caused difficulty for the organization. Donations dropped, volunteers who ensured services decreased for fear of being infected, and just when the Salesian Tijuana Project could barely provide for 800 people each day, the need swelled to more than 2,000 a day.

Faced with this situation, Salesian missionaries opted to network, turning to governmental and nongovernmental institutions. A Salesian missionary noted, “For example, at the municipal level, we have coordinated with many shelters to buy products at the supermarket. At the state level, the Secretariat for Development gave us food, the mayor’s wife sent burritos, and organizations such as the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), the International Organization for Migration, and Amnesty International, as well as many benefactors, have given us great support.”

After more than a year of pandemic, the Salesian Tijuana Project is beginning to reset. One of the project managers said, “We are worried about our schools, children and young people who have stopped studying due to lack of resources, but the refectory continues to work. Little by little we are adding other services that we used to provide such as hair-cutting.”

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

ANS – Mexico – Not even pandemic can stop Salesian Refectory “Father Chava”

Salesian Missions – Mexico

UNICEF – Mexico

The post MEXICO: Programs serve 30,000 migrants and poor youth each month first appeared on MissionNewswire.

MEXICO

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries in Oaxaca, Mexico, have provided 1,000 Catholic Bibles to 24 Chinantec Indigenous communities thanks to Koch Foundation funding secured by Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. This project facilitates scriptural study and faith formation among the local population even when an ordained minister cannot be present.

While there were 1,000 direct beneficiaries of the project, more than 5,000 people were impacted within the households that received the Bibles. It is difficult for these local Indigenous populations to buy a Bible when other basic needs have to come first. Most of the direct beneficiaries were youth, ages 10-18, who attended one of the 24 church communities. After receiving the Bibles, the youth shared what they learned and studied with their families.

“The impact of this project will continue because Salesian missionaries living in the communities teach catechism to youth and encourage them to teach their family members,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions. “Salesian missionaries also train local catechists to provide scriptural orientation to encourage families to come together to read the Bible.”

Thanks to this project, joy and hope were brought to many households. Many people walked far distances on precarious roads to receive them. Families have said that by having the Catholic Bible in their homes, they can feel the presence of God with them.

Close to 52 million people in Mexico lack access to education, health care, transportation and the most basic necessities such as food and shelter. Youth in the country face a higher rate of poverty at more than 53 percent, which accounts for 20 million children and adolescents, with 5 million of those living in extreme poverty.

Salesian missionaries in Mexico primarily direct their efforts toward the country’s at-risk youth, including girls and young mothers. Creating safe havens and improving educational opportunities are essential to deter youth from life on the streets where they are susceptible to drugs and gang violence.

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Sources:

Salesian Missions – Mexico

UNICEF – Mexico

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UNITED STATES

(MissionNewswire) The We Care after-school program, run by the Salesian St. Dominic Savio Parish in Los Angeles County, California, recently helped the Downey Unified School District with increasing childcare availability. The city of Downey is located in southeast Los Angeles County.

When California’s governor gave schools in Los Angeles County the green light to return to in-person instruction, the city of Downey found itself without any after-school program for its 12 elementary schools. There were only seven business days before the schools opened again, and the school district needed to hire 26 people to staff its after-school programs.

Veronica Lizardi, director at Downey Unified School District, contacted JC Montenegro, director of the We Care program, to see how the Salesians could help. The We Care program started in 2014 to provide additional after-school programming for children in the neighborhood who were on a waiting list for the after-school programs provided by the city of Downey.

“We started with just 35 children and were soon serving over 115 children every school day,” stated Jonathan Lara, the program coordinator.

Through the We Care program, the Salesians were able to hire and train 26 young adults to serve in Downey’s after-school programs. Today, the We Care program serves more than 200 children every school day. Lara added, “We believe this was a miracle. We had only seven days to create a program, find and train its staff, and accomplish all the legal steps to be ready to serve children. We believe Don Bosco helped us to bring to reality a new Salesian presence among the children of Downey.”

Working throughout the United States and around the globe, Salesian missionaries have created a vast network of primary, secondary, vocational and technical schools serving poor youth. With a focus on education and workforce development, Salesians worldwide provide disadvantaged youth valuable resources to help them find livable wage employment to break the cycle of poverty and lead meaningful and productive lives.

Functioning side by side with Salesian schools, youth centers and after-school programs offer youth opportunities for engaging in constructive activities. Through organized programs, which often include sports and music, youth are taught teamwork and social skills while gaining opportunities for personal growth. Some youth centers also offer small medical clinics and, where needed, nutritional programs to protect children from malnutrition. Youth programs also offer valuable volunteer opportunities for youth to have a chance to engage with others and support their own communities.

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ANS – United States – The city of Downey seeks support from the Salesians

We Care Programs St. Dominic Savio Parish

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MEXICO

(MissionNewswire) Pedro Eduardo Valdés Sierra, a mechatronics engineering student at the Don Bosco Technological Institute in Saltillo, Mexico, earned an internship at Tesla in California. Sierra credits his education at the Don Bosco Technological Institute for his chance to work in the United States.

“Working while studying is a commitment and requires a great responsibility,” explained Sierra. “I thank the Don Bosco Technological Institute for supporting me and allowing me to have this great experience. Doing my internship abroad is a great experience. In the United States, I can continue to get an excellent level of learning, as well as new challenges to face.”

During his internship, Sierra will collaborate on a project to install and improve electrical systems and pneumatic and hydraulic controls. He will also be able to help update and adapt various automation systems and integrate new production lines.

Sierra added, “Everything is different at Tesla. There’s a lot of planning. It’s a great work culture.” Sierra is now having a chance to put the classroom lessons he learned into practical hands-on experience. He believes this is a wonderful opportunity for academic, professional and human growth.

Don Bosco Technological Institute was built more than a decade ago and has experienced significant development. More than 1,000 students attend courses as part of a program culminating in a bachelor’s degree in technology. Through workforce development initiatives such as assistance with résumé-writing and interviewing skills, the technical school also helps students find and retain stable employment upon graduation.

“The school’s programs respond to the local need for technical skills training by providing high-quality training courses, which is very much appreciated in a region known for its industrial activity,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Through coursework and internships like at Tesla, students leave the technical school with the professional skills and aptitude necessary to excel in the workforce.”

The state of Coahuila’s business community has rallied around the technical school, becoming an integral support to its students. Salesian missionaries working at the school have made connections within the business community to help students make an easier transition from the classroom into the workforce. Employers are impressed with the level of technical skill of the school’s graduates and also their employment preparedness.

Close to 52 million people in Mexico lack access to education, health care, transportation and the most basic necessities such as food and shelter. Youth in the country face a higher rate of poverty at more than 53 percent, which accounts for 20 million children and adolescents, with 5 million of those living in extreme poverty.

Salesian missionaries in Mexico primarily direct their efforts toward the country’s at-risk youth, including girls and young mothers. Creating safe havens and improving educational opportunities are essential to deter youth from life on the streets where they are susceptible to drugs and gang violence.

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ANS – Mexico – From Saltillo to California: a success story

Salesian Missions – Mexico

UNICEF – Mexico

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NICARAGUA

(MissionNewswire) The St. John Bosco Oratory in Granada, Nicaragua, has opened and resumed activities. The oratory had been closed to in-person activities since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 1915, the St. John Bosco Oratory has been a center for meetings and friendships. Now, the courtyards are once again filled with youth and the sounds of laughter, friendly encounters and soccer matches.

COVID-19 forced millions of people into isolation and caused a major disruption in educational systems around the globe. Salesian programs in Granada had to find an alternative to supporting youth during this time. The San Juan Bosco Salesian Institute in Granada sought a number of alternatives to continue providing quality education to its students, including utilizing technology for online education.

The Inter-American Development Bank has noted, “The pandemic has had a direct impact on the education systems of all the countries in the region, involving students, families, ministries, secretariats, schools, teachers and principals. The closure of schools to contain the spread of the virus has brought more than 165 million students out of school, from kindergarten to higher education.”

The Salesian Institute used interactive blogs and Google for Education G-Suite tools. Salesian educators responded to the needs expressed by parents while ensuring that students still received an enriching educational experience. Teachers tapped into a wealth of audiovisual resources to make the teaching and learning process more dynamic and interactive. Many teachers, although initially fearful, began recording their lessons and providing them to students.

Many youth, who faced close to a year of lockdown, are excited and hopeful to once again be able to meet with their peers and have the in-person support of their teachers and other Salesian staff. Opening the oratory, with safety measures in place, is a step for them in returning to a “normal” way of life. Some educational lessons in Salesian schools are still being taught online for the time being.

Nicaragua, the poorest country in Central America and the second poorest in the Western Hemisphere, has widespread underemployment and poverty with a quarter of its population living below the poverty line, according to the World Bank. More than 80 percent of Nicaragua’s poor live in remote rural communities where access to basic services is a daily challenge.

Years of widespread poverty have taken their toll and many residents suffer from poor health conditions including HIV/AIDS. In addition, crime, violence against women, gang violence and high unemployment result in challenging economic and social conditions, particularly for young people and women.

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ANS – Nicaragua – Salesian oratory in Granada re-starts activities

Salesian Missions – Nicaragua

World Bank – Nicaragua

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MEXICO

(MissionNewswire) In March, the Tijuana Salesian Project in Tijuana, Mexico, celebrates 34 years in service to the community. The center provides services to migrants and poor youth living on the border between Mexico and the U.S. The goal of the project is to create an extensive educational network in areas where poor youth are at risk of social exclusion. The project took shape through Salesian oratories and educational centers where children grow up learning to share faith, culture and sports within their communities.

The Salesian Center in Tijuana facilitates the project and acts as a hub for migrants who, besides much-needed material help, are also offered a familiar and welcoming environment. They can access haircuts, a change of clothes, a shower, and an opportunity to call and make contact with families. Through a Salesian Center partnership with the Red Cross and local volunteer doctors, psychological and medical help is also available.

Those dreaming of being reunited with their families in the U.S. and those deported from the U.S. often arrive at the center with very little. The Padre Chava Refectory helps migrants obtain or manage their official papers and documents. In addition, the Padre Chava Refectory acts as a hub for care packages, such as food and clothing, that have been sent as aid to those in Mexico.

Each day at the Padre Chava Refectory, 900 to 1,200 meals are served with numbers increasing during Christmas, Easter and summer. Because of the overwhelming need, the refectory could not close during the pandemic. They, instead, turned to take-away meals. In the first day of serving take-out meals, 500 food boxes were distributed. Over the following six days, 10,000 food boxes were provided. The pandemic multiplied the number of people in need of a hot meal. Salesians are now seeing new faces in need including the homeless, children, families, elderly and migrants.

“Because, even if the possibility of contracting the virus is latent, hunger and needs, in these days of scarcity, are increasing,” explained Father Agustín Novoa, director of the Salesian Center in Tijuana.

Many workers have lost their jobs due to the closure of their workplace, and they have to decide whether to pay the rent or buy food. Informal workers such as domestic workers were urged to stay home and remained unpaid. The closure of the U.S.-Mexican border has also left many asylum seekers stuck in Tijuana, and even though many have been deported, others keep arriving. Migrant shelters are not housing new asylum seekers to guarantee basic sanitary conditions for their residents.

According to UNICEF, there are 52 million people living in poverty in Mexico, approximately 45 percent of the country’s population. For children, the rate rises to just over 53 percent with more than 20 million youth estimated to be living in poverty and 5 million of those in extreme poverty.

Salesian missionaries in Mexico primarily direct their efforts toward the country’s at-risk youth, including girls and young mothers. Creating safe havens and improving educational opportunities are essential to deter youth from life on the streets where they are susceptible to drugs and gang violence.

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ANS – Mexico – Tijuana Salesian Project: 34 years lived with Faith, Hope and Charity

Salesian Tijuana Project

Salesian Missions – Mexico

UNICEF – Mexico

The post MEXICO: Center celebrates 34 years of service at border first appeared on MissionNewswire.

(MissionNewswire) In November, Central America was hard hit by two Category 4 hurricanes. Hurricane Eta hit on Nov. 3 and Hurricane Iota hit less than two weeks later on Nov. 16. Hurricane Eta made landfall south of Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua, and then Iota made landfall less than 15 miles south near the town of Haulover. The torrential rains brought deadly landslides, flash flooding and destruction across Central America. More than 200 people have died as a result of the storms with millions more impacted and in need of help.

Salesian missionaries across Central America, including Nicaragua, Guatemala and Honduras, are responding locally to help those in need with shelter, food, clothing and more. Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, has launched a new fundraising campaign to help with this relief work.

Salesian missionaries across Central America are responding with shelter, food, clothing and more for those in need of hurricane relief.

“The stakes are high for those impacted by these hurricanes, especially now when we are still dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions. “Because Salesian missionaries live in the communities where they work, they are perfectly positioned to respond in times of crisis. They know the local landscape and can ensure that relief aid is provided to those most in need.”

The Salesian community of Carchá, Guatemala, has eight priests who serve 350 villages, including more than 5,000 Indigenous students. At least 40 of the villages have been directly affected. The rains, strong winds and landslides have damaged houses with some completely destroyed under flood water. Many roads have been lost and some communities are no longer reachable. People have lost everything and are facing a challenging road ahead. Villages have opened their schools and churches to welcome displaced people.

Right after Hurricane Eta, Father Vittorio Castagna, a Salesian missionary stationed in San Pedro Carchá, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala, said, “It hasn’t rained for three days, yet the water continues to rise and people are unable to go out. I saw some of them with deep sadness, feeling alone and insecure. The displaced people are now crowded into a very small place. It is a very uncomfortable environment, and this is indeed a trial for them.”

In Tegucigalpa, Honduras, students in the 2021 graduating class at San Miguel Salesian Institute launched a fundraiser to support the people affected. With COVID-19 safety measures in place, more than 1,000 people from the Francisco Morazán and Cortés departments were provided food, personal hygiene items, clothes, shoes, sheets, bedspreads, mats and bio-safety equipment.

The initiative also received the support of the Past Pupils Association from the María Auxiliadora Salesian Institute and San Miguel Institute in collaboration with Mis Manos Son Tus Manos Association. Rector Father Horacio Macal and the entire Salesian community also participated.

Salesian missionaries in these local communities are still assessing the damage and working to respond to people in need. In support of this work, Salesian Missions has launched its Central American Hurricane Relief Fund. Those who want to support these efforts are urged to donate online at salesianmissions.org/lp/hurricane-central-america/. 

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ANS – Honduras – Pupils from “San Miguel” Salesian Institute help over 1000 victims of Hurricane Eta

GUATEMALA: COVID-19 pandemic complicates Hurricane Eta response

Salesian Missions

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MEXICO

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries in Tijuana, Mexico, are still responding to the influx of people needing food assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic, while already stretched thin providing for those who need food assistance in the city. The Salesian Padre Chava Refectory, located at the Salesian Center in the city, provides meals and other assistance to migrants from Mexico, Central America and Haiti, as well as to the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and those suffering from extreme poverty.

Each day, the Padre Chava Refectory provides upwards of 1,200 meals with numbers increasing due to the pandemic. Because of the overwhelming need, the refectory never closed. They instead turned to take-away meals. In the first days of the lockdown, 500 food boxes were distributed. Over the first week, 10,000 food boxes were provided, and that pace has continued.

“Hunger and the needs of the people facing scarcity are increasing in the city, and we are responding the best that we can given the circumstances,” explained Father Agustín Novoa, director of the Salesian Center in Tijuana.

Many workers have lost their jobs due to the closure of their workplace, and they have to decide whether to pay the rent or buy food. Informal workers such as domestic workers were urged to stay home and remained unpaid. The closure of the U.S.-Mexican border has also left many asylum seekers stuck in Tijuana, and even though many have been deported, others keep arriving. Migrant shelters are not housing new asylum seekers to guarantee basic sanitary conditions for their residents.

Since 1987, the Salesian Center has been providing services to migrants and poor youth living on the border between Mexico and the U.S. The goal of the Tijuana Salesian Project is to create an extensive educational network in areas where poor youth are at risk of social exclusion. The project took shape through Salesian oratories and educational centers where children grow up learning to share faith, culture and sports within their communities.

The Salesian Center acts as a hub for migrants who, besides much-needed material help, are also offered a familiar and welcoming environment. They can access haircuts, a change of clothes, a shower, and an opportunity to call and make contact with families. The Salesian Center also has a partnership with the Red Cross and local volunteer doctors who offer psychological and medical help and assistance.

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

ANS – Mexico – “Padre Chava” refectory at work during Covid-19 pandemic

Salesian Missions – Mexico

UNICEF – Mexico

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NICARAGUA

(MissionNewswire) COVID-19 has forced millions of people into isolation and caused a major disruption in educational systems around the globe. San Juan Bosco Salesian Institute in Granada, Nicaragua, has sought a number of alternatives to continue providing quality education to its students, including utilizing technology for online education.

The Inter-American Development Bank has noted, “The pandemic has had a direct impact on the education systems of all the countries in the region, involving students, families, ministries, secretariats, schools, teachers and principals. The closure of schools to contain the spread of the virus has brought more than 165 million students out of school, from kindergarten to higher education.”

In countries where there are no large budgets for education, the challenges of providing education have been complicated. Although many countries do not have a consolidated national strategy for distance education, they have made significant efforts even with limited capabilities.

The Salesian Institute in Granada has started using interactive blogs and Google for Education G-Suite tools. Salesian educators are responding to the needs expressed by parents while ensuring that students are still receiving an enriching educational experience. Teachers have have tapped into a wealth of audiovisual resources to make the teaching and learning process more dynamic and interactive. Many teachers, although initially fearful, began recording their lessons and providing them to students.

The process has been complex because it also required engagement from parents, who now must work more closely in the learning process. The Salesian Institute has continued to monitor progress of online education and modify as needed to meet the needs of teachers, students and parents.

Nicaragua, the poorest country in Central America and the second poorest in the Western Hemisphere, has widespread underemployment and poverty with a quarter of its population living below the poverty line, according to the World Bank. More than 80 percent of Nicaragua’s poor live in remote rural communities where access to basic services is a daily challenge.

Years of widespread poverty have taken their toll and many residents suffer from poor health conditions including HIV/AIDS. In addition, crime, violence against women, gang violence and high unemployment result in challenging economic and social conditions, particularly for young people and women.

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

ANS – Nicaragua – Salesians create interactive blogs to offer quality education and care of young people

Salesian Missions – Nicaragua

World Bank – Nicaragua

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UNITED STATES

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Preparatory High School (Don Bosco Prep), located in Ramsey, New Jersey, has announced that Aidan Lloyd, a junior at the school, has received his Eagle Scout rank, and his project is being considered for the National Eagle Scout Project of the Year. Lloyd, 17, took his love of engineering and robotics and created his “Helping Hands” project. The project was inspired by Lloyd’s troop mate who doesn’t have a hand.

Lloyd is a member of the Church of the Ascension Boy Scout Troop 291 in New Milford. He first got involved with robotics as an eighth grader at St. Joseph School as part of a summer program created by Don Bosco Prep and run by Father Lou Konopelski. Once attending Don Bosco Prep, Lloyd took robotics classes and was a part of the engineering club. While working on the 3D printer in class, he fostered an interest in modeling and prosthetics.

“I always had an interest in the sciences, but I really enjoyed learning about different forces in physics class. This helped me understand and appreciate the inner workings of the hand and my project as a whole,” said Lloyd.

As part of completing an Eagle Scout project, Lloyd researched and planned each step of the process. He was required to enlist, mentor and oversee volunteers, as well as seek product donations from local businesses. Lloyd also bought his own 3D printer and filament, and used STL files from a website to fabricate and print out the models for each hand, each taking about 10 hours to print.

With Lloyd’s guidance, two teams of eight volunteers assembled 15 hands. Each assembly session took approximately four hours. The hand works based on tension, with little strings that go from the gripper box through the hand and up to the fingers and thumb. The fingers move and the hand can actually close.

Fourteen prosthetic hands were shipped to SUNY Polytechnic University in Utica, New York, for distribution. The final hand will be given, post pandemic, to his troop mate who inspired his project. Lloyd explained, “I am really proud of the hand and really proud of who we are helping. We really did well. It gives you the ability to be there for people without really being there.”

During the stay-at-home order, Lloyd has continued to put his 3D printer to use. He has made more than 600 mask extenders, which is a plastic piece that hooks around the elastic of a face mask and reduces the pressure and discomfort behind the ears. Lloyd’s father, a retired sheriff’s sergeant, delivered them to local pharmacies and police forces, health care workers, and first responders, and a portion has been mailed to an Air Force base in New Mexico. Last week he gave 36 extenders to Don Bosco Prep’s school nurse for distribution at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Paterson and Valley Hospital in Ridgewood.

“First responders are working hard to help those who are sick every day. This is my way of helping them out,” Lloyd added. In the future, Lloyd plans to major in astrophysics and pursue a doctoral degree.

Dedicated to empowering young men, Don Bosco Prep provides rigorous academics at the advanced placement, honors and college prep levels, and encourages participation in extracurricular activities, clubs and athletics. The school’s 850 students are accepted to the finest colleges and universities in the United States and go on to make significant contributions to their families and communities.

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ANS – United States – “Helping Hands”. When a Salesian pupil uses his skills to give back

Don Bosco Prep

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UNITED STATES

(MissionNewswire) The Don Bosco Community Center, one of only a few food pantries in the Village of Port Chester, New York, is providing an average of 230 meals a day to support people who can’t otherwise shop because of the statewide order to stay in place and the closure of local businesses.

The Don Bosco Community Center has been providing local community services for more than 80 years, benefiting low to moderate income residents, as well as advocating for immigrants and their families. During normal operations, the Don Bosco Community Center provides a soup kitchen, food pantry and educational programming for youth and adults.

It also offers services to new immigrants and Port Chester’s long-time residents who have lived near or in poverty for years. Services are open to all adults including parents in need, the elderly, the unemployed, the working poor, immigrants, day laborers and the homeless.

“God is sending us people who need food,” said Father Patrick Angelucci, pastor of St. John Bosco Parish, which operates the Don Bosco Community Center. “I met with the Salesian community, and we decided to take $10,000 out of our community savings to help the soup kitchen in this crisis.”

The extra demand on the program is costing about $2,000 a week above what it normally costs to run the program. Fr. Angelucci explained, “In this crisis, God is sending these persons to Don Bosco, and Don Bosco would never turn his back on a person in such need.”

Carmen Lopez de Linero, a volunteer, oversees the operation of the food pantry and organizes the distribution of food, which begins each weekday at 11:30 a.m. She is assisted by a team of volunteers who sort food, cook, prepare food packages and deliver food to people unable to visit the pantry.

Normally, individuals would be able to come into the dining room for a cooked meal. The social distancing requirements have changed the operation to take-out service. The number of people coming for assistance has increased over the last four weeks.

In addition to the food program, St. John Bosco Parish provides awareness of prevention measures, home delivery of food, making and distributing masks, online counseling, online classes, transport of the sick to hospitals, and resources for the accommodation of the sick or homeless.

Salesians throughout the United States and Canada are doing their best to help those affected by the coronavirus. Eight out of sixteen Salesian communities are offering social services. Several offer online learning or live streaming of religious services. All six high schools in the province offer a full day of classes using distance learning programs. To date, more than 1,400 families have benefited from the food programs offered. All are practicing the safety protocols of distancing and staying in place while making efforts to support others.

At the provincial house in New Rochelle, New York, the Salesians placed bright LED bulbs in each window of a tower as a sign of support to health care workers, first responders and those providing essential services.

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ANS – United States – New Rochelle Province still at work despite COVID-19

Salesian Missions – United States

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MEXICO

(MissionNewswire) The sudden spread of the COVID-19 in Mexico brought an unseen state of emergency to Tijuana. Salesian missionaries are assisting thousands of migrants and people at risk through the Salesian Padre Chava Refectory located at the Salesian Center in the city. The refectory provides meals and other assistance to migrants from Mexico, Central America and Haiti, as well as to homeless people, the elderly, people with disabilities and those suffering from extreme poverty.

Each day at the Padre Chava Refectory, 900 to 1,200 meals are served with numbers increasing during Christmas, Easter and summer. Recently, the numbers have been increasing due to the influx of migrants. Salesian missionaries are already serving their maximum number of 1,200 breakfasts and they are preparing to continue at that pace.

Because of the overwhelming need, the refectory cannot close. They have instead turned to take-away meals. In the first day, 500 food boxes were distributed. Over the next six days, 10,000 food boxes were provided. The coronavirus has multiplied the number of people in need of a hot meal. Salesians are now seeing new faces in need including the homeless, children, families, elderly, and migrants.

“Because, even if the possibility of contracting the virus is latent, hunger and needs, in these days of scarcity, are increasing,” explained Father Agustín Novoa, director of the Salesian Center in Tijuana.

Many workers have lost their jobs due to the closure of their workplace, and they have to decide whether to pay the rent or buy food. Informal workers such as domestic workers were urged to stay home and remained unpaid. The closure of the U.S.-Mexican border has also left many asylum seekers stuck in Tijuana, and even though many have been deported, others keep arriving. Migrant shelters are not housing new asylum seekers to guarantee basic sanitary conditions for their residents.

Since 1987, the Salesian Center in Tijuana has been providing services to migrants and poor youth living on the border between Mexico and the U.S. The goal of the Tijuana Salesian Project is to create an extensive educational network in areas where poor youth are at risk of social exclusion. The project took shape through Salesian oratories and educational centers where children grow up learning to share faith, culture and sports within their communities.

The Salesian Center acts as a hub for migrants who, besides much-needed material help, are also offered a familiar and welcoming environment. They can access haircuts, a change of clothes, a shower, and an opportunity to call and make contact with families. The Salesian Center also has a partnership with the Red Cross and local volunteer doctors who offer psychological and medical help and assistance.

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ANS – Mexico – Salesian Refectory “Padre Chava”, its doors open in this time of Covid-19: “We take care of the most vulnerable people”

Salesian Missions – Mexico

UNICEF – Mexico

The post MEXICO: Salesian Padre Chava Refectory in Tijuana remains open to serve thousands of take-away meals to those in need first appeared on MissionNewswire.

MEXICO

(MissionNewswire) A group of young adult volunteers from the United States visited the Salesian community in Tijuana, Mexico, over the Thanksgiving weekend. The volunteers spent their time serving those in need at the Salesian Refectory Padre Chava, which assists migrants and people living in the streets. The volunteers helped prepare and serve food to those who visited.

The Salesian Refectory Padre Chava is located at the Salesian Center in Tijuana on the U.S.-Mexico border. The refectory provides meals to migrants from Mexico, Central America and Haiti, as well as those who are homeless, the elderly, people with disabilities and those suffering from extreme poverty. Each day, 900 to 1,200 meals are served, and during Christmas, Easter and summer, the numbers increase.

Volunteers also visited an orphanage for children with HIV/AIDS, entertaining them with various games. During the last stop on their visit, volunteers went to a reception center for asylum seekers and had dinner with more than 100 young people, adults and children, who all live together. Volunteers spent time entertaining those at the reception center with a number of recreational activities.

Since 1987, the Salesian Center in Tijuana has been providing services to migrants and poor youth living on the border between Mexico and the U.S. The goal of the project is to create an extensive educational network in areas where poor youth are at risk of social exclusion. The project took shape through Salesian oratories and educational centers where children grow up learning to share faith, culture and sports within their communities.

The Salesian Center acts as a hub for migrants who, besides much-needed material help, are also offered a familiar and welcoming environment. They can access haircuts, a change of clothes, a shower and an opportunity to call and make contact with families. The Salesian Center also has a partnership with the Red Cross and local volunteer doctors who offer psychological and medical help and assistance.

Those dreaming of being reunited with their families in the U.S. and those deported from the U.S. often arrive at the center with very little. The Padre Chava Refectory also helps migrants obtain or manage their official papers and documents and plays a very important role in caring for the Haitian migrants who, in recent months, have flocked into Tijuana. In addition, Padre Chava acts as a hub for care packages, such as food and clothing, that have been sent as aid to those in Mexico.

“Salesian missionaries in these communities continue to provide education, safety and the promise of a better future for youth in need,” says Father Mark Hyde, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Mission trips provide Salesian students in the United States and across the globe opportunities to give back to others in need.”

According to UNICEF, there are 52 million people living in poverty in Mexico, approximately 45 percent of the country’s population. For children, the rate rises to just over 53 percent with more than 20 million youth estimated to be living in poverty and 5 million of those in extreme poverty.

Salesian missionaries in Mexico primarily direct their efforts toward the country’s at-risk youth, including girls and young mothers. Creating safe havens and improving educational opportunities are essential to deter youth from life on the streets where they are susceptible to drugs and gang violence.

Sources:

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

ANS – Mexico – Salesian volunteers from United States West visit Tijuana

Salesian Missions – Mexico

UNICEF – Mexico

The post MEXICO: Young adults from the US volunteer at the Salesian community in Tijuana first appeared on MissionNewswire.

MEXICO

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries arrived in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, 28 years ago and built their first oratory, San Juan Bosco, on land that was once a landfill. Years later, the Domingo Savio oratory was developed and finally, the Lupita oratory was established, the name an abbreviation of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

It was at one of these Salesian oratories that rapper Eric Ponce learned life lessons that later helped him turn his life around. As a child, Ponce was a good student, but his home environment was far from idyllic. His mother had lived on the street and worked accompanying illegal immigrants to the United States, while his father had joined the army. Ponce grew up alone and even as a boy went to parties where alcohol and drugs were widely available.

He dropped out of school, was tagged as a drug addict as a teenager and ran with boys who were six years older. Without realizing it, Ponce found himself entangled in a gang with a gun in hand and marijuana in his pocket, busy having to defend their territory.

In just five months in 2009, six of his cousins, a brother-in-law and his best friend were killed. Ponce looked very much like one of his cousins, so much so that on several occasions they were mistaken for one another. The last time of mistaken identity was when the killers burst into the funeral home to make sure they had killed the right person. It was at that moment that Ponce decided to escape, hide and get away from violence.

Ponce thought back to the lessons he had learned at the Salesian oratory as a child. Today, Ponce has made a career out of rapping, something he started back in 2003, performing as Ponce PX1. A Salesian even asked him at a Mass to improvise the Our Father in rap form, and it was a huge success. Ponce has released three albums and a dozen videos on YouTube, and he’s about to finish writing a book.

Ponce is also a coordinator of the “Second Opportunity, Fundraising and Development of Educational Programs” for a local youth promotion association. While his rap career is definitely on the rise, Ponce hasn’t forgotten his roots and aims to be a role model for other youth looking for a second chance. Ponce tells them, “A mistake does not say who you are. Don’t let them label you.”

According to UNICEF, there are 52 million people living in poverty in Mexico, approximately 45 percent of the country’s population. For children, the rate rises to just over 53 percent with more than 20 million youth estimated to be living in poverty and 5 million of those in extreme poverty.

Salesian missionaries in Mexico primarily direct their efforts toward the country’s at-risk youth, including girls and young mothers. Creating safe havens and improving educational opportunities are essential to deter youth from life on the streets where they are susceptible to drugs and gang violence.

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ANS – Mexico – Eric Ponce, the rapper who escaped violence and cares for youth at risk in Ciudad Juárez

Salesian Missions – Mexico

UNICEF – Mexico

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MEXICO

(MissionNewswire) In 2012, Salesian missionaries brought joy back to some of the poorest and most dangerous neighborhoods in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. A decade ago, Ciudad Juárez experienced such a wave of violence that at night there was a curfew. No one walked down the street, and the parks had ceased to be meeting places for the neighborhood youth.

Instead, the parks became market squares and places of criminal organizations and gangs. The extortion of merchants made everyone fear for their lives. At any time, someone might settle accounts with a weapon or sow even more fear with the murder of innocent people.

Salesian missionaries aimed to change that with a project called Brigade of Joy, which offered outdoor games and activities. The project also received Mexico state aid to enable Salesian missionaries to send mobile teams to 20 areas of the city.

The Salesian Brigade of Joy staff and volunteers have a van, t-shirts, flags and drums. They arrive in a park at sunset and play music and songs that attract the attention of children and encourage them to participate in fun choreography and games. Slowly and gradually more and more youth participated.

The events bring together about a hundred children in one park. They enjoy two hours of music and games, followed by a lesson applicable to everyday life and a snack for the participants. Youth are also invited to attend the nearest Salesian oratory or participate in the next visit to their area.

In recent years, the Brigade of Joy volunteers make twice a week visits to minors at one of the two juvenile prisons of Ciudad Juárez. The prison is for boys between the ages of 14 and 18 who have committed serious crimes including violence or kidnapping. Salesian missionaries and volunteers provide games and education on life skills so that when they leave prison, they can start a new life away from the gangs and even resume their studies.

“The Brigade of Joy project is another example of the great work that Salesian missionaries are doing in Mexico to help youth who are at risk of gang activity and violence,” says Father Mark Hyde, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Salesian missionaries working in Ciudad Juárez also operate three oratories, located each in different parts of the city. More than 5,000 people visit the oratories every week to access the programs tailored for people of all ages.”

According to UNICEF, there are 52 million people living in poverty in Mexico, approximately 45 percent of the country’s population. For children, the rate rises to just over 53 percent with more than 20 million youth estimated to be living in poverty and 5 million of those in extreme poverty.

Salesian missionaries in Mexico primarily direct their efforts toward the country’s at-risk youth, including girls and young mothers. Creating safe havens and improving educational opportunities are essential to deter youth from life on the streets where they are susceptible to drugs and gang violence.

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ANS – Mexico – “Brigade of Joy”: perfect excuse for Salesian-style play and fun in Ciudad Juárez

Salesian Missions – Mexico

UNICEF – Mexico

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MEXICO

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries working in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, operate three oratories that sit on several hectares of land, each in different parts of the city. More than 5,000 people visit the oratories every week to access the programs tailored for people of all ages.

“If Don Bosco was in the oratories of Ciudad Juárez, he would be without a cassock and sunburned, but he would undoubtedly like seeing the courtyards full and with activities suitable for children and young people of the 21st century,” says Salesian Father Juan Carlos Quirarte, who directed the centers for seven years and is now responsible for the Salesian Planning and Development Office of the Mexico-Guadalajara Province.

Salesian missionaries arrived in Ciudad Juárez 28 years ago and built their first oratory, San Juan Bosco, on land that was once a landfill. Years later, the Domingo Savio oratory was developed and finally the Lupita oratory was established, the name an abbreviation of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Ten years ago, Ciudad Juárez was the world’s most violent city with more than 300 murders a month. Drug cartels, killers and migration had become a deadly mix for thousands of young people. The city is one of many border cities between the U.S. and Mexico. The border spans 1,969 miles and has more than 20 checkpoints along its route.

Many border towns feel the consequences of social and political tensions between the two nations. They are plagued by crime and violence such as the illegal trafficking of drugs, weapons, money and people. Salesian missionaries have been working in Mexico and in these border towns and have increased cooperation between the Salesian Province of Mexico-Guadalajara and the Province of USA West. The goal is to work together to address the increase of violence and insecurity in the region and launch proposals for education, social integration, drug prevention and combating the effects of organized crime.

The oratories in Ciudad Juárez open their doors at 8.30 a.m. and close late at night, offering a series of uninterrupted activities, seven days a week, 365 days a year. In the morning, activities and workshops are held for mothers while children are at school. In the afternoon, parents get a break while children are entertained and offered a chance to learn.

There are also sports schools, martial arts sessions for children and adults, dance, circus workshops, painting and writing workshops, skateboarding lessons, parkour, free-climbing and zip line. There’s even a game of their own invention, “three-way soccer”, with three teams of three participants each and the team receiving the least goals winning. Many of the children who had spent considerable time in the oratories growing up are now the educators and volunteers who give life to the activities taking place throughout the city.

According to UNICEF, there are 52 million people living in poverty in Mexico, approximately 45 percent of the country’s population. For children, the rate rises to just over 53 percent with more than 20 million youth estimated to be living in poverty and 5 million of those in extreme poverty.

Salesian missionaries in Mexico primarily direct their efforts toward the country’s at-risk youth, including girls and young mothers. Creating safe havens and improving educational opportunities are essential to deter youth from life on the streets where they are susceptible to drugs and gang violence.

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

ANS – Mexico – “If Don Bosco was in the oratories of Ciudad Juárez he’d be sunburned, without a cassock”

Salesian Missions – Mexico

UNICEF – Mexico

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What will be known as the Latin American Center for the Treatment of Spinal Cord Injuries will be built in Guadalajara as the only center in Mexico dedicated to serving the target population. The treatment center aims to promote the American values of equal access and opportunity by empowering young people with spinal cord injuries with the physical independence and renewed self-esteem needed to actively participate in society.

In order to achieve the goal, the new state-of-the-art treatment and rehabilitation center will be equipped with cutting-edge technology and innovative resources. In addition to treating patients, the center will also generate and disseminate new science and technology. In the first four years, it is anticipated that the center will treat 500 patients with spinal cord injuries, mainly youth and young adults between the ages of 12 to 35 who live in poverty and in a state of high vulnerability.

People who use wheelchairs in Mexico face difficulties in traversing city streets independently. Between dilapidated conditions of the roads and a lack of elevators and accessibility in public transportation and work places, people with spinal-cord injuries struggle to be given the chance to succeed.

It was only in 1999 that people with disabilities were granted access to full healthcare rights in Mexico. According to the international resource center, Global Disability Rights Now!, 4.16 million people in Mexico have mobility disabilities. This marginalized population experiences significantly higher rates of poverty and unemployment than people without disabilities. Due to these disadvantages, people with disabilities are often more dependent on family and government support and lack individual empowerment to enhance their lives. Change is occurring in Mexico benefiting people with disabilities; however, an absence of opportunities still exists.

Spinal cord injuries require a high degree of specialized care and rehabilitation in order to help patients recover from the trauma of their injury and adjust to a radically new way of life in a wheelchair. The majority of hospitals in Mexico are ill-equipped to provide this level of personalized attention and care. In addition to receiving physical rehabilitation and psychological assistance, patients must learn new techniques of navigating everyday life situations, such as accessing education, cooking, using the bathroom, getting in and out of bed, being effective in their workplace or securing employment. Furthermore, both patients and families need to be educated in preventive measures to avoid potentially deadly complications associated with sedentary life.

“Once constructed, the Latin American Center for the Treatment of Spinal Cord Injuries will ensure that youth with spinal cord injuries have access to the treatment and rehabilitation care they need,” says Father Mark Hyde, director of Salesian Missions. “Educational and community inclusion for youth with physical disabilities has been a focus for Salesian missionaries in Mexico for several years now. Missionaries help youth with disabilities access education and workforce development training and increase their sense of community and support among their peers.”

More than 43 percent of the population of Mexico falls below the poverty line, according to the World Bank. Mexico also experienced its most murderous year on record in 2017, and incidences of theft have also been on the rise. High levels of crime come with both direct and indirect economic costs due to damages and the need for costly security measures. Crime in the country has a direct impact on social economic factors for its citizens.

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Salesian Missions – Mexico

USAID

World Bank – Mexico

The post MEXICO: Salesian Missions received funding from USAID’s American Schools and Hospitals Abroad program for its Raising Standards of Care for Spinal Cord Injury Patients project first appeared on MissionNewswire.

The Salesian iDB Tech-No-Logic Team created the Wemit, an innovative space washing machine designed to wash astronauts’ clothes in zero gravity and without water. The Wemit system could also be used later for other purposes such as washing clothes in hospitals or food factories.

The iDB Tech-No-Logic Team is composed of five male students and three female students all in their fourth year studying the scientific and applied sciences. They were guided by Professor Luca Zanetti and assisted by two teachers, Anna Baruzzi and Andrea Materassi. The students and teachers worked on the project after school, incorporating all they had learned in their studies.

In order to advance to the Global Innovation Award, the team first had to win the FIRST LEGO League World Championship which challenged young students to think like scientists and engineers. The Salesian students won first place in the championship which was held on April 20 in Houston, Texas. During the event, 108 teams from all over the world competed against each other. These teams were selected to compete during national championships in each country and were among 40,000 candidate teams.

The Salesian Institute has already patented its project which was so impressive, the team dominated across the board at the FIRST LEGO League World Championship, coming first in the categories of scientific project, technological innovation, robotic programming, presentation and teamwork. This was the first time an Italian team was crowned the winner of this leading world science and robotics competition. The theme for this year’s competition was, “Into orbit.” The teams were challenged by NASA to invent solutions to improve the living conditions of astronauts in space.

The Salesian students highlight the importance of education to excite and inspire young people in scientific and technological subjects, using creative and unconventional methods.

“We are proud of the Salesian students and teachers from Verona for their accomplishments in these competitions,” says Father Mark Hyde, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Salesian programs encourage innovation and help marginalized communities gain the education and resources they need to find, and even create, long-term employment that will help them break the cycle of poverty. This project, along with other science and technology projects and competitions, help Salesian students to be competitive in the labor market or to develop their own businesses to gain financial security.”

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ANS – United States – Another medal for the “Space Washing Machine” of Verona Don Bosco at “Global Innovation Award 2019”

Salesian Missions – United States

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The theme of the forum is “Empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality” and will provide a follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals. The event enables the full and effective participation of all States Members of the United Nations and States members of specialized agencies.

During the High-level Political Forum, Salesian missionaries will host a side event titled “Addressing Inclusion, Inequality & Institutions” which will explore the grassroots views on Sustainable Development Goals 4, 8, 10, 16 and 17 and the links between them. Held on July 10 from 2:00 to 3:45 p.m., this side event is hosted by the Salesians of Don Bosco and organized by Misean Cara, an Irish-based international missionary development movement backed by Irish Aid.

At the side event, panelists from four of the countries presenting their Voluntary National Reviews at the High-level Political Forum will initiate a conversation regarding their participation with Voluntary National Reviews processes in their countries along with the government and also as part of civil society. The conversations will suggest a way forward to strengthen civil society participation in Voluntary National Reviews processes and input into the larger conversations around reforming and strengthening the Voluntary National Reviews mechanism.

In addition, on July 11 from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m., Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, in collaboration with Don Bosco Green Alliance, Don Bosco Network and Misean Cara, have organized a side event titled “Youth Aspirations & Climate Urgency.” This side event features six speakers from countries around the globe and brings youth into a conversation about their hopes and aspirations in a world that is threatened by the adverse effects of climate change.

“We are pleased to be involved in this year’s High-level Political Forum and collaborate in this side event on climate urgency,” says Father Mark Hyde, director of Salesian Missions. “This event will ensure youth have a platform to discuss and explore how they are responding physically, emotionally and economically in a world that is facing temperature rise that will lead to extreme weather events with the potential to wreak havoc on their futures.”

The event will further address the need for climate mitigation through agriculture by enhancing sustainable livelihoods and the importance of household food and nutrition security. It will enumerate best practices for resiliency and increase adaptive capacities of youth towards adverse effects of climate change.

Both side events are the result of collaborative efforts and the support of numerous Salesian institutions. More than 30,000 Salesian missionaries are dedicated to caring for poor and at-risk youth in programs around the globe. Salesian programs assist poor and disadvantaged youth through education (academic, trade, agriculture) and workforce development initiatives, emergency relief and humanitarian aid, infrastructure support, clean water initiatives and nutritional and health services.

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Don Bosco Green Alliance Youth Aspirations & Climate Urgency

Salesian Missions – United States

United Nations

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Youth participating in the course have the opportunity to develop their technical skills in repairing and maintaining motorcycles enabling them to enter the workforce as mechanics or open their own motorcycle repair shop.

“This skills training program and others facilitated by Salesian missionaries in Nicaragua ensure that youth have the skills needed to join the workforce,” says Father Mark Hyde, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Youth who are employed are able to lead productive lives supporting themselves and giving back to their families and communities.”

The school was financed by the Swiss Cooperation Office in Central America. Understanding that education is fundamental for the growth of developing countries, the office has been investing in Nicaragua for more than 10 years supporting vocational training and technical education. As part of its Employment Skills Development Program implemented by Swisscontact, it reduces poverty and vulnerability of Nicaraguan youth through training courses that correspond to current market needs.

The school came about as the result of collaboration between the Don Bosco Youth Center and Casa Pellas, an important Nicaraguan company active in the resale and rental of vehicles. As part of this joint commitment, Casa Pellas supported the school with equipment and tools as well as provided teacher training that meets Japan’s standard for the Yamaha brand. Students who take the course will obtain certified, up-to-date, quality formation.

The program also includes a free online course on motorcycle road safety allowing students to obtain a double certification as motorcycle mechanics and road safety professionals. To ensure that the course is accessible for all youth, scholarships covering up to 90 percent of the total course costs are available. This is only the first of 10 workshops that will be offered through this program in various vocational training centers throughout Nicaragua.

Nicaragua, the poorest country in Central America and the second poorest in the Western Hemisphere, has widespread underemployment and poverty with a quarter of its population living below the poverty line, according to the World Bank. More than 80 percent of Nicaragua’s poor live in remote rural communities where access to basic services is a daily challenge.

After decades of political instability and vulnerability to natural hazards, the country has achieved a remarkable economic turnaround and is now focusing on innovative ways of reducing poverty. However, years of widespread poverty have taken their toll and many residents suffer from poor health conditions including HIV/AIDS. In addition, crime, violence against women, gang violence and high unemployment result in challenging economic and social conditions, particularly for young people and women.

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ANS – Nicaragua – New study opportunities for young people

World Bank – Nicaragua

Salesian Missions – Nicaragua

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Beginning with a Catholic Mass followed by a festival held on the school grounds, celebrations also included a circus art show that ended with fireworks. The show was created in homage to those who have served as a “light” for hundreds of children and young people.

The Salesian Center was founded in 1935 when the local archbishop, Msgr. José Garibi Rivera, entrusted the care of a chapel dedicated to Mary Help of Christians to the Salesians. Soon the chapel became a festive oratory. In 1947, the Salesian school was born thanks to the work of Father Ignacio Sandoval who took care of and provided education to children and older youth in need.

In 1963, the school was incorporated into the Secretariat of Public Education and became the Anahuac Revolución Salesian School serving male students exclusively. A school for girls was also in operation next to the Mary Help of Christians chapel. The two schools and the chapel together comprised the local Salesian mission.

A Salesian in the region, Father Martínez, says, “The success of these 75 years has been the charism of Don Bosco, the way of treating children. We have been a home where they have always been able to feel loved and welcomed. We have become a family, a courtyard where we can meet and make friends, a school where we can find God and discover sacramental life.”

More than 43 percent of the population of Mexico falls below the poverty live, according to the World Bank. Mexico also experienced its most murderous year on record in 2017, and incidences of theft have also been on the rise. High levels of crime come with both direct and indirect economic costs due not only to damages but also the need for costly security measures. Crime in the country has a direct impact on social economic factors for its citizens.

The border between the U.S. and Mexico spans 1,969 miles and has more than 20 checkpoints along its route. Constant migration is taking place between the two countries with Mexican migrant workers traveling to U.S border towns seeking employment. Immigrants from both countries cross back and forth in addition to undocumented Mexicans being repatriated.

Many border towns feel the consequences of social and political tensions between the two nations. They are plagued by crime and violence such as the illegal trafficking of drugs, weapons, money and people. Salesian missionaries have been working in Mexico and in these border towns for more than 25 years and have recently increased cooperation between the Salesian Province of Mexico-Guadalajara and the Province of USA West. The goal is to work together to address the increase of violence and insecurity in the region and launch proposals for education, social integration, drug prevention and combating the effects of organized crime.

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ANS – Mexico – 75-year success at “Revolución”, thanks to charism of Don Bosco

World Bank – Mexico

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During the week, the students and adults were divided into teams to work together on service projects. Each day, the teams visited a new site in the local community to paint, put up siding, cook and sometimes clean.

A report from participants about the experience noted, “It was clear that our service was not about completing a project but about helping a person or a family. We stopped to pray and eat with the home owners where we worked. Our prayer services back at the farm were filled with scripture and reflections on Catholic social teachings.”

They added, “We had no technology or watches during the week. Without these distractions we were able to use a few hours of down time each afternoon and evening for playing games, telling stories and just sharing life, really forming community.”

During the trip, the students and adults were able to share stories with each other and learn more about their peers from different areas of the country. Throughout the week, and on the six-hour drive back to Ramsey, several of the students said that the Nazareth Farm experience was one of the best weeks of their life.

John McKeon, one of the students on the trip, summed up his experience, “My favorite part of the trip was hanging out with the staff and other volunteers because we got to play frisbee on the grounds or hike on the highest mountain in the vicinity. Nazareth Farms is a lovely little place where we embrace simplicity in our living, eating and prayer. I’m pleased we got to help local people and make a small positive difference in their lives.”

Don Bosco Preparatory High School is a Catholic and Salesian secondary school which was started in 1915. The school is focused on the secondary education and evangelization of young men. Conducted in the charism of St. John Bosco who advocated that “education is a matter of the heart,” the school strives to create a family spirit in an oratory environment.

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Don Bosco Preparatory High School

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This is the first time an Italian team was crowned the winner of this leading world science and robotics competition. The theme for this year’s competition was, “Into orbit.” The teams were challenged by NASA to invent solutions to improve the living conditions of astronauts in space.

Students and teachers from the Salesian Institute of Verona created the Wemit, an innovative space washing machine designed to wash astronauts’ clothes in zero gravity and without water. The Wemit system could also be used later for other purposes such as washing clothes in hospitals or food factories. The Salesian Institute has already patented its project which was so impressive, the team dominated across the board coming first in the categories of scientific project, technological innovation, robotic programming, presentation and teamwork.

The winning students have been invited to compete for the prestigious Global Innovation Award which is held in California in June. This competition judges the 20 best scientific projects presented during the competitive season from around the world. The Salesian team previously made headlines in 2018 for qualifying for the World Championships in Detroit, Michigan with their “Idb Tech-No-Logic” project.

That winning project was focused on water filtration. The students from the Salesian team explained, “Seventy percent of the world’s drinking water is used to irrigate and comes mainly from the public aqueduct or wells. To reduce waste, we decided to take advantage of rainwater which would normally end up in sewers and recreate a series of structures commonly found in cities or near gardens with specific criteria to obtain the greatest possible capacity for water collection.”

The Salesian students highlight the importance of education to excite and inspire young people in scientific and technological subjects, using creative and unconventional methods.

“Salesian programs aim for innovation and help marginalized communities gain the education and resources they need to find, and even create, long-term employment that will help them break the cycle of poverty,” says Father Mark Hyde, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “This and other science and technology projects and competitions help Salesian students to be competitive in the labor market or develop their own businesses to gain financial security.”

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ANS – USA – Students of Verona’s “Don Bosco” Institute triumph at Robotics World Championships

FIRST LEGO League

ITALY/SPAIN: Salesian students compete, win in technology innovation competitions

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Saint Francis High School Salesian College Preparatory provides students with the foundations of lifelong learning including logical and creative thinking skills, promoting awareness of social justice and peace and appreciation and respect for others. The school has 251 students enrolled for 2018-2019 school year.

The trip was an opportunity for students to learn more about Salesian programs in Mexico and give back to those in need. Since 1987, the Salesian Center in Tijuana has been providing services to migrants and poor youth living on the border between Mexico and the U.S. The goal of the Tijuana Salesian Project is to create an extensive educational network in areas where poor youth are at risk of social exclusion. The project took shape through Salesian oratories and educational centers where children grow up learning to share faith, culture and sports within their communities.

The Salesian Center acts as a hub for migrants who are offered a familiar and welcoming environment in addition to much-needed material help. Migrants can access haircuts, a change of clothes, a shower and an opportunity to call and make contact with family. The center also has a partnership with the Red Cross and local volunteer doctors who offer psychological and medical help and assistance.

Those dreaming of being reunited with their families in the U.S. and those deported from the U.S. often arrive at the center with very little. Each day the Padre Chava Refectory serves 900 to 1,200 meals with numbers increasing during Christmas, Easter and summer. Recently, the numbers have been increasing due to the influx of migrants. Salesian missionaries are already serving their maximum number of 1,200 breakfasts and they are preparing to continue at that pace. In preparation, they are engaging 200 volunteers and additional supplies.

The Padre Chava Refectory also helps migrants obtain or manage their official papers and documents and plays a very important role in caring for the Haitian migrants who have flocked into Tijuana. In addition, Padre Chava acts as a hub for care packages such as food and clothing that has been sent as aid to those in Mexico in response to recent earthquakes in the country.

“This was a great opportunity for Salesian high school students in the United States to give back to those in need right across the border,” says Father Mark Hyde, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Students had an opportunity to gain some hands-on experience working to serve a community in need. The experience and skills they gained while at the Salesian center will carry over into other work they do in their lives.”

The border between the U.S. and Mexico spans 1,969 miles and has more than 20 checkpoints along its route. Constant migration is taking place between the two countries with Mexican migrant workers traveling to U.S border towns seeking employment. Immigrants from both countries cross back and forth in addition to undocumented Mexicans being repatriated.

Many border towns feel the consequences of social and political tensions between the two nations. They are plagued by crime and violence such as the illegal trafficking of drugs, weapons, money and people. Salesian missionaries have been working in Mexico and in these border towns for more than 25 years and have recently increased cooperation between the Salesian Province of Mexico-Guadalajara and the Province of USA West. The goal is to work together to address the increase of violence and insecurity in the region and launch proposals for education, social integration, drug prevention and combating the effects of organized crime.

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ANS – Mexico – Twelve students of “St. Francis High School” on a mission to Tijuana

St. Francis High School

UNICEF – Mexico

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During the event, Sella highlighted the critical role the Salesians of Don Bosco play in the empowerment of young migrants through employment-oriented vocational training. Sella noted that Salesian educational programming enables young migrants to acquire skills they can use to empower their own communities in their countries of origin should they choose to go back. Calling this process, “circular migration,” Sella said that the training is important in addressing the global challenge of migration.

The event was moderated by United Nations interns, Genevieve Pinnington and Greta Hunt. Joining Sella were young panelists who included: Morgan Thobe, youth engagement fellow from UNICEF; Apefa Adjivon, founder and executive director of The Pearl Project; Saphira Rameshfar, representative to the Baha’i International United Nations office; and Devopriya Dutta, coordinator at Tarumitra.

The group highlighted the initiatives each of them had undertaken to empower young people through education, employment and environmental action, emphasizing these as important elements of social protection.

Questions from the participants to Sella helped to highlight the work of Salesian missionaries and Salesian founder, St. John (Don) Bosco, which invests in the young, especially those from marginalized communities, so that they emerge empowered as leaders to secure a future for themselves and their communities.

Several Salesians were present at the event who emphasized the global presence of the Salesian mission. They included: Bishop Miguel Angel Olaverri Arroniz from Congo; Father Alphonse Owoudou, provincial of ATE (Congo); Father Mark Hyde, director of Salesian Missions in the United States; Father Piotr Gozdalski also from Salesian Missions; Father Sebastian Chirayath from Kenya; Father Joseph Amal from Australia; and Father Thomas Pallithanam, the Salesian UN representative.

The side event was planned as a launch for the upcoming High-Level Political Forum in July that will be reviewing the same themes of education, employment, environment, inequality, peace and justice and international cooperation along with the overarching themes of empowerment, inclusion and leaving no one behind.

The panelists, responding to a final question from Fr. Pallithanam as to what would be their specific policy from global governance to addressing gaps, and the issues of education, employment and environmental action, reiterated that in addition to better implementation of existing policies, there is a need to involve young people in policy-making.

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ANS – UN – TVET Initiative and Circular Migration – Critical Intervention for Empowering Young Migrants

The post UNITED STATES: Salesian representatives discuss empowering youth through education at side event during United Nations 57th Session of the Commission for Social Development 2019 first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Each day at the Padre Chava Refectory, 900 to 1,200 meals are served with numbers increasing during Christmas, Easter and summer. Recently, the numbers have been increasing due to the influx of migrants. Salesian missionaries are already serving their maximum number of 1,200 breakfasts and they are preparing to continue at that pace. In preparation, they are engaging 200 volunteers and additional supplies.

Salesian Father Agustín Novoa Leyva, who facilitates the Tijuana Salesian Project and the Salesian Padre Chava Refectory, notes, “From the moment we knew the migrant caravans from Honduras entered Mexico, we started to prepare. But in these situations, it is very difficult to foresee everything because unlike the other cities that they were in transit, here the path of the caravan to the United States cannot proceed beyond three months, according to the latest U.S. laws.”

Since 1987, the Salesian Center in Tijuana has been providing services to migrants and poor youth living on the border between Mexico and the U.S. The goal of the Tijuana Salesian Project is to create an extensive educational network in areas where poor youth are at risk of social exclusion. The project took shape through Salesian oratories and educational centers where children grow up learning to share faith, culture and sports within their communities.

The Salesian Center acts as a hub for migrants who, besides much-needed material help, are also offered a familiar and welcoming environment. They can access haircuts, a change of clothes, a shower and an opportunity to call and make contact with families. The Salesian Center also has a partnership with the Red Cross and local volunteer doctors who offer psychological and medical help and assistance.

Those dreaming of being reunited with their families in the U.S. and those deported from the U.S. often arrive at the center with very little. The Padre Chava Refectory helps migrants obtain or manage their official papers and documents and plays a very important role in caring for the Haitian migrants who have flocked into Tijuana. In addition, Padre Chava acts as a hub for care packages such as food and clothing that has been sent as aid to those in Mexico in response to recent earthquakes in the country.

“Migrants are people in a special situation. Perhaps they are experiencing their crises, and we do not understand their reactions,” explains Fr. Leyva. “Tijuana is a city that has always welcomed people. I hope it does not change in this case.”

The border between the U.S. and Mexico spans 1,969 miles and has more than 20 checkpoints along its route. Constant migration is taking place between the two countries with Mexican migrant workers traveling to U.S border towns seeking employment. Immigrants from both countries cross back and forth in addition to undocumented Mexicans being repatriated.

Many border towns feel the consequences of social and political tensions between the two nations. They are plagued by crime and violence such as the illegal trafficking of drugs, weapons, money and people. Salesian missionaries have been working in Mexico and in these border towns for more than 25 years and have recently increased cooperation between the Salesian Province of Mexico-Guadalajara and the Province of USA West. The goal is to work together to address the increase of violence and insecurity in the region and launch proposals for education, social integration, drug prevention and combating the effects of organized crime.

According to UNICEF, there are 52 million people living in poverty in Mexico, approximately 45 percent of the country’s population. For children, the rate rises to just over 53 percent with more than 20 million youth estimated to be living in poverty and 5 million of those in extreme poverty.

Salesian missionaries in Mexico primarily direct their efforts toward the country’s at-risk youth, including girls and young mothers. Creating safe havens and improving educational opportunities are essential to deter youth from life on the streets where they are susceptible to drugs and gang violence.

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Sources:

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

ANS – Mexico – Feast of St. Francis of Sales at refectory “Padre Chava”

UNICEF – Mexico

The post MEXICO: Salesian Center in Tijuana provides meals, shelter and other critical resources to migrants and those at-risk first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Father Leyva has indicated that Salesian missionaries are doing everything they can to prepare for the number of migrants expected to reach Tijuana. He says, “From the moment these people entered Mexico, we started to prepare. But in these situations, it is very difficult to foresee everything because unlike the other cities that they were in transit, here the path of the caravan to the United States cannot proceed beyond three months, according to the latest U.S. laws.”

Each day at the Padre Chava Refectory, 900 to 1,200 meals are served with numbers increasing during Christmas, Easter and summer. Recently, the numbers have been increasing due to the influx of migrants. Salesian missionaries are already serving their maximum number of 1,200 breakfasts and they are preparing to continue at that pace. In preparation, they have lined up close to 200 volunteers and supplies estimated to last about four weeks. They have also reached out to other institutions and to the government for help so they can continue their services. However, having never been granted government support before, Fr. Leyva does not think they will get any support this time either.

Father Leyva is concerned about the perception of the migrants and how that will impact the help that’s being given. He says, “Migrants are people in a special situation. Perhaps they are experiencing their crises, and we do not understand their reactions. There are people who when they arrived at the border of Mexico wanted to climb the wall and there were situations of tension. Yes, this situation of contempt is painful because, first of all, they are people, and we know that ours is a country of emigrants. Tijuana is a city that has always welcomed people. I hope it does not change in this case.”

Since 1987, the Salesian Center in Tijuana has been providing services to migrants and poor youth living on the border between Mexico and the U.S. The goal of the project is to create an extensive educational network in areas where poor youth are at risk of social exclusion. The project took shape in Salesian oratories and educational centers where children grow up learning to share faith, culture and sports within their communities.

The Salesian Center acts as a hub for migrants who, in addition to much-needed material help, are offered a familiar and welcoming environment. They can access haircuts, changes of clothes, showers and an opportunity to call or make contact with their families. The Salesian Center also has a partnership with the Red Cross and local volunteer doctors who offer psychological and medical assistance.

The Padre Chava Refectory helps migrants obtain or manage their official papers and documents and plays a very important role in caring for Haitian migrants who in recent months have flocked to Tijuana. In addition, Padre Chava acts as a hub for care packages containing items such as food and clothing that have been sent as aid to those in Mexico in response to recent earthquakes in the country.

The border between the U.S. and Mexico spans 1,969 miles and has more than 20 checkpoints along its route. Constant migration is taking place between the two countries with Mexican migrant workers traveling to U.S border towns seeking employment. Immigrants from both countries cross back and forth in addition to undocumented Mexicans being repatriated.

Many border towns feel the consequences of social and political tensions between the two nations. They are plagued by crime and violence such as the illegal trafficking of drugs, weapons, money and people. Salesian missionaries have been working in Mexico and in these border towns for more than 25 years and have recently increased cooperation between the Salesian Province of Mexico-Guadalajara and the Province of USA West. The goal is to work together to address the increase of violence and insecurity in the region and launch proposals for education, social integration, drug prevention and combating the effects of organized crime.

Salesian missionaries will continue to assess the situation in Tijuana with the recent influx of migrants and will do what they can to offer support and assistance.

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Sources:

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

ANS – Mexico – Fr Novoa Leyva on caravan of migrants heading to Tijuana: “They are people in a special situation”

MEXICO: Salesian Refectory Padre Chava celebrates 18 years of service to migrants and those at-risk in Tijuana

UNICEF – Mexico

The post MEXICO: Salesian missionaries already providing services to close to 500 migrants who have reached Tijuana from recent migrant caravan first appeared on MissionNewswire.

New students started a three-week orientation called Bridge for Success on July 30. The orientation program teaches students what is expected of them at the school, both academically and behaviorally, as well as teaches effective habits to be successful in the classroom, the workplace and life.

Students learn the importance of coming to school or work on time and the school’s basic rules of conduct as well as how to dress professionally, greet people, answer the telephone, file, use a keyboard and a computer, navigate the Washington area’s metro system and much more.

For example, on Aug. 6 students spent most of their day with Ray Green, an executive at Chick-Fil-A who is contracted by the U.S. Department of Labor – one of the school’s corporate work sponsors – to instruct students about workplace issues such as safety, hygiene, sexual harassment and the responsible use of computers and phones.

Bridge for Success is coordinated by interim principal Elias Blanco, Corporate Work Study director Ana Chapa and Raquel Rodriguez. Numerous faculty, staff, alumni and current students lead or assist with various aspects of the program.

Since it opened, Don Bosco Cristo Rey is continually improving and expanding to meet the needs of its students. After its launch, the school’s first major expansion was completed in April 2010 with the addition of a new Library-Technology Center and counseling, youth ministry, student support and administrative offices. The school saw a record-sized freshmen class for the 2014-2015 school year and continues to grow.

A new academic wing added three science labs, five classrooms, the Carlyle Computer Lab, a staff professional resource room, a multi-purpose training room, a counseling and academic center and a new reception area. The new wing provides the necessary technology and space to enable Don Bosco Cristo Rey to grow to its intended capacity of 500 students.

“Don Bosco Cristo Rey has already seen some great student success,” says Father Mark Hyde, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “The first graduation took place on June 2, 2011 with 70 graduates who were all accepted to college. Since then, 100 percent of Don Bosco Cristo Rey graduates have continued to be accepted to college, receiving more than $16 million in merit and need based scholarships.”

Don Bosco Cristo Rey is part of the nationwide Cristo Rey Network of high schools that accept low-income, mostly minority students whose families cannot afford a Catholic high school tuition and who are at high risk of not being accepted into a university after high school.

The Cristo Rey program collaborates with local corporations, universities, government agencies and other businesses to provide jobs and related training for its students. These jobs pay most of the students’ tuition and gives them invaluable work and life experience. The work and academic programs at Cristo Rey schools are very demanding for both their students and their families, but the schools have proven highly successful in the 22 years since the first school was founded. Two of the 35 Cristo Rey schools in the network are operated by the Salesians.

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Sources:

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

ANS – United States – Incoming Students at DBCR Prepare for Success

The post UNITED STATES: Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School welcomes 127 new students into its successful Corporate Work Study program first appeared on MissionNewswire.

When the organization incorporated as its own nonprofit, it chose the name Don Bosco in recognition of St. John (Don) Bosco, the founder of the Salesians, and his legacy of education and opportunity for poor immigrant youth. Since its inception in 2006, the organization has hosted nearly 800 workers and has a current active membership of 150 men and women.

According to the American Immigration Council, immigrants now account for one-fifth of New York state’s total population and make up a staggering 25 percent of its labor force. Don Bosco Workers advocates for full and fair participation in the labor market through workplace rights education, leadership development and popular education methods for identifying social change goals from within the worker community.

As part of its goal for full integration of immigrant worker members into the labor force and society, the organization is committed to English language instruction and civic participation. The hiring site not only matches worker skills to employer needs, but negotiates wage contracts, provides wage recovery services and advocates for victims of wage fraud.

Through collaboration with other worker centers, Don Bosco Workers has become a formidable voice in advocacy for workers’ rights, in particular the cause to end the exploitation of Latino immigrant workers. The organization was recently highlighted in a Catholic Philly article about protections for immigrant workers.

The article noted that Don Bosco Workers is under the leadership of Gonzalo Cruz (a Mexican immigrant and professional community organizer) and a worker-majority board of directors. The organization partners with five other worker centers serving the Westchester area. “We meet and talk about the problems,” said Cruz in the article.

The article highlighted one recent example of how Don Bosco Workers intervenes and protects the rights of workers. A contractor was holding wages back from his immigrant workforce. Don Bosco Workers has the expertise and know-how to get a state investigation launched and suspend the contractor.

“The problem of wage theft plagues many immigrants, who may not be in the country legally and believe they can’t trust someone should they make a complaint,” added Cruz.

Four years ago, according to Catholic Philly, Don Bosco Workers and Communications Workers of America Local 1103 developed a “No Pay, No Way” campaign. Cruz notes in the video, “I was working 72 hours (a week) and no overtime. I didn’t even know what is overtime.”

Catholic Philly noted that within a year of its launch, 70 businesses had taken the “No Pay, No Way” pledge, which earned them a gold seal to affix to their store window to show customers.

The article also highlighted that Don Bosco Workers helped to start a pre-apprenticeship program in the building trades in the Westchester area. “Those in the program get good wages and benefits, and a good chance too, to get a job in the local community,” said Cruz.

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Sources:

Catholic Philly – ‘Worker centers’ show a new way for immigrants to score wins

Don Bosco Workers

Photo courtesy of the Don Bosco Workers Inc. Facebook page

The post UNITED STATES: Don Bosco Workers, Inc. protects immigrant workers’ rights in Port Chester, N.Y. first appeared on MissionNewswire.

The Salesian Refectory Padre Chava is located at the Salesian Center in Tijuana on the U.S.-Mexico border. The refectory provides meals and other assistance to migrants from Mexico, Central America and Haiti, as well as those who are homeless, the elderly, people with disabilities and those suffering from extreme poverty. Each day, 900 to 1,200 meals are served, and during Christmas, Easter and summer, the numbers increase.

Since 1987, the Salesian Center in Tijuana has been providing services to migrants and poor youth living on the border between Mexico and the U.S. The goal of the project is to create an extensive educational network in areas where poor youth are at risk of social exclusion. The project took shape through Salesian oratories and educational centers where children grow up learning to share faith, culture and sports within their communities.

The Salesian Center acts as a hub for migrants who, besides much-needed material help, are also offered a familiar and welcoming environment. They can access haircuts, a change of clothes, a shower and an opportunity to call and make contact with families. The Salesian Center also has a partnership with the Red Cross and local volunteer doctors who offer psychological and medical help and assistance.

Those dreaming of being reunited with their families in the U.S. and those deported from the U.S. often arrive at the center with very little. The Padre Chava Refectory helps migrants obtain or manage their official papers and documents and plays a very important role in caring for the Haitian migrants who, in recent months, have flocked into Tijuana. In addition, Padre Chava acts as a hub for care packages, such as food and clothing, that have been sent as aid to those in Mexico in response to recent earthquakes in the country.

“Salesian missionaries in these communities continue to provide education, safety and the promise of a better future for youth in need,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Salesian students in the United States and across the globe often find opportunities to give back to others in need.”

According to UNICEF, there are 52 million people living in poverty in Mexico, approximately 45 percent of the country’s population. For children, the rate rises to just over 53 percent with more than 20 million youth estimated to be living in poverty and 5 million of those in extreme poverty.

Salesian missionaries in Mexico primarily direct their efforts toward the country’s at-risk youth, including girls and young mothers. Creating safe havens and improving educational opportunities are essential to deter youth from life on the streets where they are susceptible to drugs and gang violence.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy ANS.

ANS – Mexico – USA Volunteers collaborate in “Padre Chava” cafeteria

UNICEF – Mexico

The post MEXICO: Salesian university students from the U.S. volunteer time at Salesian Refectory Padre Chava first appeared on MissionNewswire.

As a result, the campus packed nearly 4,000 fully stocked shoeboxes and raised $38,000 for shipping costs. More than a campus-wide effort, the school’s faculty, staff and club members have been helped by other high schools, organizations and businesses, including Carrows and the Olive Garden, throughout the San Gabriel Valley.

Operation Christmas Child is part of Samaritan’s Purse, a Christian humanitarian organization providing aid to people in need around the world. The organization impacts more than 100 countries. The shoebox drive encourages the public to fill shoeboxes with medium- to large-sized items such as a soccer ball with a pump or a stuffed animal, then add in other fun toys, hygiene items and school supplies. The shoeboxes are shipped around the globe to boys and girls in need.

“I think it’s important for us to remember that globally there are great needs out there. There’s much more out there than our own day-to-day lives,” said Wade. “Since being introduced to this charity in 2010, the number of shoeboxes is always raised. The shoebox gifts have reached children in countries including Nepal, Mongolia, Bangladesh, Indonesia, South Africa, Madagascar, Philippines and China. I’m inspired thinking of the kids who are happy to receive a box. I like to think it spreads hope. It’s a good way to speak about our faith and encourage people to believe in God.”

Don Bosco students around the globe frequently give back to their communities and other communities in need. Working in more than 132 countries, Salesian missionaries have created a vast network of primary, secondary, vocational and technical schools serving poor youth. With a focus on education and workforce development, Salesians worldwide provide disadvantaged youth valuable resources to aid them in finding livable wage employment.

Bosco Tech in Rosemead combines a rigorous college preparatory program with technology focused education. The innovative science, engineering, technology and math curriculum allows students to exceed university admission requirements while completing extensive integrated coursework in one of several applied science and engineering fields.

According to 2012 U.S. census data, close to 18 percent of the residents of Rosemead live in poverty, an increase from the overall 15.3 percent poverty rate for California. Youth living in poverty face lower rates of high school graduation and difficulty finding and maintaining employment. Bosco Tech’s focus on academics allows its students to excel while helping them remain in school and keep focused on continuing their education beyond high school into college.

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ANS – United States – Bosco Tech Makes the Season Merry & Bright for Children 876 Gift Boxes Shipped Worldwide This Season Alone

Operation Christmas Child

The post UNITED STATES: Bosco Tech student’s initiative sends 900 shoeboxes filled with toys, school supplies and hygiene items to children in need first appeared on MissionNewswire.

All students attending Don Bosco Cristo Rey participate in the school’s Corporate Work Study Program where they gain professional work experience and earn money to pay for a portion of their education. Students work five full days each month in entry-level clerical jobs throughout the area. These jobs support their education and provide important skills to help them both get into and succeed in college and later the workforce.

Imani Kakoma is a sophomore at Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School and was recently interviewed by the school’s newsletter “Wolfpack Wire” about her experience as a student and worker. Kakoma said in the interview that her experience at Don Bosco Cristo Rey helped her with her future goals by giving her the opportunity to work in a business development field.

“Throughout my two years at Don Bosco Cristo Rey, I have worked with two sponsors. I have worked with Don Bosco Cristo Rey as a principal’s assistant and at THEARC as a fundraiser development coordinator intern,” explained Kakoma. “Working as a principal’s assistant and an intern has helped me learn the logistics of developing a nonprofit company and office management.”

Kakoma also noted that the school’s four pillars of faith, family, future and fun have helped her to become a more well-rounded person outside of school with emotional and spiritual maturity. At school, she is currently involved in multiple extracurricular activities such as the African Student Association, step team and volleyball team. She is also a student ambassador. When thinking about her future, Kakoma has some very defined goals.

“My first goal after graduation is to begin my freshman year at Spelman College with a major in social work or psychology,” said Kakoma. “I then plan to pursue a masters in science, followed by a doctorate in a social science field. My next goal is to open my private practice in social work to help adolescents in high-risk families and communities.”

Don Bosco Cristo Rey has had continual improvement and expansion since its start to meet the needs of students. After its launch, Don Bosco Cristo Rey’s first major expansion was completed in April 2010, with the addition of a new Library-Technology Center and counseling, youth ministry, student support and administrative offices. The school saw a record-sized freshmen class for the 2014-2015 school year and continues to grow.

A new academic wing added three science labs, five classrooms, the Carlyle Computer Lab, staff professional resource room, multi-purpose training room, a counseling and academic center and new reception area. The new wing provides the necessary technology and space to enable Don Bosco Cristo Rey to grow to its intended capacity of 500 students.

Don Bosco Cristo Rey has already seen some great success for its students. The first graduation took place on June 2, 2011 with 70 graduates who were all accepted to college. Since then, 100 percent of Don Bosco Cristo Rey graduates have continued to be accepted to college, receiving more than $16 million in merit and need based scholarships.

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Sources:

ANS – United States – Don Bosco Cristo Rey student spotlight

Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School

The post UNITED STATES: Don Bosco Cristo Rey offers a unique corporate work study program to prepare high school students for college and employment first appeared on MissionNewswire.

“The idea of the government is to train these kids, many of whom are orphaned, in skills such as planting coconut and banana groves, and raising pigs,” said Murphy in a newsletter article posted by Don Bosco Charitable Foundation about the trip. “Once trained, these kids bring these skills back to their own villages. This is viewed as a way to break the cycle of poverty.”

While at the high school, Murphy and Schoen organized a basketball game with the students, and from that sprung an idea that U.S. college students could make an impact in the lives of Sri Lankan youth through sports. With the help of Frank Neary, an accountant, and Don Bosco Charitable Foundation, a nonprofit foundation registered in New York, Murphy and Thomas’ marketing class began to assist the cause.

Dr. Greg Sand’s class had previously relied on learning through case studies and computer simulation, but this fall, students have launched a full-spectrum marketing campaign for the foundation. “The concept of practical social media marketing and a promotional event seemed like a more concrete bridge to the world of work,” said Dr. Sand in the Don Bosco Charitable Foundation article.

To promote the foundation, students are becoming certified in Google Analytics and AdWords, communicate their message with MailChimp and note their research on Excel spreadsheets. Additionally, the group holds weekly briefings to go over the specifics it has accomplished and what the students plan to get done in the upcoming week.

“This is an innovative method of preparing students for real-life marketing applications across different industries,” said Dante Montovano in the article. Montovano is a marketing specialist at 7 Circle Media and former student at LIU, who helped develop the website for the foundation. He credits Dr. Sand for being progressive in his approach to the coursework.

“We have recently applied for a $10,000 grant from Google AdWords and plan to allow Dr. Sand’s class to manage it,” added Montovano. “This will be a major opportunity for students to experience managing a budget this size for Google AdWords.”

The marketing class also organized fundraising events every Wednesday during common hour in October. Participants were invited to the “3-for-$5 Kick-on-Goal Challenge” where they could donate $5 and have the opportunity to score three goals and win a Starbuck’s gift certificate.The class also collected new or gently used soccer balls to be donated to poor and orphaned youth in Sri Lanka. These promotional efforts have so far brought in 52 soccer balls and more than $1,000 in student donations to the cause. The article notes that in January 2018, the LIU graduates will volunteer to conduct soccer clinics at eight Sri Lankan Don Bosco high schools and will bring all the donated soccer balls to the youth. Money is also being raised to help make purchases for the agriculture program.

“Pigs are one of the most profitable animals to grow in Sri Lanka,” said Dr. Sand when explaining in the article how students could help the Sri Lankan students the most. “So, the donated money will go primarily to increasing the number of Don Bosco pigs from 500 to 1,000.”

Sri Lanka has suffered a long civil war that ended in 2009, two tsunamis in the past 13 years, and a worst-ever dengue crisis that killed nearly 300 people and infected more than 100,000 this year alone, according to NPR. Nine out of 10 poor people in Sri Lanka live in rural areas, according to the World Bank. More than 40 percent of the country’s rural poor are small-scale farmers with farm production often hampered by neglect and low investment levels resulting from poor financial services and limited technology. Sri Lankans are affected by a significant lack of infrastructure including roads, electricity, irrigation systems and communication channels. In several areas of the country, seven out of 10 people have no access to electricity and almost half of the population does not have access to safe drinking water. Malnutrition among children is also common.

Salesian missionaries have been operating in Sri Lanka since 1956. In 1963, missionaries set up their first technical institute and since then have established 17 more in locations across the country.

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Sources:

Don Bosco Charitable Foundation – Students Help Break Cycle of Poverty in Sri Lanka

World Bank – Sri Lanka

The post USA / SRI LANKA: Long Island University post-graduate students help raise money, donated soccer equipment for poor students in Don Bosco programs in Sri Lanka first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Since 1987, the Salesian Center in Tijuana has been providing services to migrants and poor youth living on the border between Mexico and the U.S. The goal of the project is to create an extensive educational network in areas where poor youth are at risk of social exclusion. The project took shape through Salesian oratories and educational centers where children grow up learning to share faith, culture and sports within their communities.

The Salesian Center acts as a hub for migrants who, besides much-needed material help, are also offered a familiar and welcoming environment. They can access haircuts, a change of clothes, a shower and an opportunity to call and make contact with families. The Salesian Center also has a partnership with the Red Cross and local volunteer doctors who offer psychological and medical help and assistance.

Those dreaming of being reunited with their families in the U.S. and those deported from the U.S. often arrive at the center with very little. The Padre Chava Refectory helps migrants obtain or manage their official papers and documents and plays a very important role in caring for the Haitian migrants who, in recent months, have flocked into Tijuana. In addition, Padre Chava acts as a hub for care packages such as food and clothing that has been sent as aid to those in Mexico in response to recent earthquakes in the country.

“Salesian missionaries in these communities continue to provide education, safety and the promise of a better future for youth in need,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco “Our programs in Mexico differ depending upon the needs of each specific community but they all share the goal of providing education while building a sense of dignity and self-worth.”

The border between the U.S. and Mexico spans 1,969 miles and has more than 20 checkpoints along its route. Constant migration is taking place between the two countries with Mexican migrant workers traveling to U.S border towns seeking employment. Immigrants from both countries cross back and forth in addition to undocumented Mexicans being repatriated.

Many border towns feel the consequences of social and political tensions between the two nations. They are plagued by crime and violence such as the illegal trafficking of drugs, weapons, money and people. Salesian missionaries have been working in Mexico and in these border towns for more than 25 years and have recently increased cooperation between the Salesian Province of Mexico-Guadalajara and the Province of USA West. The goal is to work together to address the increase of violence and insecurity in the region and launch proposals for education, social integration, drug prevention and combating the effects of organized crime.

According to UNICEF, there are 52 million people living in poverty in Mexico, approximately 45 percent of the country’s population. For children, the rate rises to just over 53 percent with more than 20 million youth estimated to be living in poverty and 5 million of those in extreme poverty.

Salesian missionaries in Mexico primarily direct their efforts toward the country’s at-risk youth, including girls and young mothers. Creating safe havens and improving educational opportunities are essential to deter youth from life on the streets where they are susceptible to drugs and gang violence.

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Sources:

ANS – Mexico – Padre Chava Refectory celebrates 18 years of full assistance to migrants and street people

UNICEF – Mexico

The post MEXICO: Salesian Refectory Padre Chava celebrates 18 years of service to migrants and those at-risk in Tijuana first appeared on MissionNewswire.

The Universidad Católica del Trópico Seco (Catholic University of the Dry Tropics) received the donation, and through a network of Salesian missionaries, delivered 42,322 pounds of rice-meals within the communities of the departments of Estelí, Madriz and Nueva Segovia. The majority of beneficiaries have few resources and live in extreme poverty.

The donated rice-meals provided to Salesian schools are given to students during the school day as part of a free lunch program begun by Salesian missionaries to meet the needs of the many area families with limited resources to feed their children. The meals ensure students receive proper nutrition and a balanced diet, helping them to focus on their studies and extracurricular activities.

Forty-five boys and girls attending the Rural School of the Community “El Regadío,” located in the northeast of the municipality of Estelí, were beneficiaries. Amanda Cruz, mother of one of the boys in the school who helped in the preparation of the food, said, “It is easy to prepare and you can use the resources of the community, which are donated so no money was spent in the preparation.”

Salesian missionaries and volunteers also distributed donated rice-meals to families in need through community outreach efforts and at local churches. The food aid helped elderly residents receive proper nutrition and aided in improving their strength, health and mental well-being. Food aid was also delivered directly to families at home to ensure that children receive more than just the one meal offered at school.

“Many of those participating in Salesian programs in Nicaragua are malnourished,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “For students, this donated food not only encourages them to attend school, it allows them to focus on getting the education they need without worrying about where their next meal will come from. Children cannot learn on an empty stomach.”

The ongoing partnership between Salesian Missions and Feed My Starving Children has resulted in 40-foot containers of fortified rice-meals being shipped to Salesian sites around the globe. Feed My Starving Children provides the food and Salesian Missions takes care of the cost and logistics of shipping each container from Feed My Starving Children warehouses to the destination country. Salesian Missions also works to help identify where the greatest needs are at any given time. The partnership began in early 2006 when the first 40-foot container was donated to and shipped by Salesian Missions for programs in Sri Lanka.

Nicaragua is one of the least developed and poorest countries in Latin America, second only to Haiti, with more than 42 percent of its residents living in poverty, according to the World Bank. Poverty, although declining steadily in recent years, remains high. More than 80 percent of Nicaragua’s poor people live in remote rural communities where access to basic services is a daily challenge.

After decades of political instability and vulnerability to natural hazards, the country has achieved a remarkable economic turnaround and is now focusing on innovative ways of reducing poverty. However, years of widespread poverty have taken their toll and many residents suffer from poor health conditions including HIV/AIDS. In addition, crime, violence against women, gang violence and high unemployment result in challenging economic and social conditions, particularly for young people and women.

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PHOTO NOTE: Photo shows a distribution of Feed My Starting Children meals in Nicaragua in 2015.

Sources:

Feed My Starving Children

Salesian Missions

World Bank – Nicaragua

The post NICARAGUA: Rice-meal donation from Feed My Starving Children provides better nutrition for students and the elderly first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Salesian schools in the area have cancelled classes and its been reported more than 2,000 public schools also suffered damage. There was a collapse of the Enrique Rebsamen school, where it’s been reported, there are at least 25 children among the earthquake’s victims. The search for survivors is currently underway. Government officials in Mexico report that an unaccounted number of people are staying at shelters around the city after losing their homes and millions remain without power.

“Unfortunately, many people have lost their lives, including girls and boys in schools, buildings and houses. I want to express my condolences to those who lost a family member or a loved one. Mexico shares your grief,” says Mexico’s President Enrique Peña Nieto in the CNN article.

Shortly after the earthquake, the provincials of the two Salesian Mexican provinces, Father Hugo Orozco Sánchez, of Mexico-Guadalajara, and Father Gabino Hernández Paleta, of Mexico-Mexico (MEM), sent a statement affirming that Salesian centers and staff have not been harmed or had property damage. Salesian missionaries are in the process of continuing to assess other Salesian centers and communities and working to provide support to youth and families in their programs and surrounding communities.

Father Ignacio Ocampo Uribe, vicar of MEM, has issued a statement saying, “Since the earthquake, we have had communications with all of our communities, and thank God, all our brothers, collaborators and recipients of our good works are fine. We know that some of our centers have been affected. The Provincial (who is in Turin, Italy) asked me to invite you for prayer, for calm and due analysis to verify the damage of the centers and to not expose anyone to danger.”

Salesian programs operating in Mexico City and surrounding communities provide primary and secondary education, technical and vocational training, workforce development and social development services such as nutrition and health programs.

One program operating right out of Mexico City is focused on country’s at-risk population, including girls and mothers living on the streets. Through the “Yolia” program, girls and young women are able to spend their days at a Salesian center in the city where they can have meals, receive tutoring, obtain therapy and learn job skills such as jewelry making and hair styling. Some girls choose the residential program where they receive additional education and services while gaining a renewed sense of dignity and self-worth.

Working and living within the communities they services, Salesian missionaries are perfectly positioned to respond in times of crisis. Salesian missionaries in Mexico will continue to assess the ongoing situation and provided assistance to youth and families in need.

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Sources:

ANS – Mexico – A new, violent earthquake shakes Mexico: Salesians begin to organize relief

CNN – Mexico earthquake: A rush to save lives amid ‘new national emergency’

The post MEXICO: Salesian missionaries are assessing damage and providing humanitarian assistance after devastating earthquake in Mexico City first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Hurricane Irma affected communities across the Caribbean Islands, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Cuba, Puerto Rico and the entire state of Florida. Salesian missionaries report that more than 20,000 people are displaced in the Dominican Republic with some areas still experiencing flooding. Nearly 1 million people in Puerto Rico lost power, and news reports indicate that parts of the island could be without power for up to four to six months. Power outages in Cuba are widespread and expected to last for a while. Buildings have been flooded and agriculture fields have been heavily damaged with crops destroyed.

There are concerns about another cholera outbreak in Haiti as sanitation and clean water access remain a concern. Close to 30 people have been known to have died and thousands have been displaced from their homes and places of work. Millions of people, about 62 percent of residents in Florida, remain without power.

Salesian missionaries are actively working in several communities within these countries with their local resources to assess damage and how many people are in need of humanitarian assistance including shelter, food, clean water and assistance with long-term needs like rebuilding. Funding raised will help these efforts both in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Irma and for the long-term in these local communities.

At the Salesian parish in Belle Glade, several of the buildings are damaged from water leaks and the playground is damaged from falling trees. But still, Salesian missionaries are working to focus on the needs of their community, which are extensive. They report that many of the field workers will not be able to return to work until the fields are dried out, which could take up to two weeks. Salesian missionaries have been providing food from their pantry, as well as ice that still remains from before the power went out. Most of the Salesian parishioners are returning from out of state, many of whom were forced to travel with limited resources.

“Salesian missionaries are a trusted resource in times of crisis and have the logistic capabilities to ensure humanitarian aid reaches those who need it efficiently and effectively,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions. “Around the globe, Salesian missionaries are proactively preparing for impending storms by helping people secure their homes, relocating them to safe shelters and gathering as many supplies as are available. And even after the news cameras leave, Salesian missionaries remain providing clean drinking water, food, blankets and crucial life-saving services.”

From Hurricane Matthew in Haiti in 2016 and the earthquake in the country in 2010 to humanitarian disasters in Nepal, India and more, Salesian missionaries are on the front lines assisting people and working to rebuild homes and livelihoods. Those who want to help victims of Hurricane Irma are urged to make a donation online at SalesianMissions.org/give-hurricane.

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Sources:

New York Times – Damp, Dark and Disarrayed, Florida Starts Coping With Irma’s Aftermath

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 UNITED STATES: Salesian Missions sets up fund to aid Hurricane Irma humanitarian relief first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Each year on June 12, the International Labor Organization sets a theme for World Day Against Child Labor corresponding to a current or future challenge. This year’s theme “In conflicts and disasters, protect children from child labor” is focused the plight of children in conflict zones who are more susceptible to being forced into child labor.

The International Labor Organization reports that in many areas of conflict, homes and schools are destroyed, families lose their means of income, and social protection systems break down, leaving children vulnerable and at-risk of child labor. Children who are forced by circumstance to become refugees and migrants are often at higher risk of child labor and human trafficking, especially if they become separated from their families.

Children who remain in conflict zones or who are left behind are vulnerable to the worst forms of child labor, including in mining or scavenging for metal and minerals in war-torn areas, clearing rubble, or working in the streets, according to the International Labor Organization. Children are often used by armed groups as child soldiers or as spies, helpers and porters or become victims of sexual exploitation and abuse.

“Children who are in vulnerable situations are at greater risk of being denied an education and compelled to work, leaving them at-risk of injury, exploitation, and trafficking,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Salesian programs around the globe aim to combat child labor through education, prevention programs like child rights education, and through programs that directly address the needs of migrants and refugees.”

In honor of World Day Against Child Labor 2017, Salesian Missions is proud to highlight Salesian programs around the globe that help to eliminate child labor through quality education.

COLOMBIA

Don Bosco City has been working with youth for 52 years and have saved more than 1,300 youth from a life of violence. It is estimated that close to 6,000 minors are still utilized as child soldiers with thousands more having reached their 18th birthday after years of combat. The long rehabilitation process focuses on three things youth need to learn – how to trust, to have hope for the future and to build relationships with others. Psychologists and teachers work together with youth, giving them the tools for a better future including providing basic education and more advanced skills training that will lead to stable employment.

Don Bosco City is one of the oldest and largest programs for street children in Latin America. Since its start in 1965, the program has rescued more than 83,000 boys and girls. Through the program, Salesian missionaries offer a multi-pronged approach designed to address the broad social issues that contribute to the poverty and exploitation these youth face while training them in the skills necessary to break the cycle of violence and poverty. Currently, there are 900 youth between the ages of 8 and 12, living and receiving education at the program. Salesian Father Rafael Bejarano, director of Don Bosco City, and James Areiza, program director for child protection, along with two former child soldiers, recently visited Rome, Italy to present a documentary on former child soldiers’ journeys toward recovery and reintegration

INDIA

Close to 100,000 children have been educated about their rights through 907 special clubs and courses offered in schools across India. This education is thanks to Salesian missionaries’ child rights education programs offered through the CREAM project (Child Rights Education and Action Movement – Action Movement and Education on Rights of Children), which is sponsored by the Office of Development of the Province of Bangalore (BREADS – Bangalore Rural Education and Development Society).

During the course of its four-year history, the project has seen other success including 1,571 dropouts that have been brought back to school, 1,144 youth that have been taken from dangerous child labor working conditions, and 1,473 street children helped through social reintegration programs. The project has also prevented 172 early marriages.

The project was initiated in December 2012 in order to reach the most disadvantaged children in 10 districts in the Indian state of Karnataka, especially in high risk urban rural areas. The goal was to work with youth to build a culture of protection of children’s rights. The project also puts a strong emphasis on improving the potential of minors as well as ensuring the sustainability of activities and results. The project has launched into its second phase working to reach 150,000 youth through child rights education.

KENYA

The Salesian-run Bosco Boys program provides education and technical skills training to former street children in Nairobi, Kenya and is currently serving more than 600 boys and girls in primary and secondary schools and universities. The program also operates two nursery schools in the slums of Kariua and Kuwinda.

Youth living in Nairobi’s slums are at-risk for exploitation, forced labor and other abuses. Few attend the later stages of school as compared to those living in Kenya’s more rural areas. The few schools serving this disadvantaged community are beyond the financial means of most families. UNICEF noted that while Kenya has free and compulsory education, youth in poverty still cannot afford to attend school resulting in close to 90 percent of children from poor households failing to complete their basic education. The Bosco Boys program provides education and workforce development opportunities. Students in the program who complete their primary education are assisted with secondary education or are advised to choose technical training in sister institutions. The secondary education is most often provided at Don Bosco Technical Secondary School, Embu, but can also be at another school close to a student’s home where they can be easily monitored.

MEXICO

Since 1987, the Salesian-run Tijuana Project has been providing services to migrants and poor youth living on the border between Mexico and the United States. The goal of the project is to create an extensive educational network in areas where poor youth are at risk of social exclusion, exploitation and child labor. The project took shape through Salesian oratories and educational centers where children grow up learning to share faith, culture and sports within their communities.

Many border towns are plagued by crime and violence such as the illegal trafficking of drugs, weapons, money and people where the consequences of social and political tensions between the two nations are felt. Salesian missionaries have been working in Mexico and in these border towns for more than 25 years and have recently increased cooperation between the Salesian Province of Mexico-Guadalajara and the Province of USA West. The goal is to work together to address the increase of violence and insecurity in the region and launch proposals for education, social integration, drug prevention and combating the effects of organized crime.

Currently, the Tijuana Project is serving more than 9,000 people in six Salesian oratories, a parish and a public dining hall which serves food to close to a thousand homeless and migrant people every day. The entire project is facilitated by six Salesian missionaries with the help of volunteers, local collaborators and benefactors in both Mexico and the United States.

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Sources

Reliefweb International Labour Organization – World Day against Child Labour 2017: “In conflicts and disasters, protect children from child labour”

Don Bosco Salesian Portal – “Protecting Children from Child Labor”

ANS – “Protecting Children From Child Labor”: NO to Child Labor!

ANS PHOTO

The post WORLD DAY AGAINST CHILD LABOR: Salesian Missionaries Highlight Educational and Social Programs that Combat Child Labor first appeared on MissionNewswire.

The Angelus article reports that on April 10, Pedro Pizarro, president and CEO of Edison International, went to Don Bosco Technical Institute in Rosemead and surprised student William Ramos with a $40,000 Edison Scholars check and medallion. Alfred Molina, a student at St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower, was also a recipient of the award. The winners were selected from both public and private schools in Southern California Edison’s service territory.

“Edison International congratulates this year’s outstanding scholars,” said Pizarro in the article. “Through their pursuit of science, technology, engineering and math, we believe these students will make important contributions to our communities and society. We are proud to support them.”

Don Bosco Technical Institute in Rosemead is an all-male Catholic high school that combines a rigorous college-preparatory program with a technology-focused education. The school’s innovative STEM curriculum allows students to exceed university admission requirements while completing extensive integrated coursework in one of five applied science and engineering fields. Each year for the past several years, 100 percent of the graduating class has earned college acceptances.

Another senior from the school, Jacob Lovi, recently made the news when he developed an idea during his summer internship at Boeing that will save the company tens of thousands of dollars on every satellite, topping $1 million in savings within the next five to ten years. Lovi’s ideas focused on a time-wasting setup within the company that specifically dealt with its storage and use of shims (a type of washer that’s used to build satellites). Lovi created a plan that would remove shims that weren’t necessary and reorganize the storage system, including associated storage documentation.

The school also offers courses in innovative green technologies. High school seniors studying green technologies in Bosco Tech’s Architecture & Construction Engineering program are creating and testing viable alternative fuels from cooking oil with remarkable results. The green and energy efficient engineering course stresses the importance of reducing, reusing and recycling and teaches how these environmentally sound precepts apply to architecture and engineering.

During the 2014 -2015 school years, while studying alternative fuels, students executed a successful burn-comparison test where they observed and documented the energy and pollutants generated by their biodiesel formulas and compared it to those of petroleum-based diesel fuel. They found the biodiesel had an equivalent energy density to petroleum-based diesel, making it a viable alternative, while also diverting waste that would previously have gone to a landfill. The biodiesel also produced less smoke, possibly making it cleaner burning and less harmful to the environment.

Sources

Angelus News – Students from Salesian high schools awarded $40,000 scholarships for STEM excellence

Newswire – Bosco Tech Student Interns at Boeing, Saves the Company Nearly $1 Million

Newswire – Don Bosco Technical Institute’s Green Technology and Engineering Courses Prepare Youth for Higher Education and Careers in Cutting-edge Fields

The post UNITED STATES: Two Salesian High School Students Receive $40,000 College Scholarships from Edison Scholars Program first appeared on MissionNewswire.

At the peak of the migration in December 2016, there were 480 Haitians – men, women, and children – living at the Salesian shelter, which was only designed for 80 guests. They slept on the floor or they slept outside. With President Trump’s January 20 inauguration, the Haitian wave of migrants stopped as abruptly as it had begun. The deportation rate in the United States had soared to more than 70 percent of those who attended their scheduled U.S. immigration hearing.

With very little in Haiti to go back to and the oppressive stigma borne by those have been deported, the Haitians who remain in Tijuana have opted to apply for Mexican residency. Many of them have found jobs, settling for $10 a day for 10 hours’ work. Many others faced racial discrimination and can’t find work. Those who can, have rented one-room apartments in the only neighborhood they can afford, the Zona Norte, right along the U.S.-Mexican border. This area is known as drug cartel territory and has high rates of human trafficking.

The Salesian Center is currently housing 70 Haitian migrants in addition to the 5,000 who came to the programs over the last year to receive services, shelter and assistance. Salesian missionaries are helping with online residency papers and obtaining Haitian passports. Three young Haitian men have joined the staff of the Desayunador Salesiano and are working to aid the continued effort of assistance for these Haitian families.

“We dressed and fed them as we could and arranged their medical care,” says Father Mike Pace, a Salesian priest in Tijuana. “We listened to their stories, consoled and encouraged them, and helped them navigate the Mexican immigration bureaucracy. We provided translation services and celebrated mass in Creole, French, and Spanish, while offering moments of relaxation and celebration.”

The Salesian Center is also working with Mexicans who have been deported from the U.S. and have nowhere else to go. Angel was in Los Angeles for 14 years, working and raising his family. He was asleep with his wife at midnight when the police knocked at his apartment door. He had enough time to put on his clothes and he was gone. Sergio was seeing his kids off to school before going to his job of 18 years, when the police arrested him outside his house, handcuffed him, and drove him away, leaving his wife, kids, and neighbors in shock. José was on a customer’s roof applying new shingles when he was called down and asked to show his papers. He was then gone with no time to gather any documents, money, say goodbye, or pack luggage.

“Men show up at our shelter with deportation papers in hand, dazed, like deer caught in headlights. I always ask them how the deportation took place. They are relieved to be able to tell someone,” explains Fr. Pace. “They arrive in Tijuana with no one and nothing. They don’t know the city. They have no local contacts, no job, and no place to live. The Salesian Center helps bridge them into their new life lest they fall into a life on the streets.”

In addition to working with migrant populations, Salesian missionaries in Mexico primarily direct their efforts toward the country’s at-risk youth, including girls and young mothers. Creating safe havens and improving educational opportunities are essential to deter youth from life on the streets where they are susceptible to drugs and gang violence.

Sources

ANS – Mexico – Kindness matters

The post MEXICO: Salesian Missionaries Assist Haitian Migrants and Mexicans Deported from the United States first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Close to 1,500 students visited the Expotec every day, participating in workshops and conferences. There were also various companies who attended that ended up buying some of the projects because of their quality, innovation, creativity and commercial potential. Don Bosco Technological Institute offers classes in mechanical and electrical engineering, among other subjects.

The technical school was built more than decade ago and has experienced significant development. More than 1,000 students attend courses as part of a program culminating in a bachelor’s degree in technology. Through workforce development initiatives such as assistance with resume writing and interviewing skills, the technical school also helps students find and retain stable employment upon graduation.

“The school’s programs respond to the local need for technical skills training by providing high-quality training courses, which is very much appreciated in a region known for its industrial activity,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Through coursework and additional social development programs, students leave the technical school with the professional skills and aptitude necessary to excel in the workforce.”

The state of Coahuila’s business community has rallied around the technical school, becoming an integral support to its students. Salesian missionaries working at the school have made connections within the business community to help students make an easier transition from the classroom into the workforce. Employers are impressed with the level of technical skill of the school’s graduates and also their employment preparedness.

“Education and innovation have always been a cornerstone of Salesian work as we address local needs and help students break the cycle of poverty,” adds Fr. Hyde. “Salesian missionaries are known for their technical education and have more than 850 vocational, technical, professional and agricultural schools around the globe providing youth necessary practical employment skills while helping them to become contributing adults in their communities.”

More than 46 percent of Mexico’s population lives in poverty, according to UNICEF. Close to 53 million people lack access to education, healthcare, transportation and even the most basic necessities such as food and shelter. Youth in the country face a higher rate of poverty at more than 53 percent, which accounts for 20 million children and adolescents, with 5 million of those living in extreme poverty.

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Sources:

ANS – Mexico – Expotec in the Don Bosco Technological Institute in Saltillo

UNICEF – Mexico

The post MEXICO: Don Bosco Technological Institute Holds 10th Don Bosco Expotec for Students to Showcase Their Inventions first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Nearly a thousand migrants from Africa, Haiti, Central America and Mexico have reached the border city of Tijuana to seek political asylum in the United States. But immigration into the United States is a concern for many migrants. While they wait to receive a response to their request some are being helped by Salesian missionaries who maintain programs in Tijuana. At one time Salesian programs saw 25 to 30 people per day but since the influx of migration, 150 to 170 people a day are seeking services from the program.

The border between the United States and Mexico spans 1,969 miles and has more than 20 checkpoints along its route. Constant migration is taking place between the two countries with Mexican migrant workers traveling to U.S. border towns seeking employment and immigrants from both countries crossing back and forth. In addition, there are cases of undocumented Mexicans being repatriated.

Many border towns are plagued by crime and violence such as the illegal trafficking of drugs, weapons, money and people where the consequences of social and political tensions between the two nations are felt. Salesian missionaries have been working in Mexico and in these border towns for more than 25 years and have recently increased cooperation between the Salesian Province of Mexico-Guadalajara and the Province of USA West. The goal is to work together to address the increase of violence and insecurity in the region and launch proposals for education, social integration, drug prevention and combating the effects of organized crime.

“Since the middle of this year Tijuana has been transformed by the arrival of thousands of Haitian migrants, but things have not worked out well,” says Father Felipe Plascencia, rector of the Salesian House in Tijuana. “Hundreds of people arrive every day but the U.S. authorities allow only a few dozen of them to enter, leaving thousands of migrants stranded on the border. It is not clear how long this situation will last. A rough estimate is that it will take approximately 10 to 12 months. The reception center will remain in operation as long as this extraordinary situation persists.”

Currently, Salesian missionaries are serving more than 9,000 people in six Salesian oratories, a parish and a public dining hall which serves food to close to a thousand homeless and migrant people every day. The programs are facilitated by six Salesian missionaries with the help of volunteers, local collaborators and benefactors in both Mexico and the United States.

Before opening the new reception center, Fr. Plascencia and Father Francisco González, economer of the Mexico-Guadalajara Province, blessed the building. The event was attended by various officials representing the Mexican federal administration, and state and municipal authorities involved in the activities for migrants as well as volunteers and supporters of the oratory.

“Working hand in hand with and guided by the Salesians was a wonderful and miraculous experience,” said Carlos Mora Alvarez, president of the State Executive Council for the Care of Migrants located in Baja, Calif., at the event. “This center is being opened for the benefit of our migrant brothers, regardless of creed, race or skin color.”

In addition to working with migrant populations, Salesian missionaries in Mexico primarily direct their efforts toward the country’s at-risk youth, including girls and young mothers. Creating safe havens and improving educational opportunities are essential to deter youth from life on the streets where they are susceptible to drugs and gang violence.

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Sources:

ANS – Mexico – The Salesians of Tijuana open a shelter for Haitian migrants

UNICEF – Mexico

The post MEXICO: Salesian Missionaries Open New Reception Center for Haitian Migrants first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Since 1987, Salesian missionaries have been providing services to migrants and poor youth living on the border between Mexico and the United States. The border between the two countries spans 1,969 miles and has more than 20 checkpoints along its route. Many border towns are plagued by crime and violence, including the illegal trafficking of drugs, weapons, money and people. In 2014, the Salesian Province of Mexico-Guadalajara and the Western Province of the United States increased cooperation in order to work more efficiently to address the increase of violence and insecurity in the region and launch proposals for education, social integration, drug prevention and combating the effects of organized crime.

Salesian missionaries have created an extensive educational network in areas where poor youth lack educational and workforce opportunities. Many youth ending up in border towns like Tijuana travel from other countries in Latin America to the U.S. border because of violence and extreme poverty in their own communities. They are seeking safety and educational opportunities they have been unable to access at home. But once in these border towns, youth have no family or friends or anyone ensuring their safety. Salesian programs provide this safety net through Salesian youth and educational centers where children grow up learning to share faith, culture and sports within their communities.

Salesian missionaries are also working across communities in Latin America to address the root causes of this migration and develop programs that assist youth with education and workforce development. The goal is to help these communities engage youth so leaving is not a necessity and they can stay in their home counties and eventually give back — making their communities stronger and more viable for themselves and later generations.

“Young people need environments where they feel safe,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “In many Latin American cities that are branded as violent and chaotic, Salesian work has revealed that there are many youth living there who are full of dreams and talents and who have high hopes for a productive and happy future free from violence.”

Salesian missionaries serve more than 9,000 people in six Salesian oratories, a parish and a public dining hall, which serves food to close to a thousand homeless and migrant people every day in Tijuana.  The entire project is facilitated by six Salesian missionaries with the help of volunteers, local collaborators and benefactors in both Mexico and the United States.

These innovative Salesian programs are preventing poor children from dropping out of school and are providing important opportunities for their future. At-risk children take part in Salesian programs that integrate education, social activities and technical training. Classes are also offered in sports, music, dance and drama and give youth access to safe environments and adults who serve as mentors. The goal is to guide youth back into mainstream education so that they can reach their full potential.

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Sources:

ANS – Mexico – Group of Salesian Volunteers from Western Province of USA in Tijuana

UNICEF – Mexico

PHOTO courtesy of ANS

The post MEXICO: Salesian Volunteers from the United States Support Programs for Migrants and At-Risk Youth in Tijuana, Mexico first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Robert Stefan, Jr., Boeing’s test and evaluation division’s chief engineer, honored Lovi on Dec. 15 with a satellite coin (a traditional way in the field to reward “significant accomplishments”) along with a certificate of appreciation at a character assembly at Bosco Tech.

“He came up with these ideas and these changes are actually going to make our satellites significantly cheaper to build,” said Stefan in the Whittier Daily News article. “If you’re a five- to ten-year employee in our company, that’s great. If you’re a high school intern, that’s remarkable. Remarkable.”

According to the Whittier Daily News, Lovi’s ideas focused on a time-wasting setup within the company that specifically dealt with its storage and use of shims (a type of washer that’s used to build satellites). Lovi created a plan that would remove shims that weren’t necessary and reorganize the storage system, including associated storage documentation.

“We’re extremely proud of Jacob,” said Xavier Jimenez, president of Bosco Tech. “Not only does he epitomize the 21st century skills that are instilled in all Bosco Tech students — resourcefulness, problem solving strategies and technological competency — but he was able to use those skills to identify and clearly present to his internship mentor a new, more efficient approach to a complex process.”

Lovi’s ideas were not readily accepted at Boeing. He tried many times to persuade his supervisors and was told “no” more than once, but on Lovi’s second to last day, Stefan and his colleagues agreed to look into it. Another intern was able to put a plan into place for implementing Lovi’s ideas, which will be fully implemented in March, according to the news article. Lovi credits a combination of luck and persistence with the accomplishment.

“I realize that a lot of other interns put a lot of time into their work and did impressive work, too, on their summer internships at Boeing and other companies,” said Lovi to the Whittier Daily News. “In some ways I was lucky to get the right place at the right time, and because of my tenacious attitude and my willingness to keep pushing forward that really brought these ideas to light.”

Through Bosco Tech’s unique curriculum, students major in one of five STEM programs. Lovi is currently studying Materials Science, Engineering and Technology. After graduation, he plans to major in materials engineering at the university level. While in high school, he has served as junior and senior class president, YMCA camp counselor and a youth ministry leader at his church.

Celebrating its 62nd year, Bosco Tech is an all-male Catholic high school that combines a rigorous college-preparatory program with a technology-focused education. The school’s innovative STEM curriculum allows students to exceed university admission requirements while completing extensive integrated coursework in one of five applied science and engineering fields. Each year for the past several years, 100 percent of the graduating class has earned college acceptances.

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Sources:

ANS – United States – A cost saving idea for aerospace company, from a Bosco Tech student

Whittier Daily News – This Don Bosco Tech student saved Boeing millions and they are thanking him for it

The post UNITED STATES: Bosco Tech Student Interns at Boeing, Saves the Company Nearly $1 Million first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Sports programs teach valuable skills to youth both on and off the field. They offer unlimited opportunities for growth by simultaneously developing leadership, teamwork and social skills. The recent ball donation made possible by Salesian Missions and One World Play Project benefited youth at Salesian centers, schools and programs in the Mexico City area. The balls have been utilized during the school day for sports training, as well as afterschool activities.

Since receiving the donation, young athletes have shown more confidence and this motivates them to practice with more dedication, commitment and enthusiasm. Their health has also improved since the exercise on the field helps increase their energy and overall physical and mental health. Students are also performing better in their studies and other activities. At the same time, students are showing more honesty, teamwork and compassion.

“I feel very happy and fulfilled when playing soccer, and I am inspired to become a professional player,” says Federico, an 11-year-old who was a recipient of the donation. “I am ready to work harder. I feel the soft ball and it gives me more control over it, instead other fútbols that were harder and many times I couldn’t manage them.”

Salesian sports teachers offered positive feedback about the donation. One noted that some of the children didn’t like to play sports, especially in the hot weather, but since the donation they are very punctual and little by little are starting to like playing, some even joining the soccer team. Another sports teacher noted that the children were surprised by the fútbols because they didn’t have to inflate them. The children noticed that the fútbols were different from ones they had before and it generated renewed interest from the young students.

“When playing soccer I feel happy and imagine that I am playing soccer in a Champions League tournament because I want to be a professional player. I feel that this ball makes me faster and lighter, but when I hit the ball with my head, I feel it hard,” says Kevin, a 13-year-old who also received the donation.

Innovative Salesian programs in Mexico are preventing poor children from dropping out of school and are providing important opportunities for their future. At-risk children take part in Salesian programs that integrate education, social activities and technical training. Classes are also offered in sports, music, dance and drama and give youth access to safe environments and adults who serve as mentors. The goal is to guide youth back into mainstream education so that they can reach their full potential.

More than 46 percent of Mexico’s population lives in poverty, according to UNICEF. Close to 53 million people lack access to education, healthcare, transportation and even the most basic necessities such as food and shelter. Youth in the country face a higher rate of poverty at more than 53 percent which accounts for 20 million children and adolescents with 5 million of those living in extreme poverty. In Mexico City, the country’s capital, poor residents lack safe drinking water and sanitation. Incidents of crime and violence are high within the region. According to UNICEF, close to 240,000 abandoned children live on the streets of Mexico City and up to 90 percent of those have faced sexual exploitation by an adult.

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Sources

One World Play Project

UNICEF – Mexico

The post MEXICO: Students Have Better Access to Sports and Recreation Thanks to Fútbol Donation from One World Play Project first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Fifty years ago, Salesian Bishop Braulio Sánchez dreamed of educating youth within the Mixepolitana region in Mexico. His dream slowly became a reality thanks to the support of the local population, which contributed generously to the best of their ability to provide the materials to build a school. The initiative also had the unconditional support of the local Salesian Province. Many others financially contributed to help Salesian missionaries complete the construction of the school, knowing that the goal was to help support local youth through education while also providing them social and life skills and other basic services they needed.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of the institute, which over the years has distinguished itself as an educational center that provides high-quality education and services to the local community. Many of its past pupils now occupy senior positions within their communities. They include people committed to seeking what’s best for the common good, public officials or politicians, and also people who have sought the service of others as priests and religious brothers or sisters.

“Education is always our primary focus in Mexico,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Youth in these communities are dealing with much more than just having access to education though. They need services that provide food and shelter as well as social and life skills so youth are able to focus on and make the most of the education provided.”

According to UNICEF, there are 52 million people living in poverty in Mexico, approximately 45 percent of the country’s population. For children, the rate rises to just over 53 percent with more than 20 million youth estimated to be living in poverty and 5 million of those in extreme poverty. Salesian missionaries in Mexico primarily direct their efforts toward the country’s at-risk youth, including girls and young mothers. Creating safe havens and improving educational opportunities are essential to deter youth from life on the streets where they are susceptible to drugs and gang violence.

“Youth need environments where they feel safe,” adds Fr. Hyde. “In many Mexican cities that are branded as violent and chaotic, Salesian work has revealed many young residents who are full of dreams, talents and high hopes for a productive and happy future, free from violence.”

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Sources:

ANS – Mexico – Institute for the Advancement of the Indigenous Community (IMCI)

UNICEF – Mexico 

(Photo courtesy of ANS)

The post MEXICO: Institute Celebrating 50 Years Providing Education in Indigenous Communities first appeared on MissionNewswire.

In November 2015, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development released their Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress, which noted that there are 115,738 homeless in California, higher than that of the previous year and more than several states combined. In the same year, a partial assessment of the County of Los Angeles estimated more than 40,000 homeless within that region.

Youth have met several homeless individuals during the volunteer weekends and have come to learn their stories. Andrew lives on the streets repairing bicycles to earn a meager living. Jimmy has been unemployed for six months and homeless as a result. Nieshell has been living on the streets for more than eight years due to a substance addiction. Another man was left homeless after losing his Louisiana diner during hurricane Katrina in 2005. Youth have not only fed the homeless but have given them a voice, learned their stories, and provided compassion and hope during a challenging time.

“It’s really wonderful to see so many youth focused and happy to be giving to others in need,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Youth are learning important lessons through their volunteer work. They are working as a team and showing compassion for those that are less fortunate. They are also taking action, helping to improve their own communities. Nutrition is an important part of proper health and also provides dignity to those who often live unnoticed in our society.”

Working in 132 countries around the globe, Salesian missionaries have created a vast network of primary, secondary, vocational and technical schools serving poor youth. With a focus on education and workforce development, Salesians worldwide provide disadvantaged youth valuable resources to help them find livable wage employment to break the cycle of poverty and lead meaningful and productive lives.

Functioning side by side with Salesian schools, youth clubs offer young people opportunities for engaging in constructive activities during their leisure time. Through organized programs which often include sports and music, youth are taught teamwork and social skills while gaining opportunities for personal growth. Some youth clubs also offer small medical clinics and, where needed, lunch programs to protect children from malnutrition. Youth programs also offer valuable volunteer opportunities for youth to have a chance to engage with others and support their own communities.

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Sources:

ANS – United States – Change is only possible with adequate support

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development – The 2015 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress

Photo: ANS

The post UNITED STATES: Youth from Salesian Parish Volunteer to Feed Homeless Each Weekend first appeared on MissionNewswire.

The border between the United States and Mexico spans 1,969 miles and has more than 20 checkpoints along its route. Constant migration is taking place between the two countries with Mexican migrant workers traveling to U.S border towns seeking employment and immigrants from both countries crossing back and forth in addition to cases of undocumented Mexicans being repatriated.

Many border towns are plagued by crime and violence such as the illegal trafficking of drugs, weapons, money and people where the consequences of social and political tensions between the two nations are felt. Salesian missionaries have been working in Mexico and in these border towns for more than 25 years and have recently increased cooperation between the Salesian Province of Mexico-Guadalajara and the Province of USA West. The goal is to work together to address the increase of violence and insecurity in the region and launch proposals for education, social integration, drug prevention and combating the effects of organized crime.

According to UNICEF, there are 52 million people living in poverty in Mexico, approximately 45 percent of the country’s population. For children, the rate rises to just over 53 percent with more than 20 million youth estimated to be living in poverty and 5 million of those in extreme poverty.

Salesian missionaries in Mexico primarily direct their efforts toward the country’s at-risk youth, including girls and young mothers. Creating safe havens and improving educational opportunities are essential to deter youth from life on the streets where they are susceptible to drugs and gang violence.

“Young people need environments where they feel safe,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “In many Mexican cities that are branded as violent and chaotic, Salesian work has revealed that there are many youth living there who are full of dreams and talents and who have high hopes for a productive and happy future free from violence.”

Currently, the Tijuana Project is serving more than 9,000 people in six Salesian oratories, a parish and a public dining hall which serves food to close to a thousand homeless and migrant people every day. The entire project is facilitated by six Salesian missionaries with the help of volunteers, local collaborators and benefactors in both Mexico and the United States.

In support of the project, Salesian missionaries in the U.S. have been organizing “missionary weeks” for young volunteers. This year, volunteers from Bellflower, California worked together in the oratories and in the public dining hall where they fed those in need, organized activities for children and accompanied youth in charitable activities.

“Every day there was a chance to give of their best for the good of others. There is not much time to rest in Tijuana, there is so much work to be done,” said Armando Prieto, one of the volunteers taking part in a missionary week.

Innovative Salesian programs in Mexico are preventing poor children from dropping out of school and are providing important opportunities for their future. At-risk children take part in Salesian programs that integrate education, social activities and technical training. Classes are also offered in sports, music, dance and drama and give youth access to safe environments and adults who serve as mentors. The goal is to guide youth back into mainstream education so that they can reach their full potential.

“Salesian missionaries in these communities continue to provide education, safety and the promise of a better future for youth in need,” adds Fr. Hyde. “Our programs in Mexico differ depending upon the needs of each specific community but they all share the goal of providing education while building a sense of dignity and self-worth.”

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Sources:

ANS – Mexico – A mission of solidarity with those most in need

UNICEF – Mexico

The post MEXICO: Salesian Tijuana Project Serves More Than 9,000 People Living in Poverty first appeared on MissionNewswire.

The Mama Margarita Foundation was started by the parents of Salesian Father Manny Gallo, who once worked at Don Bosco Prep but is currently with Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School in Takoma Park, Maryland. The foundation was started to help families living in poverty in the city of Masaya. On this mission trip, Don Bosco Prep students build a home for a poor family in the community. This is the third completed house built by Don Bosco students.

“There were 23 of us who went on this trip, and we had many discussions about the value of building a house, feeding the poor, giving clothing, and keeping company with the kids,” says  Jonathan Ramirez, a grade 12 student at Don Bosco Prep. “I came away realizing that we, in our everyday lives, should perform small acts of kindness. It just might change someone’s day, their week, or it might change their lives.”

The group also worked on various other projects with the Mama Margarita Foundation. Dr. Luis Rodriguez, a dentist and friend of Fr. Gallo, joined the mission trip and worked with a local dentist to examine and treat 176 children in five days. Students had brought with them donated items like clothing, toys, and dental supplies such as toothbrushes, floss, and toothpaste, for the children.

Parker Stone, a senior at Don Bosco Prep, as part of his Eagle Scout project brought with him 100 backpacks filled with school supplies for 100 children at the center. After distributing the backpacks, students went on to visit the Masaya dump-site where they distribute food to the poor who work there collecting recyclables they hope to sell to earn an income. Several students, with the leaderships of Don Bosco Prep art teacher Veronica Cutter, painted a beautiful mural on a building at the Mama Margarita Foundation.

In addition, four local students are now able to attend the Don Bosco School in Masaya thanks for funding provided by Andy Feliz memorial scholarship. Feliz was a student at Salesian High School in New Rochelle, NY, who died before he was able to travel with the group to Nicaragua.

“It was really wonderful to see so many students focused and happy to be giving to others in need,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive Director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Salesian missionaries in Nicaragua are working with poor children and their families by providing education and social programs. The extra support provided by these mission trips helps to further support the work of missionaries on the ground in these communities.”

Nicaragua is one of the least developed and poorest countries in Latin America, second only to Haiti, with more than 42 percent of its residents living in poverty, according to the World Bank. Poverty, although declining steadily in recent years, remains high. More than 80 percent of Nicaragua’s poor live in remote rural communities where access to basic services is a daily challenge.

After decades of political instability and vulnerability to natural hazards, the country has achieved a remarkable economic turnaround and is now focusing on innovative ways of reducing poverty. However, years of widespread poverty have taken their toll and many residents suffer from poor health conditions including HIV/AIDS. In addition, crime, violence against women, gang violence and high unemployment result in challenging economic and social conditions, particularly for young people and women.

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Sources:

PHOTO: ANS

ANS – Nicaragua – Youth Ministry Trip brings hope to children in need

Mama Margarita Foundation

World Bank – Nicaragua

The post NICARAGUA: Student Annual Mission Trip Builds New Home and Provides Free Dental Care for 176 Children first appeared on MissionNewswire.

The partnership has resulted in a donation of rice-meals that has benefitted more than 20,000 people in Estelí, including students in Salesian schools and those living within poor communities. The majority of beneficiaries have few resources and live in extreme poverty. The donated rice-meals provided to Salesian schools are given to students during the school day as part of a free lunch program begun by Salesian missionaries to meet the needs of the many area families with limited resources to feed their children. The meals ensure students receive proper nutrition and a balanced diet, helping them to focus on their studies and extracurricular activities.

Salesian missionaries and volunteers also distributed donated rice-meals to families in need through community outreach efforts and at local churches. The food aid helped elderly residents receive proper nutrition and aided in improving their strength, health and mental wellbeing. Food aid was also delivered directly to families at home to ensure that children receive more than just the one meal offered at school.

“Many of those participating in Salesian programs in Nicaragua are malnourished,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “For students, this donated food not only encourages them to attend school, it allows them to focus on getting the education they need without worrying about where their next meal will come from. Children cannot learn on an empty stomach.”

The ongoing partnership between Salesian Missions and Feed My Starving Children has resulted in 40-foot containers of fortified rice-meals being shipped to Salesian sites around the globe. Feed My Starving Children provides the food and Salesian Missions takes care of the cost and logistics of shipping each container from Feed My Starving Children warehouses to the destination country. Salesian Missions also works to help identify where the greatest needs are at any given time. The partnership began in early 2006 when the first 40-foot container was donated to and shipped by Salesian Missions for programs in Sri Lanka. Through the years, as Salesian Missions has determined beneficiaries in need of Feed My Starving Children food, almost 100 containers of more than 27 million meals have been donated, shipped and received by those in need in more than 25 countries.

“Salesian missionaries are an integral part of the existing infrastructure in many countries and Salesian Missions plays an important role in making sure aid from the United States reaches its destination country and gets into the hands of those who need it most,” adds. Fr Hyde. “Youth who access Salesian programs in Nicaragua are given an educational foundation, technical skills training and life and social skills to help them excel in the workforce. They are then able to break the cycle of poverty and become contributing members of their communities.”

Nicaragua is one of the least developed and poorest countries in Latin America, second only to Haiti, with more than 42 percent of its residents living in poverty, according to the World Bank. Poverty, although declining steadily in recent years, remains high. More than 80 percent of Nicaragua’s poor live in remote rural communities where access to basic services is a daily challenge.

After decades of political instability and vulnerability to natural hazards, the country has achieved a remarkable economic turnaround and is now focusing on innovative ways of reducing poverty. However, years of widespread poverty have taken their toll and many residents suffer from poor health conditions including HIV/AIDS. In addition, crime, violence against women, gang violence and high unemployment result in challenging economic and social conditions, particularly for young people and women.

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Sources:

Feed My Starving Children

Salesian Missions

World Bank – Nicaragua

The post NICARAGUA: More Than 20,000 People Living in Poverty Have Access to Better Nutrition Thanks to Food Aid Donation from Feed My Staring Children first appeared on MissionNewswire.

The tour included visits to various stations in the biomedical engineering workshop at the medical center where engineers explained how the equipment works and how technology is helping doctors and nurses provide the best care for their patients. They also shared with the students what it takes to be a good biomedical engineer: a fascination with the creation of tools that help promote peoples’ health.

The high school students also visited the medical center’s clinical simulation laboratory where they were introduced to patient simulators capable of presenting hundreds of medical conditions in realistic scenarios. The lab is used by medical students to build upon their schooling by developing practical hands-on skills. The Biomedical Pathway program at St. John Bosco gives high school students exposure to many of the major concepts behind human medicine with the goal of inspiring them to pursue higher education and a career in health care.

“Biomedical Pathway students have an interest in health care and unique experiences like this where students can meet health care professionals and explore different careers in health care first-hand is invaluable,” says Robert Linares, biomedical pathway coordinator at St. John Bosco High School.

Throughout their four years at St. John Bosco High School, students are taught health and science technology, biomedical ethics, anatomy and physiology, cell and molecular biology and biochemical genetics as well as participate in field work and gain real world experience. Students conduct independent research, participate in medical simulations and attend lectures provided by physicians, research scientists and other health care professionals. Upon graduation, students have a solid knowledge base to build a future on.

Long Beach, the seventh largest city in California, has close to 18 percent of its population under the age of 18. According to U.S Census data, the city has a poverty rate of 22.8 percent which rises to 33 percent for youth under the age of 18. Access to education and hands-on learning opportunities is critical to prepare youth for advanced studies or the workforce.

“Working in more than 132 countries around the globe, Salesian missionaries have created a vast network of primary, secondary, vocational and technical schools serving poor youth,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “With a focus on education and workforce development, missionaries provide disadvantaged youth an education and valuable resources to help them find livable wage employment all with the goal of breaking the cycle of poverty and helping youth lead meaningful and productive lives.”

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ANS – United States – St. John Bosco High School Students Explore Careers in Health Care

Census Data – Long Beach, CA

St. John Bosco High School

The post UNITED STATES: Salesian Students Tour Long Beach Memorial Medical Center to Enhance Their Classroom Studies first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Every Monday, more than 80 low-income, mostly elderly people between 80 and 95 years of age, visit a Salesian church in Managua and are provided food and other assistance from the church community. Salesian missionaries in the community have noticed that since the rice-meal donation, the recipients’ strength and health as well as their mood has improved. Salesian Sisters who operate a boarding school for girls just outside the city also received part of the donation and provided the meals to their boarders who take classes in baking, sewing and embroidery in addition to academic courses toward a high school diploma. The added nourishment has had a significant impact on the girls’ ability to concentrate on their studies.

The primary recipients of the rice-meal donation were two Salesian schools in Managua, a kindergarten for young students 3-5 years old and a Salesian high school. Between the two schools, more than 200 students received better nutrition as a result of the donation. The rice-meals were provided to students during the school day as part of a free lunch program to ensure they receive proper nutrition and a balanced diet, helping them to focus on their studies and extracurricular activities. Salesian missionaries began the school feeding program to meet the needs of the many area families with limited resources to feed their children.

“Many of those participating in Salesian programs in Nicaragua are malnourished,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Meals children receive at Salesian schools may be their only meals. This food not only encourages them to attend school, it allows them to focus on getting the education they need without worrying about where their next meal will come from. Children cannot learn on an empty stomach.”

The ongoing partnership between Salesian Missions and Feed My Starving Children has resulted in 40-foot containers of fortified rice-meals being shipped to Salesian sites around the globe. Feed My Starving Children provides the food and Salesian Missions takes care of the cost and logistics of shipping each container from Feed My Starving Children warehouses to the destination country. Salesian Missions also works to help identify where the greatest needs are at any given time. The partnership began in early 2006 when the first 40-foot container was donated to and shipped by Salesian Missions for programs in Sri Lanka. Through the years, as Salesian Missions has determined beneficiaries in need of Feed My Starving Children food, almost 100 containers of more than 27 million meals have been donated, shipped and received by those in need in more than 25 countries.

“Salesian missionaries are an integral part of the existing infrastructure in many countries and Salesian Missions plays an important role in making sure aid from the United States reaches its destination country and gets into the hands of those who need it most,” adds. Fr Hyde. “Youth who access Salesian programs in Nicaragua are given an educational foundation, technical skill training and life and social skills to help them excel in the workforce. They are then able to break the cycle of poverty and become contributing members of their communities.”

Nicaragua is one of the least developed and poorest countries in Latin America, second only to Haiti, with more than 42 percent of its residents living in poverty, according to the World Bank. Poverty, although declining steadily in recent years, remains high. More than 80 percent of Nicaragua’s poor live in remote rural communities where access to basic services is a daily challenge.

After decades of political instability and vulnerability to natural hazards, the country has achieved a remarkable economic turnaround and is now focusing on innovative ways of reducing poverty. However, years of widespread poverty have taken their toll and many residents suffer from poor health conditions including HIV/AIDS. In addition, crime, violence against women, gang violence and high unemployment result in challenging economic and social conditions, particularly for young people and women.

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Sources:

World Bank – Nicaragua

The post NICARAGUA: Youth and Elderly Have Access to Better Nutrition Thanks to Recent Rice-meal Donation first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Originally founded as the Salesian Boys’ Club, it was established in San Francisco in 1918 by Father Oreste Trincheri to serve at-risk boys and those living in poverty in the North Beach area, an area accounting for 60 percent of the city’s delinquency rate. Father Trincheri’s goal for the club was to provide a positive atmosphere and structured activities for boys in the area. In 1994, after serving only boys for almost 80 years, the club opted to include girls and expand its programs accordingly.

“Our primary mission is working with the underprivileged, but we are very diversified ethnically and socioeconomically,” said Russ Gumina, executive director of the Salesian Boys & Girls Club, in a recent Catholic San Francisco article about the reopening. He also noted that the club has many children from local public housing projects as well as from middle class and wealthy families. He added, “I told the archbishop we are the best kept secret in San Francisco.” The archdiocese is leasing the land the club sits on to the club for $1 a year for 70 years – which the club has already paid upfront.

Functioning side by side with Salesian schools, youth clubs offer young people opportunities for engaging in constructive activities during their leisure time. Through organized programs which often include sports and music, youth are taught teamwork and social skills while gaining opportunities for personal growth.

“I’ve been a member since I was about 4 or 5 years old,” said Dave Mana, 60, at the club’s grand reopening, according to the recent Catholic San Francisco article. “There are so many great things about the club. The fact it kept us on the straight and narrow is one thing.”

The Salesian Boys & Girls Club of San Francisco provides a safe space where youth can engage in sports, music, art and other social activities. Programs help build confidence and teach team building and conflict resolution skills. Leadership development, health programs and wrap-around family services are also offered and help youth connect with their peers, families and communities. The Salesian club offers drop-in services as well as scheduled activities. It also serves as an after-school program for the local St. Peter and Paul School.

“The Salesian Boys & Girls Club targets youth who would otherwise be on their own during their time away from school,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Instead of being on the streets or home alone, young people are able to join in the youth club’s activities and use their free time productively, staying safe and accessing support services that help them stay in school and keep focused on leading a happy and healthy life.”

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Catholic San Francisco – Grand reopening of ‘landmark’ Salesian Boys and Girls Club

Salesian Boys & Girls Club San Francisco

The post UNITED STATES: Salesian Boys & Girls Club of San Francisco Reopens after $11 Million Renovation first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Out of the 1,000 Boys and Girls Clubs across 14 states in the Northeast, the Salesian Boys and Girls Club of East Boston was one of two clubs in the region to be selected for the national award. According to an East Boston Times article, Father John Nazzaro, executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of East Boston, traveled to Princeton, New Jersey on Oct. 29 to receive the award on behalf of the club.

“This is really an honor,” said Fr. Nazzaro in the East Boston Times article. “We really are a small club compared to some of these other clubs in the region that have huge facilities but we were able to double our enrollment over the year to 320 kids in attendance daily.”

“This award belongs to the hard working staff and young people who see the Salesian spirit of reason, religion, kindness and active presence every day,” added Fr. Nazzaro in the article.

The mission of the Salesian Boys and Girls Club is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need it most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens. The organization has been serving youth in East Boston and the neighboring communities of Revere and Winthrop since 1945. The clubhouse provides a space for young people to engage in projects and recreational activities, receive assistance with homework and tutoring and have access to computers and a daily snack. It also serves as a site for neighborhood activities.

The Salesian Boys and Girls Club of East Boston accommodates 320 young people a day in its after-school program which costs $20.00 per child each year, a very minimal fee as compared to similar programs. Serving children ages 6 to 19, the program runs from 2:30 to 9:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. The club has more than 1,000 active members.

Through the club’s educational programs, youth learn social and life skills. The Torch Club is a leadership and service club for boys and girls ages 11 to 13 that aims to meet the special character development needs of young adolescents at this critical stage in life. The Keystone Club provides older youth, ages 14 to 18, with leadership development experiences. Members participate in activities in three focus areas including academic success, career preparation and community service. In addition, Salesian staff offer a program that promotes financial responsibility and independence among club members ages 13 to 18. Participants learn how to manage a checking account, create a budget, save and invest, start small businesses and pay for college.

More than 200 young people participated in a summer day camp offered at the Boys and Girls Club last year. Annual fundraising activities such as a breakfast hosted by the club raise money to allow youth who otherwise could not afford the summer programs, to attend.

“We do a lot with the money we get and we have over 40 families that receive scholarships for our program each summer,” said Fr. Nazzaro in the article.

With the addition of new programs and services and a change in location, the Boys and Girls Club of East Boston has been far more successful than in previous years when they were lucky to have 60 to 80 young participants a day. The recent award recognizes the club’s success in attracting and impacting neighborhood youth.

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East Boston Times – Salesian Boys and Girls Club Receives a National Award

Salesian Boys & Girls Club of East Boston

The post UNITED STATES: Salesian Boys and Girls Club of East Boston Receives National Award from Boys & Girls Club of America first appeared on MissionNewswire.

(MissionNewswire) Actor Michael Peña and director Joe Kelly have collaborated on a public service announcement, You Are My Sunshine, for the Salesian Boys & Girls Club of Los Angeles. You are My Sunshine tells the story of a young girl’s journey to the Salesian Boys & Girls Club of Los Angeles where children from less fortunate circumstances are provided a safe place to dream, learn and become successful educated adults.

The public service announcement is available on YouTube and has been shared on Twitter by some of Hollywood’s A-list celebrities including actors Mark Wahlberg and Andie MacDowell, director and producer Michael Bay and producer Jerry Bruckheimer.

Michael Peña also provided another short film which is available on the Salesian Boys & Girls Club’s website, speaking about his own connection to the Salesian club. Since 1966, the Salesian Boys & Girls Club of Los Angeles, located within walking distance of more than 13,000 elementary, middle and high school students, has served the Boyle Heights and City Terrace communities by providing positive after-school activities and low-cost alternative programs for thousands of at-risk and economically disadvantaged youth between the ages of 6 and 18.

Young people living in the East L.A. area face a number of challenges. According to the most recent 2012 U.S. census data, close to 27 percent of residents of East L.A. live in poverty, an increase from the overall 15.3 percent poverty rate for California. Youth living in poverty face lower rates of high school graduation and difficulty finding and maintaining employment as well as struggle with high crime rates and gang activity. Only 50 percent of youth living in East L.A. graduate high school and only 7 percent go on to college. For those involved in the Salesian Boys & Girls Club of Los Angeles, more than 85 percent graduate from high school and 50 percent go on to college.

“Youth living in poverty in East L.A. communities often have difficulty remaining in school. They also face high levels of unemployment and pressure to join gangs and engage in other illegal activities,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Salesian youth programs provide positive role models, structured activities, a safe place to get off the streets and a nonviolent, supportive environment in which to engage with peers.”

Functioning side by side with Salesian schools, youth clubs offer young people opportunities for engaging in constructive activities during their leisure time. Through organized programs which often include sports and music, youth are taught teamwork and social skills while gaining opportunities for personal growth. Some youth clubs also offer small medical clinics and, where needed, lunch programs to protect children from malnutrition.

Functioning side by side with Salesian schools, youth clubs offer young people opportunities for engaging in constructive activities during their leisure time. Through organized programs which often include sports and music, youth are taught teamwork and social skills while gaining opportunities for personal growth. Some youth clubs also offer small medical clinics and where needed, lunch programs to protect children from malnutrition.

The Salesian Boys & Girls Club of Los Angeles provides a safe space where youth can engage in sports, music, art and other social activities. Programs help build confidence and teach team building and conflict resolution skills. Leadership development, health programs and wrap-around family services are also offered and help youth connect with their peers, families and communities. In addition, the club offers at least one full meal a day and additional tutoring and educational programs to complement school studies. Currently the club has more than 3,400 registered members.

“The Salesian Boys & Girls Club targets youth who would otherwise be on their own during their time away from school,” adds Fr. Hyde. “Instead of being on the streets or home alone, young people are able to join in the youth club’s activities and use their free time productively, staying safe and accessing support services that help them stay in school and keep focused on leading a happy and healthy life.”

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Sources:

Salesian Boys & Girls Club of Los Angeles

United States – Hollywood stars collaborate for LA Salesian Club

The post UNITED STATES: Actor Michael Peña, Director Joe Kelly Collaborate on PSA for Salesian Boys & Girls Club of Los Angeles first appeared on MissionNewswire.

The Fletcher Jones Foundation was established in 1969 by computer science pioneer Fletcher R. Jones who was a noted mathematician, businessman and pioneer in the rapidly evolving field of computer science in the 1950s. He co-launched the Computer Sciences Corporation in 1959 with business partner Roy Nutt. While the Foundation’s primary mission is to support private colleges and universities in California, Bosco Tech’s emphasis on preparing bright, talented young men, many from under-served communities, to further their STEM education and careers, is in keeping with the Foundation’s goals in education.

The innovative science, engineering, technology and math curriculum at Bosco Tech allows students to exceed university admission requirements while completing extensive integrated coursework in one of several applied science and engineering fields.

“Bosco Tech is extremely grateful for the Fletcher Jones Foundation’s support and confidence in our students and our programs,” says Xavier Jimenez, president of Bosco Tech. “The new laboratories will function as central learning hubs for students to broaden their understanding of engineering in a sophisticated, real-world environment where disciplines are integrated in up-and-coming professional fields. Students will collaborate on engaging projects that require an understanding of several different areas of science, engineering and design.”

Celebrating its 60th year, Bosco Tech is an all-male Catholic high school that uniquely combines a rigorous college-preparatory program with a technology-focused education. Bringing together young men of all religious, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds, the school has a mission of preparing its students to be life-long learners committed to leading successful and productive lives. Programs at the school include computer science, electrical engineering, media arts and materials science, among others.

According to 2012 U.S. census data, close to 18 percent of residents of Rosemead live in poverty, an increase from the overall 15.3 percent poverty rate for California. Youth living in poverty face lower rates of high school graduation and difficulty finding and maintaining employment. Bosco Tech encourages its students to excel academically while helping them remain in school and stay focused on continuing their education into college. For the last several years, all Bosco Tech graduates have achieved college acceptance.

Working in more than 130 countries around the globe, Salesian missionaries have created a vast network of primary, secondary, vocational and technical schools serving poor youth. With a focus on education and workforce development, missionaries worldwide provide disadvantaged youth valuable resources to aid them in finding livable wage employment.

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Sources:

ANS – United States – Laboratories of the future to be opened at Bosco Tech

Don Bosco Technical Institute

United States Census Bureau – Rosemead, California

The post UNITED STATES: Don Bosco Technical Institute Receives $250,000 Fletcher Jones Foundation Grant first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Started in 2010, the Don Bosco Wheels project, coordinated by Father James Reyes Retana, provides supportive services to youth with disabilities while working to ensure that their rights are respected. The project also offers educational opportunities and forges relationships between youth with disabilities and their peers.

“Educational and community inclusion for youth with physical disabilities has been a focus for Salesian missionaries in Mexico,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Missionaries help youth with disabilities access education and workforce development training and increase their sense of community and support among their peers.”

The Don Bosco Wheels project created a committee focused on technology for greater autonomy and health. This committee is developing the personalized wheelchairs that permit users to stand on their feet and move around more freely. With a simple push of a button, a mechanism on the wheelchairs allow the seats and backrests to rise to levels required by their users.

“There are many benefits for those who use these chairs,” says Aldo Alan Chavarria, one of the founders of the Don Bosco Wheels project. “It betters our circulation and helps in the calcification of the bones, while helping the digestive process. Not only that, it also contributes psychologically, as it permits one to stand at the same level as the others, like for example at a meeting. Besides, there are obvious advantages in one’s own house as if one wants to get something it is easier now to go and get it.”

The hope is to eventually make the chairs readily accessible to youth in the program as well as make them commercially available. While a similar wheelchair could cost up to $5,000 in the open market, the Don Bosco Wheels project wheelchairs are far more accessible costing less than $700 with the added mechanism included in the price.

UNICEF notes in its State of the World Children 2013: Children with Disabilities report that globally, close to 61 percent of boys finish school but for boys with disabilities that number drops to 51 percent. For girls, 53 percent finish school but among those living with a disability, only 42 percent finish their education.

The UNICEF report also notes that studies across countries show a strong link between poverty and disability, which in turn is linked to gender, health and employment issues. More than 46 percent of Mexico’s population lives in poverty, according to UNICEF. Close to 53 million people lack access to education, healthcare, transportation and even the most basic necessities such as food and shelter. The poverty rate for youth in the country is higher at more than 53 percent and accounts for 20 million children and adolescents, 5 million of which live in extreme poverty.

Salesian missionaries in Mexico primarily direct their efforts toward the country’s at-risk youth, including girls and young mothers. Creating safe havens and improving educational opportunities are considered essential to deter youth from life on the streets where they are susceptible to drugs and gang violence. The UNICEF report suggests that inclusion in mainstream schools and educational settings is usually most appropriate for children with disabilities and when teachers and personnel are trained to consider disability-related issues, they look upon inclusion of children with disabilities more positively.

“Youth living in poverty are among the least likely to have access to educational programs that provide the skills necessary to lead stable productive lives,” adds Fr. Hyde. “Children living in poverty with a disability are even less likely to attend school when compared to their peers. Salesian missionaries in Mexico are working to ensure that every child, no matter their situation, has access to education.”

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Sources:

ANS – Mexico – “Don Bosco Sobre Ruedas” is on its feet with its new chair

UNICEF – State of the World Children 2013: Children with Disabilities

UNICEF – Mexico

Salesian Missions – Mexico

The post MEXICO: Wheelchair Developed by Don Bosco Wheels Project Gives Youth With Disabilities Greater Mobility first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Educational materials and assistance were provided during the camp by Dr. Cinthia Pérez Trejo, director of the General Coordination of the Mexican Commission for Aid to Refugees, an organization that provides for the protection and return of migrants as well as refuge or asylum to foreign applicants including child migrants arriving from Central America.

“The goal for this year is to give attention to the humanitarian emergency of unaccompanied minors across Central America,” says Fr. Rojas. “We want to strengthen our missionary work and also our community service wherever there are youth in need. Our focus is on supportive services and connecting them with education and eventually stable work.”

To meet the needs of youth who have fled their Central American homes alone to make their way to Mexico, Salesian missionaries already working in border towns in Mexico such as Tijuana, Mexicali, Nogales, Ciudad Juárez, Ciudad Acuña and Nuevo Laredo (among others), are responding with emergency shelter, food and other assistance. The journey these young people take from their Central American communities into these Mexican towns is fraught with danger. Many youth have died or have become seriously injured along the trip and others, faced with little food and water along the way, have fallen prey to theft, sex traffickers and other violence.

Once youth reach the border towns, Salesian missionaries provide the essential first step of meeting their basic needs and offering them a safe place to stay. After settling into Salesian shelters, youth can access other Salesian services such as structured recreation and social activities that provide a way for them to bond with their peers and develop additional interests and skills.

With 1,969 miles and more than 20 checkpoints along the border of Mexico and the United States, constant migration is taking place between the two countries. Mexican migrant workers travel to U.S border towns seeking employment, immigrants from both countries cross back and forth and undocumented Mexicans are often repatriated.

Many border towns are plagued by crime and violence such as the illegal trafficking of drugs, weapons, money and people, and the consequences of social and political tensions between the two nations are felt. Salesian missionaries have been working in Mexico and in these border towns for more than 25 years with a goal of working together to try to address the increase of violence and insecurity in the region and launch proposals for education, social integration, drug prevention and combating the effects of organized crime.

According to UNICEF, there are 52 million people living in poverty in Mexico, approximately 45 percent of the country’s population. For children, the rate rises to just over 53 percent with more than 20 million youth estimated to be living in poverty and five million of those in extreme poverty.

Salesian missionaries in Mexico primarily direct their efforts toward the country’s at-risk youth, including girls and young mothers. Creating safe havens and improving educational opportunities are essential to deter youth from life on the streets where they are susceptible to drugs and gang violence.

“Youth need environments where they feel safe,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “In many Mexican cities that are branded as violent and chaotic, Salesian work has revealed many young residents who are full of dreams, talents and high hopes for a productive and happy future, free from violence.”

Today, there is a Salesian presence in poorer frontier communities in Mexico and on the outskirts of border cities. Since the inception of the Salesian Frontier Project in 1987, 13 educational youth centers and two community centers have been opened. In addition, Salesian missionaries are collaborating in six parishes (one in the US) and operating a school with three levels of study as well as a welcome center for migrants and the destitute.

Sources

ANS – Mexico – “Camp Cagliero”, an initiative of the Project for the Care of Migrants

UNICEF – Mexico 

The post MEXICO: Youth Camp Held to Provide Education and Assistance to Migrant Youth first appeared on MissionNewswire.

In Guadalajara, the capital and largest city of the Mexican state of Jalisco, Salesian missionaries developed the Don Bosco on Wheels project. Started in 2010, this project aims to help youth with disabilities by providing the supportive services they need and helping to ensure that their rights are respected. In addition, the project provides educational opportunities and bridges relationships between youth with disabilities and their peers.

In April, the project held an awareness event called First Encounter that was open to all youth with physical disabilities. The theme for this event was “The wheelchair does not determine who I am.” Workshops and educational programs centered around spiritual and emotional development with a focus on empowerment helping youth overcome barriers to education, building relationships and positive self-esteem. The goal was to help youth feel less physically and emotionally isolated, which often occurs as a result of their disability.

UNICEF notes in its State of the World Children 2013: Children with Disabilities report that globally, close to 61 percent of boys finish school but for boys with disabilities that number drops to 51 percent. For girls, 53 percent finish school but among those living with a disability, only 42 percent finish their education.

The UNICEF report also notes that studies across countries show a strong link between poverty and disability, which in turn is linked to gender, health and employment issues. More than 46 percent of Mexico’s population lives in poverty, according to UNICEF. Close to 53 million people lack access to education, healthcare, transportation and even the most basic necessities such as food and shelter. The poverty rate for youth in the country is higher at more than 53 percent and accounts for twenty million children and adolescents, five million of which live in extreme poverty.

Salesians in Mexico primarily direct their efforts toward the country’s at-risk youth, including girls and young mothers. Creating safe havens and improving educational opportunities are considered essential to deter youth from life on the streets where they are susceptible to drugs and gang violence. The UNICEF report suggests that inclusion in mainstream schools and educational settings is usually most appropriate for children with disabilities and when teachers and personnel are trained to consider disability-related issues, they look upon inclusion of children with disabilities more positively.

“Youth living in poverty are among the least likely to have access to educational programs that provide the skills necessary to lead stable productive lives,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Children living in poverty with a disability are even less likely to attend school when compared to their peers. Salesian missionaries in Mexico are working to ensure that every child, no matter their situation, has access to education.”

Salesian missionaries in Spain are also focused on helping those with physical disabilities. At the Manuel Lora Tamayo Salesian School in the city Jerez de la Frontera in the southwestern part of the country, students hold an annual competition for innovation in science and technology, and this year the 28th Don Bosco National Award was given to the designers of an innovative wheelchair, which is operated by voice commands.

In addition, in January 2015, the Don Bosco Technical School Kep located in southern Cambodia, was awarded a grant from the Office of American Schools and Hospitals Abroad at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Don Bosco Kep plans to use the funds to transform the school buildings into a fully accessible facility granting greater access and ease of movement to students with physical disabilities.

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PHOTO: (Stock photo) Getty Images / iStock © Meinzahn

Sources:

ANS – Mexico – “The wheelchair does not determine who I am”

UNICEF – State of the World Children 2013: Children with Disabilities

UNICEF – Mexico

Salesian Missions – Mexico

The post MEXICO: Education & Community Inclusion for Youth with Disabilities first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Recently, staff from the Salesian Missions Office for International Programs visited Ms. Crisafulli and her third grade students at the Academy of St. Francis of Assisi to talk about the shoe drive and share more information about the City of Hope and the students who will benefit from the shoe donation. Salesian Missions will coordinate the shipment and distribution of the shoes later this Spring.

“It was really wonderful to see so many students, especially the very young, focused and happy to be giving to others in need,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive Director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Salesian missionaries in Zambia are working with poor children and their families by providing education and social programs. Having appropriate shoes to wear is important for students’ overall well-being and health.”

The Salesian-run City of Hope, an organization and school, was created to meet the needs of those living in the most severe poverty in Zambia’s capital city, Lusaka. The vast majority of children attending City of Hope programs are children who have been abused or live on the streets and those who are victims of child trafficking.

Currently, there are more than 800 students who attend the City of Hope’s Open Community School which serves those suffering from malnutrition, lack of education and family deprivation. Basic education is offered to youth between the ages of 9 and 17. Primary school classes make up the first four years after which students take the government’s grade seven examinations. Most City of Hope students do not have the opportunity to attend other schools because of a lack of financial means.

The City of Hope also offers a shelter that is home to at-risk girls referred through the social welfare system, the police and other institutions and organizations. Many have been orphaned and have nowhere else to go. There are currently 36 girls who live at the shelter ranging in age from 7 to 22 years. The shelter is not an orphanage but rather a safe place for girls to stay while they gain an education and make the transition either to living with other family or to a more independent life. To date, more than 150 girls have received services through the City of Hope’s shelter.

“The City of Hope is helping youth in Zambia lay the foundation for a better future,” adds Fr. Hyde. “Donations such as shoes help our students to remain healthy while avoiding risk for injury, infections and diseases caused by walking barefoot. Healthy students are more prepared in the classroom, better able to focus on their educational pursuits and go on to create better lives for themselves while improving their communities.”

Poverty is widespread in Zambia with 64 percent of the total population living below the poverty line. For those living in rural areas, the poverty rate rises to 80 percent, according to UNICEF. Over the past three decades, incomes in Zambia have fallen steadily and people do not have enough money to meet basic needs such as shelter, nutritious food and medical care.

The HIV/AIDS epidemic has taken its toll on Zambia’s children. More than 20,000 households in the country are headed by children whose parents have died because of HIV/AIDS. Many of these young children are desperate for adult support.

Sources

Academy of St. Francis of Assisi

Salesian Sisters City of Hope

UNICEF – Zambia

The post UNITED STATES: Third Grade Students at the Academy of St. Francis of Assisi Host Shoe Drive to Benefit Salesian-run City of Hope in Zambia first appeared on MissionNewswire.

The Laura Vicuña A.C. network provides education and shelter to youth, particularly girls, who are living in poverty in Mexico. Participants in the network attend Salesian-run elementary and secondary schools and are provided safe shelter, nutrition, clothing and school supplies.

In 2012, TOMS began distributing shoes to youth served by the Laura Vicuña A.C. network living within communities in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, the capital city of the Sate of Chiapas in southeast Mexico. The area boasts a diverse cultural heritage but its residents have few economic advantages and often live in extreme poverty. Many lack adequate health care, access to clean water and sewage, education and stable jobs.

“Many schools ask parents to invest in required school clothing forcing families to prioritize which children they can send to school. Distributing shoes will open the way for more children to attend school, especially for girls who are often left behind at home,” says Jessica O’Connor, property and logistics officer at the Salesian Missions Office for International Programs. “When children are protected from the various illnesses and injuries associated with traveling barefoot, they are better able to participate and focus in classes.”

TOMS Shoes are provided to families that participate in Laura Vicuña A.C. education, health and economic development programs. The Salesian Sisters who run the programs offer poor youth, who are often struggling to survive, a place to live while meeting their basic needs and providing education and training in social skills to prepare them for the future. Health education is also an important part of the program and is offered to all participants.

As part of Laura Vicuña A.C. school programs, Salesian sisters combine the distribution of shoes with educational workshops that focus on the importance and health benefits of wearing shoes. Prior to receiving the new shoes, many students were forced to walk to school barefoot and others wore only hard plastic sandals that caused injury. Without shoes, youth are at-risk for injury, parasites, skin fungus and respiratory diseases, among others ailments. Because shoes are required to attend school, some families who could not afford shoes chose not to send their children to school at all.

In addition to distribution in schools, Salesian Sisters distribute the shoes in local villages. Provided along with clothing and food, the shoes are used as encouragement for poor youth and their families to participate in educational, hygiene and literacy programs.

“One of the methods that Salesian missionaries teach on the topic of health and welfare is the use of footwear for children,” adds O’Connor. “By distributing shoes to the children in Salesian programs, we can improve the health of individual children while also stressing the importance of wearing shoes among the community in general.”

As a result of TOMS Shoes, youth enrollment and participation in school has increased, students are more prepared for school activities, and there is less frequency of illness caused by walking barefoot. Shoes also provide students with a sense of dignity. Carmen, a 14-year-old recipient of TOMS Shoes who has lived at one of the Salesian orphanages since she was seven, previously endured a painful walk to school that limited her participation and ability to engage with her friends.

“My old shoes were a very hard material and gave me blisters and felt very hot in the heat as I walked to school. It was very painful. But my new shoes are very comfortable and allow me to walk to school better and play with my friends,” said Carmen.

More than 46 percent of Mexico’s population lives in poverty, according to UNICEF. Close to 53 million people lack access to education, healthcare, transportation and even the most basic necessities such as food and shelter. The poverty rate for youth in the country is higher at more than 53 percent and accounts for twenty million children and adolescents, five million of which live in extreme poverty.

Salesian missionaries in Mexico primarily direct their efforts toward the country’s at-risk youth, including girls and young mothers. Creating safe havens and improving educational opportunities are considered essential to deter youth from life on the streets where they are susceptible to drugs and gang violence.

ABOUT TOMS:

In 2006, American traveler Blake Mycoskie befriended children in a village in Argentina and found they had no shoes to protect their feet. Wanting to help, he created TOMS, a company that would match every pair of shoes purchased with a pair of new shoes given to a child in need. One for One®.

Realizing that One for One could serve other global needs, Blake launched TOMS Eyewear in 2011 to help restore sight to persons in need with every purchase of sunglasses and optical frames. In 2014, TOMS Roasting Co. launched with the mission to provide clean water to developing communities with the purchase of premium coffee.

TOMS is in business to improve lives. We identify global needs and create products to help address them. This simple idea is what makes us more than a company – we’re a movement that’s continually evolving.

ABOUT SALESIAN MISSIONS:

Salesian Missions is headquartered in New Rochelle, NY, and is part of the Don Bosco Network—a worldwide federation of Salesian NGOs. The mission of the U.S.-based nonprofit Catholic organization is to raise funds for international programs that serve youth and families in poor communities around the globe. Salesian missionaries are made up of priests, brothers and sisters as well as laypeople—all dedicated to caring for poor children throughout the world in more than 130 countries. To date, more than 3 million youth have received services funded by Salesian Missions. These services and programs are provided to children regardless of race or religion. For more information, go to SalesianMissions.org.

The post MEXICO: Students in Salesian Programs Have Improved Health and are Better Prepared for School after Receiving TOMS Shoes first appeared on MissionNewswire.