SRI LANKA

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries have responded after Cyclone Ditwah tore through Sri Lanka, and the country now grapples with one of the most severe humanitarian crises in its recent history. Entire communities have been uprooted, essential infrastructure crippled, and thousands of families left without homes. Salesians sprung to action, offering relief, protection, food and hope to those who have lost everything.

National disaster authorities report that there are more than 600 confirmed deaths and more than 330 people still missing. Nearly 1.5 million residents — including more than 275,000 children — have been affected. Over 233,000 people are currently staying in 1,441 temporary shelters, while thousands more are living with relatives after their homes were destroyed or severely damaged. More than 565 houses lie in ruins, and over 20,000 are partially damaged. Vast regions remain inaccessible due to collapsed roads, broken bridges and disrupted water systems.

Salesian parishes, schools, boarding houses, and community centers across the country have opened their doors, providing emergency shelter, food, clean water, clothing, and hygiene kits. Youth groups, parish volunteers and international partners have joined the mobilization, ensuring that aid reaches even remote communities.

Particular care is being given to youth, the elderly and those suffering trauma — groups most vulnerable in the aftermath of disaster. Salesian teams are offering psychosocial and pastoral support, helping families cope with loss, fear, and uncertainty.

Father Roshan Miranda, superior of the vice province, expressed concern and resolve as the crisis deepens. He said, “Our people are going through unimaginable suffering, and we must respond with the heart of Don Bosco. I want every Salesian house to be open as a place where families can find shelter, where children and young people are protected, and where no one feels abandoned. This is our mission, especially in times like these.”

One Salesian cooperator summed up the spirit of the response: “We cannot solve everything, but we can be a place of hope.”

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.

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

ANS – Sri Lanka – Devastation from Cyclone Ditwah Met with Rapid Salesian Response

Salesian Missions – Sri Lanka

World Bank – Sri Lanka

The post SRI LANKA: Salesians provide aid and support to families in aftermath of devastating cyclone first appeared on MissionNewswire.

SRI LANKA

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries are responding to urgent needs as Sri Lanka faces one of its worst natural disasters in decades as days of intense rain, fueled by Cyclone Ditwah, triggered massive floods and landslides across the island. The cyclone pushed unusually heavy rainfall over almost every district, causing major rivers to overflow, hillsides to collapse and entire towns to be covered by water. Across the island, Salesian missionaries and the broader Salesian Family have mobilized rapidly to respond to the needs of the affected population.

According to official disaster management in the country, around 1.3 million people have been impacted with over 15,000 homes destroyed or severely damaged. More than 350 people have been confirmed dead and more than 360 are missing. In addition, more than 200,000 people have been displaced and moved into 1,275 shelters

Large parts of the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Southern provinces remain submerged, while rescue teams continue searching for the missing in landslide-prone regions. The flooding and landslides caused extensive destruction to public infrastructure.

A Salesian noted, “Many roads, bridges, and village access routes have been washed away or blocked, leaving several communities isolated. Power cuts, water contamination and communication failures have been reported in multiple districts. Emergency crews from the military and police continue clearing roads, restoring utilities, and delivering food and medicine to stranded families. Some Salesian communities have opened their houses to displaced families and are coordinating relief activities with parish groups, youth movements and volunteers.”

Salesians are distributing cooked meals, dry rations, clothing, and hygiene supplies. They are also providing emergency shelter for families who lost their homes; supporting children, youth and elderly affected by trauma; and helping rescue teams by offering manpower, transport and logistical support

One Salesian commented, “People come with only the clothes they are wearing. We cannot solve everything, but we can be a place of hope.”

The suffering is immense, and long-term recovery will require months of rebuilding homes, roads, and livelihoods. Salesian communities are asking for prayers and solidarity and support for the thousands who have lost loved ones, homes, and security.

Salesian missionaries have been operating in Sri Lanka since 1956. In 1963, missionaries set up their first technical institute. Since then, they have established 17 more in locations across the country, as well as youth centers and other programs to help youth in need.

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ANS – Sri Lanka – Cyclone-Driven Floods Bring National Emergency

Salesian Missions – Sri Lanka

World Bank – Sri Lanka

The post SRI LANKA: Salesian missionaries respond to devastating flooding with aid first appeared on MissionNewswire.

SRI LANKA

(MissionNewswire) A team of young innovators from Don Bosco Infotech, Kilinochchi, Sri Lanka, developed and launched an AI-powered wellness app designed to support students worldwide. The Revyv app is a result of collaboration between Don Bosco Infotech and the Salesian Province of Chennai in India. The project received support from the Father Guezou Foundation and the Salesian Mission Office in Spain.

A Salesian explained, “The initiative reflects the Salesian goal of empowering marginalized youth. Revyv will be offered for free to schools across the Chennai Province. The app was shaped with guidance from Niraivagam, a leading institution for holistic well-being, ensuring its relevance to student wellness. Moving forward, Niraivagam will oversee the app’s implementation across India.”

The Salesian added, “While education is the primary goal for Salesians, we care about our students’ whole person and promote holistic well-being. When students are healthy, they have a better opportunity to focus on their education.”

Salesian missionaries have been operating in Sri Lanka since 1956. In 1963, missionaries set up their first technical institute. Since then, they have established 17 more in locations across the country, as well as youth centers and other programs to help youth in need.

Nine out of 10 people who are poor in Sri Lanka live in rural areas, according to the World Bank. More than 40% of the country’s rural poor are small-scale farmers. Farm production is 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.

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

ANS – Sri Lanka – Youth Innovators Launch AI-Powered Wellness App, Revyv

Salesian Missions – Sri Lanka

World Bank – Sri Lanka

The post SRI LANKA: Young innovators launch wellness app designed for students first appeared on MissionNewswire.

SRI LANKA

(MissionNewswire) Sixty Buddhist students from the Arambegama mission territory, Sri Lanka, took the Cambridge Final Exam, marking a historic achievement for the Don Bosco Cambridge English Academy. This milestone is the result of six years of groundwork and the perseverance to overcome numerous challenges. Special recognition goes to Father Thomas, rector, and to Father Jesudashan, Father Paul, Brother Sanjeewa and Brother Jipson.

A Salesian noted, “By imparting not only knowledge but also life-changing inspiration, Salesians have empowered these students with a new vision for their future. This achievement stands as a testament to the transformative power of education and the enduring spirit of the Don Bosco mission.”

Salesian missionaries have been operating in Sri Lanka since 1956. In 1963, missionaries set up their first technical institute. Since then, they have established 17 more in locations across the country, as well as youth centers and other programs to help youth in need.

Nine out of 10 people who are poor in Sri Lanka live in rural areas, according to the World Bank. More than 40% of the country’s rural poor are small-scale farmers. Farm production is 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.

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Sources:

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

ANS – Srilanka – Don Bosco Cambridge English Academy marks historic milestone in Arambegama

Salesian Missions – Sri Lanka

World Bank – Sri Lanka

The post SRI LANKA: 60 Buddhist students sit for final exam at Don Bosco Cambridge English Academy first appeared on MissionNewswire.

SRI LANKA

(MissionNewswire) The Don Bosco Institute of Higher Vocational Education, located in the village of Metiyagane, Sri Lanka, was able to improve the computer skills of students thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. Funding enabled the institute to purchase laptops and expand its computer lab.

A Salesian explained, “The Don Bosco Institute is now capable of providing students access to computer facilities for academic purposes and skill improvement.”

Students attend the school for training needed for employment in a variety of subjects like hotel management and nursing. Salesians work to understand the market needs and provide training in areas where students will be able to find and retain stable employment. This also helps to ensure that the workforce has a ready and skilled labor force available.

The Salesian noted, “The institution’s job-oriented training is producing young people with skills for the workforce. Many young people from underprivileged and marginalized communities are drawn to Don Bosco because of its reasonable course fees and full and partial scholarships. However, the institution had to restrict the number of students enrolled because the computers available weren’t enough. Through this donation, we are able to expand facilities and accept even more students, which has resulted in fewer young people entering the workforce as unskilled workers.”

The school also offers life skills development to ensure youth are ready to join the workforce. A “Life and Career Building” program is offered where students learn how to develop a career path as well how to appropriately address challenges in life and in their jobs.

The Salesian added, “With the life skills training, students gained important soft skills that will help them in their future professional and personal development. Through these activities, students develop teamwork skills, leadership abilities, and understand how to view problems from a different perspective and make positive contribution to society. Students will be able to advance in their life and serve the community as honest and responsible members of society.”

Nine out of 10 people who are poor in Sri Lanka live in rural areas, according to the World Bank. More than 40% of the country’s rural poor are small-scale farmers. Farm production is 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.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions – Sri Lanka

World Bank – Sri Lanka

The post SRI LANKA: Don Bosco Institute expands computer lab thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions first appeared on MissionNewswire.

SRI LANKA

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries in the coastal community of Dungalpitiya, Sri Lanka, are offering free after-school courses, vocational training, and leadership and skill development programs. This new initiative comes in response to the challenges faced by schools in the region and is supported by the Salesian Mission Office in Madrid.

The local population is largely dependent on the sea for their livelihood. While the area has five state schools, the schools do not have adequate infrastructure or sufficient staff. Most of the students come poor families and rely on the education offered there. These are the students that need the most support.

The programs are aiming to reach the whole family to aid in the educational development of all. A Salesian noted, “The educational programs will raise awareness and involve students’ parents and the elderly population, initiating paths of emancipation for women and the elderly through self-employment, the promotion of children’s rights, and community engagement.”

The Salesian added, “Empowering children through education and the development of life skills is not enough unless the family is also conducive to supporting and cultivating the motivation for growth.”

Sri Lanka has suffered a long civil war that ended in 2009, two tsunamis in the past 13 years, and a deadly dengue crisis. Nine out of 10 poor people in Sri Lanka live in rural areas, according to the World Bank. More than 40% of the country’s rural poor are small-scale farmers. Farm production is 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.

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Sources:

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

ANS – Sri Lanka – Empowerment Project for Families, Women and the Elderly and Promotion of Children’s Rights

Salesian Missions – Sri Lanka

World Bank – Sri Lanka

The post SRI LANKA: Education programs launched first appeared on MissionNewswire.

SRI LANKA

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries launched the High Tech IT Lab at Don Bosco Institute of Higher Vocational Education, located in Narammala, Sri Lanka. Salesians are focused on ensuring that youth have the technical and computer skills needed for the current workforce.

A Salesian noted, “As the world is running fast and improving in advanced technology, we have to make sure that our students are keeping up. Otherwise, they will not prepared for employment in the current job market. This new lab will ensure our students have access to technology and learn how to use it.”

The Don Bosco Institute is constantly growing and expanding to meet the needs of its students. Last year, it inaugurated a new college complex that included 11 lecture halls, three offices, a girls’ dormitory that included resident rooms, a television room and bathroom facilities. Since the addition, there is space for more than 400 students in the lecture halls and for the 70 students living in the dorms.

The institute offers scholarships of up to 100% of course fees for students who come from families living in poverty. There are also dormitories on the campus for students who are orphans or those who are dealing with addiction issues and need a safe place to live while going to school. For many, the institute is a second chance at an education. In addition to coursework, students can engage in extracurricular activities such as public speaking, singing, dancing, drama, theater, games and music.

Sri Lanka has suffered a long civil war that ended in 2009, two tsunamis in the past 13 years, and a deadly dengue crisis. Nine out of 10 poor people in Sri Lanka live in rural areas, according to the World Bank. More than 40% of the country’s rural poor are small-scale farmers. Farm production is 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.

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Sources:

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

ANS – Sri Lanka – Inauguration of High Tech IT Lab

Salesian Missions – Sri Lanka

World Bank – Sri Lanka

The post SRI LANKA: Tech lab inaugurated first appeared on MissionNewswire.

SRI LANKA

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Institute, in the town of Narammala, Sri Lanka, recently inaugurated a new college complex that includes 11 lecture halls, three offices, a girls’ dormitory that includes resident rooms, a television room and bathroom facilities. All of the electrical and plumbing for the new facilities has been completed and the rooms are furnished. There is enough lecture room space for the 432 students who are attending and for the 70 students who will be living in the dorms.

The college complex project was funded by Don Bosco Mondo in Bonn, Germany, to help provide higher education for youth in Sri Lanka. Don Bosco Institute was established in 2010 to provide youth with education in the fields of civil engineering, computer engineering, hotel management, tourism management, nursing and caregiving, human resource management, electrical, plumbing, and other trades.

The institute offers scholarships of up to 100% payment of course fees for students who come from families living in poverty. There are also dormitories on the campus for students who are orphans or those who are dealing with addiction issues and need a safe place to live while going to school. For many, the institute is a second chance at an education. In addition to coursework, students can also engage in extracurricular activities such as public speaking, singing, dancing, drama, theatre, games and music.

A Salesian missionary said, “Our mission is to empower the younger generation with spiritual values, skills and modern technology to be agents of transformation in the world. Don Bosco Institute is building a nation where everyone can live in peace and harmony.”

Sri Lanka has suffered a long civil war that ended in 2009, two tsunamis in the past 13 years, and a deadly dengue crisis. Nine out of 10 poor people in Sri Lanka live in rural areas, according to the World Bank. More than 40% of the country’s rural poor are small-scale farmers. Farm production is 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.

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Sources:

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

ANS – Sri Lanka – The Opening of the New College Complex of DBI – Narammala

Salesian Missions – Sri Lanka

World Bank – Sri Lanka

The post SRI LANKA: College complex expands first appeared on MissionNewswire.

SRI LANKA

(MissionNewswire) More than 250 youth from Mankulam and Kilinochchi, Sri Lanka, received valuable career guidance and learned the importance of education at a recent Salesian event. Father Sebananam and Father Dilan encouraged youth to dream big and explore various career paths.

The event offered interactive storytelling and visuals to show how education can shape a bright future. Parents and school staff praised the initiative for its impact on the youth’s aspirations. Both Salesian priests expressed their commitment to empowering youth through similar initiatives in the future.

Fr. Sebananam, known for his ability to connect with youth, said, “Education is the key that unlocks a world of opportunities. Through this animated event, we wanted to create an immersive experience that helps youth understand the transformative power of education and inspires them to envision a brighter future.”

Fr. Dilan emphasized the significance of instilling confidence and motivating youth to pursue their passions wholeheartedly. He added, “We wanted to empower these young minds and help them realize that with the right education, their dreams can become a reality.”

Salesian missionaries have been operating in Sri Lanka since 1956. In 1963, missionaries set up their first technical institute. Since then, they have established 17 more in locations across the country, as well as youth centers and other programs to help youth in need.

Sri Lanka has suffered a long civil war that ended in 2009, two tsunamis in the past 13 years, and a deadly dengue crisis. Nine out of 10 poor people in Sri Lanka live in rural areas, according to the World Bank. More than 40% of the country’s rural poor are small-scale farmers. Farm production is often hampered by neglect and low investment levels resulting from poor financial services and limited technology.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Don Bosco South Asia

Don Bosco South Asia – Igniting Dreams and Empowering Young Minds at Sri Lanka

Salesian Missions – Sri Lanka

World Bank – Sri Lanka

The post SRI LANKA: More than 250 youth attend career guidance event first appeared on MissionNewswire.

SRI LANKA

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Development Center in Dungalpitiya, a municipality in the city of Negombo, Sri Lanka, received 2,640 boxes of rice-meals for distribution thanks to a partnership between Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, and Rise Against Hunger, an international relief organization that provides food and life-changing aid to the world’s most vulnerable. More than 6,000 people in Salesian centers and local communities were impacted by this donation.

Sri Lanka is currently facing a food shortage due to two consecutive seasons of poor harvests. There has been a 50 percent drop in production. There are also reduced imports of food grains due to foreign exchange constraints. These factors, coupled with the soaring prices of food inflation at nearly 94 percent, have left an estimated 6.3 million people — 30 percent of the population — facing moderate to severe acute food insecurity, according to a September 2022 joint Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations/World Food Programme Crop and Food Security Assessment Mission report.

“We are happy to work with our partner Rise Against Hunger to send rice-meals to help address these severe food shortages,” said Father Timothy Ploch, interim director of Salesian Missions. “Salesians offer feeding programs in schools and centers that also extend to the community at-large so that people have proper nutrition. This ensures they are able to go to school and work and helps those who are struggling in the community.”

Salesian missionaries have been operating in Sri Lanka since 1956. In 1963, missionaries set up their first technical institute. Since then, they have established 17 more in locations across the country, as well as youth centers and other programs to help youth in need.

Sri Lanka has suffered a long civil war that ended in 2009, two tsunamis in the past 13 years, and a deadly dengue crisis. 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. Farm production is 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.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Rise Against Hunger

Rise Against Hunger

Salesian Missions – Sri Lanka

World Bank – Sri Lanka

World Food Programme – Food crisis in Sri Lanka likely to worsen amid poor agricultural production, price spikes and ongoing economic crisis, FAO and WFP warn

The post SRI LANKA: More than 6,000 people receive rice-meal donation first appeared on MissionNewswire.

SRI LANKA

(MissionNewswire) Bosco Sevana Center, in Uswetakeiyawa, Sri Lanka, started more than 25 years ago as a rehabilitation center for sexually abused minors. Since then, the center has been converted into a children’s home where vulnerable children, such as street children or orphans, receive care and support to become responsible citizens.

Uswetakeiyawa is a small village located near Negombo, one of the country’s major commercial centers and home to a large bilingual (Sinhalese/Tamil) population with a majority of Catholics. Most of its population consists of very poor families who do seasonal work fishing in faraway places which requires them to leave their children.

These children, ages 7-16, often grow up on their own and face drug addiction and sexual abuse at an early age. As a result, the school dropout rate has risen alarmingly, exceeding 53 percent. The recent political crisis in the country has compounded an already dire situation.

Recently, the Salesian Mission Office in Turin, Italy, has launched a project to support the costs of running the center, which currently houses 30 children.

The multifaceted project aims to ensure that children receive healthy nutrition and good medical care, along with an education. Students can can attend the nearby state school and participate in evening educational support classes. A Salesian noted, “We want to give children the opportunity to continue growing up in a protected family environment, enjoying moments of sports and play like all children in the world.”

Salesian missionaries have been operating in Sri Lanka since 1956. In 1963, missionaries set up their first technical institute. Since then, they have established 17 more in locations across the country, as well as youth centers and other programs to help youth in need.

Sri Lanka suffered a long civil war that ended in 2009, two tsunamis in the past 13 years and a deadly dengue crisis. 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.

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Sources:

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

ANS – Sri Lanka – “Bosco Sevana”: Salesian home that welcomes and raises minors in difficulty

Don Bosco Sri Lanka

Salesian Missions – Sri Lanka

World Bank – Sri Lanka

The post SRI LANKA: Vulnerable children receive support first appeared on MissionNewswire.

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Youth Association, part of Don Bosco Dungalpitiya in Sri Lanka, organized a beach clean-up day. Youth had not been able to gather at the youth center during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the first time they were able to come together, they wanted to do something for the environment.

While cleaning a stretch of beach 1.5 km (approximately 1 mile) long, they picked up 100 plastic bags and 125 bags of miscellaneous waste. Local police supported the initiative and they provided instructions to the youth volunteers. The plastic collected was donated to an orphanage that will sell it to a recycling company, earning a profit for its livelihood.

“In Sri Lanka and in Salesian programs around the globe, environmental clean-up initiatives are taking a priority,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “This has been driven by the Pope Francis’ 2020 Laudato Si’, which underlined the importance of education and training that will help youth foster environmental responsibility. As a result, youth have launched important projects to help their communities and beyond.”

Salesian missionaries have been operating in Sri Lanka since 1956. In 1963, missionaries set up their first technical institute. Since then, they have established 17 more in locations across the country, as well as youth centers and other programs to help youth in need.

Sri Lanka suffered a long civil war that ended in 2009, two tsunamis in the past 13 years and a deadly dengue crisis. 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.

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Sources:

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

ANS – Sri Lanka – Activities in favor of environment by “Don Bosco Youth Association

Don Bosco Sri Lanka

Salesian Missions – Sri Lanka

World Bank – Sri Lanka

The post SRI LANKA: Youth organize beach clean-up day first appeared on MissionNewswire.

SRI LANKA

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Sri Lanka is reaching vulnerable communities with food aid, health and hygiene kits, awareness campaigns, and other initiatives to help those who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Efforts are especially focused on helping war widows in the northern part of the country. Don Bosco Sri Lanka has helped provide women with kits consisting of rice, flour, sugar, tea, soy meat, chili, nourishing powder, bath soaps, washing powder and shampoo. More than 300 women received these kits.

All Salesian institutions in Sri Lanka have been mobilizing to deliver assistance and supplies. Don Bosco Development Center in Dungalpitiya is keeping a register of those most in need and distributing basic necessities within the local communities where the government has imposed strict lockdowns.

“The pandemic has been particularly challenging for families and war widows on their own who were already living in poverty and relying on the informal economy to make enough money to put food on the table,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Salesian organizations in Sri Lanka and around the globe have been working since the start of the pandemic to ensure that vulnerable people are taken care of and have the food and basic supplies they need to survive.”

Salesian missionaries have been operating in Sri Lanka since 1956. In 1963, missionaries set up their first technical institute. Since then they have established 17 more in locations across the country, as well as youth centers and other programs to help youth in need.

Sri Lanka suffered a long civil war that ended in 2009, two tsunamis in the past 13 years and a deadly dengue crisis. 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.

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Sources:

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

ANS – Sri Lanka – “Don Bosco Sri Lanka” supports war widows

Salesian Missions – Sri Lanka

World Bank – Sri Lanka

The post SRI LANKA: Don Bosco Sri Lanka provides 300 war widows with food and hygiene kits first appeared on MissionNewswire.

SRI LANKA

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries with Don Bosco Development Center in Dungalpitiya, Sri Lanka, are involved in relief activities to help those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Sri Lankan government has declared Colombo, Jaffna, Kandy and Negombo as areas most affected by the virus. It’s reported the country is seeing 2,500 new infections and about 300 deaths each day.

All schools have been closed and a lockdown has been imposed in most of the country. Marginalized families are sinking into debt and poverty. The Don Bosco Development Center is keeping a register of those most in need and distributing basic necessities.

In 2020, aid was distributed on a large scale and is currently continuing in some locations such as Negombo, Kotadeniyawa, Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Pallavarayan Kaddu and Dungalpitiya.

“The pandemic has been particularly challenging for families who were already living in poverty and relying on the informal economy to make enough money to put food on the table,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Salesian organizations in Sri Lanka and around the globe have been working since the start of the pandemic to ensure that these families are taken care of and have the food and basic supplies they need to survive.”

Salesian missionaries have been operating in Sri Lanka since 1956. In 1963, missionaries set up their first technical institute. Since then they have established 17 more in locations across the country, as well as youth centers and other programs to help youth in need. Some students who have nowhere else to turn are living at Salesian schools and are being cared for through the lockdown, including many students who attend Don Bosco Murunkan.

Youth at Don Bosco Murunkan come from villages that are very poor, and they have been affected by the war. Their parents, if they are still alive, are poor daily wage laborers. Some only have their mothers because their fathers were killed during the war. Politically, these families have very little power, do not own land and have few rights. They are still treated as second class citizens. Many do not have proper houses to live in or access to regular work. They depend on the government for help, such as being provided a widow’s pension.

Because of the conditions of poverty in which they were raised, many of the students at Don Bosco Murunkan are not healthy and are undernourished. The students are staying at a boarding house and are being provided three meals a day and snacks to help improve their health so they can focus on their studies.

Sri Lanka has suffered a long civil war that ended in 2009, two tsunamis in the past 13 years, and a deadly dengue crisis. 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.

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Sources:

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

ANS – Sri Lanka – “Don Bosco Development Center” helping needy

Salesian Missions – Sri Lanka

World Bank – Sri Lanka

The post SRI LANKA: Families facing poverty receive pandemic relief supplies first appeared on MissionNewswire.

SRI LANKA

(MissionNewswire) Sixty boys are receiving education and shelter and having their basic needs met at Don Bosco Murunkan, located in Mannar, Sri Lanka, thanks to donor funding received from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. This helps keep the boys safe during the coronavirus pandemic. Many of the students are orphans or only have one parent, usually their mother, and are unable to pay their expenses at Don Bosco Murunkan. The funding ensures they are able to continue to receive their education in safe and supportive environment while being fed nutritious meals to address the undernourishment many have suffered.

All of the children attending Don Bosco Murunkan come from villages that are very poor, and they have been affected by the war. Their parents, if they are still alive, are poor daily wage laborers. Some only have their mothers because their fathers were killed during the war. Politically, these families have very little power, do not own land and have few rights. They are still treated as second class citizens. Many do not have proper houses to live in or access to regular work. They depend on the government for help, such as being provided a widow’s pension.

Because of the conditions of poverty in which they were raised, many of the students at Don Bosco Murunkan are not healthy and are undernourished. The students are staying at a boarding house and are being provided three meals a day and snacks to help improve their health so they can focus on their studies. With the funding, Salesians are able to provide the students with chicken, beef, eggs, vegetables and fruits. They also have access to clean water, soap, face masks and washing basins to practice good hygiene.

In addition to their studies, youth are able to have recreation time with their peers. Salesians have games and sports equipment for youth to play and learn new skills. The recreation activities also ensure youth are able to get exercise and learn team building.

“Don Bosco Murunkan is ensuring that these youth have access to education and the healthy nutrition they need to concentrate on their studies,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions. “Having a clean environment and access to soap and clean water is particularly important during this pandemic. We are grateful to our donors who are helping these 60 young students have hope for the future and a better life.”

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:

Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Don Bosco Murunkan Facebook

Salesian Missions – Sri Lanka

World Bank – Sri Lanka

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“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

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Due to torrential monsoon rains, water levels of five rivers—Kalu, Kelani, Gin, Nilwala and Attanagalu Oya—rose submerging vast expanses of land and causing significant damage. The flooding brought by the rains, which started May 25, is believed to be the island’s worst flooding in 14 years. Salesian missionaries in Sri Lanka set up its own Disaster Mitigation and Relief Unit in its provincial house due to the threat to the country from torrential rain, cyclones, floods, landslides, heat waves and droughts, which have been occurring on a more frequent basis.

“Because Salesian missionaries are living in the communities where they are providing education, workforce development and social development services, they are perfectly positioned to respond in times of crisis,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “The new unit developed with the Salesian program allows missionaries to be well-equipped for disaster preparedness to effectively mitigate foreseeable and predictable disasters, coordinate relief work, and help with post-disaster resettlement, if needed.”

Salesian missionaries are currently helping families affected by the most recent flooding and landslides. They are in urgent need of dry rations such as rice, dhal, bottled water, tea leaves, milk powder, baby food, canned food and ready-to-eat packaged food such as biscuits, bread and jam. They are also in need of hygiene items such as soap, toothbrushes, sanitary goods, bed sheets and clothing. Other nonprofit partners who work in collaboration with Salesian missionaries in Sri Lanka, like the Conference of Major Religious Superiors, have also turned to the missionaries for assistance.

The local Don Bosco Center is also providing the support of its students in the electrical, plumbing, welding and civil engineering programs to help repair homes and rebuild those that can’t be salvaged. This both allows students to put their skills to work in the field and helps support families in need.

“We are hoping that anyone that can help us in this time of crisis will so that we are able to provide assistance for as many families in need as possible,” says Father Joseph Almeida, provincial of Sri Lanka. “Many people in the area have suffered a terrible loss with their homes and personal possessions destroyed. Salesian missionaries are here to help with the immediate relief and help them rebuild their homes and lives.”

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:

ANS – Sri Lanka – Call for solidarity following floods

NPR – Monsoon-Triggered Mudslides, Floods In Sri Lanka Kill More Than 90 People

World Bank – Sri Lanka

The post SRI LANKA: Salesian Missionaries Provide Relief After Devastating Floods and Landslides first appeared on MissionNewswire.

The worst-hit areas are in Sri Lanka’s capital city of Colombo in the north-eastern suburbs along the Kelani River. Salesian missionaries living and working in the area immediately began providing assistance to the flood victims including providing shelter and basic necessities. Salesian property has been affected by the storms as well. Fr. Joseph Almeida, provincial of the Salesians in Sri Lanka, reported that the storm ripped off the Provincial House’s roof, uprooted trees and brought down power lines in the town.

“Our chapel within the Provincial House is flooded forcing us to even shift things out to a temporary room to be used as a place for prayer,” says Fr. Almeida. “Most people in the vicinity have had their homes and personal property destroyed suffering crippling losses. As Salesians we are here to help the people in desperate need although we ourselves are also suffering just as much as the people in general.”

Salesian institutions in the North and Western Provinces of the country provided education, shelter and proper nutrition to youth in their boarding homes. The concern is how to continue to provide these supplies when roads and supply routes are blocked.

“We are hoping and praying that the weather condition improves before we run out of food for the children in the boarding homes,” adds Fr Almeida. “It is only after the weather improves and the floods recede that we would be able to access the amount of damages and loses that have been caused by the floods to our institutions. We ask for your generous support and donations in these trying times so that, together, we can help alleviate the plight of the flood victims.”

Salesian missionaries and their students are waiting for the floods to recede to launch relief operations. They plan to distribute rice, clothes, potable water, hygiene materials, bed sheets, mattresses and other materials to those seriously affected.

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

ABC – ‘Half a million flee homes’ as Sri Lanka grapples with deadly floods, landslides

ANS – Sri Lanka – Salesian provincial seeks prayers and aid

The post SRI LANKA: Salesian Missionaries Assisting Victims of Intense Flooding and Landslides first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Youth currently comprise more than 23 percent of the country’s total population and those between the ages of 20 and 24 years face an unemployment rate close to 40 percent, according to  a 2014 United Nations Human Development report. A Sri Lanka Labor Force Survey conducted during the first quarter of 2015 found there were 422,446 unemployed persons between the ages of 18 and 24 years.

Since 1983, ethnic violence in the north and east of the country has forced more than 800,000 people from their homes and sources of livelihood. Thousands of children lost one or both parents in the conflict and the number of households headed by women increased, negatively impacting the poverty rate in the country.

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.

“Youth unemployment stems from the ongoing war and deeply entrenched social factors of class, ethnicity and caste,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Salesian missionaries working in the country focus their efforts on meeting basic needs as well as education and social development services for poor youth and their families.”

Salesian schools, services and programs throughout Sri Lanka are helping to break the cycle of poverty while giving many hope for a more positive and productive future. The Don Bosco Vocational Training Center equips its students with the skills they need to compete in the labor market by offering courses in hotel management, electrical and mechanical engineering, computers and more. The center is also serving local employers by providing them a well-trained labor force.

“I am in a good position to help my family financially and hope to have a better future,” said 19-year-old W. Tiron Lakmal who stopped studying due to financial problems and undertook a welding course at the Don Bosco Vocational Training Center, according to a recent UCA News article about the school.

Lakmal said he is grateful for the vocational training or else he would have been just another unemployed young person with no future and no confidence to find work.

Many of the technical school’s students are school dropouts seeking a second chance. The school is accessible to poor youth regardless of their religious affiliation who are looking to dedicate themselves to overcoming the challenging labor conditions in the country. The Salesians of Don Bosco 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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The Don Bosco Vocational Training Center in Nochchiyagama, Sri Lanka

UCA News – Sri Lankan Salesians help youth in difficult job market

World Bank – Sri Lanka

The post SRI LANKA: Salesian Missionaries Provide Technical Training to Poor Youth to Help Them Gain Employment in Difficult Labor Market first appeared on MissionNewswire.

The graduation ceremony in Thanjavur brought together family members, Salesian staff and dignitaries to celebrate the accomplishments of the Sri Lankan graduates while offering cultural activities facilitated by refugees from local refugee camps. Women currently enrolled in a garment making training program at the school displayed their handmade garments and crafts at the event. During the ceremony, graduates were awarded course completion certificates and given trade-related tools to help prepare them for the workforce.

The New Beginnings program, coordinated by Salesian Missions, the U.S development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, is funded by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration. To date, more than 3,300 refugees have received vocational training scholarships through the program.

Since 1983, ethnic violence in Sri Lanka has forced tens of thousands of Sri Lankan Tamils from their homeland in search of safety and a new life in Tamil Nadu, India. According to UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, there are close to 140,000 Sri Lankan refugees in 65 countries with almost 70,000 in refugee camps in Tamil Nadu.

Refugees face many challenges as they begin to make a new life in their host countries. Sri Lankan Tamils are unique in that their host population in Tamil Nadu is also ethnically Tamil. While Sri Lankan refugees share a common language and customs with their host community, they still struggle to gain marketable skills and find livable wage employment.

Since 2010, Salesian Missions has been offering its New Beginnings program to young male and female Sri Lankan refugees who have been living in refugee camps in 15 target districts in India. The program provides market-conscious vocational and technical skills training that results in livable wage employment while allowing trainees to better support themselves and their families. Many refugees enter the program with few, if any, job prospects or with a history of low paid part-time work experience which is typically unskilled and often dangerous and exploitative.

The training provides New Beginnings’ graduates with at least one market-demand technical skill as well as workplace readiness training to enhance positive attitudes, hygiene, personal presentation and teamwork. Results-oriented job placement assistance helps graduates transition from the classroom to employment in the local labor market. In addition, all trainees receive counseling to help them overcome traumas related to their displacement as well as recreation opportunities that promote non-violent conflict resolution and a healthy inclusive community.

“Young men who once worked as painters or unskilled construction hands for just a dollar each day have gone on to technical positions in established local and regional businesses,” says Neill Holland, program officer at the Salesian Missions Office for International Programs. “Some have leveraged their training to travel beyond local areas toward the Indian state’s technology companies and auto manufacturers in the Chennai industrial hub.”

Serving no less than 40 percent women and young girls, the New Beginnings program promotes gender equality and generates opportunities for women whether they prefer to seek work at a local company or join a women’s company collective that allows them to remain home with young children while still engaging in meaningful employment.

Often women with young children are unable to leave the camps to attend school. In response, Salesian Missions created a program to bring training inside the refugee camps. Women can receive training in skills such as jewelry-making and sewing and are also provided entrepreneurial workshops. The program also helps women create a business cooperative while a micro-credit program helps them buy new equipment such as sewing machines. As a group, the women are able to provide their services and merchandise to local businesses, taking advantage of their new skills while continuing to care for their families.

“Young women and girls face many disadvantages and barriers to accessing education and achieving financial independence despite their huge potential,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions. “It is very important for girls to attend school and gain an education. Girls that are empowered though education are more often able to achieve financial independence, marry at an older age and make better and healthier choices that affect not only themselves, but their families and communities as well.”

Salesian missionaries are also providing the New Beginnings program for refugees in Kenya’s Kakuma Refugee Camp and refugees living in Colombia.

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Sources:

ANS – India – Sri Lankan Refugee Skill Training Graduation Day

UNHCR – Sri Lanka

Salesian Missions Office for International Programs

U.S. Department of State Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration

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Each year, June 20 marks World Refugee Day, a day that honors the plight of millions of refugees and internally displaced people around the globe. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, noted that at the end of 2014, more than 50 million people had been forced from their homes worldwide. Almost 80 percent of those displaced are women and children.

Established in 2001, World Refugee Day is coordinated by UNHRC and focuses on honoring the courage, strength and determination of men, women and children forced to flee their homes under threat of persecution, conflict and violence. Each year, the day focuses on a particular theme that highlights specific circumstances faced by refugees. This year’s theme, “Get to know a refugee – Ordinary people living through extraordinary times,” aims to bring the public closer to the human side of the refugee story.

“All around the world we are seeing families fleeing violence,” said High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres in a recent statement about World Refugee Day. “The numbers are massive – but we must not forget that these are mothers and fathers, daughters and sons. People who led ordinary lives before war forced them to flee. On this World Refugee Day, everyone should remember the things that connect all of us – our common humanity.”

To mark World Refugee Day 2015, Salesian Missions is proud to highlight programs around the globe that provide life-changing education and support for refugees and internally displaced people in need that were developed by Salesian Missions and funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration. Salesian Missions, headquartered in New Rochelle, NY, is the U.S. Development Arm of the international Salesians of Don Bosco.

COLOMBIAN REFUGEES

In recent years, more than 450,000 people have fled the violence of Colombia to neighboring Ecuador, Venezuela, Panama and Costa Rica. Salesian Missions’ New Beginnings initiative, which started in 2011, has provided more than 1,000 Colombian refugees in these four countries vocational and human development training as well as job placement services.

Many of the Colombian refugees began the program with no marketable skills. Without the prospect of a job, it was hard for them to create stability for their families and build new lives. The New Beginnings program grants each refugee 260 hours of technical training as well as 40 hours of human development workshops. The training programs, coupled with the job placement services, allowed these victims of violence and chaos to start over and build a stable, hopeful future for themselves, their families and their new communities.

SRI LANKAN REFUGEES IN INDIA

For the fifth year, Salesian Missions has received funding from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration to conduct its New Beginnings program for Sri Lankan Refugees in Tamil Nadu, India. To date, close to 2,500 refugees have received vocational training scholarships through the program. Since 1983, ethnic violence in Sri Lanka has forced tens of thousands of Sri Lankan Tamils from their homeland in search of safety and a new life in Tamil Nadu, India. According to UNHCR, there are close to 140,000 Sri Lankan refugees in 65 countries, with almost 70,000 in refugee camps in Tamil Nadu.

Refugees face many challenges as they begin to make a new life in their host countries. Sri Lankan Tamils are unique in that their host population in Tamil Nadu is also ethnically Tamil. While Sri Lankan refugees share a common language and customs with their host community, they still struggle to gain marketable skills and find livable wage employment.

Since 2010, Salesian Missions has been providing its New Beginnings program for young male and female Sri Lankan refugees who have been living in refugee camps in 15 target districts in India. In 2015, Salesian missionaries are serving 550 individuals by providing vocational training through a network of nine Salesian-run Don Bosco schools spread across Southeast India. In addition, 550 women are benefiting from refugee camp-based small business incubator programs. The New Beginnings program provides market-conscious vocational and technical skills training that results in livable wage employment, allowing trainees to better support themselves and their families. Many refugees enter the program with few, if any, job prospects or with a history of low paid part-time work experience which is typically unskilled and often dangerous and exploitative.

REFUGEES IN KENYA

Kakuma was established in 1992 near Kenya’s border with South Sudan and was a place of refuge for unaccompanied minors fleeing warring factions in what was then southern Sudan. Today, the Kakuma refugee camp has more than 180,000 refugees, well over the 120,000 person capacity for which it was built. More than 44 percent of the refugees at the camp are from South Sudan and arrived after fleeing the country to escape conflict and violence.

Kakuma is operated by UNHCR in collaboration with Salesian missionaries in the country as well as several other humanitarian organizations. The camp offers refugees safety, security and life-saving services such as housing, healthcare, clean water and sanitation. Salesian missionaries at Kakuma refugee camp operate the Holy Cross Parish and the Don Bosco Vocational Training Center where 1,044 young men and women are receiving critical employment and life skills. There are many courses available and those studying welding, carpentry and bricklaying often utilize their new skills helping to build infrastructure within the camp. Salesian missionaries are currently seeking funding to build a new school on a donated plot of land at the refugee camp in order to meet the growing demand.

Salesian missionaries at the camp also operate the Helping Children to be Children program which gathers refugee children and leads them in games, songs and classes held outdoors on the camp grounds. As part of the program, children are offered the opportunity to draw and learn to speak English. Close to 3,000 children benefit from this Salesian program which currently has no steady funding and is run primarily by refugee volunteers.

SYRIAN REFUGEES IN TURKEY

Sharing a 500-mile-long border with Syria, Southeastern Turkey has more than 1.6 million Syrian refugees, as reported by the United Nations. Salesian missionaries are providing services at three sites within Syria while also providing for Syrian refugees in Turkey. While many Syrian refugees stay in towns on the Turkey-Syrian border, many find their way to big cities like Istanbul where Salesian missionaries operate a program that currently serves close to 400 Syrian refugees.

At the Don Bosco Center in Istanbul, Salesian Father Andres Calleja Ruiz leads special programs for refugee children and youth from Syria as well as for a growing number of families fleeing ISIS persecution in Iraq. Because most refugees do not speak the local language it is difficult for children to attend school and adults to find work. At the Center, Salesian missionaries provide a school for more than 350 refugee children where they learn English language skills and traditional school subjects such as mathematics, geography and music. Students have access to sports and dance programs intended to help them connect with their peers and find enjoyment and comfort in their new surroundings. In addition, the program provides counseling both for youth and their families to help them overcome the challenges and traumas they have faced.

Technical skills training is a critical component of Salesian work in Istanbul. Many refugees leave the country’s border towns and refugee camps and make their way to Istanbul hoping to find employment and a more stable life. If they fail to find work, refugees are often left in dire circumstances. The Don Bosco Center’s technical skills training program is a critical safety net for those in need.

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Sources:

World Refugee Day 2015

The post WORLD REFUGEE DAY: Salesian Missions Highlights Educational Programs Assisting Refugees around the Globe first appeared on MissionNewswire.

While the civil war’s official end came in May 2009, the recruitment of child soldiers continues to rise according to Douglas Devanada, Minister for Tamil Social Services. He quotes reliable sources that say that the LTTE (the rebel group of the Tamil Tigers in the north of Sri Lanka) aims to recruit about 60,000 children in the north of the country.

The recruitment and use of child soldiers in the country’s civil war has gone on for years in Sri Lanka. Fewer children are attending school due both to fighting the war and the fear of falling into the hands of the rebel army on the way to school. Some children have limited defenses to resist recruitment efforts. Others faced with poverty, lack of education and few job prospects see little alternative to joining.

Child soldiers are used for various purposes in the civil war that has raged through the country for a little more than 20 years. While some are fighters, others act as scouts and guides and man checkpoints. Others run errands or cook and clean for the armed forces. Some of the most unfortunate are used as suicide bombers. Gender and age offer no protection against recruitment efforts. Some children have been as young as eight years old. And girls can face an even tougher time than their male peers.

Girls are used as soldiers in the same way as boys, but they also face gender-based violence. Reports of sexual exploitation, human trafficking and forced prostitution are all too common. In addition to the typical traumas of war, girls are subjected to unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases and social stigma making it difficult, if not impossible, to reintegrate back into their communities.

In the wake of this ongoing trauma, the Salesians continue their work with child soldiers in Sri Lanka. A rehabilitation center in Colombo, which was first opened to assist “at risk” street children and young victims of sexual abuse has in recent years worked with child soldiers providing therapy and job skills training. Subsequently, other Salesian Missions rehabilitation centers have opened throughout the country working to help more and more child soldiers reintegrate back into their communities and move forward with their lives.

In addition, the Salesians operate Mary Help of Christians House in Negombo, Sri Lanka, which is home to 173 girl soldiers. This rehabilitation center is run by Salesian Sisters who realized that these girls had no place to turn. In addition to offering the basics of food, clothing and shelter, the sisters focus on the physical and psychological health of the girls. Their dedication and support has enabled the girls to come a long way in the past few years. Nearly half of them are attending classes between the 6th and 8th grade levels, while several of the older girls are taking professional courses.

Physical wounds heal over time but the emotional and psychological wounds that both male and female child soldiers face can take a lifetime to heal. The emotional support, education and job placement provided by the Salesians plays a large role in helping youth come to terms with their circumstances and preparing them for a brighter future.

Sources

Salesian Missions: In Sri Lanka: Giving Girl Soldiers A Better Life

ANS (Salesian Info Agency): Former child girl soldiers: the work of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians

WatchList: Sri Lanka

IRIN: Fighting for the rights of child soldiers

The post SRI LANKA: Giving Child Soldiers an Escape Route, Helping Girl Soldiers Overcome Trauma first appeared on MissionNewswire.