(MissionNewswire) Jugend Eine Welt (Youth One World), the Salesian Austrian Development Agency, was represented at the 10th Austrian World Summit, the international climate conference hosted by Austrian-born former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The conference was held in Vienna and Wolfgang Wedan, global emergency relief coordinator of Jugend Eine Welt, participated as a partner of the Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative.

A Salesian explained, “Jugend Eine Welt used the opportunity to bring the perspective of the worldwide Don Bosco network into the international climate debate through discussions with representatives from politics, civil society, the church, and development cooperation who were present.”

The key message delivered was that ecological transformation can only succeed if youth have access to high-quality education and vocational training. The expansion of renewable energy, sustainable infrastructure and climate-resilient livelihoods requires well-trained professionals while at the same time creating opportunities for millions of youth.

Further, Jugend Eine Welt highlighted Don Bosco projects that have already been supported and implemented locally thanks to the partnership with the Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative.

One example is the installation of a 30-kWp photovoltaic system at a Don Bosco School in Mangalagiri on the east coast of India. The system significantly reduces the school’s energy costs and makes it possible to invest the resulting savings directly into educational and social programs for disadvantaged youth. At the same time, the project contributes to the reduction of CO2 emissions over decades.

Another supported program took place in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, through the project “Active Climate Protection at the Bosco Children Center.” With this support, work within the existing eco-clubs was strengthened, promoting awareness of climate protection, sustainability, and practical environmental skills among youth.

Pope Leo XIV sent a special message through his video address to the participants of the Austrian World Summit. In it, he emphasized that the climate crisis cannot be viewed in isolation but is closely linked to social and economic challenges. In doing so, he echoed key concerns of the encyclical Laudato Si’ and underscored the inseparable connection between the protection of creation, social justice, and the dignity of every human being.

“Climate protection is always also a question of justice,” explained Reinhard Heiserer, CEO of Jugend Eine Welt. “Young people in the Global South need access to education, training, and sustainable future prospects. The experiences of our Don Bosco partners show that ecological responsibility and social development can be achieved together.”

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Photo courtesy of Don Bosco Green Alliance

Don Bosco Green Alliance – Austrian World Summit: Jugend Eine Welt brought the Don Bosco Voice into the International Climate Debate

Salesian Missions

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(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco International recently participated in a meeting held by the Platform of Fundamental Rights, a body of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, based in Vienna, Austria. At the meeting “Human rights in challenging times—a way forward,” Salesians held the session “Promoting the rights of young citizens of third countries in alternative assistance services.”

The session, led by Renato Cursi, executive secretary of Don Bosco International, aimed to educate about unaccompanied foreign minors and young third-country nationals who received support, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Momodou Jallow, a young man from Gambia who arrived in Italy as a minor, spoke at the meeting. He told his story and the challenges he faced once in Italy. He also highlighted the opportunities he had thanks to Salesians for Social in Naples, Italy. Jallow’s boyhood story was intense. Today, he loves soccer and studying, and he is active with volunteering. He has also recently started an internship.

Jallow’s testimony highlighted key points on issues related to welcoming children and young adult migrants, transitioning youth into adulthood, and their risks of their leaving social service supports. Jallow also gave voice to young migrants and to their experiences, and he stressed the importance of more support for youth. He continues to be engaged with his community and a voice for those in need, helping to collect and distribute food during the pandemic.

Through education and social development programming, Salesian missionaries in more than 130 countries around the globe work to ensure that all youth know their rights, are able to fully participate in their communities and have their voices heard.

Whether it’s combating child labor, assisting homeless youth or building schools where children previously had no access to education, Salesian missionaries are on the front lines ensuring youth have access to programs and services they need. Working in more than 5,500 Salesian educational institutions and youth centers around the world, missionaries educate children in some of the poorest places on the planet.

“Education is always our primary focus, but we know youth are dealing with much more than just needing access to education,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Salesian missionaries also provide education on human rights which provides vulnerable youth a sense of personal dignity and self-worth. At Salesian schools, young children gain an education, learn about their rights and freedoms, and participate in sports and other activities—all in a safe environment that encourages learning and growth.”

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

ANS – Austria – The work of Human Rights in difficult times: “Don Bosco International” and “Salesians for the Social” show Salesian good practices

Don Bosco International

Salesians for Social

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Salesian Missions

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Europe is experiencing a maritime refugee crisis of historic proportions, according to UNHCR, the United Nations Refugee Agency. In 2015, more than 300,000 refugees and migrants crossed the Mediterranean Sea to come to Europe. At the end of 2015, 60 million people worldwide, the highest level on record, were forcibly displaced as a result of persecution, conflict and human rights violations, and of those documented, 19.5 million were refugees.

In 2014, European Union countries hosted a relatively small share of refugees. At the end of 2014, the world’s top refugee host was Turkey followed by Pakistan, Lebanon, Iran, Ethiopia and Jordan. Lebanon hosted by far the largest number of refugees by population. By the first six months of 2015, 137,000 refugees and migrants arrived in Europe by sea under profoundly difficult and unsafe conditions as compared to the 75,000 that arrived during the same time period last year. The numbers are expected to continue to rise throughout 2016.

“Salesian missionaries are working across Europe helping to provide needed services for the new wave of refugees arriving in these countries,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “In countries around the globe, Salesian missionaries are assisting close to 400,000 refugees and internally displaced persons whose lives have been affected by war, persecution, famine and natural disasters such as floods, droughts and earthquakes. Salesian programs provide refugees much needed education and technical skills training, workforce development, healthcare and nutrition.”

Most recently, the Don Bosco 4 Refugees program brought together 22 participants from nine different countries to Vienna, the capital of Austria, for a six-day training course titled “Speak Up!” The program was an intensive course on youth advocacy and refugees and aimed to develop the competence of the participants in developing and implementing advocacy actions while focusing on the impact on local, regional, national and European level, in particular policies affecting young refugees.

The training took a competence-based approach. Participants engaged in a simulation game focused on refugees and border officials to better understand the process and experience of being a refugee. They focused on defining the term refugee and thinking more deeply about refugee issues facing society. Stakeholder analysis allowed the participants to consider the role of government, media, non-governmental organization and citizens in advocacy. Participants also shared the current situation of refugees in their home countries.

Training participants also explored the issue of refugee human rights and how to better use a human rights-based approach in their ongoing projects. A guest speaker from the Fundamental Rights Agency gave the participants an overview of their organization’s work and the status of human rights in Europe today.

The final part of the training program focused on how to develop strong refugee advocacy programs. Participants were challenged to develop a campaign in support of refugees aimed at different target groups including youth centers, schools, and the general public. Youth received feedback on their campaign to assist them in making improvements and developing strong campaigns to take back home to their local organizations.

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(PHOTO: ANS)

ANS – DBYN trains volunteers to speak up for young refugees

UNHCR – The sea route to Europe: The Mediterranean passage in the age of refugees

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