(MissionNewswire) The Salesian Missionary Center in Warsaw, Poland, has been serving Ukrainian refugees and supporting people still in the country since the beginning of the Russian invasion four years ago. With winter, power cuts become a humanitarian emergency. The most vulnerable people, including children, the elderly and the chronically ill, are most affected without electricity, heating, hot water and light.

The Daughters of Mary Help of Christians and the Salesians of Don Bosco in Ukraine* have transformed houses, oratories and youth centers into shelters for displaced families. There, they can receive hot meals and access psychological support and prayer, while youth can attend school. In many cities, Salesian facilities have become the only place where stability and support can be found.

A Salesian explained, “The only source of energy at these facilities is often a single generator, which can only operate if there is fuel. Relying on a generator is essential for activities such as cooking and distributing meals, charging phones and medical devices, providing evening lighting, and storing medicines at a controlled temperature. When the tank is empty, everything stops.”

The Salesian Missionary Center launched an online campaign to raise funds to purchase fuel, cover transport costs to the most affected areas and build up emergency reserves. The distribution of aid will be adapted to the current situation in different regions of the country, based on the intensity of power outages.

Contributing to the purchase of fuel means assuring those in need have the electricity they need for cooking, heating and lights. The Salesian noted, “We continue to support the Salesians in Ukraine, so that they can provide electricity, heat and safety where they are most needed today.”

Since the beginning of the war, Salesian Missions and Salesian missionaries in Ukraine and around the globe have supported thousands of people with projects and activities aimed at alleviating the situation of people affected by the war.

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ANS – Ukraine – The role of Salesian works, true points of reference for the local population

Salesian Missions

UNHCR – Ukraine

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

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(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries continue to help support the people of Ukraine* four years after the war began. The war has transformed the lives of millions of people and affected an entire generation of children. They have faced destroyed schools, interrupted lessons, forced displacement, and constant power and heating cuts.

Salesian missionaries have maintained a constant commitment to youth, ensuring access to education as an essential tool for protection and hope. Over the past four years, Salesian schools and youth centers have continued to operate, adapting to security conditions, setting up shelters and ensuring the continuity of educational programs even during the harshest winter months.

Father Mykhaylo Chaban, superior of the Salesian Vice-Province of Mary Help of Christians, said, “The aid we have received and continue to receive from all over the world gives us the hope and support needed to face the challenges in times of war, especially during the cold winter. Thanks to the solidarity of thousands of people, we have light and heat to live on, and many children can go to school.”

Humanitarian aid remains crucial for thousands of Ukrainian citizens. Salesian missionaries travel to areas near the front lines to distribute food, blankets, generators and fuel, supporting families who remain in particularly vulnerable areas. Salesian support has enabled Ukrainians to feel support even in the most isolated areas.

“In these four years of war, it is the youngest who have been most affected. For them, education not only imparts knowledge, but also offers stability, confidence and a future. We remain committed to them and our appeal for peace,” said Father Luis Manuel Moral, director of the Salesian Mission Office in Madrid.

Since the beginning of the war, Salesian Missions and Salesian organizations around the globe have supported thousands of people with projects and activities aimed at alleviating the situation for those in Ukraine and those who have fled to neighboring countries.

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Photo courtesy of Misiones Salesianas

ANS – Ukraine – Four years of war in Ukraine: hope endures beneath the bombs

Salesian Missions

UNHCR – Ukraine

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

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(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries working and living in several locations in Ukraine* have been provided emergency support for the winter thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco.

Salesian centers in Korostiv, Skhidnytsia, Dnipro, Vynnyky, Kyiv and Lviv were impacted by this donation. In addition, the emergency support impacted 650 students at the Salesian schools in Lviv and 20 displaced persons in Vynnyky.

The Salesian centers are experiencing frequent power outages and this is particularly difficult in the winter because of the lack of heat. The project allowed for the purchase and installation of four generators, which have ensured that facilities continue to function, especially the schools, where uninterrupted education was guaranteed. The funding also supported the purchase of diesel fuel for the generators. The generators provide both alternative lighting and heating.

In one of the facilities, an old boiler was repaired and elements of the heating system were replaced. In addition, the hot water system was repaired at the Salesian center in Vynnyky, ensuring proper heating and sanitation.

Father Mykhaylo Chaban, superior of the Salesian Mary Help of Christians Vice-Province of the Greek-Catholic Rite in Ukraine, explained, “The funding gave us hope and support to endure all the challenges we face during wartime, especially in the cold winter. With your help, we have light and warmth for living, uninterrupted training and working processes.”

Since the beginning of the war, Salesian Missions and Salesian missionaries in Ukraine and around the globe have supported thousands of people with projects and activities aimed at alleviating the situation of people affected by the war.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions

UNHCR – Ukraine

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

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(MissionNewswire) The Salesian missionaries in Lviv, Ukraine*, are celebrating the growing success of the Pokrova AMP soccer team made up of youth who have undergone limb amputations during the war. What began two years ago as a small Salesian initiative has become a movement of hope. Today, there are more than 15 AMP soccer centers in the country with 300 youth players. Another Salesian team, the Tytany, was formed in Zhytomyr. A third Salesian team is in the process of forming.

The Ukrainian Soccer Federation organized the first AMP soccer championship with games taking place between August and December 2025. The Salesian Pokrova AMP team won the championship in this inaugural event. The official award ceremony took place in the presence of the minister of youth and sport and the minister for veterans. With the victory, the team will participate in the EAFF AMP Soccer Champions League in June 2026, while the Tytany took third place in its league.

Upon their return to Lviv, the team was officially welcomed by Mayor Andriy Sadovyi, who celebrated the historic victory together with the players. The team was also recognized as “Team of the Year of the City of Lviv”.

A Salesian explained, “Beyond sporting victories, the heart of this project is deeply Salesian. Working with these young people is not just a matter of sport, but a mission of human and spiritual rehabilitation. These young former soldiers and war amputees find in the Salesian centers a spirit of welcoming, family, support in difficult times and a new perspective on life. It is touching to see how young people from all corners of Ukraine travel hundreds of kilometers to be part of it and participate regularly in training sessions.”

Salesians thank the Salesian Mission Office in Bonn, Germany, which has supported the annual maintenance of sports activities and the Salesian Mission Office in Turin, Italy, which supported the soccer field where players train and practice. Further, Salesians thank the Salesian Mission Office in Beromünster, Switzerland, which has been helpful in the education of the players. Salesians also extend their gratitude to all the Salesian Mission offices and other benefactors who have supported and promoted these inclusive activities.

Salesians are now working on the creation of a large Sports and Rehabilitation Center for youth who have lost limbs in the war and for the children of the existing Salesian sports club.

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ANS – Ukraine – The History of Salesian AMP Football in Ukraine: a victory of hope and rehabilitation

Salesian Missions

UNHCR – Ukraine

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

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(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries at the Salesian Lyceum in Lviv, Ukraine*, are providing new locker rooms for the students using the sports fields. The funding for the project is thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco.

Construction and landscaping for the project started earlier this year. Spaces now include a locker room for girls, a locker room for boys and a module for the separate toilets. The locker rooms were equipped with a shower room with a bench and hangers.

This donation has impacted 431 youth participating in activities at the Salesian Lyceum. Youth include orphans and those who remain internally displaced due to the war. Local teams will also rent the soccer pitch for training and have access to the separate changing rooms.

Father Taras Bayovski, headmaster of the Salesian Lyceum, said, “I am grateful that we now have modular changing rooms near the soccer and volleyball pitches. The premises of the lyceum are very limited, and promoting a healthy lifestyle through sports activities without adequate sports infrastructure has always been a challenge for us. We now have a soccer field, a volleyball court and modular locker rooms. These facilities enable us to participate in three student sports leagues including mini soccer, volleyball and rugby.”

Since the beginning of the war, Salesian Missions and Salesian missionaries in Ukraine and around the globe have supported thousands of people with projects and activities aimed at alleviating the situation of people affected by the war.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions

UNHCR – Ukraine

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

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(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries with Mission Don Bosco in Turin, Italy, have been supporting Salesians in Ukraine during the war. Recently, Father Mykhaylo Chaban, superior of the Salesian Mary Help of Christians Vice-Province of the Greek-Catholic Rite in Ukraine, visited Colle Don Bosco to participate in the first profession of a Ukrainian novice formed in Turin in recent years. He shared his experiences during the war.

Fr. Chaban told Salesians with Mission Don Bosco that daily life is made up of hardship and fear, but above all, of commitment, dedication, tenacity, resilience, dignity and hope. That hope that was further renewed by the profession of the Ukrainian novice.

Fr. Chaban said, “Right now, Salesians are trying to do all we can for education in schools and vocational centers. We have after-school centers, a children’s home and sports activities for children and for people who have suffered amputations due to the ongoing war.”

He continued, “We want to do as much as we can to give these young people moments of joy and happiness, even though the war limits us a lot, but we try to ensure safety for all our guests first and foremost. Russian attacks happen mostly at night, but they also happen during the day. The protection of the spaces where we welcome young people, therefore, is an important element of the service we render to them.”

Families from the eastern regions of Ukraine continue to arrive in Lviv, in the west of the country. Towns and countryside are being attacked by Russian forces and refugees are arriving and looking for safer places.

Fr. Chaban highlighted the work of Father Andry Bodnar, who is in the created community of Mariapolis, where Salesians have created modular homes for those displaced. There, Salesians provide support for 250 children along with many elderly and people with disabilities. Even as some people leave, others arrive.

The Salesians try to offer various activities, continually improving and expanding the service according to need. This year, they provided moments of joy to the elderly on trips to the mountains to give them a brief respite from the war. This is a trip Salesians take often with youth.

Salesians have also continued to provide food for 350 people. Fr. Chaban noted, “If we end this assistance, it will be very difficult for them to go without even one hot meal a day. Since they cannot work, they cannot live solely on the small state economic support. The people want to return to normal life and continue to work even in areas where the land may be mined. They clear the land and production continues. Father Oleh Ladnyuk and Father Gregory Shved continue to bring foodstuffs every month to the border areas where families live who have lost their jobs, have nothing, and can barely survive.”

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ANS – Italy – Where war destroys, hope still builds: the Superior of UKR tells of Ukraine after more than three years of war

Salesian Missions

UNHCR – Ukraine

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

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(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries with the Salesian Lyceum in Lviv, Ukraine* were able to use donor funding to install a volleyball pitch thanks to funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. The pitch was set up over the summer and ready for the start of the school semester in Sept. 2025.

More than 400 students were impacted by the donation and have been able to now play volleyball during their physical education classes and afterschool activities. UNICEF reports that since the start of the conflict with Russia, more than 1,600 schools have been impacted by the bombing. Education has been interrupted for many students and they are no longer able to access coursework or have leisure activities with their friends.

The Salesian Lyceum has been meeting these needs for many students, many of whom have been internally displaced in the country. Some of the students are orphaned and in the care of relatives or the Salesians.

Father Taras Bayovskiy, headmaster of the Salesian Lyceum, said, “I am grateful that we now have a volleyball pitch. What we have available for students is limited, and promoting a healthy lifestyle through sports activities without adequate sports infrastructure has always been a challenge for us. We now have a football field, a volleyball court, and modular locker rooms. These facilities enable us to participate in three student sports leagues including football, volleyball, and rugby.”

During the more than three years of war, Salesian missionaries in Ukraine and in nearby countries have supported thousands of people with projects and activities aimed at alleviating the situation for those who have been affected by the war.

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Salesian Missions

UNHCR – Ukraine

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

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(MissionNewswire) For the fourth year in a row, students who returned to class in Ukraine* connected from home, shelters or from other countries where their families have moved in search of safety. The war has forced remote education, in some cases in underground classrooms, said Father Oleh Ladnyuk, a Salesian teacher in Ukraine, in a Vatican news article.

Since the beginning of the Russian invasion, more than 3,800 schools have been damaged, almost 400 of which have been completely destroyed.

In Ukraine, the Ministry of Education provides general recommendations, while schools choose the teaching methods (face-to-face, distance or blended), depending on the security situation and the availability of shelters. Underground schools, already operational in several large cities close to the front line such as Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia and Mykolaiv, offer more children the possibility of attending classes in person. By the end of 2025, there are plans to open 150 such facilities in Ukraine.

“The majority of our pupils come to school and attend classes in person,” explained Fr. Ladnyuk, a military chaplain and high school history teacher in Dnipro. His statement comes from a recent interview with Vatican media.

Fr. Ladnyuk explained that many of the high school students have not returned because they have moved away. In the article, he said, “Many parents try to move with the whole family or send their older children to Western Europe or to the western regions of Ukraine. It is a sad trend, but I understand parents who want the best for their children.”

He also explained that teachers serve a dual role and have since the beginning of the war. They try to be an example of behavior and stability for the children, they invent everything to motivate them, go with them to shelters and calm them down during alarms.

Fr. Ladnyuk emphasized that for him teaching at the school is an opportunity to put the Salesian charism into practice as well as a chance to take his mind off the war. He noted, “It was good to see my pupils on their first day of school, I saw the joy in their eyes too. This is a beautiful thing about being a teacher: having the chance to meet the children who love you and whom you also love.”

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ANS – Ukraine – School starts again, and the bell is an air raid warning

Salesian Missions

UNHCR – Ukraine

*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 UKRAINE: Salesian students continue with classes amid challenges of ongoing war first appeared on MissionNewswire.

(MissionNewswire) The Don Bosco Vocational Education Center, the only Catholic and private vocational training institution in Ukraine*, combines high-quality professional training with spiritual guidance. Despite the ongoing war and all its challenges, the center in Lviv continues to grow and develop.

Over the years, it has become a safe and supportive space for youth who are vulnerable, those who have been internally displaced or are from de-occupied territories, families of military personnel, veterans with disabilities, and all those seeking professional development.

This year, the center introduced a new program in graphic and product design. Existing programs are offered in IT, culinary arts and automotive electronics.

A Salesian noted, “Recognizing the urgent need for Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction, labor market demands, and the evolving aspirations of young people, the Don Bosco Center is planning to expand its educational programs to renewable energy technologies and automation and manufacturing engineering.”

The Salesian added, “These fields are critical to rebuilding the nation and creating a stable, future-oriented economy. Over 85% of our graduates secured employment in their field or continue their studies at universities. It’s not just for youth. In 2024, more than 200 adults completed short-term training programs. For many, it marked a new beginning and a path toward stability.”

Beyond education, students at Don Bosco Center benefit from university entrance exam preparation, English and German language courses, sports, music, psychological support and mentorship, volunteerism, career counseling, employer networking, and spiritual formation.

The Salesian added, “Sadly, due to limited resources, we are unable to accept all applicants. Many young people were not admitted simply because we lacked the capacity. That is why the project of reconstruction and expansion of the center is our team’s top priority. We are committed to opening more doors for those who are ready to transform their lives.”

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ANS – Ukraine – Education That Changes Lives – Even In Times Of War: The Don Bosco Vocational Education Center

Salesian Missions

UNHCR – Ukraine

*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 UKRAINE: Youth gain skills, hope with high-quality vocational education first appeared on MissionNewswire.

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries have continued their work in the Salesian community in Odessa, Ukraine*, despite the war. To meet the growing needs for education, including those of students who have been displaced, construction has started on an additional floor to be used for high school classrooms. Re-roofing of the entire school building is also taking place.

A Salesian explained, “The old roof was badly weathered and the school needed new space. Given the growing demand, increased by the presence of those who have been displaced from other areas of the country, we decided to open a high school to be added to the elementary and middle schools, which have been operating for many years.”

The goal is to build a large Salesian school center in the middle of Odessa’s working-class neighborhoods that are populated by youth eager to study. The project is a Salesian-funded project but faces challenges.

The Salesian noted, “There remains the concern of how to continue to fund the project given the constant increase in the cost of construction in Ukraine. We are hoping that donors will help to support this endeavor.”

During the more than three years of war, Salesian missionaries in Ukraine and nearby countries have supported thousands of people with projects and activities aimed at alleviating the situation of victims andpeople affected by the war.

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

ANS – Ukraine – The growth of the Salesian school in Odessa

Salesian Missions

UNHCR – Ukraine

*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 UKRAINE: School expands to help educate youth who are displaced first appeared on MissionNewswire.

(MissionNewswire) Father Mykhaylo Chaban, superior of the Greek-Catholic Mary Help of Christians Vice-Province of Ukraine*, received a special award during the Football Federation Congress in recognition of the founding of the first Pokrova AMP soccer team for players who are amputees. This team has become a source of hope and an example of how through sports it is possible to restore faith, strength, and new meaning in life for veterans, youth, and people with disabilities.

The award is an important recognition not only for Fr. Chaban but for the Salesian Family in Ukraine. It was thanks to the commitment and initiative of the Salesian Congregation that the team began a year and a half ago. Fr. Chaban received the award from Ukrainian football legend and world football ambassador, Andrij Shevchenko, currently president of the Ukrainian Football Federation, in May.

This initiative, which started in Lviv, quickly developed into a national movement. Today, thanks to the efforts of Salesian missionaries, eight soccer teams for amputees are operating in Ukraine. Salesians explained, “We have organized training courses for coaches, athletes, volunteers and operators, contributing to the launch of these teams in different regions of the country.”

Salesians participated in the recent Spring Cup with two teams, as the Pokrova AMP now has over 50 players, 80% of whom are young veterans. The victory of Pokrova AMP in this tournament was a tangible sign of how the Salesian Family continues to offer hope, a sense of community and new opportunities for growth.

A particularly emotional moment was when the youngest player in Pokrova, an eight-year-old boy, received a special prize of a trip to the final of the UEFA Champions League 2025, which was held in Munich on May 31. He was honored by entering the pitch together with a world soccer star.

Salesians added, “We wish to share this experience with the entire Salesian Family around the world, emphasizing that this recognition is a sign of the strength of Don Bosco’s charism, which continues to be a source of hope, evangelization and social integration for the most vulnerable young people. We are deeply grateful for this recognition and feel called to continue this service that transforms lives, opens new paths and continues to spread throughout Ukraine.”

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ANS – Ukraine – Recognition of the Salesians for a service that opens new horizons

Salesian Missions

UNHCR – Ukraine

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

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(MissionNewswire) Salesian communities in Ukraine* were able to afford heating and electric bills over the winter thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. Those who benefited from the project include children and older youth, people with disabilities and chronic illness, the elderly, and pregnant women living in Salesian communities in Zhytomyr, Peremyshlyany, Korostyshev, Bibrka and Odesa.

In Korostyshev, financial support for heating bills enabled Salesians to continue operating parish facilities and the youth center, providing a welcoming environment for more than 400 people. In Peremyshlyany, the Salesian community was able to pay electricity bills and avoid the risk of power cuts, ensuring pastoral and social support for internally displaced persons and local residents from 120 households. Activities and meetings continued even during blackouts.

Donor funding also supported the Vsesvit Lyceum in Zhytomyr by covering utility expenses, the purchase of diesel fuel for the backup generator and generator maintenance, ensuring that the school could operate without interruption during the winter. Similarly, the Narnia Private Christian School in Odesa was able to continue teaching activities throughout the winter, thanks to support for electricity bills.

Finally, in Bibrka, donor funding provided long-term energy security by funding gas bills and the installation of a solar power plant. This installation ensures uninterrupted power supply to the building housing the oratory and catechetical hall, even during blackouts. The solar power system reduces operating costs, contributing to sustainability.

One of the youth who benefited from the project is Eva, a student at Vsesvit Lyceum. Despite the difficulties of living in a war-affected area, Eva remains involved in her education and spends time volunteering, on creative pursuits, and with her peers. Eva shared that although the city where she lives is relatively calm compared to eastern regions of Ukraine, the constant threat of air raids, electricity cuts and emotional pressure is part of everyday reality.

“We try to live normally, but you always have worry in the back of your mind,” she explained. “The lyceum has become not just a place of study but a second home — a safe and supportive environment where I can learn and grow.”

Eva’s goals for the future include further developing her skills in visual design and photography, and continuing her involvement in youth leadership and volunteering.

Thanks to donor funding, Eva and her classmates can continue their activities thanks to the uninterrupted supply of electricity.

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Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions

UNHCR – Ukraine

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

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(MissionNewswire) The “SAFE-UKR: Support and Assistance for Families in Emergency in Ukraine*” project provides rapid and effective aid to people affected by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Launched in February 2024, the project is active in the regions of Dnipropetrovska, Donetsk and Zaporizka, which are located near the front lines.

The goal of the project is to deliver humanitarian assistance to more than 31,000 people, including internally displaced persons and local residents. Efforts include providing access to integrated health and education services, as well as the distribution of essential goods.

The project is carried out through a collaborative network including the Salesian International Volunteer Service for Development (VIS), international partners AVSI Foundation and Doctors with Africa CUAMM, and local partners Step In and Genofund for the Future. Funding for the initiative is provided by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation.

Over the past few months, the project has provided 4,570 food kits, along with 600 kits of sleeping bags, power banks, thermal clothing, flashlights and more in frontline areas. Special attention was given to families with high vulnerability and little to no access to other support. Salesian VIS assisted more than 3,000 people with mental health and psycho-social support services.

Doctors with Africa CUAMM supplied medicines and health care materials to 11 health facilities in the Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk regions, reaching over 26,000 people. Step In’s mobile medical teams, each consisting of a doctor, nurse, receptionist, and lab technician, also delivered essential medical supplies and services to pre-identified locations. These teams provided health care to over 7,000 people. Using available diagnostic tools, doctors created personalized treatment plans, educated patients and referred complex cases to higher-level facilities.

In addition, through to the AVSI Foundation and Genofund for the Future, four temporary learning centers were established in the Dnipropetrovsk region, supporting more than 2,000 children through educational materials and psycho-social support activities. The two partners also conducted mine and explosive ordnance risk-awareness events for about 4,000 people in shelters managed by the organizations as well as those served by mobile teams from Step In and VIS.

A Salesian noted, “Even though the project has already met all of its planned goals, all teams continue working on the ground to maintain high-quality service. After three years of war, the commitment to supporting the most impacted regions remains unwavering.”

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ANS – Ukraine – Ongoing Activities of the “SAFE-UKR” Project Supporting War-Affected Populations

Salesian Missions

UNHCR – Ukraine

*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 UKRAINE: Project provides education, health care and support to families first appeared on MissionNewswire.

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries were able to construct a new soccer field for students at Blessed Klymenty and Andrey Sheptytskyi in Lviv, Ukraine*, thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. The donation impacted more than 400 students who regularly use the field.

The previous field was in such disrepair that it made it difficult for the students to play at all. It was filled with mud and was uneven. The soccer goals lacked netting, so when a goal was scored youth had to chase the ball.

A Salesian said, “The new field is bringing a new life for the students who are more enthusiastic about playing soccer and using the field. Since the beginning of the school year, Salesian priests and soccer coaches have actively conducted soccer activities on the field next to gymnasium. They organized a class schedule to ensure fair playing time for all. In the morning, students are using the field and after midday, the field is utilized for youth from the Salesian Pokrova Parish.”

Close to the gymnasium is a modular city of Mariapolis, where people who have been internally displaced are living. Among them are youth who are interested in sport activities. The goal is to reach out to these youth so that they can access the new field. Salesians will also rent the field to raise the funding needed to cover maintenance costs.

One of the beneficiaries currently using the field is Lukyan. He says that he really likes spending time playing soccer and taking part in other sports activities. He noted that before the renovation the field was too difficult to play on because it had a lot of holes in the ground. He’s looking forward to having the new field to spend even more time playing soccer after school or during the breaks.

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Image from video courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions

UNHCR – Ukraine

*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 UKRAINE: Students have new soccer field thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions first appeared on MissionNewswire.

(MissionNewswire) The war in Ukraine, which started with a Russian invasion three years ago, has left more than 6.9 million refugees and 3.7 million displaced, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Today, 12.7 million people need humanitarian assistance, including nearly 2 million children. Throughout these difficult years, Salesians have remained committed to supporting Ukrainian youth and their families.

A Salesian working in Ukraine said, “It is very important for us to continue supporting children and young people. We actively seek them out, even in occupied areas, and strive to maintain contact with them. Most importantly, we do everything possible to ensure they can continue their education.”

Salesians report that the impact on education has been devastating. Over 4,000 schools — accounting for 13% of the country’s educational infrastructure — have been damaged or completely destroyed. As Ukraine enters its fourth year of war, the nation faces immense uncertainty, with discussions of a possible peace.

Father Luis Manuel Moral, head of the Salesian Mission Office in Madrid, said, “We hope for a just and lasting peace. These years of war have brought immense suffering to the people. Our commitment is to peace, and we will continue to support the population — especially children and young people, who remain our true mission.”

The Salesian Mission Office in Madrid is one of many Salesian organizations directly involved in supporting Ukraine’s war-affected population. Projects have included the Mariapolis house, a shelter that houses nearly 1,000 displaced people, a winter survival program that ensures schools remain safe spaces where children can continue their education despite Ukraine’s harsh winters, and bunker construction.

The Pokrova parish bunker in Lviv provides psychological and spiritual assistance to more than 230 people, and psychosocial care helps 67 children cope with trauma. Salesians have also created mobile schools in Vynnyky and Zhytomyr. These schools were created with the support of the Real Madrid Foundation and the European Union and provide 150 children with a place to play, receive educational support, and access psychosocial care.

The Salesian noted, “Our lives were shattered three years ago — broken by the sound of cannons and the whistle of missiles. Normalcy no longer exists: the smell of breakfast in the morning, a goodbye kiss before school, the comfort of a safe night’s sleep. Today, everything is a nightmare. We are surrounded by insecurity and violence. Life itself has been put on hold.”

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Photo courtesy of Misiones Salesianas

ANS – Ukraine – Three Years of War and More Uncertainty Than Ever

Salesian Missions

UNHCR – Ukraine

*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 UKRAINE: Salesians remain committed to providing for refugees and displaced people first appeared on MissionNewswire.

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries in Zhytomyr, Ukraine*, received 12,000 boxes of infant formula for families in need, thanks to the support of the Don Bosco Foundation in Paris. The donation was made possible through a partnership with the Laboratoire Modilac brand, which has been producing and distributing infant formula to pharmacies and supermarkets for 40 years.

The shipment of almost five tons of cargo arrived in mid-October and was received by Father Michel Wocial, who is responsible for the Salesian center in Zhytomyr. Don Bosco Foundation has made other donations to help support the Salesians in Ukraine. In 2022, the Don Bosco Foundation provided support for the Salesian Center Odessa, which housed those displaced due to the war. In 2023, the Don Bosco Foundation supported about 30 projects, worth close to 700,000 euro.

“Salesians have been on the front lines of the war in Ukraine since the beginning,” explained Father Michael Conway, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “They have been helping those displaced with shelter, food, clothing, medical care and education. Salesians have also been supporting refugees in countries like Poland and Slovakia. While ensuring basic needs and safety has been a priority, Salesians are also focused on the long-term for these families, acclimating to new realities with education and skills training to find and maintain employment.”

During the more than two years of war, Salesian missionaries in Ukraine and nearby countries have supported thousands of people with projects and activities aimed at alleviating the situation of victims and people affected by the war.

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

ANS – France – Fondation Don Bosco in Paris sends 12,000 boxes of infant milk to Ukrainian families

Salesian Missions

UNHCR – Ukraine Refugee Stats

*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 UKRAINE: Families in need to receive infant formula first appeared on MissionNewswire.

(MissionNewswire) The Salesian Mission Office in Madrid and the Real Madrid Foundation have collaborated to provide 600 youth and more than 700 adults with psychosocial and socio-sports activities over the next two years in Ukraine*. The project is funded by the European Union.

The war in Ukraine has continued to cause destruction and pain. More than 14 million people need emergency aid to survive. According to the UNHCR, the United Nations Refugee Agency, 3.7 million people have been displaced in the country while 6.5 million have fled and are living as refugees. More than five million children have stopped going to school.

In response, the Salesian Mission Office in Madrid and the Real Madrid Foundation have joined forces to support children and their families. Two new socio-sports schools will be opened in Vynnyky and Zhytomyr, aimed at youth affected by the Russian invasion.

Both schools started the school year with a total of 220 youth between the ages of 5-17.  The goal is to create a safe space for children and their families to learn values, practice sports and receive the psychosocial support they need.

In addition to socio-sports schools, the project will also provide educational and psychosocial support in three centers located in the Lviv region, with workshops and activities aimed at trauma management and strengthening resilience. More than 1,300 people will benefit from this project.

“Soccer is my biggest dream and when I train I feel happy,” explained Kajetan, a 10-year-old boy who had to leave Ukraine after the start of the war and now attends the socio-sports school in Elk, Poland. Through sports, he has rediscovered his childhood.

During the more than two years of war, Salesian missionaries have supported thousands of people with projects and activities aimed at alleviating the situation of victims and people affected by the war.

The collaboration between Salesian Mission Office in Madrid and the Real Madrid Foundation began in 2010, with the aim of opening schools in the countries where Salesians work with vulnerable and at-risk youth. There are 22 socio-sports schools, located in 15 countries on three continents, where more than 4,500 youth receive assistance.

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ANS – Ukraine – Two new socio-sports schools to support more than 2,000 children affected by the war

Salesian Missions

UNHCR – Ukraine Refugee Stats

*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 UKRAINE: Youth and families receive support through socio-sports schools first appeared on MissionNewswire.

(MissionNewswire) More than a year ago, Salesian missionaries, located in Lviv, Ukraine*, created the first soccer team made up of youth who have limb amputations due to the war. Based on the success, a professional team and a team for younger youth with amputations have also been launched. 

The professional team is participating in the Polish national championship and provides advice to those looking to get started in the field. The Pokrova Salesian team takes its name from the title of the most venerated Madonna in the country, Our Lady of All Protection. 

Father Mykhaylo Chaban, Salesian superior of the Mary Help of Christians Vice-Province in Ukraine, said, “Every day, several of our rehabilitation specialists, coaches and psychologists work together to help young people overcome this difficult time, find a new balance in life and find an activity that they like that gives them hope.”   

Building off the expertise gained, Salesians have also started the first team for younger youth who have had amputations. These activities have been made possible thanks to the support of the Salesian Mission Office in Bonn, Germany. Salesians have also become an information source for those in Ukraine looking to do something similar.  

Mateusz Widlak, president of Central Soccer Association for Amputees in Europe, expressed support for the Salesian initiatives. Salesians are looking to start a whole league for amputees in Ukraine. Following the Salesian example, two other teams were created — Shakhtar Stalevi in Donetsk and Dnipro Cherkasy. 

“This past weekend, we organized our first event for the whole of Ukraine,” explained Fr. Chaban. “We have hosted these teams in our Salesian center to give youth time for play, training and recreation. The purpose was to get to know each other. We have also organized education for people who would like to create soccer teams for amputees in their cities. Several managers participated in the training. They will start the work to develop new teams soon.”   

Fr. Chaban added, “With the new Salesian Sports and Rehabilitation Center that we are planning near Lviv and that we hope we will be able to achieve soon, we want to offer a place of hope for many young people and families.”  

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ANS – Ukraine – A championship for young amputees and a sports and rehabilitation centre: Salesians dream big to heal the wounds of war 

Salesian Missions 

UNHCR – Ukraine Statistics 

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

The post UKRAINE: Youth with amputations find hope first appeared on MissionNewswire.

(MissionNewswire) The Salesian Family Home in Lviv, Ukraine*, is planning a summer camp in Pula, Croatia, in August for children. Salesians need help to bring 65 children aged 6 to 19, as well as 10 leaders who will accompany them, to Croatia for this camp. Fifteen of the children are from areas most affected by the war.

The Salesian Family Home takes in children who do not have parents, who lack parental care or who are from low-income families. Some of the children have been orphaned by the war and have fled from the conflict in Odessa, Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia.

The children go to elementary and secondary school with their peers, while the older youth vocational training courses at the local Salesian Center. Youth also participate in a wide range of extracurricular activities including learning English, singing and taking courses at the Salesian soccer school.

During the summer without normal school activities, these children do not have the same opportunities for recreation as many of their peers. The goal of Salesians in Lviv is to allow these children to return to school next school year with enjoyable memories, far from the stress of everyday life marked by war.

The Salesian Mission Office in Turin, Italy, noted, “The Salesians in Ukraine asked us to support this opportunity for Ukrainian youth to have a vacation away from the scenes of war. We hope they will be able to experience a brief period in which they forget the nightmare of sirens and shelters, the anguish of war, and the fear of bombing.”

The Salesian Family Home launched in 2006 to provide social development programs for vulnerable youth. Before the war, Salesians often organized short summer stays at the sea to help children detach from everyday life and regenerate physically and psychologically. Today, due to the war, Salesians can no longer cope with the numerous expenses related to travel, food and accommodation, small excursions, educational materials, and games. It is their goal to find a donor to help support these trips to help the youth in their care.

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

ANS – Ukraine – A summer camp for children who have fled the war

Don Bosco Missions Italy

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 UKRAINE: Salesians plan camp for children affected by war first appeared on MissionNewswire.

(MissionNewswire) Father Daniel Antúnez, president of Don Bosco Missions in Italy, recently returned from a trip to visit projects in Slovakia, Poland and Ukraine*. Salesians have been providing direct support for those who have fled Ukraine at the start of the war and those displaced inside the country.

He explained, “These missions are the tangible sign — we want to be militants for peace in response to those who generate war and violence. Weapons and bombs cause the loss of human dignity and do not allow people to recognize a brother or sister in the other.”

Since the start of the war, Salesians in Italy have been offering their support. The Motherhouse in Valdocco was used for mothers, children and pregnant women who fled the war. A few men who were unable to fight because of their age or disability also stayed there.

Salesians have also been working with local Ukrainian authorities to aid those internally displaced. Fr. Antúnez said, “Our interventions are tailored to the needs of the communities we serve. For example, a van was purchased that the Salesians in Krakow, Poland, use to bring goods to Ukraine and return with those who wish to escape. In addition, the houses supported by the Salesians in various locations in the country have been converted into centers to operate relief efforts.”

Salesian International Volunteering for Development (VIS) volunteers are also supporting the Salesian centers. They have a wealth of experience in conflict zones. Fr. Antúnez explained, “We have gained a lot of experience in high-risk areas such as Syria* and Tigray*, where equally devastating wars have created death and destruction and the flight of millions of refugees. During my visit, I was struck by the resilience of the people. I was excited to visit the Salesians in Lviv who provide support for many orphans. There is also a soccer team for soldiers who have been wounded in battle. The team provides physical and psychological rehabilitation for those soldiers.”

Fr. Antúnez also visited Mariapolis, a container village set up by Salesians that has provided shelter for more than 950 displaced people, including more than 300 youth. From there, he went to Kyiv where a project supported by Don Bosco Missions is helping to protect residents with a missile shelter. Fr. Antúnez added, “The next project we have is to house and support people with physical and mental disabilities as a result of the war.”

He concluded, “This trip made me understand in depth how important it is to support this community affected by war and to show them our empathy. Our Christian life invites and moves us to be close to those who suffer. It is a priority for Don Bosco Missions. We want to continue to be a seed of hope.”

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ANS – Italy – Fr Antúnez (Don Bosco Missions): “In Ukraine we are militants for peace”

Don Bosco Missions Italy

Salesian Missions

UNHCR – Ukraine Statistics

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

The post UKRAINE: Salesians provide ‘seed of hope’ first appeared on MissionNewswire.

(MissionNewswire) Since the start of the war in Ukraine,* Salesian missionaries around the globe have been working together to provide support and hope for those displaced in the country and those who have fled as refugees into neighboring countries. Salesian organizations in Italy came together to launch projects. The organizations include Mission Don Bosco, Don Bosco Nel Mondo Foundation, Opera Don Bosco ONLUS Foundation, Opera Don Bosco Nel Mondo Foundation and VIS volunteers.

These organizations coordinated to make the emergency response more impactful in the face of increasing needs arising from the war. Recently, Salesians from Italy were able to visit Ukraine to see firsthand how the projects were unfolding on the ground.

Father Luca Barone, from the executive committee of VIS, just returned from a trip to Ukraine. He said, “In these missions in Ukraine, the first aim is not only the transfer of skills but to show closeness to people who are benefiting from the projects, as well as the local Salesians and the staff carrying out these projects. VIS currently has 17 volunteers there.”

The Salesian delegation entered Ukraine from Poland on April 2 with a first stop in Lviv, where three of the projects are being carried out. The first project is focused on those who have been internally displaced. The Salesian organizations, with the support of the Department of Civil Protection of the Italian Region of Emilia-Romagna and the Government of Poland, have prepared housing containers capable of accommodating families who have arrived in Lviv with the bare minimum.

“Right now, there are 960 people still living in these containers, including 314 children between the ages of 5-17 — and another 12 families living outside these containers,” said Fr. Barone. “For this project, VIS takes care of nutrition, providing daily meals to all these people.”

A second project is supporting people who were left with physical injuries from the war. Salesians provide support for the Unbroken National Rehabilitation Center where war-affected adults and children receive comprehensive and qualified medical care, including reconstructive surgery, orthopedics, and robotic prostheses.

A Salesian missionary explained, “There are many young soldiers wounded on the front, people who were victims of the thousands and thousands of mines left by Russian troops in the territories they invaded, especially in the east, or those who were hit by shrapnel during the bombing. For this population, Salesians have also launched sports activities and soccer education for those with disabilities to ensure social inclusion.”

The third project is focused on orphans in Lviv. This project is supported by the Salesians in the city who can offer shelter and support for youth who have lost their family as a result of the war.

Salesians from Italy also traveled to Dnipro, where Salesians load buses with food and necessities for people who did not want to or can’t leave their homes, mostly the elderly who are not able to receive support from government authorities.

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

ANS – RMG – A mission to Ukraine to give and organise hope

Salesian Missions

UNHCR – Ukraine Statistics

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

The post UKRAINE: 3 projects support people in need first appeared on MissionNewswire.

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries in Ukraine* are still working to support those who have fled for safety two years after Russia invaded the country. UNHCR, the United Nations Refugee Agency, has reported that more than 6.5 million people have fled since the start of the war and there were 3.7 million people displaced within the country. It is estimated that some 14.6 million people need humanitarian assistance in order to survive.

Further, according to the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, there have been more than 10,500 civilian deaths, including nearly 600 children, and approximately 20,000 people injured. These figures do not include the soldiers killed and injured on both sides.

One of the people who sought help from the Salesians is Alina, who fled with her three children in the early hours of Feb. 24, 2022 from Zuivka, in eastern Ukraine. “It took us a day and a half to get to Kyiv and for months we lived with some relatives,” recalled Alina.

Nine months ago they moved and settled in Mariapolis, the Salesian city of prefabricated modules built in Lviv. The city hosts almost a 1,000 people in small homes. The war is also felt in this part of western Ukraine. Alina said, “There are frequent power blackouts to save electricity or due to anti-missile alarms.”

For those living at Mariapolis, Salesians work to instill hope and provide food, fuel for kitchens, appliances, and logistical support. Another project ensures that people are prepared for the cold winter months and that children can still access their education. Salesians have also constructed safe shelters and educational centers.

Salesians will continue to offer help, aid and support to those who have been impacted by the war both inside Ukraine and in neighboring countries where people are living as refugees. Projects include those focused on offering basic necessities, housing, education, health and psychosocial assistance, and the transfer of the elderly to safer areas.

Father Mykhaylo Chaban, Salesian superior of the Mary Help of Christians Vice-Province in Ukraine, said, “We will continue to be at the side of the population, trying to help and accompany them in everything they need. Thanks to the solidarity of the Salesian Family from all over the world, we have been facing the emergency for two years. We only hope that the people who help us do not get tired of doing so or forget about us because we still need help and, above all, we want peace to come.”

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

ANS – Ukraine – The appeal of the Ukrainian Salesians after two years of war: “Do not forget about us”

Salesian Missions

UNHCR – Ukraine Statistics

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

The post UKRAINE: Salesians continue to support those displaced by war first appeared on MissionNewswire.

(MissionNewswire) As winter approaches, Salesians are continuing to help those most in need in Ukraine*. The war has been raging since March 2022 when Russian invaded. Because of the length of the continuing war, many women and children have returned to the country and need support with most basic needs. Youth have started a new school year as well.

According to UNHCR, the U.N. refugee agency, there are more than 17.6 million people in Ukraine who are in need of emergency aid to survive. As of May 2023, 5.1 million people have been internally displaced in Ukraine and as of July 2023, more than 6.2 million refugees from Ukraine have been recorded globally.

“Salesians will never turn their backs on the people who suffer because of this war, which unfortunately does not stop and continues to harm innocent victims,” explained Father Mykhaylo Chaban, Salesian superior of the Mary Help of Christians Greek-Catholic Rite Vice-Province of Ukraine. “Alarm sirens and bombs continue each day, impacting millions of people who suffer from this war. But Salesians remain steadfast in our mission. These supports and education for children during emergencies is a real life-saving tool. This is why it is important that Salesian schools in Ukraine remain open.”

The Salesian Mission Office in Madrid has been supporting children at a school and youth center in Zhytomyr and Lviv. Through this support, almost 300 children have the opportunity to continue going to school and access a safe space where they can learn, play, and feel protected.

In addition to education, Salesians continue to offer humanitarian aid to people who have been displaced. Salesians set up the Mariapolis citadel project in Lviv, where more than 1,000 people live and receive care, food and access to health care. Salesians also continue to travel to eastern cities, such as Novohryhorivka, where they are committed to responding to the needs of the civilian population remaining in their homes.

Father Jozef Nuckowski, a Salesian in Ukraine, said, “We want to bring aid as close as possible to the Russian border, where most villages are devastated, houses are destroyed and people live in overcrowded shelters. There is a lot of need, and thanks to the solidarity that comes to us from all over the world, we can go to these areas and offer food, water and other basic necessities.”

Salesians are already working on preparations for the cold to help people stay warm and have winter provisions. The Salesian Mission Office in Madrid has already allocated 100,000 euros of aid to be sent to alleviate these needs including blankets, heating, warm clothes and more. While the needs are still great, Salesian solidarity will continue until peace arrives in Ukraine and even beyond.

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

ANS – Ukraine – “We will leave no one behind”: the promise of the Salesians after 19 months of war

Salesian Missions

UNHCR – Ukraine Statistics

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

The post UKRAINE: Salesians prepare aid for winter first appeared on MissionNewswire.

(MissionNewswire) The Don Bosco Youth Center in Lviv, Ukraine*, has started soccer training for young soldiers who have returned from the front lines and were injured fighting in the war. These young men have lost limbs and are rising to the challenges of their new lives. The plan is to develop soccer training so that the team can be involved in national and world competitions.

A Salesian explained, “Unfortunately, the war is bringing pain and suffering to all Ukrainian people. Many of those who went off to defend their homeland have lost their lives. Those who have come home will face disabilities for the rest of their lives. Salesians want to support them and help them deal with a difficult period in their lives, as well as help them reintegrate into society.”

Salesians hope to one day build a youth sports center on a block of land they already own. The field will be used for various sports and would be available for everyone in the city to utilize. The sporting activities will be aimed at young ex-soldiers who have been injured as well as children who have suffered amputations and have disabilities due to the war. The center will be designed to be inclusive and easily accessible to all.

The goal is to find donors who want to help Salesians in these effort to support those injured in war. Once the building is constructed, Salesians will provide courses and activities so that young people can find a place where they always feel welcomed and where they can integrate and rehabilitate.

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

ANS – Ukraine – Embracing integration and accompaniment: sport for the strongest of young people

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 UKRAINE: Soccer training supports injured soldiers first appeared on MissionNewswire.

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries are continuing their efforts to help those in Ukraine* impacted by the ongoing war with Russia. Bombings have continued in western Ukraine in Lviv and in the east in Novohryhorivka, where Salesian efforts have become fundamental in the protection and support of the people.

In the early hours of July 6, an alarm sounded in Lviv announcing the danger of a Russian attack with missiles and drones. Several loud explosions rang out across the city, in what has been considered one of the heaviest attacks on western Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure since the start of the war. Salesian missionaries, who work here, mobilized to help those impacted and were left without anything.

The attack damaged about 35 buildings and 50 apartments, which were declared uninhabitable. Forty-eight people were injured and more than a dozen died in the attack. Salesians responded immediately with aid for those who had to seek accommodation in other residences and camps for displaced persons. Salesians also distributed hygiene products and organized a canteen where displaced people could go to eat.

“Salesians never back down and continually try to be in solidarity with their people, martyred and suffering because of this war, which unfortunately does not stop and continues to cause many innocent victims,” said Father Mykhaylo Chaban, Salesian superior of the Mary Help of Christians Greek-Catholic Rite Vice-Province of Ukraine.

In Novohryhorivka, a village still in grave danger, Salesian remain close to the people who are in need and are providing supplies and support. It is estimated that some 17.6 million people are in need of humanitarian support across the country, according to the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR). As of May 2023, 5.1 million people were internally displaced in the country and 6.2 million had fled as refugees.

“I call everyone who comes to us angels,” said Olena, one of the many residents of Novohryhorivka whose homes have been destroyed. “It’s only with the help of these volunteers that we can survive.”

Father Józef Nuckowski is one of these angels. He has been delivering food aid and supplies to people in Novohryhorivka, even though he lives and works about 13 hours from there. He said, “We want to bring aid as close as possible to the Russian border, where most villages are destroyed, homes have been burned and people live in overcrowded shelters. They are in great need of help and thanks to the solidarity of the Salesians from all over the world we are able to obtain and distribute this aid.”

Efforts are also being made to repair schools ahead of the winter.

In total, 66 Salesian organizations from five continents have supported more than 100 projects throughout Ukraine and others are in the pipeline. Salesians promise aid will continue until peace comes to Ukraine.

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

ANS – Ukraine – 18 months after the start of the war, Salesian aid continues

Salesian Missions

UNHCR – Ukraine Statistics

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

The post UKRAINE: Salesians protect, support as war continues first appeared on MissionNewswire.

(MissionNewswire) The Salesian Vsesvit primary and high school grounds were used as a summer camp for youth in Zhytomyr, Ukraine*. The camp offered a time for sports and dialogue and provided food for youth. “Enjoy life and discover the world” was the guiding theme of two sessions of the “Happy Holidays” school camp to provide an encouraging motto in the face of intense bombing in the country.

“Although the war continues and there are frequent alarms night and day, we tried to make our children happy,” said a Salesian in Zhytomyr. Teachers, with the support of Salesians and volunteers, constructed play facilities, including a new children’s park at the high school. It has become the most popular entertainment venue for the students and youth in the neighborhood.

These initiatives for youth entertainment were supported by Mission Don Bosco, the Salesian Mission Office in Turin, Italy, to give youth a chance for peace and play.

“There is still a lot of work, but you can already imagine interesting and useful changes for the lives of young people,” said Father Michal Wocial, a Salesian Polish missionary in Zhytomyr who oversees the school and the Salesian mission. “While there are often moments of fear from bombardments announced by the sirens, the school shelter is capable of containing the students, which is why it has been used for the camp.”

Salesian missionaries around the globe are working to provide financial and material donations to help people still in Ukraine and refugees in bordering countries. Even Salesians in the poorest countries have stepped up in some way to support the efforts.

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

ANS – Ukraine – Attempts at normality: the Žytomyr youngsters’ “happy holidays”

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 UKRAINE: Youth camp offers peace and play first appeared on MissionNewswire.

(MissionNewswire) The war in Ukraine has now lasted for more than 500 days. Salesians are still providing support for families that have fled to bordering countries and for those remaining in Ukraine*. Many families are returning this summer to their hometowns to reunite with their families. Even so, millions of refugees and displaced people are unable to do so due to the danger of shelling.

In Ukraine and in the countries hosting Ukrainian refugees, Salesians have held summer camps for youth who have been impacted by the war and separation from their families. The camps offer time for recreation, education, artistic and sports activities, and workshops. They are held in Salesian centers and outside in nature.

A Salesian in Ukraine said, “Summer is the only opportunity to take a break, not only with respect to school, but also and above all, from the anxiety and danger that children left in Ukraine experience daily.”

The Salesian Vsesvit school in Zhytomyr organized two summer camps in June and July. The camps were divided into two shifts of 12 days each. One camp for 240 boys and girls took place at the school while the other for 140 children was held in Cervia, Italy.

The Salesian missionary explained, “We prepare for months for these summer camps. They are run by leaders and volunteers at Salesian youth centers and are made possible thanks to global Salesian solidarity. The aid that continues to be sent both to Ukraine and to neighboring countries assists refugees and those displaced and helps prepare and repair schools for the new school year.”

Another summer camp took place for 150 Ukrainian children in Slovakia. Youth, in many cases there with their mothers, engaged in leisure activities and non-formal education, as well as took classes to learn the language.

A Salesian in Lviv explained the purpose of the camps. “The goal is first and foremost to make them forget the war, help them make friends, develop their talents and enjoy who they are.” A Salesian in Zhytomyr added, “We realize our Salesian mission of supporting young people in their personal growth and preparation for adult life, especially in dramatic conditions such as those of the conflict suffered by the Ukrainian population.”

The Salesian Mission office in Madrid financially supports four Salesian camps being held in Bratislava, Slovakia, and Cervia, Italy, as well as in Zhytomyr and Lviv in Ukraine. The camps are benefiting 650 Ukrainian youth who have been displaced or are refugees.

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ANS – Ukraine – A summer between camps and oratories for displaced children and refugees

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 UKRAINE: Summer camps focus on refugee and displaced youth first appeared on MissionNewswire.

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries are feeding those who have been displaced by the July 6 bombing in Lviv, Ukraine*. On the night of the attack, an alarm sounded announcing the risk of a missile and drone attack. Subsequently, several loud explosions echoed throughout the city in what was considered one of the biggest attacks on civilian infrastructure in western Ukraine since the beginning of the war. Salesians in Lviv immediately mobilized to help the people who were impacted.

While the Ukrainian Air Force was able to destroy seven out of 10 missiles, the Russian attack damaged a large condominium in the area that is considered a World Heritage Site, the Lviv – Historical Center Ensemble. Approximately 35 buildings have been severely damaged, and 50 apartments are uninhabitable. Residents who have been left homeless and without anything are being provided with temporary dormitory or campus accommodations. Salesians distributed hygiene products and organized a canteen to feed daily meals to those displaced.

The morning after the attack, the Ministry of Internal Affairs announced results of the rescue operation. According to the city council, 48 people reported injuries of varying severity. Of these, six remained in the city’s hospitals for treatment. Ten have been reported killed by the bombing.

“Salesians never back down and try to be continuously in solidarity with their own people who are tormented and suffering because of this war of aggression from Russia, which unfortunately does not stop and takes away so many innocent lives,” said Father Mykhaylo Chaban, superior of the Greek-Catholic Mary Help of Christians Vice-Province.

Salesians in Lviv have previously helped those impacted. Salesians, with the help of volunteers from the International Volunteer for Development (VIS) and Salesian Mission offices, distributed meals to almost 1,000 internally displaced people in Ukraine in the first weeks of the war, among other activities.

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Photo courtesy: State Emergency Service of Ukraine

ANS – Ukraine – The Salesians in Lviv ensure canteen service to the population left homeless after the massive Russian attack on 6 July 2023

Salesian Missions

UNHCR – Ukraine Refugees

*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 UKRAINE: Salesians mobilize aid after bombing first appeared on MissionNewswire.

(MissionNewswire) February 24 marked one year since Russia invaded Ukraine* in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War. Since that time, 2,700 schools have been bombed and more than 5.5 million schoolchildren have seen their education disrupted by the war. More than 8 million people have fled the country as refugees, according to UNHCR – the United Nations Refugee Agency. Nearly 18 million people are in need of urgent humanitarian aid.

“When the shelling started, water, electricity and gas were also cut off. We could not wash and it was difficult to get food,” recalled Boris, who fled Mariupol. “My city no longer exists because it is burned and destroyed.”

Since the beginning, Salesian missionaries have been supporting people who remained in the country and those who fled to neighboring countries for protection. Salesians in Poland and Slovakia, among those in other countries, have welcomed refugees and provided shelter, food, medical support and education. Convoys of medical aid have also left Poland to help Salesians who are sheltering people in Ukraine.

Thanks to the aid received, some Salesian schools in Ukraine have been able to remain open and provide education in emergency situations by building shelters and providing support for water, electricity and gas supplies. There is also some psychological support for students, teachers, and families, while some school costs are being covered.

Sixty-six Salesian organizations from five continents have supported more than 100 projects. Projects include the construction of emergency shelters, support to refugees abroad and internally displaced persons, and educational programs and activities for children and youth. There is also a special emergency plan to cope with winter, as well as aid to affected communities with essential medicines, vehicles, field kitchens, food, clothes, tents, blankets and other specific forms of aid requested.

“We want to bring aid as close as possible to the border, where most of the villages have been destroyed, houses have been burned and people are living assembled in shelters. They need help,” said Father Józef Nuckowski, who led a convoy of aid collected through the generosity of the Salesian family from around the world. “It is thanks to our donors that we can get this aid this far.”

Fr. Nuckowski stressed the importance of the aid delivered as he arrived in Luch, not far from Kherson in southern Ukraine. “Really, everything has been destroyed. Every building has been hit, no one has been left untouched.”

People have been generous in their support and it has been life-saving for those who have been impacted. One of the 55 people remaining in Luch said, “We have experienced the full harshness of the war since its beginning. We just hope that all this will end well, that we can rebuild our village and live in peace.”

Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, has sent food and medical aid to help support people in need. A recent shipment reached more than 1,000 people. In addition to these efforts, soon after the war started, Salesian Missions launched a Ukraine Emergency Relief Fund that is helping to provide shelter, nutrition and supplies to refugees in need. This fund is among other fundraising efforts that Salesians in more than 130 countries are doing in support of Salesians on the front lines of this crisis.

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Photo courtesy of SDB Emergency Response coordinator

ANS – Ukraine – Salesian solidarity will outlast war

Salesian Missions

UNHCR – Ukraine Refugees

*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 UKRAINE: Salesians support more than 100 projects for people impacted by war first appeared on MissionNewswire.

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries continue to ship aid to those impacted by the war who have remained in cities in Ukraine*. The aid, mostly consisting of food, is part of the Salesian plan to help people make it through the cold winter. After being brought to a warehouse in Lviv, the aid was delivered to people in Kherson.

Because it was previously occupied by the Russian army, the city of Kherson has been experiencing great instability. People are suffering from a lack of water and electricity, and daily life is difficult. Many people are unable to work and have lost their homes due to the bombing.

Thanks to the generosity of Salesian donors, those most in need have been able to receive sugar, flour, rice, pasta and oil. The close cooperation among various Salesians groups has made this and other similar donations possible.

“We are coming up on a year since the war started and today more than 16 million people are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance,” explained Father Timothy Ploch, interim director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Salesians are still working inside of Ukraine helping at parishes and providing for those displaced. In addition, Salesian programs in neighboring countries are working to provide shelter, food and support for refugee families, mostly women, the elderly and children. Although funds are limited, we will continue to provide as best we can for those in need.”

Salesian missionaries around the globe are working to provide financial and material donations to help people still in Ukraine and refugees in bordering countries. Even Salesians in the poorest countries have stepped up in some way to support the efforts.

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

ANS – Ukraine – Considerable humanitarian aid arrives for people of Kherson

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 UKRAINE: Salesians ship aid to people in Kherson first appeared on MissionNewswire.

(MissionNewswire) Eleven months into the war in Ukraine*, Salesian missionaries who remain in the country and in surrounding countries like Poland and Slovakia are still hard at work caring for those who have been impacted and displaced. Close to 8 million Ukrainian citizens, mostly women, the elderly and children, are living as refugees in other countries.

Salesian missionaries in Slovakia have been at the side of people in need since the first hours of the conflict, taking in orphans from Lviv and opening the doors to their centers to provide shelter for as many people as possible. Despite all the difficulties that a sustained effort entails, Salesians continue to care for them today.

Salesians have been providing basic needs like food, shelter and medical care. They are also ensuring education for youth and language courses for adults, so that they can become as self-sufficient as possible and find work to support themselves.

The psychological needs of refugees have not been overlooked. For youth, Salesians have tried to offer times of joy and peace and a sense of normalcy. For 47 orphans rescued from Lviv who were scattered among various homes, Salesians gathered them all during Christmas break to take them on a ski vacation and to enjoy time together.

During winter and the Christmas season, many Salesians and volunteers who normally facilitate activities at Salesian oratories decided to spend the holiday focused on supporting and celebrating with Ukrainian families.

One Salesian said, “In some centers for the little ones, St. Nicholas also came by to bring some gifts, while festive dinners and refreshments were offered to all, sharing the different traditions and customs, both in cooking and in the festivities.”

In addition, Salesians and volunteers continue afternoon activities at several state facilities that are housing hundreds of young Ukrainian refugees. They conduct dance, music, language and creative classes. The Salesian added, “In addition to continuing these activities, our goal for this new year is to include liturgy in the Greek Catholic rite in our visits. We have set up a room to be able to offer them a moment of silence, to take care of the spiritual part.”

Salesians in Slovakia are also ensuring humanitarian aid is reaching people in Ukraine. During the consecration of Father Maksym Ryabukha, the new auxiliary bishop in Donetsk, Salesians in Slovakia, Father Peter Jacko and Father Andrej Knaze, donated humanitarian aid to share with the people in his location. The aid included a van full of warm clothes, an electric generator and much more.

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

ANS – Slovakia – From basic needs to social, relational, spiritual life: Salesians and volunteers fully serving Ukrainian refugees

Salesian Missions

UNHCR – Ukraine Refugee Stats

*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 SLOVAKIA: Salesians continue efforts for young refugees from Ukraine first appeared on MissionNewswire.

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries have sent two trucks with humanitarian aid to Lviv, Ukraine*, as part of winterization efforts. The aid included 7,716 pounds of hygiene products and detergents and nearly 55,000 pounds of food. From Lviv, the items will be sent to Salesian communities to distribute to people in need in different parts of Ukraine.

Cities have been bombarded by numerous kamikaze drones. Non-combatant civilians have to survive without electricity and water for days. Others have lost their homes entirely and need a warm place to stay in the cold. Many have lost employment, and with it, any ability to provide for their basic needs. People are in need of electric generators, warm clothes and portable stoves.

“Ukrainian civilians need humanitarian aid of all kinds, including social assistance. We should do everything we can including prayer and material support,” said Daniel Kotvytskyi, with the Salesian Coordination for Emergency Management.

This aid is among many efforts to help people make it through the winter. In November 2022, the Salesian-run International Volunteer Service (VIS) launched a comprehensive six-month project funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation. The project is helping people in Lviv, Zhytomyr and Ivankiv in the Kyiv region. These areas are home to more than 6.28 million internally-displaced persons.

The project sent mobile units to 12 villages to provide psycho-social support and distribute kits for emergency repairs to houses, particularly in Ivankiv province where 2,360 homes have been damaged. The mobile unit also distributed blankets, winter clothes, stoves and fuel. There were 1,000 hot meals cooked and delivered per day. The meals have been made possible thanks in part to the Department of Civil Defense, which has provided four field kitchens.

This project is part of the broader initiative carried out by the coordination of Salesian organizations in Germany, Italy and Poland. Salesians in Poland have been on the front lines of housing refugees and bringing supplies into Ukraine. The Polish government and city officials in Lviv have set up a modular citadel that has been housing 350 people for six months. Salesians are involved in the care of the people housed in the camp, including educational and recreational activities for children, psycho-social assistance, and distribution of hot meals.

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Photo courtesy of SDB Emergency Response coordinator

Salesian Missions

UKRAINE: Salesians bring humanitarian aid to children

*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 UKRAINE: Aid to help people survive winter first appeared on MissionNewswire.

(MissionNewswire) In the 10 months since the beginning of the bombings in Ukraine*, the war has left thousands dead and wounded, millions displaced, and nearly 16 million people in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. Salesians continue to send aid to alleviate the devastating effects of the war on the people of Ukraine.

The massive wave of airstrikes that began on Oct. 10 has damaged essential gas, electricity, and water infrastructure and further challenged an already desperate situation due to low temperatures and heavy snowfall.

Daryna, who left Dnipro at the end of February 2022, returned this past summer with her three young children. Her father and husband are still fighting away from home, and she has no resources to face the winter. She said, “The house is damaged and the windows have been broken by shrapnel. We spend whole days without heating and hot water, and there is nothing left in the supermarkets. It is too cold for the children and we want the war to end now.”

To help those remaining in the country and returning refugees, Salesian missionaries are continuing the Ukraine Emergency campaign to raise financial and material support. The goal the last few months has been to distribute insulated and warm clothing and to help to fix homes, collective spaces, and schools that have been damaged.

While the war in Ukraine continues, economic crises and war still rage in other countries. There is fighting in Syria, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Venezuela, and Nigeria. In these and other countries, millions of children are living on the street and are at risk of trafficking, violence and malnourishment, and remain out of school, denied an education.

A representative from the Salesian Missions office in Madrid said, “We will continue to bring help and hope to the most disadvantaged and suffering. We want to fill the places where we work with good news and sow peace in every painful situation we face.”

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

ANS – Ukraine – Celebrating Christmas with sub-zero temperatures, no water, electricity, and heating

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 UKRAINE: Salesians help people fight freezing cold first appeared on MissionNewswire.

(MissionNewswire) Ten months after the start of the war in Ukraine*, Salesian missionaries, through the Salesian Coordination for Emergency Response in Ukraine, are still committed to helping those in need through the delivery of humanitarian aid and basic necessities. Salesians in Ukraine and bordering countries are also sheltering refugees and those displaced. Services offered include psycho-social support, job guidance, recreational and educational activities for minors, and language courses.

For young girls like Erika, who is from Irpin in the Kyiv region, the help is desperately needed. She said, “My dream has become easier than before. But it seems so difficult to achieve. I just want to go home. I really want to go home.” Erika’s family has lost everything in the war. Salesians are helping them to recover as best as possible and those efforts have not gone unnoticed.

Father Peter Jacko, vicar of the Salesian Mary Help of Christians Province in Slovakia, received the Biela vrana award for a socially useful and courageous civic acts. Those awarding the prize said, “This award is given as a thank you to the rare people around us who are willing to stand up for truth and justice, who have demonstrated civic courage through a concrete act, who have suppressed personal interests in the name of the public good, values or principles, and who may have taken risks.”

Since September, Savio, part of the Don Bosco Network, has been coordinating humanitarian aid and, through fundraisers and various initiatives, financing housing and care for mothers and their children in Slovakia.

Salesians are also caring for 13 of the 47 Ukrainian young orphans who were living in a Salesian orphanage in Lviv. Others were able to return to that city to resume their studies. Those remaining in Slovakia are the youngest of the group. In recent months, they have made huge strides in learning the language and with integrating socially to their new communities.

In addition, Salesian oratories and centers have welcomed about 300 youth ages 6-15. Twice a week, two groups of 12 volunteers provide recreational-educational courses including music class, dance class, creative workshops and group games.

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

ANS – Slovakia – Uninterrupted welcome, help, support: Salesian response to suffering of Ukrainian refugees

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 SLOVAKIA: Aid continues for Ukrainian refugees first appeared on MissionNewswire.

(MissionNewswire) After a recent trip to assess the situation in Ukraine*, Salesian missionaries with the Salesian Coordination for Emergency Management are reporting a growing dire situation as winter approaches. As the war rages on, many are left wondering if relief will ever come.

Ukrainian cities have recently been bombarded by numerous kamikaze drones. Non-combatant civilians have to survive without electricity and water for days. Others have lost their homes entirely and need a warm place to stay in the cold. Many have lost employment, and with it, any ability to provide for their basic needs. People are in need of electric generators, warm clothes and portable stoves.

Children are also suffering without access to their schools, which have been destroyed or seriously damaged. Most students have had to switch to online learning, which is challenging as many towers for internet and cellphones were destroyed. Children are unable to interact with their teachers and their peers.

On the most recent trip, Salesians brought relief supplies including food, children’s winter boots, diapers and hygiene products. The Salesian Warsaw Emergency Coordination Team took them to a home for children and the Children’s Hospital in Lviv.

“Ukrainian civilians need humanitarian aid of all kinds, including social assistance. We should do everything we can including prayer and material support,” said Daniel Kotvytskyi, with the Salesian Coordination for Emergency Management. “This most recent emergency aid was made possible thanks to our generous benefactors from South Korea, Canada and Australia. Since the beginning of the war, thanks to the support of the Salesian Family around the world, we are able to help where it is most needed.”

Salesian missionaries around the globe are working to provide financial and material donations to help people still in Ukraine and refugees in bordering countries. Even Salesians in the poorest countries have stepped up in some way to support the efforts.

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

ANS – Ukraine – Hunger and cold, with winter just around the corner: Ukrainian people need help

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 UKRAINE: Salesians bring humanitarian aid to children first appeared on MissionNewswire.

(MissionNewswire) Youth and families in Ukraine* have nutritional support thanks to a partnership between Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, and Feed My Starving Children, a nonprofit Christian organization committed to “feeding God’s children hungry in body and spirit.” The food shipment impacted 360 people in Zhytomyr.

The food was initially shipped to Salesians in Poland and then transported to Ukraine. It was distributed at the Teterivka Orphanage and Boarding House, the Vsesvit Salesian School and Korostyshiv Catholic Church. Over a two-week period, Salesians were able to distribute approximately 48 boxes of rice to the people connected to these organizations.

Salesians have been working with the Korostyshiv Catholic Church since 1994 and have worked at Vsesvit Salesian school for the last five years. While Salesians are not working directly with the Teterivka Orphanage and Boarding House, the children there have disabilities and need specialized care. Their only source of funding is from the government, which has decreased since the outbreak of war.

One Salesian missionary said, “With the support of Feed My Starving Children, we have been able to step in and distribute food packages to the children who have been greatly impacted and humbled with the support.”

Along with the food shipment, Salesian Missions also sent medical supplies provided by Matter, an organization that provides valuable corporate surplus to the places and people who need these life-saving resources the most. The medical supplies were provided to the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians of the Eastern Rite in Ukraine and then dispersed to the Salesian community in Zhytomyr, among other sites. The supplies are being used in local hospitals and for people in need.

Soon after the war started, Salesian Missions launched a Ukraine Emergency Relief Fund that is helping to provide shelter, nutrition and supplies to refugees in need. This fund is among other fundraising efforts that Salesians in more than 130 countries are doing in support of Salesians on the front lines of this crisis.

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Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Feed My Starving Children

Matter

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 UKRAINE: Rice-meal shipment feeds 360 at parish, orphanage and school first appeared on MissionNewswire.

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries, in collaboration with international partners, are helping people in Ukraine* prepare for the arrival of the winter season, along with other support projects. A recent report by the United Nations Office for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) highlighted the urgency of preparing the population for the coming harsh Ukrainian winter.

In response, the Salesian-run International Volunteer Service (VIS) has launched a comprehensive six-month project funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation. The project will take place in Lviv, Zhytomyr, and Ivankiv in the Kyiv region. These areas are home to more than 6.28 million internally displaced persons.

The project will send a mobile unit to 12 villages to provide psycho-social support and distribute kits for emergency repairs to houses, particularly in Ivankiv province where 2,360 homes have been damaged. The mobile unit will also distribute blankets, winter clothes, stoves, and fuel, as well as cook and deliver 1,000 hot meals per day. The meals have been made possible thanks in part to the Department of Civil Defense, which has provided four field kitchens.

Recreational and psycho-social activities are planned for youth, including using free time productively in cases where children cannot return to class. Many buildings have been damaged, including more than 2,000 school facilities, of which 285 have been completely destroyed. Other schools are without suitable air-raid shelters and have not reopened.

This project is part of the broader initiative carried out by the coordination of Salesian organizations in Germany, Italy and Poland. Salesians in Poland have been on the front lines of housing refugees and bringing supplies into Ukraine. The Polish government and city officials in Lviv have set up a modular citadel that has been housing 350 people for six months. Salesians are involved in the care of the people housed in the camp, including educational and recreational activities for children, psycho-social assistance, and distribution of hot meals.

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

ANS – Ukraine – Italian cooperation, Salesians, and Kyiv diocese together to rebuild what the war has destroyed

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 UKRAINE: Efforts focus on winter preparation, school support first appeared on MissionNewswire.

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries in Ukraine have medical supplies and rice-meals to aid people thanks to donations secured and shipped by Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. Salesians living and working in Ukraine* have remained in their centers and churches where they are helping families with shelter, support, and nutrition. The donations impacted more than 1,000 people.

The medical supply donation was provided by Matter, an organization that provides valuable corporate surplus to the places and people who need these life-saving resources the most. The medical supplies were provided to the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians of the Eastern Rite in Ukraine and then dispersed to the Salesian community in Zhytomyr, among other sites. The supplies are being used in local hospitals and for people in need.

Katie Johnson, director of global health initiatives at Matter, said, “The team at Salesian Missions is doing wonderful work and Matter is honored to partner with such a special organization. We are grateful for organizations like Salesian Missions that allow us to be a small part of bringing these life-saving devices to those who need them most.”

“We appreciate this new partnership with Matter, which has enabled us to get critical medical supplies to places in need in Ukraine,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions. “Salesian organizations around the globe have come together to help support Salesians in Ukraine who are working with people displaced inside the country. This support is essential, especially now, when the warehouses of food and medicines in Ukraine are empty. The needs of people are increasing.”

Along with the medical supply shipment, Salesian Missions also sent a container of rice-meals from Feed My Starving Children, a nonprofit Christian organization committed to “feeding God’s children hungry in body and spirit.” The food is destined for poor residents of towns and villages in eastern Ukraine, where food is needed most.

In addition to these efforts, soon after the war started, Salesian Missions launched a Ukraine Emergency Relief Fund that is helping to provide shelter, nutrition and supplies to refugees in need. This fund is among other fundraising efforts that Salesians in more than 130 countries are doing in support of Salesians on the front lines of this crisis.

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Feed My Starving Children

Matter

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 UKRAINE: Salesian Missions sends critical shipment of medical and food aid first appeared on MissionNewswire.

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries in Ukraine are trying their best to provide a sense of safety and normalcy for children faced with war. On Aug. 1, Salesian Youth Summer Camp began in Kyiv. The camp provided games, foot races, outdoor snacks, jokes, small art workshops, times for reflection, moments of sharing and opportunities for growth through service. Salesians launched the summer camp with a video, circulated on social networks, to inform children and their parents that the camp was available.

“We go to the villages in the northwestern part of the Kyiv region, which have been occupied by the Russian army for almost two months, and we offer support to the children who have stayed and have been victims of this war,” said Father Maksym Ryabukha, rector of the Salesian community in Kyiv. In the coming weeks, Salesians are also hoping to provide summer camps in the Chernobyl area and the Poltava region in a village where refugee families are hosted.

Despite the difficulties of carrying out such initiatives in a country still suffering from bombings and aggression, Fr. Ryabukha and his team of are highly motivated because they have an important mission to accomplish. He added, “We try to make young people who have seen death in their faces and who are searching for life with all their strength live at least a few serene moments.”

Salesian missionaries around the globe are working to provide financial and material donations to help people still in Ukraine and refugees in bordering countries. Even Salesians in the poorest countries have stepped up in some way to support the efforts.

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

ANS – Ukraine – Salesian Youth Summer Camp in Kyiv. Desire for normality and peace is stronger than war

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 UKRAINE: Children experiencing war attend summer camps first appeared on MissionNewswire.

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries have set up a modular city composed of prefabricated buildings designed to temporarily welcome those displaced by war inside of Ukraine. Salesians are calling the city Mariapolis, the city of Mary. The city was set up by the Municipality of Lviv in collaboration with Salesian missionaries and with the support of the Polish government.

Mariapolis was inaugurated with a ceremony. A prayer and blessing were led by Father Andriy Bodnar, provincial vicar of the Salesian Vice-Province Mary Help of Christians of Greek Catholic Ukraine. Local pastor Father Orest Fredyna also presided.

Fr. Bodnar said, “We wanted to give the city the name Mariapolis, the city of Mary. Mariupol is extremely close to the heart of every Ukrainian and every person on this planet who desires peace. We wish that people’s stay in this modular citadel will be full of hope and that the symbol of this little Mariapolis can become a great prospect for the rebirth of the city Mariupol and all Ukraine.”

The container houses, which came as a gift from Poland, are equipped with bunk beds, tables and closets. Some rooms serve as dining rooms and laundry rooms, or house showers and toilets. A playground for children has also been set up on the grounds. Salesians will provide pastoral care and psychological support. They will also provide food for the 350 people housed there thanks to a mobile kitchen donated by Civil Defense in Emilia-Romagna Region and in collaboration with the Salesian VIS.

Fr. Bodnar added, “Many people who have now settled here until recently lived in our communities in Lviv. We prayed together, had deep, but also painful conversations. Salesian staff organized various activities for these children. And we will continue to support these people in this difficult period of our lives.”

The state authorities thanked the Salesians. At the inauguration ceremony, Mayor Andriy Sadovyi said, “Thank you for sharing your warmth and love. We feel that God’s grace is present in this citadel. We pray that the Mother of God will take this Mariapolis under her protection.”

Salesian missionaries around the globe are working to provide financial and material donations to help people still in Ukraine and refugees in bordering countries. Even Salesians in the poorest countries have stepped up in some way to support the efforts.

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

ANS – Ukraine – Mary watches over displaced: “Mariapolis” rises in Lviv, a modular city under Salesian care

Salesian Missions

The post UKRAINE: Displaced families welcomed to modular city in Lviv first appeared on MissionNewswire.

(MissionNewswire) The Salesian Youth Center, located in České Budějovice, Czech Republic, has been providing services for Ukrainian children who fled when the war erupted. These children and their families are refugees seeking shelter and safety away from their home country. The center employs two Ukrainian women to run programs for Ukrainian children. Masha Shumkova is a teacher and Olena Halushka is a psychologist. Both of them used to work at a children’s center in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine.

Halushka said, “I came to the Czech Republic in the second week of March. Our friend told us about the Salesian Youth Center. We were surprised when we came here because, in our city in Ukraine, we don’t have anything like this. Czech children must be so happy because they have this program, and they may come here for free, get attention, and stay at a comfortable, safe place. I decided to be a volunteer in this Salesian Youth Center because I like kids. Really, for me it’s so easy to be with kids. They give me energy.”

The Ukrainian children are making connections with the children already in the program. It has been a fairly smooth transition even for Halushka and Shumkova. They seek out activities the children enjoy and bond with them over sports and other activities. It’s not all games though. Many of the activities are educational to ensure children are still learning.

“We divided Ukrainian children into four groups according to their age — from 4 to 16 years — and we make different programs for each group,” explained Shumkova. “We focus on teaching mathematics, logic, literature, or we just have a little fun. The groups are already full. Besides that, we have a group for Czech kids on Monday. We are still learning the Czech language and we also practice English with Czech children.”

The children are happy to engage in the programs. Some are struggling because many only speak Ukrainian. One boy explained that he was the only person in his new school that spoke his language. Even the other two Ukrainian refugees only spoke Russian. He was excited when he found out that Halushka and Shumkova spoke Ukrainian like him.

There are also children who are having a hard time adjusting after the trauma they faced. Halushka said, “I’ve seen a few traumatized children. We will paint an animal. You can create an animal that you have never seen in life, and think of the superpowers it has. Some children painted dragons with superpower for killing and loads of blood around them. They don’t talk about their trauma, but you can see it in their paintings. Also, I remember two kids that came here and were super shy. They came from Donetsk and experienced a lot of bad situations. They were afraid of communicating with other children.”

They are also seeing families who are in need of material supplies like food, diapers for babies and blankets. Others are still looking for a place to live and a new job. Halushka added, “People need to hear that you’re sorry this is happening to them and words of encouragement even if you can’t offer donations or a place to live. They need the support right now in however it can be provided.”

Salesian missionaries around the globe are working to provide financial and material donations to help people still in Ukraine and refugees in bordering countries. Even Salesians in the poorest countries have stepped up in some way to support the efforts.

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Photo courtesy of Salesian emergency response coordinator

Salesian Missions

The post UKRAINE: Ukrainian teacher, psychologist run programs for children fleeing war first appeared on MissionNewswire.

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries in Poland report that the flow of refugees between Ukraine and Poland has slowed down in recent days. Many who were able to escape from heavy conflict areas have done so, while those who remained did so by choice or for lack of alternatives. To date, more than 5.6 million people have fled Ukraine with more than 3 million of them going to Poland, according to the UNHCR, the U.N. Refugee Agency.

Salesian organizations in Poland and across Europe have opened their doors to those seeking shelter and humanitarian aid. Natalia, a nurse, fled with her three children from the Khmelnytskyi region in western Ukraine and is currently hosted at the Salesian house in Czerwińsk, Poland. She said, “Both my children and I are in good condition in Czerwińsk. We feel safe and everyone cares about us. The children are happy. They get an education and spend their free time playing.”

Natalia arrived at an advantage over many of her fellow countrymen because her mothers’ family has Polish roots. She had already been to several cities in Poland and knows the language well. Natalia has been using that to help others in need. “I spend my time helping my compatriots with the various communications, in the compilation of the necessary documents, and working for the gradual integration of the refugee population.”

Natalia, who knows she’s had an easier path than most, added, “Everyone, especially those with children, can leave Ukraine now that there is a war going on. There are many people who will give them shelter and decent accommodation. But I understand that some women may want to stay in Ukraine with their husbands. I think this is also a good decision. Whatever path they take, let it be according to their conscience.”

Despite the experience that the Salesians and volunteers are providing for her family, Natalia’s time in Poland is quite different from the other times she has visited. She explained, “Before I visited the Masuri Lake District and the many beautiful forests, with all the surrounding nature. Today, I always think of my homeland and my husband, a doctor, who has remained in the country to serve the needy. This is important now when so many wounded people need him so much.”

Natalia explained she has one dream today, “To be able to return home to Ukraine as soon as possible. And I hope it will be really soon. Ukraine is fighting for life and our freedom so that those who had to leave can come home and start a new life.”

The work of Salesians in Ukraine and Poland is being supported through financial and material support by Salesian organizations around the globe. Salesians are present in more than 130 countries and nearly all have stepped up to help in some way.

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ANS – Poland – Supporting refugees until they can achieve their dream: “To return home and start a new life”

Salesian Missions

UNHCR – Ukraine Refugees

The post UKRAINE: Ukrainian refugees find safe shelter at Salesian center in Czerwińsk, Poland first appeared on MissionNewswire.

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries have continued their efforts in Ukraine, delivering food, medicines, clothing and other basic necessities in the hardest-hit areas. They are also caring for people who have been displaced inside the country. Salesian centers in Poland and other European countries are caring for refugees.

Education remains a priority. Many Salesian schools in Ukraine are offering online classes. Inna is a Salesian elementary school teacher. She said, “I live and work in Ukraine, and most of my lessons happen between air raid alerts. To video-transmit the lessons I use my cell phone, which isn’t very convenient. It would help me a lot if I could have a laptop. But I try to do my best for my students, my school, and my country, and even when I’m lecturing with the sound of explosions in the background, I keep on working.”

To help with situations like this, the Salesian St. Thomas of Canterbury Province in Great Britain has launched a fundraising campaign to purchase laptops and computer devices for the benefit of young Ukrainian refugees and teachers left in Ukraine.

The campaign organizer said, “One hundred percent of the funds will be used to support Ukrainian children, teachers and school administration. We’ll start by trying to help students in schools. If we fail to guarantee an education for this generation, then we shall have to acknowledge that war has won.”

Refugee youth who have left Ukraine are trying to acclimate to new schools. Those who are housed in Salesian reception centers receive 24-hour accommodation, food, and all the help they need, such as sports activities and psychological and spiritual assistance to help them overcome the traumas of war. They are slowly being integrated into new schools, but it hasn’t been easy.

Eva, who fled together with her three brothers, Ivan, Vitya, and Petro, crossed the border to Poland on foot. “We escaped taking little with us. I feel the lack of communication very much. I’d like to participate in online classes from our school in Zhytomyr, but it’s impossible. And I can’t believe that I have to stay in another country for a long time. We really miss our past life.”

Salesian organizations around the globe have come the aid of those in need with financial and material support. Salesians are present in more than 130 countries and nearly all have stepped up to help in some way.

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ANS – Ukraine – “If we fail to guarantee education to this generation, then we will have to acknowledge that the war has won”

Salesian Missions

The post UKRAINE: Education continues even during war first appeared on MissionNewswire.

(MissionNewswire) A hospital in Ukraine has medical supplies thanks to a new partnership between MedShare and Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. MedShare is a humanitarian aid organization dedicated to improving the quality of life of people, communities, and the planet by sourcing and directly delivering surplus medical supplies and equipment to communities in need around the world.

The shipment, which left the U.S. in March, is now in the hands of Salesian Sisters. The supplies are being distributed to ambulances and clinics and used to treat those who have been internally displaced within the country and arrive daily seeking medical attention.

“We appreciate MedShare’s donation which has assured Salesians on the ground in Ukraine have access to the medical supplies they need to care for the sick and injured,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions. “Salesian organizations around the globe have come together to help support Salesians in Ukraine who are working with people displaced inside the country and refugees who have fled to bordering countries. The need is overwhelming and we are all doing our part.”

Salesian Missions has already launched a Ukraine Emergency Relief Fund that will help provide shelter, nutrition and supplies to refugees in need. This fund is among other fundraising efforts that Salesians in more than 130 countries are doing in support of Salesians on the front lines of this crisis.

In addition to financial support, Salesians are sending material support similar to the medical supplies from MedShare. Through the support of a U.S.-based foundation, two ambulances were purchased in Serbia, filled with medicines and then driven by two Serbian drivers into Ukraine. Even though the trip was filled with challenges, the two ambulances made it to their destination inside Ukraine.

Salesian missionaries around the globe are answering the call to help support people in distress in Ukraine and refugees fleeing the conflict. Salesians living and working in Ukraine have remained in their centers and churches, and they are helping families with shelter and nutrition.

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Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

MedShare

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 UKRAINE: Medical supplies reach internally displaced through partnership first appeared on MissionNewswire.

(MissionNewswire) The St. John Bosco Oratory in Warsaw, Poland, has been providing support and resources for Ukrainian refugees from the start of the conflict. Youth and their families have connected with programs and found resources from Salesian missionaries during this difficult time.

Coming from Lutsk, Ukraine, Andre and Roma’s families knew each other, although the boys attended different schools. At the outbreak of war, Andre and Roma, 15 and 14 years old respectively, left Ukraine in the same car with their families. There were 17 people clinging to hope of finding safety in a seven-seat car. It was under this difficult circumstance that the boys found friendship and a bond for life.

Andre recalled, “My mother woke me up to tell me that the war had started. We gathered everything and went to a nearby village. However, we were all nervous, so in the evening my parents, together with other relatives and friends, decided that we would leave the country.”

Roma added, “First, I accompanied my mother to a cash machine to withdraw as much money as possible, but they were no longer working. Then, between relatives and friends, we were 17 people in a seven-seater car, plus everyone’s little luggage.”

The trip to Poland’s border took nearly 20 hours because the traffic was so heavy. There they were told that the men could not leave. They then switched to a car going back, and another family joined the trip to Poland with Andre’s mother driving.

In Warsaw they live in a flat that a relative arranged for them. Roma said, “Our mothers are looking for work and we have been going to school for a week. The language is a bit difficult for us, but the other students are very nice to us.”

Every day they go to the St. John Bosco Oratory. Andre explained how they connected with the Salesians. “We didn’t know the Salesians before, but my mother saw a Ukrainian flag on the door and thought it was an information point. When we got home, she told us that she had found a wonderful place that was a big family.”

At the oratory there are leisure activities and snacks. Andre and Roma have met other young refugees like themselves, and they share concerns, games and dreams. They are hoping that the war will be over soon and they will be able to return home. They say, however, that they have felt so welcomed in Poland that one day they’d like to come back and attend the University of Warsaw.

Salesians in Poland have also been sending humanitarian aid directly to sites in Ukraine. Father Andrej Politch, a Salesian from the Krakow Province in Ukraine, said, “All the humanitarian aid is coordinated by the Diocese of Kyiv-Zhytomyr, led by Salesian Bishop Vitalii Kryvytskyi. He asked us for help and all the trucks arrive fully loaded. At the base of the truck, we put the boxes with food, which occupies more or less 60 percent of the load. On top, there are boxes with sheets, sleeping bags and medicines.”

Roman, a volunteer truck driver, appreciates the work of Salesians. He said, “I want to thank the Salesians. It’s really nice that there are people who take care of us. Thank you for your warm welcome, and for all the help and support. God bless you.”

The work is being supported through financial and material support by Salesian organizations around the globe. Salesians are present in more than 130 countries and nearly all have stepped up to help in some way.

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ANS – Ukraine – Roman, Tatiana, Andre and Roma… Ukrainian voices of gratitude to sons of Don Bosco

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The post UKRAINE: Ukrainian youth find support in Poland first appeared on MissionNewswire.

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries in Ukraine and bordering countries are supporting youth in their schools, centers and oratories. About 2,000 Ukrainian youth have received support from the Salesians in Ukraine, Poland and Slovakia. This does not account for youth who have fled to other countries in Europe. During this emergency, Salesians are focused on trying to help youth live as normal a life as possible through education, socialization and ongoing support.

“First, our schools serve children during their normal hours of work,” explained Father George Menamparampil, head of the Salesian General Coordination for Emergency Response. “Furthermore, our oratories are open for children every day and for daytime activities. The minors who currently reside in Salesian homes receive lodging, food, and all the help they need 24 hours a day, including education, recreation, and the care that every child or young person needs.”

Salesian centers in Ukraine have all remained open. In an interview for Avvenire, the Catholic daily newspaper, Father Daniel Antúnez, president of Don Bosco Mission in Turin, Italy, who visited Salesian centers in Ukraine and Poland, said, “We asked ourselves what we could do and decided to make ourselves available to the people, those who were living there and those who have been displaced.”

Even while cities in Ukraine have been devastated by bombings and attacks, 680 youth — equal to 80 percent of students prior to the invasion — continue to attend classes at Salesian educational centers through distance learning. Oratories are providing support to 208 youth, and 70 children and older youth are taking shelter in Salesian centers and houses.

In Poland, 398 Ukrainian youth are in Salesian schools, 309 are in oratories, and 210 are in Salesian homes. In Slovakia, there are 60 Ukrainian children in oratories and 50 have been welcomed into Salesian homes.

While there is no official account of youth in Salesian programs in Moldova, it has been reported that the Salesian house in Chișinău is currently hosting close to 40 refugees, and since the beginning of the war, the Salesian center has offered care to more than 1,000 people.

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ANS – Ukraine – Salesian houses: oases always open to help and accompany young people

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The post UKRAINE: Salesian missionaries in Ukraine and bordering countries support 2,000 youth first appeared on MissionNewswire.

(MissionNewswire) Even though war is raging in Ukraine, Salesian missionaries have remained in the country in their parishes and schools, providing for people who have stayed. Many are displaced and are seeking shelter and safety in Salesian houses, schools and centers. Salesians are also working to continue education for young students who are both in the country and those who have left for bordering countries.

The Salesian high school in Lviv is providing remote education for 400 students while the vocational school is teaching 150 students. With all lessons online, close to 80 percent of the student body are taking part, some of whom are in the countryside and some abroad. Since mid-March in Zhytomyr, Salesians have been holding regular online classes with 90 percent of students, close to 200 youth, taking part.

In Odessa, 100 students are taking online courses. Salesians there had wanted to start a kindergarten before the invasions but without the staff to do so have tabled those efforts for now. Instead, they have converted space to store some of the humanitarian aid that Salesians around the globe have been providing.

“We are helping many people who have been displaced inside the country,” said Father Chaban Mykahylo, superior of the Mary Help of Christians Vice-Province of Ukraine of the Greek Catholic Rite. “We are bringing food and medicine to the most affected areas such as Kharkiv, Dnipro, the Lugansk region and Donetsk. We have planned with the Salesians in Slovakia to get a truckload of food every week. We also have a depot where we can store up to five trucks of material.”

Fr. Mykahylo added, “We are discovering more and more new places that need food. Right now, we are also sending bread to Kharkiv every week with the support of Don Bosco Bonn, and we will certainly increase the quantity as soon as we start our new bakery.”

Don Bosco Mission in Turin, Italy, has also sent generators to Salesians in Ukraine. Salesians are also in the process of building a shelter, which had been planned before the Russian invasion. The goal is to finish that project in April.

“We’re also providing sports programming for youth,” Fr. Mykahylo noted. “The goal is to help youth handle the stress of war with some physical activity. We already have seven new boys in our community home. They are coming from our region and from the war zone. We have another group of mothers with children as refugees in Italy, 43 people in all. I want to thank Salesians around the globe for all the work they have been doing in helping us with this crisis.”

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Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions

The post UKRAINE: Salesians support displaced youth and families who seek shelter, education first appeared on MissionNewswire.

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries in Poland are on the front lines of the refugee crisis as more than 4 million people have fled to the country to escape the horrors in Ukraine. Salesians in Poland are working to shelter more than 600 refugees and have the space to take another 500.

Lydia, a Ukrainian refugee in Poland, said of the Salesians, “They asked us what we needed as soon as we arrived. They offered us everything, they gave us everything, they helped us with everything. We will never forget them.”

Lydia arrived in Warsaw from Dnipro after four intense days of travel with her children, while her husband remained in Ukraine. She said, “We are worried but we have hope in a peaceful future, which will come soon. There are more good people around than you might think and, in these situations, you can see why they do everything with their heart.”

Yarina, age 16, and her mother are also in Warsaw, having left Lviv the day the war started. “The best thing we can do to keep our minds off the war is to keep busy,” said Yarina’s mother. “I have started looking for a job in Warsaw, and my daughter has online classes and connects daily with her school in Ukraine to try to keep everything as normal as possible.”

Yarina says that she likes biology, although she is still not sure what she will study when the war is over. She has seven hours of class a day and then it’s time to check her phone to see her 30 classmates. She said, “Some are in Italy, others in France and Spain, but most of us are in Poland. We know that the war will end one day, and we hope it will be very soon. We all want to go back to Ukraine and be in our united families again. At the moment we are beating Russia in this aspect too because they can’t destroy our culture and our desire to learn, even if they bomb our schools.”

Salesians in European countries are also helping refugees. The Santa Maria de La Salette Oratory in Catania, Italy, has taken in single-parent families with mothers and children. It has welcomed four families so far. Salesian programs in the Czech Republic have taken 200 refugees, and 100 of them are children.

This work is being supported through financial and material support by Salesian organizations around the globe. Salesians are present in more than 130 countries and nearly all have stepped up to help in some way. Poor countries that struggle to provide financial support are dedicating Lenten prayers for the people of Ukraine.

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

ANS – Poland – “There are more good people than you might think,” testifies Lydia, a young refugee

Salesian Missions

UNHCR – Ukraine Refugees

The post UKRAINE: Refugees in Poland grateful for Salesian shelter and support first appeared on MissionNewswire.

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries living and working in Ukraine have remained to help provide for citizens who have stayed in the country during the conflict. Some Ukrainians stayed only long enough until they could find a safe place to go. Others are elderly and are unable to travel. To date, more than 4 million people have fled the country in search of safety. Those who remain are in need of humanitarian aid, and Salesians are on the front lines helping these families.

Natalka, along with her two children ages 2 and 5, sheltered in a cellar without lighting and heating for days. With all the shops closed, she was only able to buy bread when it was distributed in the street. Natalka said, “All I could think about was what I was leaving behind—my husband, but most of all what I was gaining—saving their lives.”

They traveled for several days by foot, bus and train until they reached Medyka, the border crossing with Poland. Natalka added, “The worst was the cold and the snow, carrying a baby in my arms, a big backpack, and holding the other by the hand. It is very unjust what we are suffering.”

Now that she is safe with Salesians in Poland, she is helping her children to overcome the fear they are still feeling every time planes fly overhead. Natalka worries for her husband still in Ukraine, but he is consoled by knowing that she is receiving support and shelter.

Natalka’s family is not the only family to be welcomed by the Polish Salesians. Across four Polish Salesian Provinces, there are 1,117 places for refugees in Salesian centers. Right now, 500 refugees have received shelter. Salesian missionaries are providing what they can to meet basic needs but they will need more support to be able to continue. Salesian oratories are also providing support for Ukrainian children and their mothers. There is access to free legal and psychological support.

Despite the danger, Salesians in Poland also managed to send dozens of humanitarian convoys to Ukraine. They are bringing medical supplies, food, blankets, generators and personal hygiene items. Thanks to the Salesian Mission Office in Bonn, Germany, Salesians managed to purchase 300 camp beds, pillows and duvets and 600 sets of bed linen and towels.

After Father Michał Wocial, a Salesian in Ukraine, asked for help when an old school bus broke down on one of the various trips to help refugees flee to Poland, Salesian missionaries in Turin, Italy were quick to respond with the donation of an eight-seater minivan.

“It was a priority operation for us,” said Father Jacek Zdzieborski, director of the Salesian Mission Office in Warsaw. “We were able to quickly find a seller of an eight-seater minivan with a large trunk, as was needed. A week later, the vehicle had already been purchased, imported, registered and insured.” Before arriving at its destination, the van left full of supplies, including a power generator, food, medical supplies and blankets.

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ANS – Ukraine – A van, camp beds, food, medicine… And stories and faces of hospitality in massive Salesian relief operation

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The post UKRAINE: Salesians in Poland provide shelter and aid for refugees first appeared on MissionNewswire.

(MissionNewswire) Salesian organizations around the globe have continued their support for the people of Ukraine, particularly refugees who have fled to neighboring countries. The UNHCR, the U.N. Refugee Agency, has indicated that more than 3.6 million people have fled Ukraine, mostly women and children. Hungary has taken in more than 324,000.

In Hungary, the Salesian Province of Saint Stephen the King (UNG) in Budapest is working to help Ukrainian refugees. The Hungarian government has established a National Council for Humanitarian Coordination, which is working to make cooperation among state, civil and church organizations as effective as possible.

Salesian communities, oratories, institutes and parishes have provided shelter for 140 people—including Nigerian students from Kyiv. Salesian schools and oratories are providing education to Ukrainian minors and welcoming them into activities. The province and Salesian cooperators in Budapest-Óbuda have raised funds to help support these efforts.

Each Salesian institute is collaborating with the Diocesan Caritas in collecting food, children’s clothes, blankets and other basic necessities, which are then provided to those in need by Caritas volunteers. The Vietnamese community in Budapest has also filled a minibus with supplies.

Salesians in Kazincbarcika, in collaboration with students, the rector of the Salesian community, and the local Caritas, also collected goods and transported the aid to the border with Ukraine.

“Don Bosco, our founder, said if brotherly love is like it should be, then the good of one is the good of everyone, the trouble of one is the trouble of everyone. We help wherever we can with prayer and deeds,” said Father János Andrasfalvy, UNG provincial.

In Poland, which has taken in more than 2.1 million refugees, Salesian missionaries are also sending direct aid to Ukraine. Salesians in Warsaw have provided a vehicle to Salesians in Zhytomyr which they are using to transport supplies and bring women and children to Poland.

Previously, Father Michał Wocial, a Salesian in Zhytomyr, had noted, “Unfortunately, our old Renault Master school bus broke down today during the evacuation of people. Maybe someone would like to borrow or donate a minibus for the evacuation of women and children.” Salesians in Poland answered the call with an eight-seat minibus with a large trunk. It left Poland for Ukraine full of supplies, including a power generator, food, medical supplies and blankets.

Salesians across Italy are also responding to the needs of refugees. Salesian houses in Sicily are able to take in 56 refugees while 36 host families have opened their homes in the region. In Catania, the Salesian Provincial Office in Cefalù is working in collaboration with the Italian Refugee Council (CIR) to offer an assistance desk open to all Ukrainian citizens to offer information on international protection, temporary protection, family reunification, reception and service orientation. There are also 15 places available for unaccompanied minors in San Gregorio Magno.

Seeing the work of Salesian missionaries in Ukraine and across Europe, the Real Madrid Foundation has included Salesian Missions in Madrid, Spain as one of the recipients in its pledge to donate 1 million euro to organizations supporting Ukrainians. The Red Cross, UNHCR and Cesal were also included in this donation. Some of the funding will be used to support refugees in Spain. Real Madrid Foundation has also donated 13,000 items of clothing and sporting equipment to Red Cross and Cesal center in Madrid.

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ANS – Hungary – Fr Andrasfalvy, Provincial: “We help wherever we can: with prayer and deeds”

Real Madrid Foundation

Salesian Missions

UNHCR – Ukraine Refugees

The post UKRAINE: Salesian programs provide aid and support for Ukrainian refugees first appeared on MissionNewswire.

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries around the globe are responding with aid and other support in Ukraine and the surrounding countries that are taking in refugees. More than 3 million people, mostly women and children, have already fled Ukraine, according to UNHCR, the U.N. Refugee Agency. Poland, which borders Ukraine to the west, has already taken in more than 1.8 million refugees with the number expected to climb. Salesians in Ukraine and in Poland are working on the front lines helping those in need.

On the border between Ukraine and Poland, long lines of refugees form as people wait their turn to cross the border. Father Andrzej Król, delegate of youth ministry of the Poland-Krakow Province and directly involved in the field providing aid, said, “It’s cold, and it’s hard here, for the mothers and children, who are the majority. Most of them don’t know where to go. They go toward the unknown and they only know that once they have crossed the Polish border there are schools where they can spend their first night. We try to entertain the children, make them smile and offer them small things. I think it’s important at this time.”

Fr. Król added, “Fortunately, I see small gestures of loving kindness—people who bring hot soup, sandwiches, coffee or tea and distribute them to people, who are very grateful, and you see the joy in their eyes, despite the tragic situation.”

Father Krzysztof Grzendziński, economer of the Province of Poland-Warsaw, is in charge of supervising the implementation of activities, services and programs in the field in the Salesian provinces in Ukraine strongly affected by the mass exodus of civilians, as well as in Slovakia and four Salesian provinces in Poland.

In addition to providing aid to refugees who are crossing the border, Salesian programs in many countries are accepting refugees into their centers, houses and programs. They are also working with local host families to accept refugees. In the Special Circumscription of Piemonte and Valle d’Aosta in Italy, Salesians have sent funding to Ukraine and identified 118 host families who are willing to take in refugees.

The Don Bosco 2000 Association in Sicily, Italy, which works with the Salesians of Sicily, organized a bus trip to bring 48 women and children from Przemyśl, Poland, to Alcamo, Sicily. Some of the refugees will be housed in an association house while others will reside with 12 host families.

In the Czech Republic, Salesians have taken in 200 refugees, offering meals and services. Salesians are providing economic aid, making cars available for transporting materials and people, and encouraging the inclusion of children in youth centers and schools. Salesians are also offering psychological and spiritual support.

At St. Joseph’s in Szczecin, Poland, 42 people are being housed in the boarding school. There are also 155 people staying in Salesian houses in the Krakow Province and 60 at the Krakow Seminary. Other Salesian centers in Poland are working to prepare for additional refugees. The Krakow Province is also sending aid directly to Ukraine. Eight buses with humanitarian aid carrying approximately 3 tons each, including 12 power generators, food, medicines and dressings, sleeping mats and sleeping bags, and hygiene products, were sent to Ukraine the week of March 7.

Father Roman Sikon, with the Salesian Missionary Volunteer Service, is one of the transport drivers delivering aid to Ukraine. “We hope our journey will be safe and we will come back soon for our next transport because our warehouses are slowly filling up.” Missionaries and their volunteers are providing generators, food, medicines and medical supplies to those remaining in Ukraine. People have been sheltering in Salesian churches and schools throughout the country.

Father Andrzej Policht, a missionary in Ukraine, said, “Our voluntary service works with various organizations and raises funds. We bring people, mainly mothers and children, from Kyiv and Zhytomyr to the border and then they are picked up at the border and are relocated to safety. We have to act and I encourage everyone to do something.”

To financially support humanitarian aid and meet the needs of refugees, Salesian centers around the globe are setting up fundraising appeals and sending money to where it’s needed most. Because Salesian missionaries live in the communities in which they work, they are able to quickly identify needs and directly provide aid. Salesian missionaries still working in Ukraine as well as Salesians in surrounding countries will continue working to provide for those in need.

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ANS – RMG – Alongside Ukrainian refugees: on the country’s borders, and from all over the world

ANS – RMG – “I was a stranger and you welcomed me…” (Mt 25, 35). The Salesian Family at work to welcome Ukrainian refugees

Salesian Missions

UNHCR – Ukraine Refugees

Video – https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AatNdIskssNKxOjcEuIRn4G4pStTWM8k/view

The post UKRAINE: Salesians continue humanitarian aid and support for refugees in Poland and surrounding countries first appeared on MissionNewswire.

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries in Poland and countries bordering Ukraine are accepting refugees fleeing the violence from the Russian invasion. Refugees are staying in Salesian centers and receiving humanitarian aid provided by Salesian organizations around the globe. UNHCR, the U.N. Refugee Agency, has said that more than 2 million people have fled the country. Salesians are working to provide shelter, food, medicines and other basic needs.

The University of Warsaw in Szczecin has already accepted 42 refugees in its dorms including children as young as 6 months old and three pregnant women. People are fleeing without any luggage and are in need of basic clothing and hygiene items as well as strollers, cots, and other supplies. Salesians have been helping the university with supplies, along with sorting and distributing these items.

After supplying people with basic needs, Salesians helped with buses to help transport refugees to other places where they would be safe. In agreement with Caritas of the Archdiocese of Szczecin and Kamień, Salesians donated materials including 70 tons of gifts, which were delivered by 40 transport trucks and buses. Salesian organizations have also been raising funds for relief materials. Salesians in Malta sent 500 kgs (1,100 pounds) of in-kind donations.

Salesian organizations have also been providing translators and assistance with official matters, organizing education for children and adults to learn Polish and for preschoolers to learn English, providing psychological care, and other support.

Education remains important during this challenging time. According to the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, there are 14,873 schools in the country with 4.2 million children and 441,000 teachers. The day after Russia attacked Ukraine, the ministry recommended that all educational institutions, including schools and universities, go on a two-week break, leaving children without access to education.

Schools have become centers for providing shelter and humanitarian aid. The ministry has launched an “Educators Help” initiative intended to mobilize school staff to help the Ukrainian Armed Forces and civilians. The organization Smart Education has been organizing meetings for children on Zoom.

On March 4, The U.N. Child Rights Committee said in its statement, “Children in Ukraine are currently subject to extreme suffering and trauma. They are being killed and injured. They are separated from their families. Homes are being destroyed. Their education is interrupted. There are reports of schools, orphanages and hospitals being attacked. Their daily lives and routines have been utterly shattered. As a consequence of the military attack on Ukraine, children are exposed to extreme violence and experience unbearable levels of fear and anxiety.”

According to the adviser to the president of Ukraine on children’s rights and children’s rehabilitation, there have been 28 child deaths and 62 children who have been injured due to the conflicts. Attacks against schools and hospitals are classified by the U.N. as one of the six grave violations committed against children.

According to the U.N., at least six educational facilities have faced shelling in recent days. Two teachers were killed when a missile struck a school in Gorlovka in eastern Ukraine. A school in Zhytomyr was hit by a Russian missile and at least three schools in Kharkiv were hit by Russian military strikes. The Russian army has also been indiscriminately shelling kindergartens in Ukraine, and a week before the start of a large-scale invasion a Russian-backed separatist group shelled a kindergarten in Stanytsia Luhanska.

Salesian missionaries still working in Ukraine as well as Salesians in surrounding countries will continue working on the front lines to provide for those in need.

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Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

ANS – Ukraine – Schools and kindergartens affected by war

Salesian Missions

The post UKRAINE: Salesian missionaries provide shelter, education and aid to refugees first appeared on MissionNewswire.

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries around the globe are answering the call to help support people in distress in Ukraine and refugees fleeing the conflict. Salesians living and working in Ukraine have remained in their centers and churches, and they are helping families with shelter and nutrition. Globally, Salesian organizations are working to raise critical funding to help these efforts and the needs of refugees in surrounding countries.

More than 1 million people have fled Ukraine since the start of the conflict with Russia on Feb. 24, according to the UNHCR, the U.N. Refugee Agency. The majority of refugees have fled to Poland, Hungary, Moldova, Romania and Slovakia. Others continue to flee across Europe in search of shelter and safety.

Salesians for Social APS in Rome, a civil service organization, in agreement with government agencies, has begun coordination of the reception of Ukrainian refugees in Italy. Some will be housed at Salesian programs.

The fast exodus of Ukrainians is unprecedented in this century. By the count of the UNHCR, more than 2 percent of the population, 44 million citizens, have been on the move in less than a week. UNHCR estimates that up to 4 million people could leave Ukraine.

Pope Francis publicly praised Polish authorities and the country’s people. He said in an address, “You are the first ones who have supported Ukraine opening your borders, your hearts, the doors of your homes to the Ukrainians who are escaping the war. You are generously offering everything that is necessary so that they can live in a dignified way despite the dramatic moment. I am profoundly grateful, and I bless you from my heart!”

Currently, Syria has more than 5.6 million people who fled the country after the outbreak of civil war in 2011. It took at least three months for refugees to reach 1 million, according to UNHCR data. Shabia Mantoo, spokeswoman for the UNHCR, said that if the migration from Ukraine maintains this pace, it could become the “biggest refugee crisis of this century.”

To help support refugees Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, has already launched a Ukraine Emergency Relief Fund that will provide support to provide shelter, nutrition and supplies to refugees in need.

Salesian Missions is joined by other Salesians organization in fundraising efforts including Don Bosco Mondo in Germany, Salesians of Slovenia, Missão Don Bosco in Portugal, and the Salesian Province of Great Britain, among others. The Salesian Sicilian Province is already identifying the availability of beds to accommodate possible refugees.

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

ANS – RMG – VIS and “Don Bosco Mission Bonn” also working for needs of Ukrainian population

ANS – Ukraine – A great chain of solidarity for the Ukrainian population

ANS – Italy – “Salesians for Social APS” starts coordination for reception of Ukrainian refugees

Salesians for Social

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 UKRAINE: Salesian missionaries respond to refugee crisis with shelter and support first appeared on MissionNewswire.

(MissionNewswire) Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, has launched an emergency appeal to aid Ukrainian refugees. The Ukraine Emergency Relief Fund will provide support to provide shelter, nutrition and supplies to refugees in need. Salesian missionaries living and working in Ukraine and surrounding countries who are sheltering refugees are doing everything possible to help those in need during this difficult time.

UNHCR, the U.N. Refugee Agency, has said that more than 660,000 refugees have fled Ukraine for neighboring countries, the majority of whom are women, children and the elderly. Families have been torn apart as fathers, husbands and brothers have remained in Ukraine to fight. The U.N. has estimated the conflict could produce as many as 4 million refugees.

Working within their local communities, Salesians are providing shelter in their houses and schools while also calling on the international community for aid. Several Salesian provinces around the globe have already pledged support, including Salesian Missions.

“Salesian missionaries are doing everything possible to help those in need including providing emergency transport and shelter,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions. “There are Salesian missionaries still working in Ukraine and in the neighboring countries risking their lives while helping families in need. To do that most effectively, we need donor support.”

In addition to Salesian centers welcoming refugees, Salesians in Ukraine are sheltering minors and their families who have remained in the country. Father Chaban Mykahylo, superior of the Mary Help of Christians Vice-Province of Ukraine of the Greek Catholic Rite, said, “This situation continues to be tragic. We do not know how long this war will continue, and we must be ready for a long period. There are many victims among the soldiers, but also among civilians. Throughout Ukraine, there is a danger of bombing. Our capital, Kyiv, is suffering a lot, as well as the areas bordering Russia. People are fleeing their homes and are in need of our help.”

To help support refugees, donate to the Salesian Missions Ukraine Emergency Relief Fund.

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Sources:

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

ANS – Ukraine – Salesians in the current difficult situation

ANS – Ukraine – Ukrainian people moving in search of safety

ANS – RMG – The Salesian world moves to support Ukraine

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 UKRAINE: Salesian Missions launches emergency appeal to aid refugees first appeared on MissionNewswire.

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries have been working in Ukraine providing education and social development services in cities across the country including Kyiv, Zhytomyr, and Lviv. On the eastern front in Dnipro, Salesian Father Oleh Ladnyuk has been military chaplain to Ukrainian troops since 2014, when the Donbas conflict broke out. He also normally travels between villages in the area to offer Salesian youth ministry courses in Greek Catholic parishes. The invasion has changed Fr. Ladnyuk’s work. He is now working on evacuations and providing safety and support to children and families.

A small baby named Tymofij wore a blue hat and was wrapped in a warm tracksuit with his mother by his side when he escaped from Lysychansk to the Luhansk region. He was taken away to safety by Fr. Ladnyuk. Upon arriving, Fr. Ladnyuk said, “Now the first thing to do is to eat, then sleep. Tomorrow we will think about the rest.”

After more than 12 hours of travel, Fr. Ladnyuk still wanted to tell their story even though he felt exhausted. He had just returned from driving a small convoy of two mini-buses and a car with families. The journey began in the morning from the Salesian house in Dnipro,  124 miles (200 kilometers) from Donbas.

In the hours immediately following the invasion, Fr. Ladnyuk saw people stunned in the streets, lines of cars in search of fuel and people at ATMs to withdraw as much cash as possible. He heard of the first bombings and saw the first deaths. Then he left once again for Lysychansk, accompanied by Father Igor Opafsky. Everything had already been organized.

Fr. Ladnyuk said, “We’re going to the parish priest, Father Sergio Palamarchuk. He is gathering civilians who want to leave and we are taking them away. We hope to get there. We have to go a long way and we don’t know if the military will let us through. We are going with what we have.”

The road from Dnipro goes through Kostyantynivka and eastward. It is not an easy road in wartime. Fr. Ladnyuk explained, “In the opposite direction, we encountered rows of cars loaded with people and things: you could see that they were running away. And the closer you get to the front, the more the presence of the military is felt. You understand that I can’t say much, but there were many troops. When they passed close by, the danger could be felt in the air, so we tried to speed up.”

Lysychansk looks like an emptied city now. There is no one along the wide avenues, the houses already seem abandoned. Fr. Ladnyuk has rescued 12 people including women and Tymofij, just two weeks old. “These are not whole families, but pieces of families that split up. Fathers and mothers ensure their children are safe, then decide to stay behind—at home, under the bombs.”

After the trip, Fr. Ladnyuk returned to Dnipro. There are many people in need there that Salesians can still help. Salesians in Ukraine will continue to provide support to children and families while Salesians around the globe work to provide humanitarian relief to those in need.

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Sources:

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

ANS – Ukraine – On the run, in Fr Oleh’s mini-bus. “Away from the war, women and children to safety”

Salesian Missions

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(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries have been operating the Vsesvit School in Zhytomyr, Ukraine, for the past two years. The school was established thanks to several Italian benefactors in response to the local community need to open a Christian school. Zhytomyr has close to 300,000 residents and is 68 miles west of Kiev. Salesians now want to open an oratory to operate along with the school to help youth with after-school activities and educational support.

The goal is to first open the oratory to the more than 200 students who attend the school and then open activities to youth who live in the local community. Youth who attend the oratory will be able to access educational support, entertainment, and ways to connect with their peers through sports and games.

To launch the new oratory, Salesians are in need of the materials and supplies to make it successful. One Salesian explained, “There is a need for a little bit of everything. Work in the chapel, balls, sports uniforms, tents for summer camps, dishes, games and more.”

Salesian missionaries first arrived in Ukraine in 1936, and remained there for 10 years, until they were forced to leave the country for political reasons. They returned in the 1990s after the fall of the communist regimes in Eastern Europe, and today they have eight centers. The main focus is on education, but Salesians also augment this work through oratories and vocational and technical training for older youth who graduate from primary and secondary school.

According to the Child Poverty Report launched by UNICEF and Ptoukha Institute for Demography and Social Studies, together with the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine, children in the country are more likely to live in poverty than adults. The poverty rate among families with children is higher than in families without children—47 percent versus 34 percent. Poverty rates are also highest in large families with three or more children, and children in the youngest age groups are most impacted.

Because of these difficult economic conditions, youth often struggle to afford to continue their education. Those who do often find it challenging to find work without the appropriate skills and necessary connections. The area has a great need for reliable technical education and employees who possess technical knowledge and skills. Realizing this, Salesian missionaries work to make education equally available to all students, especially those in need such as orphans and youth from families with many children, broken families and rural areas.

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Sources:

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

ANS – Ukraine – Building an oratory in the style of Don Bosco

Salesian Missions

UNICEF – Child Poverty and Disparities in Ukraine

The post UKRAINE: Oratory to provide educational support first appeared on MissionNewswire.

With the help of many donors, Salesian missionaries were able to build and set up a workshop that is the only one of its kind in the region. The first group of students is already in the process of learning a trade on modern equipment that is available for them to practice what they have learned.

The inauguration event was presided over by Lviv’s Metropolitan Archbishop Igor Voznyak. He expressed his encouragement at the event and praised the students starting their studies while thanking Salesian missionaries who “are so brave and unique not to be afraid to take risks where education and a contribution to the future are concerned.”

Salesian Father Andriy Bodnar, director of the center, noted, “Our commitment to the vocational school in Lviv began in 2001. In all these years we have noticed an increase in interest in vocational training by young people. For this reason, the Salesians have always tried to propose current courses in order to help children in their human, Christian and professional formation.”

The Don Bosco Vocational Center also offers vocational training programs in carpentry, tailoring, gastronomy, waiter and wellness operator. There are not many Catholic educational institutions in Ukraine. It was only in 1991, with the fall of the USSR and the country’s proclamation of independence, that the Catholic church was able to start its pastoral activities on a regular basis. Today, the government of Ukraine does not support Catholic educational institutions that are private institutions and must be maintained by their founders or owners.

According to the Borgen Project, Ukraine is ranked as the second-poorest country in Europe with nearly a quarter of Ukrainians living below the poverty line. Poverty in Ukraine significantly worsened due to ongoing conflict since the country declared its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. The Maidan Revolution broke out in 2013 against Viktor Yanukovych, the corrupt president who won the presidency in 2010.

Yanukovych fled in 2014 which led to Russia annexing Crimea. The result of the crisis has been thousands of people dead and displaced as well as the country’s near economic collapse. Ukraine experienced a deep recession and high inflation rate in 2015 and is still in the process of recovery.

Because of these difficult economic conditions, youth often struggle to afford to continue their education. Those that do often find it challenging to find work without the appropriate skills and necessary connections. The area has a great need for reliable technical education and employees that possess technical knowledge and skills. Realizing this, Salesian missionaries work to make technical education equally available to all students, especially those in need such as orphans and youth from families with many children, broken families and rural areas.

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Sources:

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

ANS – Ukraine – “AutoBosco”, a new specialization to train young people

Borgen Project – Poverty in Ukraine

Salesian Missions

The post UKRAINE: Salesian Vocational Training Center in Lviv launches new car mechanics course first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Salesian missionaries built the Center for Academic Youth in order to provide space for youth who are facing challenges in life to learn about Catholicism, study and spend time with peers and adult mentors.

In 2016, Salesian missionaries purchased two plots of land to construct the Center for Academic Youth and the confreres’ residence. It took a long time to receive the proper permits for gas, electricity, water and sewer services. Once permits were obtained, missionaries were able to fence the area and create a new design for the building that is currently on the land.

The construction project dismantled and rebuilt the roof and some of the brick walls as well as strengthened the foundation of the existing building. Partition walls, window and door openings and a stairway were redesigned. Finally, the construction added a new attic floor, insultation and a new dome roof. Inside the building, new windows were installed and water, heating and electricity was set up.

“Salesian schools, youth centers and programs throughout Ukraine are helping to break the cycle of poverty while giving youth hope for a more positive and productive future,” says Father Mark Hyde, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Salesian schools and programs equip students with the skills they need to compete in the local labor market by offering courses that lead to employment in industries and businesses that are hiring.”

According to the Borgen Project, in 2016, Ukraine was ranked as the second-poorest country in Europe with nearly 60 percent of Ukrainians living below the poverty line. Poverty in Ukraine significantly worsened due to ongoing conflict since the country declared its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. The Maidan Revolution broke out in 2013 against Viktor Yanukovych, the corrupt president who won the presidency in 2010. Yanukovych fled in 2014 which led to Russia annexing Crimea. The result of the crisis has been thousands of people dead and displaced as well as the country’s near economic collapse. Ukraine experienced a deep recession and high inflation rate in 2015 and is still in the process of recovery.

Because of these difficult economic conditions, youth often struggle to afford to continue their education. Those that do often find it challenging to find work without the appropriate skills and necessary connections. The area has a great need for reliable technical education and employees that possess technical knowledge and skills. Realizing this, Salesian missionaries work to make technical education equally available to all students, especially those in need such as orphans and youth from families with many children, broken families and rural areas.

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Sources:

Borgen Project – Poverty in Ukraine

*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 UKRAINE: Donor funding from Salesian Missions enables construction of Center for Academic Youth and new residence for confreres first appeared on MissionNewswire.

In 2014, the World Bank noted that just more than 25 percent of those living in Ukraine live in conditions of poverty. But that number increased dramatically due to a struggling economy and high cost of living. In 2016, nearly 60 percent of the population in Ukraine lived below the poverty line, according to data of the M.V. Ptukha Institute of Demography and Social Surveys, the National Academy of Science of Ukraine. Political instability and an ongoing economic crisis has contributed to the surging poverty rate.

The war in Donbass is currently costing Ukraine 5 million dollars per day according to the International Business Times and reported in Borgen Magazine. The conflict in the eastern region of Ukraine exploits the country’s vulnerable economic situation and undermines the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) which serve as a poverty-reduction guide for Ukraine.

Because of these difficult economic conditions, youth often struggle to afford continuing their education. Those that do often are challenged to find work without the right skills and connections. The area has a great need for solid technical education and potential employees that possess these knowledge and skills. That is why Salesian missionaries at the Salesian Educational Center try to make technical education equally available for all students, especially those in need such as students who are orphans, from families with many children or broken families, and youth from rural areas.

“Salesian schools, services and programs throughout Ukraine are helping to break the cycle of poverty while giving youth hope for a more positive and productive future,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Salesian vocational and technical schools equip students with the skills they need to compete in the local labor market by offering courses that lead to employment in industries and businesses that are hiring.”

The Salesian Education Center offers specialized technical training in cooking, bartending, food service and industry, secretarial, computer operators, hair stylists, carpentry, tailoring and sewing. In the next few years, the school plans to add an auto mechanic specialization program. Most of the students at the school are 14 to 18 years old. Currently, the school has 68 students with 16 students who cannot afford the tuition and room and board fees at the school. Salesian missionaries pay for those students who cannot afford to attend but are looking additional financial support for the next school year.

The Salesian Educational Center is one of the best values for education in the local area. It is also the most comfortable for students. The canteen offers healthy and delicious food that is available for breakfast, lunch and dinner for students. Students who cannot afford it are provided special e-cards so they order without having to pay.

“Through our many programs, Salesian missionaries offer vulnerable youth the best educational and work opportunities to help them break the cycle of poverty and have hope for a brighter future,” adds Fr. Hyde.

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Sources:

Borgen Magazine – Poverty in Ukraine: War and Economic Crisis Delay Progress

EADaily – Over half of Ukraine’s population lives below poverty level

The post UKRAINE: Don Bosco Youth Educational Center Helps Provide Students Technical Skills for the Workforce first appeared on MissionNewswire.

In recent years, some of the rooms were renovated and well-equipped. At this point though, the entire building needs to be renovated. Currently, the priority is thermal insulation in order to reduce heating costs—a very important factor, especially because of the unstable economic situation in Ukraine, which has led to an increase in gas and electricity prices. Salesian Father Miguel Wocial, a Polish missionary and rector of the Odessa community, noted that life is difficult for those living in and accessing the building because of the cold and damp, which will become worse during winter and the rainy days.

In addition, because of the dampness, the walls are covered with fungus that could affect the health of the children attending nursery and primary school. The renovation of the walls will definitely improve the conditions and facilitate the work and study of all who use the building, which sees about 600 people each year. Moreover, the money saved on electricity and heating will be used to carry out the activities of the Salesian mission in Odessa.

“The health and safety of our Salesian staff and youth accessing our programs is very important to us,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “This Salesian center was also instrumental in housing and assisting those internally displaced during the conflict in the Ukraine last year as well as maintaining normal programs for youth in the area.”

During the height of the conflict in Ukraine, the Salesian center in Odessa provided shelter, food aid and clothing. Often, those arriving at the center came with nothing more than what they could carry, having left all behind when fleeing the fighting. The program met the basic needs of the displaced and then assisted them in finding long-term housing and employment to ease the transition to their new lives. The program helped more than 500 people find stable employment. Those displaced received assistance with training, résumé creation and interviewing skills while being given access to Salesian resources and partnerships that connected them to employers who were hiring.

“Those displaced fled their homes, their jobs and their support systems in search of safety and shelter,” adds Fr. Hyde. “The services at the Salesian center in Odessa helped those displaced make the transition to their new community while assisting them to regain stability, employment and hope for the future.”

Nearly 25 percent of those living in Ukraine live in conditions of poverty, according to the World Bank. The jobless rate in Ukraine increased to 10.3 percent in the first quarter of 2016 from 9.9 percent in the previous period. It was the highest rate since the fourth quarter of 2014. The World Bank also estimates that Ukraine’s GDP declined by almost 10 percent in 2015, but progress on reforms would enable a gradual recovery and growth of 1 percent in 2016. De-escalation of the conflict since September 2015 and reforms have contributed to returning some stability of the country’s economic confidence. However, the current political uncertainty poses a serious risk to continued reforms and economic recovery in Ukraine.

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Sources

ANS – Ukraine – A presence among the poor

World Bank – Ukraine

The post UKRAINE: Salesian Center in Need of Renovation to Continue Programs for More Than 600 first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Odessa, the third largest city in Ukraine and a major seaport and transportation hub located on the northwestern shore of the Black Sea, has been welcoming IDPs from Eastern Ukraine since the start of the conflict. A Salesian Center in the city is caring for many who have been displaced through a program that provides shelter, food aid and clothing. Often, those arriving at the center have come with nothing more than what they could carry, having left all behind when fleeing the fighting. The program, run by Salesian missionaries, works to meet the basic needs of the displaced and then assist in finding them long-term housing and employment to ease the transition to their new lives.

Since the beginning of the program, more than 300 people have found work and Salesian missionaries are in the process of helping another 200 prepare for and find stable employment. Those displaced have received assistance with training, resume creation and interviewing skills while being given access to Salesian resources and partnerships that connect them to employers who are hiring.

“Those displaced have fled their homes, their jobs and their support systems in search of safety and shelter,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “The services at the Salesian center in Odessa helps those displaced make the transition to their new community as easy as possible. Salesian missionaries working at the center help them regain stability, employment and hope for the future.”

Salesian missionaries have also opened a children’s center where youth are able to play and connect with their peers. Designed specifically for young people, the space is suitable for games, activities and educational workshops. It also offers individual psychological support to close to 20 children who have been traumatized by war and the abrupt changes in their lives.

Christian families already living in Odessa have been supportive of both Salesian programs and those displaced. Many have taken in displaced families and have helped them acclimate to their new surroundings and communities. Their assistance has decreased the number of displaced families forced to live on the streets.

“Having residents of Odessa assist those who are new to the city has significant results,” adds Fr. Hyde. “They know the landscape and are able to create a support system that includes a network of new neighbors, job prospects and assistance for the future.”

In addition, many military personnel, especially young soldiers, have been in need of medical care and rehabilitation since the fighting began. To help aid these soldiers, Salesian missionaries have started a project to help them access the services they need. Partnering with the local Odessa hospital, the Salesian project is providing funding for medical care and for the purchase of medical equipment like hearing aids for soldiers in need.

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Sources:

ANS – Ukraine – Refugees are the priority for the Salesians in Odessa

UNHCR – Ukraine internal displacement nears 1 million as fighting escalates in Donetsk region

PHOTO: 01-26-14 © palinchakjr

The post UKRAINE: Salesian Missionaries Providing Shelter and Job Placement Services to Those Displaced by Ongoing Conflict first appeared on MissionNewswire.