(MissionNewswire) Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, joins humanitarian organizations and the international community in honoring International Migrants Day. The day is held each year on Dec. 18 to recognize the efforts, contributions and rights of migrants worldwide.

According to the most recent World Migration Report produced by the International Organization for Migration, there are around 281 million international migrants in the world in 2020, which equates to 3.6% of the global population. For those who choose to leave their homeland, youth often leave in search of employment, education and a better way of life. The United Nations notes that youth are heavily represented in migration for humanitarian reasons including as refugees, asylum seekers and unaccompanied minors.

The United Nations also reported that, “Since 2014, nearly 70,000 migrants have died or gone missing along land and sea routes, with the true number likely much higher. Each recorded death represents a person whose loss deeply affects their family and reverberates throughout communities and societies. This is a silent humanitarian crisis, and it’s one we can solve.”

“Salesian missionaries care for and provide educational services to young migrants in countries around the globe,” explained Father Michael Conway, director of Salesian Missions. “Unaccompanied migrant youth often face rejection, homelessness, exploitation and delinquency as they make their journey to find a new way of life. They are also at risk of human trafficking and exploitation. Salesian missionaries work to create new educational and employment opportunities in countries youth leave as an incentive for them to remain at home.”

To mark International Migrants Day 2025, Salesian Missions is proud to highlight programs around the globe that provide life-changing education and social support to migrants.

COLOMBIA

John Bosco the Worker Center in Ciudad Bolívar, Colombia, offers educational opportunities and a safe haven for local youth in a region impacted by violence and poverty.

John Bosco the Worker Center in Ciudad Bolívar, Colombia, offers educational opportunities and a safe haven for local youth in a region impacted by violence and poverty. Established in 1994, the center is today recognized as a leader in technical training and known for teaching the circus arts.

Ciudad Bolívar is one of the most disadvantaged and dangerous areas south of Bogotá. The informal settlements house nearly 900,000 people, and 18% of families are not able to meet their primary needs of food, services, housing and education. Migrants from Venezuela coming to the area have built homes made of plastic, boards, metal and recycled materials. They often face violence and abuse.

A Salesian explained, “The community continues to expand on the slopes of the mountains and is made up principally of youth and mothers with limited resources. Lately, the area has also seen in the influx of thousands of migrants arriving from Venezuela in search of opportunities for a better life. To all of them, the John Bosco the Worker Center offers a way to escape poverty through education.”

The center offers 13 technical training programs, cooking classes, sports and artistic activities. Young migrants are also welcomed through the Reception House for Venezuelan Youth. The center aids families as well, including 120 adults and 40 young mothers. On Saturdays, recreational activities are organized in the streets.

INDIA

Salesian missionaries with Bosco Vikas Gramin Kendra were able to support children in migrant communities in the Central Maharashtra region of India thanks to funding from Salesian Missions.

Salesian missionaries with Bosco Vikas Gramin Kendra were able to support children in migrant communities in the Central Maharashtra region of India thanks to funding from Salesian Missions.

The project encouraged children from the migrant communities to attend study centers for various sports activities. This brought youth in the door and allowed them to access the other services being offered, including classes. In six project hamlets, study classes were held on a regular basis. A total of 193 boys and girls were enrolled and studied math and language. At the conclusion of each month, tests were administered to assess progress. The monthly evaluations were then shared with the students. Special additional care and attention were provided to those who needed help.

Nutrition was also provided for 200 youth, who were able to have at least one healthy meal a week thanks to the project funding. Salesians also held programs to inform parents about the importance of healthy nutrition. Parents were able to attend sessions to learn about other services available to them. Salesians covered 12 programs that parents could access including health insurance, financial aid and nutritional support. More than 2,300 people attended these sessions.

MEXICO

The Salesian Tijuana Project in Tijuana, Mexico offers migrant women and children a safe place to stay and an opportunity to plan their future through the Salesian Refuge, a center offering support.

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

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

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

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

THE GAMBIA

The Don Bosco 2000 Association has expanded its commitment in Africa with the launch of the Beteya Guinar project in The Gambia.

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

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

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

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

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Sources:

COLOMBIA: Local youth and migrants can find path out of poverty

INDIA: Salesian Missions funds project to help support migrant children

International Organization for Migration

MEXICO: Salesian Tijuana Project houses migrant women and their children

Salesian Missions

THE GAMBIA: New project aims to decrease migration for youth

United Nations Migrants Day

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(MissionNewswire)  The Don Bosco Higher Education Institute (Instituto Superior Don Bosco) is focusing on the environment with several recent initiatives. Students from the Environmental Club recently took a workshop, using paper, water and charcoal powder to produce eco-friendly charcoal with low calorific value, which is a less polluting option suitable. The process involved preparing the mixture, molding and drying the product.

A Salesian noted, “The initiative allowed students to understand the value of recycling and the importance of environmental innovation, reinforcing the Environmental Club’s commitment to reducing waste and promoting ecological alternatives within the institution.”

Students at another Salesian-run education center, the São José de Lhanguene Training Center, is also having their students in the electrical installation course raise awareness about the importance of environmental preservation and proper waste management. Thirty-two students created posters with educational messages such as “Don’t litter” and “Stop waste.”

The Salesian added, “The initiative promoted teamwork, creativity, and civic spirit, reinforcing the trainees’ commitment to environmental protection. The activity showed that environmental education combined with art is an effective tool for raising awareness and ecological responsibility among young people.”

Poverty surged in Mozambique from 48.4% to 62.9% between 2014 and 2022. According to the World Bank, this rise is attributed to the hidden debt crisis, COVID-19, and natural disasters. Poverty is concentrated in rural areas, and even with growth within the country, the regions of Zambezia, Sofala, Manica and Gaza saw an increase in poverty in the 2000s.

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Photo credit

Don Bosco Green Alliance – Paper Charcoal Production Workshop at ISDB, Mozambique

Don Bosco Green Alliance – Creative Workshop at ISDB, Mozambique

Salesian Missions – Mozambique

World Bank – Mozambique

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(MissionNewswire) The Salesian Institute Youth Projects, located in Cape Town, has spearheaded the Salesian Hydroponics Eco-Ubuntu Project in South Africa and other countries. The project is facilitating training for youth in hydroponics and solar power and ensuring they have the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving green economy.

One of the project’s standout achievements is the integration of hydroponics into education and employment pathways for disadvantaged youth. Under the institute’s NEETs Youth Employability Program, the project participants are actively involved in the rollout and implementation of hydroponics projects in their communities. By engaging these youth in meaningful work, the project not only addresses unemployment but also fosters a sense of ownership and pride in environmental conservation efforts.

The Eco-Ubuntu project extends its reach into the institute’s Learn to Live program, offering students hands-on experience in hydroponic farming. By cultivating produce using hydroponic systems, these students not only learn practical skills but also develop a deeper appreciation for sustainable agriculture.

A Salesian noted, “Through a multifaceted approach encompassing renewable energy, water access, waste management, hydroponics, and sustainable cultivation, the Salesian Hydroponics Eco-Ubuntu Project aims to create a greener future for all.”

Launched by the Salesian Provincial Office in Johannesburg in January 2024, the Eco-Ubuntu project is a testament to the Salesians’ commitment to holistic development. It is currently operating in three countries, South Africa, Lesotho, and Eswatini. Within these countries, seven cities are engaged, casting a wide net for impacting youth and the communities in which they live.

The Salesian added, “At its core, the Eco-Ubuntu project seeks to instill a ‘green mindset’ within communities by facilitating accessible and practical green interventions. From hydroponic systems, solar installation training to borehole installations, the project empowers individuals to embrace sustainable practices in their daily lives.”

Since 1910, Salesian Institute Youth Projects has been helping youth who are homeless, unemployed or poor in Cape Town, the second most populous city and legislative capital of South Africa. Salesians provide shelter, education and workforce development services, meeting the basic needs of the youth they serve while helping them break the cycle of poverty.

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Photo credit: Eco-Ubuntu Green Project – Salesian Youth

Salesian Institute Youth Projects – Eco-Ubuntu Green Project

Salesian Institute Youth Projects

Salesian Institute Youth Projects Facebook

Salesian Missions – South Africa

UNICEF – South Africa

The post SOUTH AFRICA: Youth learn hydroponics and solar power through Salesian Hydroponics Eco-Ubuntu Project first appeared on MissionNewswire.

(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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Sources

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

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 Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, joins humanitarian organizations and the international community in honoring Human Rights Day, celebrated each year on Dec. 10. Human Rights Day commemorates the day in 1948 when the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights has been translated into more than 500 languages. This milestone document proclaimed the inalienable rights that everyone is inherently entitled to as a human being — regardless of race, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, or other status.

The United Nations noted, “Human rights can empower individuals and communities to forge a better tomorrow. By embracing and trusting the full power of human rights as the path to the world we want, we can become more peaceful, equal and sustainable.”

Salesian missionaries in more than 130 countries around the globe work to ensure that all youth know their rights, are able to fully participate in their communities and have their voices heard. They do this through access to education, health care and social programs.

Father Michael Conway, director of Salesian Missions, explained, “Salesian missionaries on the forefront in communities, ensuring youth have access to the education and supports needed to understand their rights and feel empowered to express them. Whether it’s combating child labor, assisting homeless youth or building schools where children previously had no access to education, Salesian missionaries educate and meet the basic needs of children in some of the poorest places on the planet.”

In honor of Human Rights Day, Salesian Missions highlights unique programs that are helping poor youth receive an education and find a path out of poverty, bringing them hope for the future.

DR CONGO

Salesian missionaries in the Democratic Republic of the Congo*, led by Father Carlos Balezi Kabumba, recently concluded a series of educational sessions aimed at raising awareness of the rights of women and minors. The training was held for children at the Salesian House in Gahinja and for girls from the Maison Marguerite Center.

At the end of the course, participants received certificates of completion. Salesians thanked the Salesian Mission Office in Bonn, Germany, for financial support and its commitment to the protection of the rights of women and children in this conflict-torn region.

Pascal Bauma, project manager, noted, “This initiative has been useful to assess the situation of many children living on the street, especially in the city of Goma. Many young people, due to difficult family situations, are forced to take to the streets. This problem is also aggravated by the influx of people displaced by the war in and around Goma.” Over the last years, Salesians have been dedicated to caring for displaced children, who are living at Salesian houses in the region.

INDIA

Don Bosco Center for Social Action Yadgir and Don Bosco Makkalalaya Mysore in India have been honored by Karnataka district authorities for their outstanding efforts in championing child rights.

The Don Bosco Center for Social Action, under Director Father Francis Shabu, has been at the forefront of safeguarding child rights and promoting education in vulnerable communities. To mark the occasion, the center organized a rally with over 1,400 participants. It was held in collaboration with government departments, spreading a powerful message against child labor and highlighting every child’s right to education.

Don Bosco Makkalalaya, headed by Father Jim Jose, also received a special award for its work with children at risk. The organization also led a rally involving more than 300 participants, joining the Labor Department to advocate for children’s rights and highlight the urgency of ending child labor.

A Salesian noted, “These recognitions underscore the deep commitment of the Salesians of Don Bosco to the cause of children, especially the most vulnerable and marginalized. At the core of these initiatives is BREADS Bangalore, the planning and development office of the Salesian Province, which continues to offer strong support, strategic direction, and resources ― empowering its partner centers to build safer, more just futures for children across Karnataka.”

LEBANON

Salesian missionaries have been able to provide emergency assistance for people impacted by the war in Lebanon* thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions. The “Emergency assistance for Fidar and Hossoun communities and refugees in Beirut” project is ensuring that families living in these communities have the basic essentials and the psychological support they need.

With donor funding, Salesians were able to provide medical assistance, psychosocial support, food supplies, fuel vouchers and warm clothes. Families were chosen from those involved with local Salesian centers and schools, including Don Bosco Technique, Don Bosco Hossoun oratories, and Angels of Peace School.

A Salesian noted, “Through coordinated efforts, our team provided immediate relief and laid the foundation for resilience and hope during an incredibly challenging period. Moreover, the project had a comprehensive and profound impact, as it combined educational support, psychological care and social activities to address the multifaceted needs of the various communities served by the Salesians.”

RWANDA

Don Bosco Muhazi Technical and Vocational School in Rwanda had the funding to support 260 students thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions. The funding provided food assistance and essential supplies. Fifty of these students, who live off school grounds, received hygiene kits, food supplies and rent support.

A Salesian noted, “This aid was especially crucial for students from remote areas who struggle to meet their basic needs while pursuing technical education. It enabled them to focus more effectively on their studies. School staff and students alike have expressed increased morale and hope with testimonies indicating that the aid has stabilized their living conditions temporarily. In the longer term, this support fosters resilience, reduces dropout rates, and promotes a conducive learning environment, helping students build a better future for themselves and their communities.”

Don Bosco Muhazi educates 261 youth aged 16-23. In the district 22.0% of people these ages previously attended school and have left for some reason, 75.2% are currently attending school and 2.8% have never attended secondary school.

Vumiriya Uwihoreye, a student benefiting from the program, said, “We are very happy. Many of us live in difficult circumstances, but seeing donors like this shows that there are many kind-hearted people interested in helping those with limited resources succeed.”

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Sources:

DR CONGO: Women, minors learn rights

INDIA: Don Bosco organizations recognized for championing child rights

Human Rights Day

LEBANON: Salesian missionaries provide support for 273 people impacted by war thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions

RWANDA: Don Bosco Muhazi provides essential support to 260 students thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions

Salesian Missions

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

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(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries have been providing support to youth in Jacarezinho, Brazil – one of Rio de Janeiro’s most populous and violent neighborhoods. Salesians operate the Mary Help of Christians Parish and oratory as well as the Alberto Monteiro de Carvalho school, which has more than 500 students. For three years, after school and during the lunch break, students have been participating in a computer literacy course.

Father Natale Vitali, who coordinates the course, explained, “It is not an easy situation for the youth here, as they often do not receive a decent education. We do not limit ourselves to computer literacy as we help youth develop moral and social values.”

Fr. Vitali arrived in Jacarezinho in 2020, a year before a Brazilian police operation turned the area into a bloodbath. He knew one of the 28 people killed in the raid that was carried out by more than 200 officers with the aim of arresting 21 members of a criminal drug trafficking organization.

Fr. Vitali noted, “He was a young man who always sat in front of our parish and our college and he always greeted us. During one of my visits to the six local Christian communities, I celebrated a Mass in which the names and faces of the victims of the massacre, which is still a vivid memory, were displayed.” Fr. Vitali, who has just completed his term as Superior of the St John Bosco Province of Belo Horizonte Brazil, recounted the events to Vatican media.

Violence is deeply rooted in Jacarezinho and it has an impact on the education system. Schools are often closed and lessons cancelled. For some, the only way to earn some money is to become drug transporters.

“When the police enter the favela (poor neighborhood in Rio), there is always fear,” Fr. Vitali recounted. “It is not an easy situation. Many people do not want to live there. Youth often do not receive a decent education and do not establish a good relationship with their parents, who, in many cases, have not studied and do not understand the importance of educating their children well.”

Fr. Vitali knows how important it is for youth to be computer literate. Many of the youth in the course have never used a computer before. The youth, between 6-14 years old, are supported by teachers hired thanks to funding from the Salesian Mission Office in Turin, Italy.

The course started it in 2022, after the St. John Bosco Province bought the first devices. The number of youth has increased year after year. In 2022, there were 45, a year later there were 150, and in 2024, the number rose to 200 and also was opened to parents. Today, there are 265. Fr. Vitali noted that they struggle to get youth to go home when the course is over because they feel at home in Salesian environment.

When the next school year begins, between February and March 2026, the computer literacy project could be even more crowded because Salesians are expanding the facility, which will be able to accommodate another 200 students.

The impact of the Salesians’ good work in Jacarezinho can also be measured by the responses Fr. Vitali has received when he meets former students. He said, “A short time ago, I spoke with two former students. One, who started working in an IT company, told me that the course changed his mind and heart. Another former student donated his first salary to ensure that the initiative could continue.”

The Salesians in Jacarezinho will continue educating youth while working to keep them safe from violence and bloodshed.

Just over 15% of Brazilians live in poverty, with the majority living in the rural northeast of the country, according to the World Bank. While Brazil is making positive changes, there are still large gaps between the poor and the rich, and issues of income inequality and social exclusion remain at the root of poverty.

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Sources:

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

ANS – Brazil – A Salesian project to give young people in Jacarezinho an alternative

Salesian Missions – Brazil

World Bank – Brazil

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INDIA

Half of youth in attendance selected for positions throughout India

(MissionNewswire) Two Salesian organizations, AIDA-Don Bosco, a job placement network in Dimapur, India and Konkan Development Society, the Don Bosco Vocational Guidance and Placement Service in Curtorim, recently held job events to help Salesian students find long term employment and be ready for the workforce.

Supported by the Don Bosco Job Placement Network, AIDA-Don Bosco organized the first ever job fair at Don Bosco College in Maram, India. The event was well received with many youth taking part in interviews and in talks with the five companies in attendance. By the end of the event, half of the youth had already been selected for positions throughout India, marking a promising start for regional employment initiatives.

Father Roy George, executive director of AIDA-Don Bosco expressed his enthusiasm for the event, congratulating the organizers and calling this collaboration “an important step towards realizing the professional aspirations of young people.”

The Konkan Development Society the Don Bosco Vocational Guidance and Placement Service, in collaboration with Reginaldo Lourenco, a member of the Legislative Assembly, organized a career guidance workshop for more than100 students and some parents. The event emphasized the crucial role of family support in shaping career decisions.

A workshop included dynamic sessions led by renowned experts, who offered students a holistic perspective on education and career paths. Noah Rodrigues, regional coordinator of the Don Bosco Job Placement Network, opened the workshop with a session with a talk about choosing the right career path. He guided the students through a self-assessment tool.

In another session Colonel Jesus Benino Furtardo spoke to the students about the possibility of working in the army and how to evaluate different careers after the end of their studies.

“Learning the skills for employment is only half the process,” said a Salesian. “We want to make sure youth are able to take the skills they learned and access the employment that will allow them to be self-sufficient. Events like these are a step in ensuring that’s possible.”

Access to professional training and workforce development services is highly valued in India. India’s youth face a lack of educational opportunities due to issues of caste, class and gender. Almost 44% of the workforce is illiterate and less than 10% of the working-age population has completed a secondary education. In addition, many secondary school graduates do not have the knowledge and skills to compete in today’s changing job market.

India has the world’s fourth largest economy but more than 22% of the country lives in poverty. About 31% of the world’s multidimensionally poor children live in India, according to a report by the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative.

Sources:

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

ANS – India – Big job fair at Don Bosco College in Maram

ANS – India – An orientation workshop to help young people make informed career choices

Salesian Missions – India

World Bank – India

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KENYA

Project trained 66 animators and teachers across seven parishes

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries were able to train Pontifical Missionary Children animators and Sunday school teachers in Salesian parishes in Kenya, thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. Through this project 66 animators and teachers were trained across seven parishes.

The animators and teachers were trained in psychology of child development, psychosocial development, James Fowler’s model of faith development and cognitive development contemporary theories for children learning spirituality.

A Salesian explained, “This was an excellent training project. Now with the 66 animators and teachers trained, they will bring what they are learned to educate more than 12,000 children, aged 5–12 years, in various parishes. Not only that but animators and teachers were able to share their experiences, build a supportive network and continue to learn from each other.”

An interactive WhatsApp group was created through this project to enable members to share ideas, showcase progress, and demonstrate the application of learned methodologies. On the last day of the training, animators visited Don Bosco Upperhill Parish (Shrine of Mary Help of Christians) to observe how the animators and Sunday School teachers organize and conduct their sessions.

Nelly Lukaziva Sanya is one of the people who attended the training. She has always been passionate about nurturing children’s spiritual growth. Before joining the project, Sanya faced several challenges that affected her confidence and teaching effectiveness. Her methods were mostly traditional, and she often felt limited in how she could engage her students or manage classroom dynamics.

Reflecting on that period, Sanya said, “Before the training, I often felt stuck doing things the same way and wasn’t sure how to make my lessons more engaging.” When the project was introduced, Sanya welcomed it with both excitement and apprehension. She was eager to learn new teaching techniques and connect with other teachers, yet she worried about whether she could adapt to the new methods and apply them effectively. Despite these initial worries, she embraced the learning process and found the sessions inspiring and transformative.

By the end of the training, Sanya felt a renewed sense of confidence and purpose. The practical methods and creative strategies she learned helped her better engage her students and strengthened the trust between her and the children’s parents. The training not only improved her teaching but also deepened her sense of community among fellow teachers. Together, they shared insights, encouraged one another, and discussed ways to make Sunday school more interactive and spiritually enriching.

Looking ahead, Sanya hopes to continue growing as a teacher and mentor. She envisions creating digital learning resources, forming a supportive network of Sunday school teachers, and inspiring others through mentorship and collaboration.

Sanya added, “I want to mentor children and new teachers, share what I’ve learned, and create online resources to support others.” Overall, the project has enhanced Sanya’s confidence, teaching effectiveness and community leadership, contributing to a more engaging and spiritually enriching learning environment.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions – Kenya

World Bank – Kenya

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INDIA

Campaign follows national initiative Child Marriage-Free India

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Gujarat collaborated with Just Rights for Children to launch a 100-day campaign against child marriage in three districts of Gujarat, India — Anand, Vadodara, and Chhotaudepur. The campaign was officially initiated on October 13, 2025, by Don Bosco Kawant and Don Bosco Kapadvanj, Salesian organizations that have been working tirelessly to protect the rights and dignity of youth.

This campaign follows the national initiative Child Marriage-Free India, which was launched by the Honorable Minister for Women and Child Development, Smt. Annapurna Devi in Nov. 2024. The movement has already made a remarkable impact across several states of India, including the districts of Chhotaudepur, Anand, and Vadodara in Gujarat, through the collective efforts of government officials, civil society organizations and community leaders.

Under this initiative, Don Bosco Kawant and Don Bosco Kapadvanj have played a significant role in spreading awareness and preventing child marriages at the grassroots level. Nationwide, the campaign has helped prevent child marriages, saving countless young girls and boys from losing their childhood and opportunities for education and growth.

In Gujarat, more than 300 parents from the three districts have signed written pledges promising not to marry off their underage children. These written guarantees are powerful testimonies of change and commitment towards building a safer future for every child.

As the campaign completes its first year, Don Bosco Gujarat is preparing for a 100-day intensive awareness drive from November 1, 2025, to January 26, 2026. The goal is to create mass awareness, strengthen community participation and build strong collaboration among all stakeholders to eliminate child marriage completely.

During these 100 days, the campaign will reach out to key community influencers who play an important role in the marriage process. The goal is to spread awareness and to help these community influences create and declare child marriage-free districts through coordinated community action.

Father Mayank Parmar, director of Don Bosco Kawant, emphasized, “This campaign is the need of the hour. The government, civil society, and people of goodwill must come together to protect children and completely eradicate the evil of child marriage.”

Shailesh Parmar, program officer for Don Bosco Kapadvanj, added, “Being part of a nationwide campaign like this will not only create change in India but also inspire action across the globe.”

Through these efforts, Don Bosco Gujarat continues its mission of educating, empowering, and protecting young lives. The 100-day campaign is a strong reminder that every child deserves the right to grow, learn, and dream free from the burden of early marriage.

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Sources:

ANS – India – Don Bosco Gujarat Launches 100-Day Campaign Against Child Marriage

Salesian Missions – India

World Bank – India

The post INDIA: Salesian organizations launched 100-day campaign against child marriage first appeared on MissionNewswire.

KENYA

Initiative fosters sense of stewardship among youth, educators and communities

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Kenya has taken a transformative step by launching the Don Bosco Integral Ecology Plan that spans from now through 2029. Salesians in Kenya will turn to Don Bosco Green Alliance, a global platform for ecological initiatives and activities.

The plan represents a comprehensive roadmap to integrate ecological responsibility across all facets of Salesian education, pastoral care, and social engagement. The six pillars of the plan include energy management, carbon management, water management, waste management, sustainable agriculture, and ecological conversion.

These actions will involve the participation of 14 Salesian institutions across Kenya and is designed to benefit more than 45,000 youth and community members annually. Rooted firmly in the principles of Laudato Si’, Pope Francis’s call for an integral approach to ecology, the initiative addresses critical environmental challenges while fostering a sense of stewardship among young people, educators, and communities.

In his opening remarks to unveil the plan, Father George Tharayil, provincial superior, framed the initiative as both a spiritual and practical commitment. He said, “This five-year strategic plan for Integral Ecology reflects our dedication to God, the environment, and the people we serve.”

Father Savio Silveira, the coordinator of the Don Bosco Green Alliance, addressed the growing concern of “eco-anxiety” among youth, emphasizing the importance of immediate action. “Whatever affects young people affects the Salesian community,” he stressed, applauding the Salesian Province of East Africa for being the first in the Salesian world to launch such a comprehensive ecological plan.

The launch event concluded with a symbolic tree-planting ceremony, involving representatives from Don Bosco institutions, private entities, non-governmental organizations and civil society. This act symbolized the shared commitment to nurturing a greener planet and marked the beginning of a legacy that will inspire future generations.

The Don Bosco Integral Ecology Plan sets a powerful example, calling on Salesian provinces worldwide to embrace ecological responsibility with focus, unity, and determination.

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Sources:

Don Bosco Green Alliance – Kenya – The Salesian Province of East Africa (AFE) Launches the Don Bosco Integral Ecology Plan (2025–2029)

Salesian Missions – Kenya

World Bank – Kenya

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(MissionNewswire) Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, joins humanitarian organizations and countries around the globe in honoring International Day of People with Disabilities. Since its inception in 1945, the United Nations has outlined and reiterated its commitment to calling for the creation of inclusive, accessible, and sustainable societies and communities. In 1981, the U.N. proclaimed Dec. 3 as a recognized day for the celebration of the achievements of people living with disabilities across the world.

The World Health Organization (WHO) World Report on Disability noted that nearly an estimated 1.3 billion people experience significant disability. This represents 16% of the world’s population, or one in six people. Persons with disabilities have twice the risk of developing conditions such as depression, asthma, diabetes, stroke, obesity or poor oral health.

It’s also noted that, “Health inequities arise from unfair conditions faced by persons with disabilities, including stigma, discrimination, poverty, exclusion from education and employment, and barriers faced in the health system itself.”

Father Micheal Conway, director of Salesian Missions, said, “Youth with disabilities are able to accomplish as much as their peers if given the right resources and support. In many communities around the globe, children and older adults with disabilities often lack the same opportunities. Salesians are working to level the field by providing equal access and inclusion.”

Salesian Missions is proud to highlight Salesian programs that advance inclusivity for people with disabilities on International Day of People with Disabilities 2025.

BRAZIL

Nicole Vital, a new law student at Don Bosco Catholic University in Campo Grande, Brazil, has her faithful guide dog, Olinda, a two-year-old Labrador, with her at school. Olinda is the first guide dog to attend the university, supporting Vital throughout her law studies. Vital was born with reduced vision due to optic nerve atrophy and lost her sight completely 10 years ago.

“A guide dog is essential for my mobility,” Vital explained. “It allows me to move with greater agility. The dog is classified as a working tool, but it is also crucial for my socialization.”

Vital was selected through a free program organized by the Catarinense Federal Institute, which pairs visually impaired individuals with trained guide dogs.

Legislation guarantees visually impaired individuals the right to enter and remain in any public-access environment with their guide dog. At the Salesian university the Psycho-pedagogical Support Center assists students with special needs, providing educational support and inclusive strategies in the classroom. Vital’s classmates have welcomed Olinda’s presence and adapted well.

KENYA

Don Bosco Utume Salesian Theological College, a center for learning for those who are becoming priests in Nairobi, Kenya, has new bathrooms for its multi-use field for the community thanks to funding from Salesian Missions. The project is part of the Salesian Missions “Clean Water Initiative.”

Salesians rent out their field for use for community activities including sports, but the bathrooms were more than 25 years old. In order to be able to continue to rent out the space, which brings in revenue to help Don Bosco Utume remain self-sufficient, the block of bathrooms needed to be updated. The Karen Hospital next to the school also uses the field often, while youth use it for events.

With the funding provided, Salesians were able to build a block of bathrooms for men and women. The toilets are modern and have sensors for flushing to avoid wasting water. There are also changing rooms, lockers and showers available.

A Salesian noted, “We are grateful for the funding and what we have been able to accomplish with this project. One of the most important things for us was making sure that the men’s and women’s bathrooms had at least one toilet for a person with a disability. This project has enabled Don Bosco Utume to be part of a disability inclusion agenda.”

RWANDA

The Filippo Smaldone Institute, located in Nyamirambo, a suburb of Kigali, Rwanda, is run by the Salesian Sisters of the Sacred Heart. The institute provides primary and secondary school, as well as vocational courses to prepare students for the workforce. The institute also has special courses for students with vision and hearing disabilities, according to a recent article in Global Sisters Report.

The Salesian Sisters of the Sacred Heart congregation was founded in 1885 by St. Filippo Smaldone, who is known as the apostle of the deaf. According to the article, since 1987, the Salesian sisters have focused their work to assist those in danger of social exclusion, including students who are deaf or hard of hearing.

The institute educates more than 400 students, including 207 children with hearing loss or deafness and more than 200 without a disability. According to the article, Salesian Sister Therese Akayezu, head teacher at the Filippo Smaldone Institute, noted that by attending classes and special programs with dedicated teachers, deaf or hard of hearing children can learn skills to master a profession.

Sr. Akayezu said, “In our teaching methodology, we try to focus on improving self-esteem among children with hearing loss who sometimes develop lower self-esteem than hearing peers.”

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Sources:

BRAZIL: Don Bosco Catholic University focuses on disability inclusion

International Day of Persons with Disabilities

KENYA: Salesian Missions provides funding for new bathrooms at Don Bosco Utume

RWANDA: Children with deafness or hearing loss receive education

Salesian Missions

The post INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: Salesian Missions highlights programs that focus on inclusion first appeared on MissionNewswire.

INDIA

Programs to spotlight on youth age 16 and above 

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco’s Prafulta Psychological Services, located in Mumbai, India, has several programs that promote understanding, protection, and prioritization of mental wellness. While Mental Health Awareness month is in October, the organization recognizes that prioritizing mental health goes beyond a day or a month-long focus.

A Salesian noted, “Mental health, which profoundly shapes how we think, feel, and act, is essential for coping with stress, building meaningful relationships, and making sound decisions. We believe that awareness and action around emotional well-being has become increasingly urgent.”

Prafulta organizes a wide range of programs, including workshops, social media campaigns, and community outreach activities, designed to engage individuals across age groups. These initiatives aim to empower people with practical tools for maintaining emotional balance and resilience in their daily lives.

This year, the spotlight is on youth aged 16 and above, a demographic facing increasing psychological pressures in a fast-paced, high-stress world. To address their unique needs, Prafulta has launched an innovative program titled “Vibe Check – Master Your Mood.”

This free, interactive 90-minute session invites young participants to explore their emotions, develop self-awareness, and learn effective strategies to manage stress and build resilience. With several youth groups already engaged, Prafulta aimed to reach at least 1,000 Through these initiatives, Don Bosco Prafulta reinforces the message that mental health is not just the absence of illness but the presence of balance, purpose, and joy. The center invites the community to join hands in breaking stigma, fostering empathy, and celebrating life as an adventure rooted in emotional strength and wellness.youth through this initiative by the end of October.

The organization held other initiatives in October including short videos, offering practical tips on overcoming everyday challenges like anger, anxiety, and mood disorders and Dance Movement Therapy sessions, using movement as a tool for emotional healing and expression. The organization also had Silver Talkies, a reflective series focused on the mental well-being of senior citizens. Psychologist also gathered to share information while workshops on career and mental well-being guided individuals to align their professional goals with psychological balance.

As Don Bosco Prafulta continues to champion mental health awareness, they remind the community that every step toward understanding and prioritizing mental well-being is a step toward a healthier, more compassionate world.

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Sources:

ANS – India – Don Bosco Prafulta Leads the Charge for Mental Health Awareness

Salesian Missions – India

World Bank – India

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Communities now assured access to drinking water supply

(MissionNewswire) Christof Hürlimann, a citizen of Switzerland, financed a water project in São Marcos, in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso. He visited the area with his wife Angela to meet his friend, Mariano Wadzerepruwē, Xavante chief of the Obra de Maria village.

The meeting came after years of friendship which began when Hürlimann’s father was in Brazil as part of the Ambulant Missionary Assistance project and Wadzerepruwē was working as a driver and truck mechanic in the region. The AMA Project is promoted by the Salesian Saint Alphonsus Liguori Province of Campo Grande Brazil.

Arriving in the village of Obra de Maria, Hürlimann found that there was a severe water shortage. Families washed their clothes only three times a month and fetched water from another village. In the mornings, they used the scarce reserves for cooking and drinking, while in the afternoons they reused the water stored in the barrels for washing.

Hürlimann decided to finance the drilling of an artesian well through the Swiss MANNA – Aid for Brazil Association. The work took place in October. The new well reached a depth of 60 meters, guaranteeing approximately 30,000 liters of water per day. With the remaining funds, the team drilled a second well in the Nossa Senhora das Dores village.

The Obra de Maria village houses around 30 people under the leadership of Chief Mariano Wadzerepruwē, while the Nossa Senhora das Dores village has 65 people under the responsibility of Marcelo Tserewadzi.

Salesian Deacon José Alves accompanied the Swiss couple and recounted the impact of the visit. He said, “While we were drilling in these two villages, other Indigenous people from the villages of Maria Nossa Mãe, Cristo Redentor, Santuário and José and Maria arrived, all of whom lack water in their villages.”

With the completion of the drilling, the communities are now assured a drinking water supply and have reduced the use of turbid water from the São Marcos River. According to Deacon Alves, the experience has consolidated the commitment to the indigenous cause.

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Sources:

ANS – Brazil – Wells and drinking water for two Xavante villages in Mato Grosso thanks to a Swiss benefactor

Salesian Missions – Brazil

World Bank – Brazil

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New Lakou Bosco Village supports youth to become self-sufficient adults

(MissionNewswire) For almost five years, Salesian Lakou Bosco, based in Les Abymes, Guadeloupe – a French overseas region in the southern Caribbean – has been supporting youth and their families. Through educational and social activities, the goal is to help at-risk youth have hope for a brighter future. The organization is about to construct a new village to provide even more services and is looking at youth needs to develop it.

The new Lakou Bosco Village will be a 280-square meter meeting place, including a large house with a living room, kitchen and workshop for handicrafts, a Lakou space (home in local Creole), a sports field and two multi-activity rooms that will house a multimedia space, workspace, playroom, and place for sports. The building will be constructed with environmental impact in mind using thermal insulation and solar panels while ensuring comfort.

To kick off this project, the organization held a seminar, led by the L’effet Papillon Association, which works to restore biodiversity in Guadeloupe. This event brought together volunteers, employees, youth and partners to reflect on the values of the project and its future.

The discussions highlighted kindness and openness to others, which are the pillars of Salesian Lakou Bosco. The organization’s charter emphasizes, “We welcome everyone unconditionally in the spirit of lakou, with solidarity and listening, respecting the dignity of each individual. These values guide every action, uniting a large family where everyone contributes their talents for the common good.”

Arthur Massiet, director of Salesian Lakou Bosco said, “Our actions revolve around young people in their living spaces including with family, in their neighborhood and school, and now the digital world. We aim to support youth in their personal and social development while helping parents to strengthen their role.”

The future village will embody these ambitions. Designed to be eco-friendly it will incorporate solar panels, water collectors and, thanks to a partnership with L’effet Papillon, an aquaponics pond and a green roof.

Salesian Lakou Bosco wants to introduce youth to green professions such as solar cooking and low-tech solutions, using recycled materials for simple and sustainable technologies. Massiet noted, “We want young people to become pioneers in ecology for a greener planet. At the same time, workshops, academic support, internships and cultural or sporting activities promote the empowerment of young people and the autonomy of families.”

Digital technology is also a priority area. Massiet explained, “Their virtual world is often foreign to us. We want to join them to understand, without judging.” Monitoring activities are planned, as well as support for families with digital administrative procedures with the help of social workers.

Salesian Lakou Bosco does not just provide support, it aspires to transform neighborhoods into spaces of collective responsibility. With its new village, Salesian Lakou Bosco is building a model where youth, supported by their community, are able to take control of their lives and become self-sufficient adults who contribute back to their communities.

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Sources:

Photo Source

ANS – Guadeloupe – Lakou Bosco, five years of commitment to young people

Fondation Don Bosco

Salesian Missions

The post GUADELOUPE: Salesian Lakou Bosco kicks off new village project first appeared on MissionNewswire.

(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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Sources:

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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INDIA

50 women start mushroom growing training to become entrepreneurs

(MissionNewswire) Fifty women have embarked on a transformational journey towards economic independence and sustainable nutrition through the Nanma program launched by Don Bosco Veedu and Salesian Cooperators. The program is focused on mushroom cultivation training and is designed to help women gain access to skill-based training to go on to become entrepreneurs.

A Salesian explained, “This grassroots initiative promotes women’s skills and empowers them toward sustainability and self-reliance in Trivandrum. With the guidance of Don Bosco Veedu and the continued support of the community, the project aims to become more than a livelihood initiative. It is creating a culture of empowerment, resilience and shared goals among the women.”

The training is led by Father Sojan, an expert with over twelve years of experience in mushroom cultivation. The training combines awareness that the mushroom market is viable and includes mechanisms to motivate the students, teach them practical skills and help them start a business.

Don Bosco Veedu has been educating and empowering children who are homeless and living in conditions of poverty since May 1991. The center has eight programs to support children and women. There are areas at the center for teaching short-term skills, a resource center, boarding facilities, a training center and residence for the Salesians.

Salesian programs in India are primarily focused on education. Salesian primary and secondary education helps youth prepare for later technical, vocational or university study. Other programs help to support poor youth and their families by meeting the basic needs of shelter, proper nutrition and medical care.

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Sources:

ANS – India – “Nanma” supports women through mushroom cultivation in Trivandrum

Don Bosco Veedu

Salesian Missions – India

World Bank – India

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INDIA

Pitch made possible by contribution of family of young football fan

(MissionNewswire) The Opera Don Bosco Onlus Foundation recently launched a new synthetic football pitch at the Don Bosco Center in Madurai in Tamil Nadu. The new pitch was made possible by the generous contribution of the family of Riccardo, a young Italian boy who died prematurely and who was a great football fan.

Stefano Arosio, coordinator at the foundation who went to India for the inauguration, said, “For almost ten years, the foundation has been collaborating with Salesians in Tamil Nadu to carry out various projects on behalf of the youngest and poorest. The occasion of this visit took the form of a particularly significant moment for us.

In a country like India, where cricket and hockey are the most popular national sports, football is experiencing growing popularity, especially among youth. Many youth at the Don Bosco Center play it with passion.

To celebrate the opening and dedicate the new playing pitch to the memory of Riccardo, the boy’s mother and aunt also came to India, accompanied by photojournalist Enrico Mascheroni, a collaborator at the foundation. The ceremony, which lasted an entire day, opened with the blessing and ribbon-cutting ceremony and ended with the first edition of the Riccardo Trophy, a tournament that showcased the competition of 16 teams from schools and youth centers.

At the entrance to the field, a bilingual plaque commemorates the young man with these words: “Dedicated to Riccardo, a boy with a good heart, who loved football and dreamt of a kinder world. This pitch is his smile that lives on.”

In the days after the opening of the new pitch, Arosio visited several Salesian centers throughout Tamil Nadu. The Salesian centers are not only educational centers, but provide social programs where street children are welcomed, orphans and HIV-infected minors receive care and support, and where at-risk youth have the opportunity to attend professional training so they can find and retain stable employment.

In the region, Salesians also promote micro-credit projects for women in rural areas, sustainable agriculture initiatives with educational farms, environmental education and ecological awareness programs.

Arosio noted, “Everywhere we have been, we have found the same warm welcome and the same educational passion. What is striking is the ability of Salesians to look beyond caste or religious differences, always putting the person at the center. It can truly be said that in Tamil Nadu Don Bosco is for everyone and helps everyone.”

The Opera Don Bosco Onlus Foundation will continue its commitment to support these missions in the future thanks to the generosity of the many donors who share the same vision of hope and solidarity.

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Sources:

ANS – India – A trip to Tamil Nadu with sport, memory, solidarity and visits to the Salesian missions that welcome the youngest and most fragile every day

Salesian Missions – India

World Bank – India

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SPAIN

(MissionNewswire) Salesians with the Padre Aramburu Center have signed an agreement with CNH New Holland Group to join the TechPro2 program, which has trained more than 13,000 professionals since 2008, and is taught in 58 schools around the world. It is a step forward in training professionals specialized in agricultural machinery. The Salesian center is the first vocational training center in Spain to launch TechPro2 project with the agricultural machinery group CNH New Holland.

CNH New Holland has initially provided a tractor for the students. The goal is that various agricultural machinery will rotate through the Padre Aramburu Center workshops.

A Salesian explained, “This is an exciting first step to have a vocational training center in Spain with this project, providing students with the necessary skills in agricultural machinery. We are then able to cultivate a specialized workforce.”

Daniela Ropolo, head of development of CNH’s sustainability initiatives, added, “The main objective is to train young people by offering them the technical skills they need to build a professional future and at the same time enable the CNH Group to have professionals trained in their agricultural machinery specialty.”

Teachers have already been trained at the CNH’s facilities in Madrid so that they can integrate a part of the agricultural machinery into the center’s automotive program. After learning in the classroom, students are immediately able to start assembling and disassembling the machinery learning the hands-on skills for employment.

Javier Marina, general director of Padre Aramburu Center, said, “The collaboration between the center and the company is vital. It is a great opportunity for students to leave the school well trained to enter the agricultural machinery sector. One of the things that the industrial sector and the agricultural sector need is technical personnel.”

Salesian missionaries in Spain provide primary and secondary educational as well as vocational and technical school to ensure youth acquire employment skills for the futures. Salesians also work to meet the basic needs of those in poverty and offer workforce development opportunities to ensure an easier school to work transition.

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ANS – Spain – Salesianos Padre Aramburu, pioneers in agricultural mechanics training

Salesian Missions – Spain

Photo Source

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Students tend to vegetables, fruits and greens to ensure access to varied and nutritious diet

GUATEMALA

(MissionNewswire) At the educational campus of Talita Kumi, located in San Pedro Carchá, Alta Verapaz in Guatemala, 350 boarding students are working to cultivate vegetables, fruits and greens for their own consumption. The goal of the gardens is to ensure the students have a varied and nutritious diet.

A Salesian noted, “The gardens do more than just nourish the students. It also strengthens their self-sufficiency and nurtures deep respect for nature. Through agricultural work, the young women acquire practical knowledge that they can replicate in their communities, promoting sustainable habits and healthier lifestyles.”

As part of this education, students engage in agroecological practices for the management of different crops and vegetables. In the particular case of tomatoes, they apply natural products for both nutrition and pest and disease control. In doing so, they aim to harvest more nutritious fruits, with higher levels of vitamins and antioxidants, benefiting consumer health and soil quality by avoiding synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. These practices also encourage soil biological activity and help reduce environmental pollution.

The Salesian added, “The gardens of Talita Kumi have become spaces of integral learning, where sowing is done with dedication and harvesting with joy. Each crop represents an opportunity to value the earth as a source of life and to respond to the call to care for our Common Home. With these actions, Talita Kumi reaffirms its commitment to forming women leaders who contribute to building a more just, caring and sustainable future.”

Salesian missionaries working and living in the country have been providing for the basic needs of Guatemala’s youth while helping to break the cycle of poverty in their lives. They work extensively with youth and their families at youth centers, orphanages, parishes, and primary and secondary schools. They also operate technical schools, vocational training workshops and two universities in the country.

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INDIA

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries were able to construct the new Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament in Pathangre Village, tribal village in Madhya Pradesh, India, thanks to donor funding. The funding came from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. There are 55 Catholic families in the village who will attend this new chapel.

With the funding, Salesian missionaries were able to construct the chapel and fill it will all the necessary items for Catholic mass as well as other religious services. The Chapel has sufficient number of lights and fans as well as the crucifix and statues of Mary Help of Christians, St Joseph, and the Sacred Heart of Jesus, as well as the Stations of the Cross.

A Salesian noted, “The new chapel has brought a complete change in the life of the faithful. Before, they had no place to gather for church or prayer. Now they have a beautiful chapel to gather for Mass, prayer meetings, the rosary, Sunday School for the children, religious instruction and catechesis for the older youth. During the months of May and October, they gather together to pray the rosary. The chapel has become the center for the faithful of the village. The chapel is a great blessing their lives. They are extremely grateful to the donors and the Salesian Missions.”

Getmilla Sangma is one of the people who has benefited from this new chapel. She is the mother of four children and one of her sons is the Salesian Aspirantate, who will be completing his call this year. Her was serving as the catechist of the village since the beginning.

Sangma said, “We are happy we have a beautiful chapel where we can gather for prayer and rosary and for mass whenever Salesian fathers come to visit us. This has also impacted our children who used to have to sit outside for catechism, which was difficult in the rainy season and winter because the old church was in disrepair and old. Now, they are inside and can focus. It gives us new hope – our prayers are answered.”

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Salesian Missions – India

World Bank – India

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Sources:

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

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

World Bank – Gambia

Salesian Missions

The post THE GAMBIA: New project aims to decrease migration for youth first appeared on MissionNewswire.

INDIA

(MissionNewswire) Participants gained mobile journalism (MoJo) skills through the Boscom Executive Meet & Voices 2024 two-day workshop titled “Voicing out through MoJo.” This event was held at the Don Bosco Provincial House in Matunga, Mumbai, India, and was organized by Boscom, the communication body of South Asia, together with the Salesian Social Communication Sector in Rome.

The workshop covered a wide range of essential topics in mobile journalism, including understanding the sector, storytelling, mobile video editing and post-production, live streaming and real-time reporting, social media integration, and techniques for personal brand building.

The participants were given hands-on training by interviewing people to prepare a short news report. Through professional guidance, participants learned and adapted to the challenges faced when out on the streets to conduct interviews.

Mayuresh Konnur, an experienced mobile journalist of the BBC, shared his practical experiences and tips. He also provided useful insights to help gain audience attention and create attractive content. A question and answer session followed.

The participants were also introduced to the basics of storyboard planning and execution, as well as post-production including VN editor and Canva. One of the highlights of the workshop was a practical session where each participant created their own video. This hands-on experience allowed the participants to apply the skills they learned in real time, resulting in unique content.

Joanita Sequeira, one of the participants from Panjim, Goa, said that the hands-on training in filming and editing helped enhance her creativity and boost her confidence.

A Salesian noted, “The participants lauded the workshop for its interactive and practical approach, which not only enhanced their technical skills but also inspired them to innovate and excel in the field of mobile journalism, and communicate creatively through stories. As the participants returned to their respective provinces, they carried with them new skills and a renewed passion for storytelling, ready to make a significant impact in their communities and to the congregation at large.”

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Sources:

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

ANS – India – Empowering Voices through Mobile Journalism: A Comprehensive Workshop at Boscom & Voices 2024

Salesian Missions – India

World Bank – India

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(MissionNewswire) With education from the Don Bosco Boys Training Institute in Nairobi, Kenya, Lucy Muchemi has become an accomplished plumber. An article in The Standard highlights her work in a male-dominated field and her educational path to get there.

The Standard noted, “Her trajectory from an office assistant to a successful entrepreneur who has established a thriving plumbing business underscores the transformative influence of vocational education, mentorship and unwavering perseverance.”

According to the article, Muchemi initially wanted to be a civil engineer. In 2001, she enrolled at Kiambu Institute of Science and Technology but underestimated the course. “I never fully understood what the course was all about,” Muchemi told The Standard. “I was the only woman in a class of about 20 students. Of course, I struggled and failed in several assessment tests.”

She then started her plumbing training at the Don Bosco Boys Training Institute with coursework as well as hands-on training. Muchemi was so interested in the subject that she read more and more away from classes and spoke to people in the field. She received her diploma in 2003.

At the Don Bosco Boys Training Institute, students undergo training as well as mentorship. Apprentices are certified as professionals in the trade by the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA). There are currently two class groups enrolled in the two-year program with one scheduled to graduate in November 2024.

After working for a few companies and trying to open her own business, Muchemi succeeded in opening Mavens Plumbers in 2017 while still under employment at another firm. In the article, Muchemi explained, “I was so good at plumbing that the employer was hesitant to let me go, even offering me some space in the firm to set up my private business.” She balanced the two until 2020 when she chose to work with her business full-time.

In addition, Muchemi is a mentor to empower individuals to excel in trades such as plumbing and electrical work, according to the article. In this role, Muchemi ensures that the plumbing curriculum in the country’s vocational schools aligns with current industry demands.

Being a woman in the field has not been easy. Muchemi is met by men who do not want to work with her and others who think plumbing is an odd profession for a woman.

In the article, Muchemi said, “I have done ground and home piping. I have installed facilities on the walls. I have fixed toilets. I can hold my own in meetings with experts in the construction industry. Unfortunately, some still hold me in contempt because I am just a plumber and a woman at that. That mindset must change.”

Don Bosco schools help empower women like Muchemi to ensure they have the skills needed for self-sufficiency and long-term employment even in traditionally male-dominated technical fields.

According to the World Bank, more than 7.8 million people in Kenya are living in extreme poverty, with the majority in rural areas. There are approximately 6.6 million people living on less than $1.90 a day in rural regions, while 1.1 million extremely poor people live in urban areas. Overall, the poverty incidence declined in recent years, but at a lower rate in urban areas than rural ones.

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Sources:

The Standard – Lucy Muchemi: What plumbing has taught me about resilience

Salesian Missions – Kenya

World Bank – Kenya

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(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Youth-Net, the European network of Salesian youth organizations based in Belgium, and its partners have launched a two-year project focused on volunteering. The project, known as “The future is Europe: voluntary service and social change,” is being launched with the support of Erasmus+, the European Union’s program to support education, training, youth and sport in Europe.

The project’s aim is to help define a vision for voluntary service by setting long-term goals and helping all partner organizations to develop concrete actions. Activities for the project are focused around digitalization, solidarity, employment and sustainability. These activities will raise awareness on issues such as European citizenship, civic engagement and common values.

The goal is to engage youth from various countries to help them develop their soft skills and competencies for future employability. This will help all partner organizations create a model of education to be implemented in the countries involved and beyond.

“All youth deserve a chance at a better life,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Salesians help youth overcome barriers to success while teaching them how to take responsibility for their own lives. Part of this education is paying forward the lessons they learn to others. By providing youth an opportunity to volunteer, they can learn additional skills to find and retain employment.”

Through this project, Salesian organizations strengthen voluntary service, reach more youth through quality projects, impact employability through recognition of competencies gained during the experience, and provide digital solutions for networking and learning environments.

At the close of the project, a policy paper will be disseminated at international, national, regional and local levels to inspire other organizations active in the field of volunteering service and international youth mobility.

Working in collaboration with Don Bosco Youth-Net are it’s projects partners including Aktionszentrum Benediktbeuern, based in Germany, Confe Don Bosco, based in Spain, Jeugddienst Don Bosco, based in Belgium, Salesiani per il Sociale APS and Turismo Giovanile e Sociale, based in Rome, Italy, TGS Eurogroup, based in Venice, Italy, Salesian Pastoral Youth Service, based in Malta, and Youth to Connect, based in the Netherlands.

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

ANS – Belgium – “The future is Europe: voluntary service and social change”

Salesian Missions

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URUGUAY

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Workshops (Talleres Don Bosco), located in Montevideo, Uruguay, and the National Institute for the Social Inclusion of Adolescents (INISA) signed an agreement to provide education for youth who are about to leave incarceration. The youth will take a mechanics course at Don Bosco Workshops in the hopes of developing employable skills.

“This event connects us to our Salesian mission,” said Father Marcelo Fontona, who signed the agreement on behalf of Don Bosco Workshops. “This gives us joy for the possibility it means for these young people for whom we want to generate other life opportunities.”

Fr. Fontona also noted that Salesians have facilitated a similar project in Salto. Over the past 20 years, Salesians have been providing education for youth who were once incarcerated and want to have job prospects once they re-enter society.

The agreement, also signed by Unión Capital AFAP, will educate 10 youth from INISA centers in a vehicle mechanics for gasoline engines course. There is already a waiting list for this program because many youth believe it’s a viable option for them for employment.

At the signing of the agreement, Dr. Rosanna de Olivera Méndez, president of INISA, said, “I am very happy, and today is a very important day. We are innovating. It is the first time that we have signed this framework agreement with Don Bosco Workshops, which has great prestige. At INISA, we have the mission and commitment to give these adolescents, who have difficult and traumatic life stories, the opportunity to find their vocation.”

She added, “We have a responsibility to leave them a network that includes their health, their family but also formation and the possibility of entering the job market. If we do not give them the opportunity to go out with real training and the opportunity to find decent work, it is difficult for them to support themselves. We know that at Don Bosco Workshops they are trained technically, but also in values, discipline, respect for timetables, and citizenship, because they need support to be good citizens and to be aware that crime is not a valid path, that there is another way.”

Youth crime is on the rise in the country. More than 35 percent of crime committed by adolescents can be traced back to a lack of educational opportunities and employment inequality, according to a study by the Center for the Study of Economic and Social Reality. The report also noted that crime rates among young people in Uruguay have doubled over the past 15 years and the rate of violent assaults has quadrupled.

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

ANS – Uruguay – Freedom-deprived youth to study Mechanics at “Talleres Don Bosco” with INISA

Salesian Missions – Uruguay

Talleres Don Bosco

World Bank – Uruguay

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ECUADOR

(MissionNewswire) Salesian Social America Network, a network of Salesian centers and services for children, adolescents and young people at risk of social exclusion in the Americas, is working in 18 Salesian provinces and 22 countries in the region. With operational headquarters in Quito, Ecuador, it responds with assistance programs for migrant youth and families, benefiting 3,310 migrants every day.

Violence, insecurity, poverty and family reunification are the main drivers of migration in the Americas. According to the World Migration Data Portal, 3.6 percent of the total world population, or 280.6 million people, make up the international migrant population. Salesian missionaries are working one-on-one with migrant youth and families who often face even greater difficulties once they arrive in their destination countries. Many have no idea when, or if, they will be able to return home.

“I’m afraid that they will take us away from here because we are undocumented. I’m afraid that the situation in my country will not be solved, that we will not be able to return to our families,” said Brangely, a Venezuelan migrant living in Colombia. She, like hundreds of thousands of other migrants, left her native country in search of better opportunities, putting her life and that of her family at risk.

Salesian missionaries care for and provide educational services to young migrants in countries around the globe. Unaccompanied migrant youth often face rejection, homelessness, exploitation and delinquency as they make their journey to find a new way of life. They are also at risk of human trafficking and exploitation.

“Salesian programs help young migrants adapt to their new environment through language and skills training and workforce development programs,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “A lack of employment is one of the root causes of migration in countries that see high rates of youth migrating to seek a better life elsewhere. In addition to helping young migrants, Salesian missionaries are working to create new educational and employment opportunities in countries youth leave as an incentive for them to remain at home.”

The Salesian Social America Network has several projects that are helping youth just like Brangely. In Guadalajara, Mexico, between 800 and 1,000 people are assisted daily with food, medical care, shelter and legal assistance. In Bogota, Colombia, there are comprehensive assistance programs helping more than 700 members of migrant families. In Peru, there is a shelter and a training program for 60 young Venezuelans. In Ecuador, canteens were opened every day during the pandemic to serve 80 Venezuelan families living on the street. In addition, work is being done to restore the violated rights of 30 immigrant families in Chile.

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ANS – Ecuador – “Towards an ever greater ‘we'”: Salesian America Social Network and migrations in America

Salesian Missions

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INDIA

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries in India are working to mitigate the impact of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic that is devastating communities across the country. To date, 168 Catholic priests and 116 nuns have lost their lives. Salesian programs are increasing their efforts for the communities they serve.

In the Chennai Province, a new COVID-19 Care Center has been set up by the Salesian School of Egmore with the support of past pupils from the school and other Salesian institutions. The new center has 104 beds and oxygen concentrators and is working to meet the ever-growing demand for beds and oxygen in the city.

Don Bosco Relief Services, with the support of SURABI, the Salesian provincial planning and development office, and in collaboration with Don Bosco Vazhikatti, has supported hundreds of people with emergency kits that include rice, legumes, oil, spices, soaps, vitamins, medicines and a thermometer. This initiative benefited 500 street vendors in Chennai and 100 other marginalized people within the city.

In Bangalore, another COVID-19 Care Center with 25 beds was opened in May by the Redemptorist Fathers. BREADS, the planning and development office of the Salesian Province of Bangalore, is supporting the center with all consumables and oxygen concentrators, as well as food for patients, doctors, staff and volunteers.

In Mumbai, Don Bosco Development Society, in collaboration with AXA Business, provided 200 poor families in Pune and Chinchwad with rescue packages of foods, hygiene kits and toiletries. Over the past year, Don Bosco Development Society has reached and served more than 750,000 people.

Nitika Don Bosco, in Kolkata, launched a Salesian assistance center at the Don Bosco School in Park Circus. Salesians are providing free advice on COVID-19 and medical assistance to the poor. The facility has telephone assistance lines, doctors and medicines, diagnosis through blood tests and molecular swabs, and a food program with home delivery. Salesian Cooperators at Kristu Jyoti College are financially supporting the Salesian initiative.

In Chandigarh, in the New Delhi Province, Salesian missionaries are working to strengthen the government’s health infrastructure, supporting 11 hospitals with personal protective equipment, hand sanitizers and masks. Salesians are offering a free health service that has benefited 90 families in need. They are providing regular medical checks and distributing essential medicines and vitamins. Salesians are also providing online counseling and learning services to around 400 children. In addition, Salesians have distributed medical kits, toiletries, and nutritional materials and foods sufficient for a month to more than 1,000 people.

“Salesian missionaries on the ground in India have expanded their efforts to reach thousands of families who desperately need our help. With India’s health care system and other social services straining under the stress, they simply have nowhere else to turn,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco.

Salesian programs across India are primarily focused on education. Salesian primary and secondary education helps youth prepare for later technical, vocational or university study. Other programs help to support poor youth and their families by meeting the basic needs of shelter, proper nutrition and medical care.

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ANS – India – Vast, articulated Salesian commitment in fight against Covid-19

ANS – India – “Nitika Don Bosco” launches a consultancy and medical assistance service for the needy

BREADS Bangalore

Don Bosco Delhi

Don Bosco Development Society

Nitika Don Bosco

Salesian Missions – India

SURABI

World Bank – India

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DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

(MissionNewswire) Father Albert Kabuge, Salesian provincial of the Central Africa Province, recently visited Salesian programs in Bukavu and Goma and made an appeal for support for 75 abandoned children and babies living at the Ushindi Center Orphanage. These children are accessing shelter, care and basic needs, and when old enough, they will be enrolled in Salesian education.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo was plagued by intense civil war and ongoing internal conflict. As a result, there have been close to 5.4 million deaths, according to the International Rescue Committee. Most deaths resulted from non-violent causes such as malaria, diarrhea, pneumonia and malnutrition, all typically preventable under normal circumstances but often fatal in times of conflict. Close to 1.5 million people have been internally displaced or have become refugees in neighboring countries after having fled the country to escape the continued violence.

Children have been left abandoned or with mothers who can no longer afford to care for them. Salesian centers help to provide support and education, and in cases where children are without parents or abandoned, they provide shelter and raise children until they are self-sufficient and can be on their own.

In addition to the Ushindi Center Orphanage, Salesians also operate the Don Bosco Center Ngangi in Goma, which has been providing social development, medical and educational services to poor youth and their families since 1988.

Started first as a youth center, the Don Bosco Center expanded to provide assistance to those in the region affected by war, other violence and natural disasters. In 1997, the center added kindergarten, elementary, secondary and vocational education as well as a literacy center and medical facility.

In 2009, the Don Bosco Center Ngangi was awarded the International Award, Los Niños Primero (Children First) from the Spanish Committee of UNICEF, in recognition of its outstanding work on behalf of children and poor youth in the region of northern Kivu. In the midst of wars, violence and poverty, the Don Bosco Center welcomed, educated, cared for and supported more than 26,000 children.

“Don Bosco Center Ngangi is one of the most diverse and comprehensive Salesian organizations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Built on the grounds of a school and sports field, the center has grown to provide vocational training, refugee housing, rehabilitation for child soldiers, and programs for those needing nutritional and medical care. Programs in Goma and Bukavu struggle to meet a growing need, often with very limited resource.”

Despite its vast material wealth, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has long been a very poor nation. Half of the country’s population lives below the poverty line, living on less than $1 a day, especially those in rural communities. More than 7.5 million people do not have enough food to eat.

Salesian missionaries have been working in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for more than 100 years ensuring that the most vulnerable children are not forgotten. Salesian primary and secondary schools and programs lay the foundation for early learning while Salesian trade, vocational and agricultural programs offer many youth the opportunity for a stable and productive future.

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

ANS – DR Congo – AFC Provincial launches appeal for solidarity for 75 abandoned children

Salesian Missions – Democratic Republic of the Congo

UNICEF – DR Congo

*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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SPAIN

(MissionNewswire)  The Salesian Reconoce project was officially established as an association on Dec. 5 at a signing ceremony held at the Youth Council of Spain in Madrid. The project will certify the skills youth acquire in volunteer programs to improve participants’ work prospects. Volunteer positions provide youth hands-on, real world experience that helps them develop the skills needed for employment. The goal is to qualify this experience in such a way that bolsters their work prospects.

“This project is essential for all young people, as the skills acquired during volunteering can be fundamental in the selection process,” said Elena Ruiz Cebrián, president of the Youth Council of Spain.

Luis Caballero, a representative of the Youth Institute of Spain, noted, “A team of young people has developed a valid and rigorous instrument to qualify volunteer experience. It was important to make this project a legal association because of the great work that it does. Reconoce is recognized as a priority for the Youth Institute because it is born of young people and links non-formal education to employment.”

Santiago Domínguez, president of Reconoce, added, “The more than 20,000 young people from all over Spain who are part of Reconoce are the real engines of social change and must be considered by all as the entrepreneurial fabric for their unique skills acquired during the voluntary service.”

Salesian missionaries have been working for many years to provide educational and workforce development opportunities for poor youth and women in Spain through residential, technical and vocational training programs. Although teachers are available to start providing distance learning again in the event of a new lockdown, the importance of face-to-face education is emphasized in Salesian schools.

Close to 37 percent of young Spanish workers under the age of 25 are unemployed and a growing number of them can’t afford to buy enough food to live. Poor youth with few employable skills struggle the most to find and retain stable employment. Women in Spain face inequality in the workforce. They earn up to 14 percent less than men and represent only 34.5 percent of those listed as the highest earners in Spain.

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Sources:

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

ANS – Spain – “Reconoce” officially constitutes itself as an association

Salesian Missions – Spain

World Bank – Spain

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BURUNDI

(MissionNewswire) Salesian priests Father Benjamin Gahungu and Father Raphael Katanga, from the Salesian parish in Rukago, Burundi, along with 25 youth leaders from the oratory, visited the sick and prisoners in the nearby town of Gahombo. The group broke into two teams, and one headed to a local hospital while the other went to the prison.

Fr. Katana held Mass at the hospital and at the end of the celebration, aided by hospital staff, distributed food and laundry soap to all the sick and health care personnel. Fr. Katanga said, “It was a moment of relief and consolation for the sick housed in the hospital. In our service, we also made sure that patients who are alone and have no relatives or friends to support them would receive something extra.”

The other group of youth offered the same assistance and comfort to prisoners. The visit was a great surprise for the prisoners and the guards, who were able to share a moment of emotion and serenity. Salesians in Rukago seek to motivate youth and show them the impact that they can have on the society around them. It is also an opportunity for youth to give back.

“The youth at the parish in Rukago have decided to become protagonists of change,” said Fr. Katanga. “They carry out charitable activities among the most vulnerable without expecting anything in return. Others participate in community programs for the renovation of roads and bridges. Sometimes they participate in the construction and renovation of homes for the needy.”

He added, “They, like other Christians in the parish, have understood that there can be no authentic Christian life without social commitment, especially in favor of the neediest.”

Salesian missionaries in Rukago operate a parish, schools, a youth center and an orphanage. In November 2019 Salesian missionaries inaugurated a new building for the Maison Cana orphanage. The orphanage is managed by the Daughters of Mary –Our Lady of Cana and was founded in 1994 by Salesian Father Vital Minani, who today is the vicar of the Mary Mother of God house in Rukago. The building is a large two-story structure. The work began in 2012 with the ground floor and continued in various stages based on the availability of funds from various benefactors, mainly from the Salesian Congregation.

Burundi, located in the heart of the African Great Lakes region, has seen more than a decade of violence and conflict which has contributed to widespread poverty, according to UNICEF. Burundi ranks 185 out of 189 countries on the 2019 UN Human Development Index and close to 70 percent of its residents live below the poverty line.

Children are some of the most severely affected by the country’s rampant poverty. Fifty-three percent of children under the age of 5 suffer from growth stunting caused by inadequate food, low-quality diet, poor infant feeding practices, poor household management of childhood diseases and the general decline of the country’s health system.

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

ANS – Burundi – Salesians and young people visit hospital and prison in Gahombo

Salesian Missions – Burundi

UNICEF – Burundi

*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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KENYA

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Boys Town (also known as Bosco Boys), located in Nairobi, Kenya, provides education and technical skills training to former street children and is currently serving more than 600 boys and girls in primary, secondary and technical school. Bosco Boys also has a reception and rehabilitation center known as Bosco Boys Langata, which was established in 1994 by the Salesian priests to help boys overcome addictions and behaviors learned on the street.

According to a recent article in the Global Sisters Report, 32 boys ages 5-11 are undergoing rehabilitation at the moment, and more than 3,000 have benefited from this center. Some of the boys live at the center, but others are day students. The boys usually stay from one to two years, and a good number of them are successfully rehabilitated.

Sister Jackline Mwikali Mwongela, a Sister of the Institute of the Virgin Mary (Loreto), has been volunteering as a social worker at Bosco Boys since 2017 as part of her practicum requirement for her bachelor’s degree in sustainable human development at Tangaza University in Nairobi. Sr. Mwongela wrote an article about her experiences working at Bosco Boys.

She said, “At the Bosco Boys informal school, I teach art and life skills and serve as counselor and after-school tutor. This informal setting is a basic preparation for some of the boys to later attend Kuwinda, a primary boarding school. I like the boys and find them friendly and cooperative, and we have grown in mutual understanding and trust. I also find they are unusually responsible in doing their work, except at times when they fall behind in doing homework.”

As part of Sr. Mwongela’s education through online courses at Loyola University in New Orleans, she studied Catholic social teachings and how to apply them in ministries. As part of her education, she was required to design a project. She taught a Catholic social teaching workshop in Swahili for the parents and guardians of the boys at Bosco Boys. The goal was to help parents and guardians understand their rights and responsibilities about reverence and dignity.

“Through the workshop we learned more about how unemployment creates serious disadvantages for the people in the slums,” explained Sr. Mwongela. “Both women and men do manual work for long hours—being paid very little—and their work environments are often inhumane. Most parents are day workers, and some, scavengers. Others brew illegal local beer or send their children out to beg. Their boys also were forced to work for employers who underpaid or failed to pay them. They lost their sense of dignity and self-esteem.”

She added, “After that workshop, we at Bosco Boys decided to provide the guardians and parents with the skills to help them gain self-reliance. We have tried to motivate them and sensitize them to save even small amounts of income for future skills courses or to start small businesses. A good number of them followed through and have dreams of becoming entrepreneurs. Seeing their parents make these efforts will also help prevent the boys from going back to the streets. Unfortunately, we had just begun this when the coronavirus intervened. I can only hope what we started will continue once the restrictions are over.”

Despite the steady growth of Kenya’s economy, according to UNICEF, more than half of the country’s population lives below the poverty line on less than $1 a day. UNICEF also noted that Nairobi is home to 3 million residents, most of whom endure lives of extreme poverty in the city’s slums. The most vulnerable are families and children who live in these urban slums and in areas of the country most affected by HIV/AIDS. Many do not have access to health care, nutrition, sanitation or education.

Youth living in Nairobi’s slums are at risk for exploitation, forced labor and other abuses. Few attend the later stages of school as compared to those living in Kenya’s more rural areas. The few schools serving this disadvantaged community are beyond the financial means of most families. UNICEF noted that while Kenya has free and compulsory education, youth in poverty still cannot afford to attend school. Close to 90 percent of children from poor households fail to complete their basic education.

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Photo courtesy of Don Bosco Boys Town Kenya

Bosco Boys Kenya

Bosco Boys Kenya Facebook

Global Sisters Report – Bringing Catholic social teaching to boys recovering from street life

Salesian Missions – Kenya

UNICEF – Kenya Statistics

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GHANA

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries have launched a support program to help vulnerable farmers in Ashaiman, Ghana, who have been affected by the rising cost and shortage of supplies caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. About 45 farming families have been provided with seeds, agricultural tools, fertilizers and various products.

“There are many ways Salesian missionaries are helping those impacted by the pandemic, from nutritional support, hygiene supplies and helping to support livelihoods,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Farmers need supplies they can afford and rising costs are challenging. Salesians have been able to step in and help these farmers get the supplies they need, which is critical for them to feed their families and support communities.”

The Don Bosco Technical Institute in Ashaiman also has an agriculture training program that is promoting sustainable, green and innovative agriculture education for youth and women. People have been trained in courses focusing on organic crop production, management, business planning and marketing. The program is also helping to support entrepreneurial youth farmers.

Salesian agriculture training also provides relevant knowledge and hands-on experience related to biological organisms and how to combat pests and diseases. This training helps support good cropping systems that are green, sustainable and economical.

The Salesian Agricultural School in Sunyani is also teaching students how to farm organically and to use greenhouses. These solutions increase the harvest since crops can be cultivated even during the dry season, and the annual distribution of produce can be better managed. Greenhouse crops are also an excellent deterrent against deforestation and climate change, as they do not need much space and do not require forests to be cut down to cultivate the land.

While Ghana’s economy continues to improve, nearly 45 percent of the population lives on less than $1 a day, according to UNICEF. Ghana ranks 139 out of 188 countries on the United Nations Development Program’s 2015 Human Development Index. Rural poverty remains widespread in the dry savannah region that covers roughly two thirds of Ghana’s northern territory. Small-scale farms suffer from a lack of infrastructure and equipment, both of which are needed to shift from subsistence farming to more modern commercial farming which would yield greater incomes and a chance to escape poverty.

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ANS – Ghana – Salesians in support of farmers

https://www.infoans.org/en/sections/news-photos/item/11124-ghana-salesians-in-support-of-farmers

Don Bosco Technical Institute

Don Bosco Technical Institute Facebook

Salesian Missions – Ghana

UNICEF – Ghana

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SAMOA

(MissionNewswire) The Don Bosco Technical Center in Alafua, Samoa, is continuing education for poor youth. Samoa has no COVID-19 cases after a strict lockdown of the country started in March. Both boys and girls can access education at the Don Bosco Technical Center and all courses are open to both.

The Don Bosco Technical Center was established in 1989 as a second chance for education for many poor youth who were at risk because they were excluded from formal education. Over the years, the center has become well-known throughout Samoa and the Pacific for its excellent technical training and focus on integral student development. Originally established as a school for young men ages 16-22, the center opened enrollment to girls, who have now completed their first semester.

The center provides both classroom and hands-on learning to ensure students are prepared for the workforce. In 2019, the center extended the duration of the work experience for students from two weeks to four weeks. This has already brought success. Four students who have been studying plumbing and sheet metal impressed the Samoan Water Authority with their know-how and dedication, and they were offered work immediately.

The importance of a work-study experience has been backed by a study conducted by the Samoan Qualification Authority, which also found that the Salesian technical school has the highest number of graduates that go on to be enrolled in the private sector. The center places an emphasis on building confidence, self-esteem and teamwork, as well as a love of culture through singing and dancing.

“Salesian missionaries in Samoa work directly with poor and disadvantaged youth to provide hope for a positive future through education and training as well as sporting, recreational and cultural activities,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Salesian missionaries live in the communities they work which provides them the unique experience of understanding first-hand the hardships and challenges faced by residents. This allows missionaries to adapt and add new programs to meet local needs and develop skilled labor for the local economy.”

Samoa boasts one of the most stable and healthy economies in the Pacific region, according to the World Bank. Although Samoa has made impressive progress in social development, many rural communities in the country grapple with an unequal distribution of wealth and benefits. Poorer communities in remote parts of the islands are particularly vulnerable, especially in areas most likely to be affected by cyclones or other natural disasters. Gender inequality is apparent as women strive and often fail to find the same work and income opportunities as men. Youth find it increasingly difficult to find livable wage employment in the country.

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

ANS – Samoa – First students of “Don Bosco” Technical Center in Alafua

Don Bosco Technical Center Alafua

Salesian Missions – Samoa

World Bank – Samoa

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INDIA

(MissionNewswire) Bosconet, located in New Delhi, India, was able to provide food rations to those impacted by the coronavirus lockdowns in communities in Shillong and Assam. The support was made possible through the generous support of a Salesian Missions donor. Salesian Missions is the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco.

As a result of the lockdowns, many people lost their jobs, including migrant, contract, and domestic workers, and daily wage laborers. Migrant workers were not able to travel back home to be with their families and were stuck with no work, no proper place to live and no food to eat.

Bosconet stepped in to help and began distributing dry ration kits on March 25. Through the support of the Salesian Missions donor, Bosconet was able to reach 780 families from May 16-30. Temporary laborers in tea gardens and daily wage laborers were provided dry ration kits to ensure they had food to eat.

Baralin Kharummind is one of the residents who received the dry ration donation. She said, “I live in a village, which is in a remote area, where it is difficult to access things needed for daily use. After the announcement of the lockdown in the country, it was even difficult with no job and food at home to feed my family. I am very grateful to Bosconet for their support for my family during this difficult time. It is really a blessing for us to receive help like rice, dal, sugar, salt, oil, soaps and tea leaf. On behalf of everyone from my village, I would like to say thank you. I thank the staff of Bosconet who carried out the distribution kits.”

Bosconet has been helping underprivileged children, youth and women across India through quality education, market-oriented skill training and the provision of services to help youth achieve a sustainable livelihood. Bosconet has been providing support to those impacted by the coronavirus since the start of the lockdown. Whether it’s been increasing awareness about prevention of the virus, handing out masks or ensuring people have food to eat, the Bosconet staff has been on the front lines providing help to those most in need during this challenging time.

India has the world’s fourth largest economy but more than 22 percent of the country lives in poverty. About 31 percent of the world’s multidimensionally poor children live in India, according to a report by the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative. A multidimensionally poor child is one who lacks at least one-third of 10 indicators, grouped into three dimensions of poverty: health, education and standard of living.

Salesian missionaries living and working in India place special emphasis on rescuing and rehabilitating children engaged in child labor. There are Salesian-run programs throughout the country that have helped hundreds of thousands of vulnerable youth through the years, and this work continues today.

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Photos courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions – India

World Bank – India

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SPAIN

(MissionNewswire) The Salesian St. James Major Province in Spain recently coordinated a “Training Plan for the Development of Online Skills” project for educational centers. During the lockdown that resulted from the coronavirus pandemic, teachers had to quickly learn how to teach their lessons online. As a result of the change, educational centers needed training on how to facilitate distance learning most efficiently and effectively.

The training project had organizational support from TECH Don Bosco, and the State Foundation for Employment Training in Spain provided a virtual video conference room where the online courses were held. The basic training course provided digital teaching skills to 386 teachers, 58 of whom were on educational centers’ management teams. Teachers from all grade levels, from kindergarten to bachelor’s degrees and higher vocational training, participated.

The basic training course included four sessions of 90 minutes each that were structured to tackle various themes in online education including communication through the screen, security and digital teaching.

“There were morning and afternoon sessions,” explained Charo Fernández from the Salesian province innovation team and coordinator of this initiative. “We all worked together in an online environment divided into nine virtual classrooms. From time to time, as a coordinator, I visited the online classrooms to make sure there were no problems. I have been working on digital skills training for many years, but this was the first time we had organized such a thing. It worked perfectly.”

The training proposal for the development of distance teaching skills aims to support teachers and school management teams by strengthening their skills in achieving quality online education, and keeping the teaching and learning processes as close as possible to the Salesian educational style.

“The confinement was an opportunity to launch this proposal and the response of the teams, centers and teachers exceeded all expectations. We initially thought we’d give training to three groups, and in the end, we configured 12 of them. We have nine expert tutors with digital competence and Salesian Preventive System,” added Fernández.

Salesian missionaries have been working for many years to provide educational and workforce development opportunities for poor youth and women in Spain through residential and technical and vocational training programs.

Close to 37 percent of young Spanish workers under the age of 25 are unemployed and a growing number of them can’t afford to buy enough food to live. Poor youth with few employable skills struggle the most to find and retain stable employment. Women in Spain face inequality in the workforce. They earn up to 14 percent less than men and represent only 34.5 percent of those listed as the highest earners in Spain.

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ANS – Spain – Distance teaching training exceeds all expectations: over 400 teachers trained in June

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SOUTH SUDAN

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries in South Sudan are working with local populations as the effects of coronavirus spread across the country. According to the most updated official data, 10,000 people have been tested and 2,021 were positive. To date, 38 people have died. The challenge is preventing outbreaks because the country has a fragile local health system that cannot help an influx of people.

There are five Salesian communities in the country. In Gumbo, Salesian missionaries have a parish, a technical-vocational training center, elementary and middle schools, a women’s promotion center, and a youth center. There is also a camp for internally displaced persons directly managed by the Salesians. The camp currently has 9,800 people—not counting very young children—who have all fled the violence of the 2013-2016 civil war.

“The biggest fear we have is an epidemic in the camp. The tents are close and there is no room for social distancing,” reported Salesians working in Gumbo. “Controlling the masses for any type of distribution is very difficult. The camp is adjacent to several crowded local communities. It is impossible to prevent the flow of people between the camp and these communities because there is no separation wall around the camp.”

Several years ago, the Sisters of Charity of Jesus opened a small medical dispensary inside the camp. It has 10 beds, but no possibility of residential assistance nor a test facility, respirators or other specialized equipment. “It seems that there are only four respirators in the whole country,” added the Salesians.

In recent days, the archbishop of Juba, Msgr. Stephen Ameyu, made an informal visit to the Salesian camp. Salesians noted, “Msgr. Ameyu appreciated our awareness-raising efforts and our preventive measures and encouraged people to follow our advice. He blessed us and entrusted us to the protection of God. We need it!”

South Sudan is expansive and largely rural with 83 percent of the population residing in rural areas. Poverty is endemic with at least 80 percent of the population defined as income-poor and living on the equivalent of less than $1 per day, according to the World Bank. More than one-third of the population lacks secure access to food.

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ANS – South Sudan – Gumbo IDP camp facing Covid-19 hazards

Salesian Missions – South Sudan

World Bank – South Sudan

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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EL SALVADOR

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco University in Soyapango, El Salvador, has organized the Science Challenge for the second consecutive year. The event, held in honor of International Day of Women and Girls in Science, was held during the third week of February on the Soyapango and Antiguo Cuscatlán campuses. The event was organized by Don Bosco University’s Women’s Empowerment Program “Promueve” and aims to empower women interested in science fields.

At its core, the Science Challenge is a knowledge exchange between high school and university students in various scientific specialties. Workshops and experiences led by specialists are held for students to take part in and engage with each other. In total, nine workshops, all developed by teachers, were held.

In addition, the Science Challenge featured an exhibition of projects by students who are taking courses under the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Don Bosco University and entrepreneurs from the Avalon company who are engaged with the university. This year 350 people, all intent on expanding their scientific knowledge to help find job opportunities or further study in the sector, participated in the Science Challenge.

Don Bosco University is one of the most prestigious institutions of higher education in the country, particularly in the technical and technological sectors. The university has close to 6,000 students enrolled and maintains a strong link to the local employment sector through research, technology transfer programs, continuing education courses and consultancy services.

Degree programs are offered in engineering, social sciences, humanities, economics, technology and aeronautics, among others. The university is also the only teaching center in the country that has the accreditation of the International Society of Orthotics and Prosthetics.

Don Bosco University also has a focus on providing higher education for young women. Its institutional commitment includes empowering women’s integration into university programs, with special attention to the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Among newly enrolled members of the university in 2020, 1,141 were female students, making the total Salesian university population 43 percent female for the first cycle of studies. Don Bosco University also intends to continue creating more growth opportunities for all women and youth, not only in the field of science but in all disciplines.

The Secretary General of Don Bosco University, Xiomara Martínez Mg., explained, “Our commitment is to operate responsibly and efficiently to create equal opportunities, so that women can stand out for their intelligence, dedication and honesty, achieving great professional successes. and contributing to the growth, innovation and development of our country.”

El Salvador is one of the most violent countries in Central America, along with Honduras and Guatemala. The murder rate in El Salvador rose more than 44 percent in the beginning months of 2014 when compared to the same time period the year before. In 2016, San Salvador was named the murder capital of the world, seeing more murders and violent crime than any other city. Gang violence is a leading cause of violence in the country, and it’s estimated that some 60,000 young people have gang affiliation. Gang involvement often offers a sense of belonging and family that counters the lack of education and employment opportunities offered in the country.

Crime is often associated with poverty and close to 35 percent of El Salvador’s population lives in poverty, according to the World Bank. Youth in El Salvador are confronted not only with poverty but with instability, high levels of violence and inadequate access to educational opportunities. Despite ranking high for economic indicators, the need for practical education in El Salvador is more important than ever with 12 percent of youth ages 15 to 24 unemployed and 41 percent underemployed.

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ANS – El Salvador – “Universidad Don Bosco” commemorates International Day of Women and Girls in Science

Don Bosco University

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World Bank – El Salvador

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EAST TIMOR

(MissionNewswire) Youth attending Don Bosco Technical School Fatumaca in East Timor have access to better nutrition thanks to a partnership between Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, and Rise Against Hunger, an international relief organization that provides food and life-changing aid to the world’s most vulnerable. The shipment was made in the third quarter of 2019.

Salesian missionaries provide educational and social development services at the Salesian complex Don Bosco Fatumaca. Poor youth are able to access a range of programs including health services, nutrition, education and general support services. The school also offers room and board for students who need on-campus housing.

Don Bosco Technical School Fatumaca provides vocational education that helps youth gain an education and prepare for the future. More than 250 students, 11 percent of whom are girls, attend the school taking three-year courses in carpentry, mechanics and electronics. Each year there are more than 400 applications for 84 student spots. Final year students are required to design and produce a product that embraces much of what they have learned over the previous three years.

“The Rise Against Hunger meals are supporting us to meet the basic needs of youth in our programs and enabling them to have full stomachs in order to study and have the energy to take part in different activities to prepare for the future,” says Father Gui Da Silva. “We saw many more students graduate this past year and able to get a job immediately or continue on with us for advanced studies. I enjoy being able to follow up with students and see how they are excelling since we have been providing the Rise Against Hunger rice-meals.”

One of the beneficiaries, 20-year-old Geovanio Goncalves, is very grateful to be studying at Don Bosco Technical School. He is working hard to complete his program of study. The Rise Against Hunger meals ensure that he had enough to eat so he can focus on attending school and having the energy to study. Goncalves admitted there were times that he had to fight for just enough to eat because of the political instability on East Timor. He’s glad now that he’s in a supportive environment and working towards a brighter future.

Salesian missionaries in East Timor have been providing programs to help residents recover and rebuild in the wake of a devastating civil war in the country that claimed countless lives, decimated entire communities and resulted in living conditions that are among the worst in the world. Now that the violence has subsided, efforts are focused on helping the poor, restoring hope and providing new opportunities for the future.

Rise Against Hunger partners with Salesian Missions, which works to identify needs and coordinate delivery of 40-foot shipping containers full of meals and supplemented with additional supplies when available. The partnership was developed in 2011 and since that time shipments have been successfully delivered to 20 countries around the globe. The meals and life-saving aid have helped to nourish poor youth at Salesian schools and programs as well as care for those in need of emergency aid during times of war, natural disasters and health crises.

East Timor is home to 1.26 million people and according to the Human Development Index, the country ranked 132 out of 188 for life expectancy, access to education and standard of living in 2018. The World Bank estimates that East Timor has close to 42 percent of its population living in poverty with over one-third of the population regularly experiencing food shortages. In addition, close to 50 percent of the population is illiterate.

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Rise Against Hunger

Salesians of Don Bosco Indonesia-Timor Leste

Salesian Missions – East Timor

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For the first time in history, the United Nations has published a report, the “Global study on children deprived of liberty,” which highlights this global problem. Research for the report looked at best practices in non-custodial solutions applied by states in relation to the following six situations: detention of children in the administration of justice; children living in prisons with their primary caregivers; migration-related detention; deprivation of liberty in institutions; detention in the context of armed conflict; and on national security grounds.

The report notes that at least 410,000 children are held in detention every year in remand centers and prisons, which does not include an estimated 1 million children held every year in police custody. In addition, the report indicates that in 2018, between 3.5 and 5.5 million were removed from family care and placed in institutions. Data gathered for the report indicates that at least 430,000-680,000 children living in institutions are deprived of liberty

Further, 35,000 children are deprived of liberty due to armed conflict. This figure, as highlighted in the report, includes an estimated 29,000 foreign children of alleged ISIS fighters detained in 2019 in camps in Iraq and the northeast of the Syrian Arab Republic.

The report notes: “Children deprived of liberty remain an invisible and forgotten group in society notwithstanding the increasing evidence of these children being in fact victims of further human rights violations. Countless children are placed in inhumane conditions and in adult facilities—in clear violation of their human rights—where they are at high risk of violence, rape and sexual assault, including acts of torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”

As indicated in the report, children are being detained at a younger age and held for longer periods of time than ever before. This comes at a great personal cost to these children and is “immeasurable in terms of the destructive impact on their physical and mental development, and on their ability to lead healthy and constructive lives in society.”

The main author of the report is the Austrian human rights expert Professor Manfred Nowak. During the presentation of the global study at a press conference in Vienna, Austria, on Nov. 20, he said, “Every child behind bars is one too many. The study found psychiatric disorders for children in detention can increase tenfold during detention, and detention is correlated with early death among children once released.”

The goal for the study and report was to awareness of the issue and encourage better respect and protection of children’s rights while drastically reducing the number of those who are deprived of their liberty in correctional institutions, prisons, centers for refugees through the adoption of all other alternative measures. In addition, better cooperation is needed among systems to help ensure the rights of children are upheld.

Reinhard Heiserer, director of Jugend Eine Welt Don Bosco Aktion Austria, welcomed the study as an extremely helpful tool to convince responsible authorities that detention of children should only be permitted in truly exceptional situations as a measure of last resort and that these children need much more attention and care.

He said, “Don Bosco himself cared a lot about boys in jail. There are many stories that document his special focus on this vulnerable group of young people.”

During the research phase of the study, Jugend Eine Welt had invited several project partners to fill out a questionnaire related to street children in detention. Among them was Father Jorge Crisafulli, director of Don Bosco Fambul, which is located in Sierra Leone’s capital city of Freetown and is one of the country’s leading child-welfare organizations. Don Bosco Fambul has been actively providing services to young prisoners incarcerated at the Pademba Road Prison.

Salesian missionaries provide food and water for young inmates while also offering counseling services, medical assistance and therapy to ensure inmates are mentally fit when their prison terms end. Through their prison program, missionaries reach 250 inmates.

Salesian missionaries also provide legal services to youth who have committed minor offenses or have been unlawfully imprisoned in Pademba. The goal is to seek their immediate release and/or a referral to a remand home or to an approved school.

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Photo: © Terre des Hommes (used in the UN Global Study on Children Deprived of Liberty)

ANS – Austria – “Every child behind bars is one too many”

Salesian Missions – Sierra Leone

SIERRA LEONE: Don Bosco Fambul provides critical support and intervention services for inmates at Pademba Road Prison

United Nations – Children Deprived of Liberty – The United Nations Global Study

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ECUADOR

(MissionNewswire) The Salesian Polytechnic University campus in Quito, Ecuador, has opened its doors to welcome and assist more than 3,000 indigenous people from all over the country. The economic and social crisis that has intensified in Ecuador in recent weeks has triggered a wave of protests and repression by government forces. Thousands of indigenous people have come to the country’s capital, Quito, to defend the rights of those most in need.

Money from the International Monetary Fund that was provided to alleviate the severe economic crisis in exchange for harsh economic measures by the government has turned the country into a powder keg. The population has taken to the streets to demonstrate against these measures that damage the most vulnerable.

The transport strike, which paralyzed the country, and the mobilization of more than 40,000 people from the various indigenous communities of Ecuador have put the government on the rails, which has moved the country’s capital to Guayaquil and decreed a curfew in various areas to try to curb citizens’ mobilizations.

Salesian missionaries, who have been living and working in Ecuador since 1888, have long distinguished themselves by the care and support they show to the indigenous communities, fostering efforts to preserve their culture and their traditions. Missionaries have opened the doors of the Salesian Polytechnic University to accommodate people in its gardens and gym so they can have a place to rest.

“Solidarity initiatives have been organized to obtain mattresses and blankets, take turns in the makeshift infirmary for the occasion and to cook food for them,” said one of the members of the educational community.

These people arrive at the Salesian center already tired from their long marches, and many of them are also injured by tear gas, which the police have used in response to their protests. Initially the gymnasium of at the university was utilized for the protesters, but the massive arrival of people in recent days has made it necessary to furnish the courtyards, the gardens and any place available to offer rest and shelter to those who want to peacefully claim their own rights and defend their country.

“The Salesians have opened their doors from the heart, as they have also done on previous occasions of conflict, in favor of the indigenous communities of the Amazon, the Sierra and the Afro-Ecuadorians, as one big family. We do not want there to be bloodshed, let alone deaths, but that peace and social justice are imposed as arguments against purely economic interests,” said one of the young people helping as a volunteer.

The Salesian Polytechnic University is the largest of all Salesian universities with more than 24,500 students. In 2019, for the first time, the university ranked within the top 100 universities in Latin America competing with 4,000 in the region. Across its three campuses, the university offers 27 degree programs and 10 doctorate programs, 62 research groups, 10 educational innovation groups and 98 Salesian Association of Universities groups.

Salesian missionaries in Ecuador focus on providing education, social programming and workforce development to help the country’s most vulnerable citizens. Technical and vocational education is also provided to help youth gain the skills needed to find and retain long-term stable employment.

Ecuador’s poverty rate was 36.7 percent in 2007 and dropped to 22.9 percent in 2016. These results show that 1.4 million Ecuadorians escaped poverty within nine years. However, many Ecuadorians still live in impoverished conditions. Ecuador is one of the most inequitable societies in the world, according to UNICEF. The richest 20 percent of the population receives almost 50 percent of the national income, while the poorest 20 percent receives only 5 percent. According to the World Food Program, almost 26 percent of all children under age 5 have stunted growth, increasing to 31 percent in rural areas and 47 percent in indigenous communities.

Close to 20 percent of Ecuador’s population is people of indigenous heritage. For poor, rural and indigenous youth, education provides the best opportunity for finding employment, reducing inequities and breaking the cycle of poverty. Salesian missionaries have been providing education and other social programs for disadvantaged youth across Ecuador for more than 125 years.

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ANS – Ecuador – Faced with an unprecedented crisis, Salesians open their University doors to welcome 3,000 indigenous people

Salesian Missions – Ecuador

Salesian Polytechnic University Ecuador

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This shipment, which arrived in January 2019, provided donated rice-meals to youth during the school day to ensure students had a healthy meal each day and to seniors and other youth who attended Salesian programming in parishes.

“Hungry students have trouble focusing on their studies and learning,” says Father Mark Hyde, director of Salesian Missions. “Proper nutrition is needed to fully take part in classroom and in-field training. Prepared students are more likely to learn valuable skills that will help them gain employment and break the cycle of poverty in their lives while enabling them to give back to their communities.”

Salesian missionaries in East Timor have been providing programs to help residents recover and rebuild in the wake of a devastating civil war in the country that claimed countless lives, decimated entire communities and resulted in living conditions that are among the worst in the world. Now that the violence has subsided, efforts are being focused on helping the poor, restoring hope and providing new opportunities for the future.

In the city of Maliana, Don Bosco Co-Educational Technical School is an important educational center. The school is currently focused on improving its overall facilities, including the kitchen and dormitory, and enlarging its provisions of filtered drinking water.

At the Don Bosco Technical School, vocational education helps youth gain an education and prepare for the future. It serves more than 250 students, 11 percent of whom are girls, who take three-year courses in carpentry, mechanics or electronics. Each year there are more than 400 applications for the 84 student spots. Final year students are required to design and produce a product that encompasses much of what they have learned over the previous three years.

One young student, Joao Zacarias, noted that he’s very grateful for the rice-meals because it has enabled him and his friends to focus on their studies and have the energy for other activities. He’s grateful for the support of Salesian Missions and Rise Against Hunger.

Rise Against Hunger partners with Salesian Missions, which works to identify needs and coordinate delivery of 40-foot shipping containers full of meals and supplemented with additional supplies when available. The partnership was developed in 2011 and since that time shipments have been successfully delivered to 20 countries around the globe. The meals and life-saving aid have helped to nourish poor youth at Salesian schools and programs and care for those in need of emergency aid during times of war, natural disasters and health crises.

East Timor is home to 1.26 million people and according to the Human Development Index, the country ranked 132 out of 188 for life expectancy, access to education and standard of living in 2018. The World Bank estimates that East Timor has close to 42 percent of its population living in poverty with over one-third of the population regularly experiencing food shortages. In addition, close to 50 percent of the population is illiterate.

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Rise Against Hunger

Salesians of Don Bosco Indonesia-Timor Leste

Salesian Missions – East Timor

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Despite ongoing conflict and instability, Salesian missionaries have continued their work with youth in Syria. Over the course of the last eight years since the outbreak of civil war began in March 2011, Salesian missionaries have operated three centers in Kafroun and the particularly high conflict areas of Aleppo and Damascus. Each of the centers is staffed by three Salesian priests and a deacon.

The centers have been in operation since well before the start of the war providing educational classes, meeting space, and social development and sporting activities for youth and their families. The centers also offer trauma counseling, emergency shelter, nutritious meals and medical referrals to those in need.

“Living in a state of war is something that is not learned during initial formation. You learn it by living in these areas, day after day,” says Father Mounir Hanachi, director of the Salesian Damascus community, which is operated by four Salesian priests from different backgrounds.

Nearly 1,300 boys attend the Salesian oratory in Damascus. Most of the boys have faced painful and difficult situations. They come together at the oratory to share a journey of faith, but also to be together and share moments of leisure.

In addition, the Salesian oratory in Aleppo has remained open even when the war raged on. Thousands of young Christians and youth from other religious backgrounds gather together for catechism, sports, summer activities and after-school activities. “When we realized that this war would last a long time, we felt it was our duty to look even more closely after the young children of Aleppo,” says Father Pier Jabloyan, director of the Salesian oratory.

In Kafroun, where the rebels have never arrived, the climate is decidedly quieter than in cities like Damascus or Aleppo. Here Salesian missionaries have been providing programs since 2009. The work is carried out by volunteers, mostly parents of the children, who have been welcoming in families displaced by war.

The situation in Lebanon, where Salesian missionaries have been providing poor youth education and programs for 65 years, is more calm. The Al Fidar Vocational Training Center ensures that youth have the skills training they need to find and retain stable work.

In El Hessoun, there is a Catholic church, a reception center and the oratory, where young people are involved in games and educational activities. Educator Hanan Kandalaft explains, “The main mission is not just to let the children play, but to bring them to safety. As Don Bosco used to say, ‘the salvation of souls is the most important thing.’”

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Syria ‒ “When we realized that the war would last a long time, we felt the duty to look after the young”

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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Alliance members work to create an environment that is safe and caring for all life on the planet, while building up a new generation of environmentally committed citizens and leaders. The Don Bosco Green Alliance’s priorities are combating pollution, reducing global warming and eliminating disposable plastics. In each of these areas, the Alliance aims to partner with ongoing global campaigns promoted by the United Nations Environment Program (UN Environment) or other international organizations.

Members of the Alliance have undertaken such initiatives as environmental education to increase green areas and planting trees, the reduction of the use of non-degradable materials, promotion of organic agriculture and home gardens, preservation and conservation of water, and increasing the use of renewable energy sources.

“The Don Bosco Green Alliance is an important part of our Salesian youth ministry today,” says Father Savio Silveira, the convener of the Alliance. “Young people feel very strongly about the environmental crisis, since they understand well the impact it has on their lives and their future. Accompanying young people as they seek solutions to environmental issues has to be an aspect of our youth ministry. Care for God’s creation is very definitely an integral element of our Salesian youth spirituality.”

It its first year, the Don Bosco Green Alliance has been successful, with members involved in various activities and programs around the globe. On World Clean-up Day, celebrated on Sept. 15, several Salesian institutions launched activities to encourage youth to clean-up in their own campuses as well as in their neighborhoods.

The Alliance also launched the “Salesian Youth for Climate Action” campaign, which ran from Nov. 15 to Dec. 14, 2018. The campaigned raised awareness about COP24 and also gave young people the opportunity to express their views on the climate crisis. As part of this campaign, social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram were used to carry video messages from young people in Salesian institutions to world leaders meeting in Katowice, Poland.

Representatives from Don Bosco Green Alliance also took part in the “Saving Our Common Home and the Future of Life on Earth” conference organized by the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, to celebrate the third anniversary of the publication of Pope Francis’ encyclical “Laudato Si’.” This conference opened with a panel of five youth presenting their views on the environmental crisis and their personal reflections on the impact of “Laudato Si’.”

Finally, at World Youth Day in Panama in January 2019, the Don Bosco Green Alliance was involved in launching the Laudato Si’ Generation, which is the youth branch of the Global Catholic Climate Movement and aims to become a global youth movement that works for environmental issues, especially climate justice. The Alliance is one of the founding members of Laudato Si’ Generation.

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ANS ‒ RMG – Don Bosco Green Alliance has 100 Members in one year

Don Bosco Green Alliance

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During the inauguration of the new center, the Minister for Social Development, Alfredo Moreno, recalled the visit of several children supported by the Don Bosco Foundation to Palacio de La Moneda, the residence of the President of the Republic of Chile, which took place in April. He said, “Some time ago the young people of Don Bosco visited La Moneda and asked us for a new house because theirs had burnt down. So, we told them that we would solve the problem, and from today on, those children have a place to go.”

The construction company, Sodimac, radically renovated the house to make it habitable. Eduardo Mizón, director general of Sodimac-Chile said he was very satisfied with the work. “I think that as a company we are contributing with our grain of sand to make Chile a better country. All children should live in a dignified way. We want that none of them lives on the street.”

After the inauguration, the first five inhabitants entered the house. The inhabitants consisted of three girls and two boys who until recently had been sleeping on the streets in Santiago. Salesian schools, social development services and workforce development programs throughout Chile are helping to break the cycle of poverty for homeless youth through programs and shelters like this one while giving many hope for a more positive and productive future.

“Thanks to the government and to Minister Moreno for developing public-private alliances with civil society and carrying out processes like this. The children are taking a very profound personal journey to change,” said Dr. Sergio Mercado, executive director of the Don Bosco Foundation. “For the first time in history, street children were welcomed in La Moneda. We need more centers for street children as their situation is invisible.”

According to the World Bank, Chile has a fairly low poverty rate at 14.4 percent. Chile’s problem though lies in the country’s high rates of income inequality and inequality within the educational system. Salesian missionaries working in the country focus their efforts on providing education and social services to poor, at-risk youth. At Salesian schools, universities and youth centers throughout the country, youth can access an education as well as the skills and resources they need to become successful adults. As a result of the vocational and technical education provided by Salesian programs, Chilean youth are more likely to find stable employment and improve their standard of living.

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ANS – Chile – “We need more centers for street children, their situation is invisible”

World Bank – Chile

The post CHILE: Salesian missionaries open new home – Nueva Luz – for homeless youth thanks to public-private partnerships first appeared on MissionNewswire.

UN-Water estimates that worldwide 2.1 billion people lack access to safely managed drinking water services, and by 2050, the world’s population will have grown by an estimated 2 billion people, pushing global water demand up to 30 percent higher than today. UN-Water also indicates that around 1.9 billion people live in potentially severely water-scarce areas. By 2050, this could increase to around 3 billion people. Water.org estimates that every 90 seconds a child dies from a water-related disease

The students developed a project to study access to drinking water in the El Majahual community, located in the coastal area of ​​the La Libertad Department of El Salvador. Only 25 percent of the population in that area have access to drinking water through a system of pipelines for distribution and management.

The remaining 75 percent look for alternative access to water through natural sources, rainwater collected during the winter season, wells, river water or freshwater springs. But these sources are often contaminated with biological and solid waste which cause people to become sick. Given the lack of health resources in their community, this can become deadly for many residents.

Faced with this challenge, the multi-disciplinary team of university students, together with professionals from different sectors, designed a water filtration system which will purify this unsafe water and make it safe for human consumption. The filter is a low-cost and easy-to-produce product and, in the future, can be replicated in other areas that also experience difficulty in accessing water.

The team developed a filter consisting of three layers of materials extracted from the existing resources in the coastal area. Its effectiveness was validated by various professionals and institution experts in water treatment including the Fusades Integral Quality Laboratory, the Center of Applied Technology, AZURE, and Stove Team International.

“This is a great initiative by these students to help others in their country who do not have access to clean, safe water,” says Father Mark Hyde, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Improving safe water access brings a sense of dignity to people, especially children, and reduces the number of waterborne illnesses that can affect those living in a community.”

Close to 35 percent of El Salvador’s population lives in poverty, according to the World Bank. Youth in El Salvador are confronted not only with poverty, but with instability, high levels of violence and inadequate access to educational opportunities. Despite ranking high for economic indicators, the need for practical education in the country is more important than ever with 12 percent of youth ages 15 to 24 unemployed and 41 percent underemployed.

Salesian missionaries in El Salvador provide social development services and primary, secondary and vocational education as well as university degree programs to aid youth in breaking the cycle of poverty and contributing back to their families and communities.

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Sources:

ANS – El Salvador – Don Bosco University Students awarded for Water Purification Project

Water.org

The post EL SALVADOR: Don Bosco University students join with other university students in San Salvador to design and present new water filtration project first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Yden came from Ethiopia to Italy with his father and his brothers in 2001 to join their mother who was already in the country. In 2006, he joined Borgo Ragazzi Don Bosco in Rome and was able to attend vocational training for three years. He obtained a position as an intern in a company that produces trestles and now works there as a lathe operator. His story is the same as many youth who have been able to build their future thanks to their hard work and support of Salesian educators.

“At the beginning, it was not easy to relate with others, with my peers, especially because of the linguistic obstacle. After the first years in Italy, however, I managed to integrate. Now I have friends and people who help me and support me,” says Yden.

Yden has achieved success both in employment and his integration into Italy through education, specifically through vocational training. Vocational training centers continue to represent strong points of reference for many young people, especially those with fewer resources and with difficult personal backgrounds, many of whom are migrants, refugees and other youth at risk.

“Yden is the story of many young people who have been able to attend Salesian vocational training,” says Father Enrico Peretti, director general CNOS-FAP, the National Salesian Center for Vocational Training and Ongoing Education. “The essential thing to not lose oneself is to believe in one’s potential and in the Christian community as well as in civil society. In the end, our communities have the opportunity to welcome these young people as great resources.”

Fr. Peretti explains why Salesian vocational training is so successful. He says, “It is necessary to create personalized itineraries in which the child can have life experiences, especially through the working environment so they are able to develop personal values. In this context of inclusion, it is the children themselves who grow thanks to each other, always supported by educators.”

In the light of this experience, Yden gives advice to his many peers in search of their own personal and occupational path. He explains, “I have been helped so much by the educators. I have listened to them, and I have trusted them. It is important not to have oneself be transported along other roads and to instead work and study hard.”

Italy, Europe’s third-largest economy, has close to 2 million children living in poverty, according to UNICEF. The poverty rate has risen in the wake of Europe’s economic crisis and unemployment is at its highest level since the late 1970s, with the overall jobless rate at 12.5 percent and youth unemployment as high as 41 percent.

Salesian programs across Italy help youth who are unable to attend school and others who drop out to work at the few jobs available to them. A growing number of children work as laborers on farms and others have turned to the sex trade to help support their families. Those in poverty often live without adequate shelter, hot water, regular meals and health care.

According to UNICEF, a growing number of youth are living away from their families in temporary shelters and within government and charity programs because of inadequate support from or neglect by their families. Salesian programs work to combat these challenges by providing shelter, nutrition, education and workforce development services for youth in need.

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Sources:

ANS – Italy – Don Bosco is always current: many young people redeemed thanks to Vocational Training

UNICEF – Italy Poverty

The post ITALY: Salesian vocational training ensures youth access skills training and successfully enter the workforce first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Carlos José Moreno Barón, 19, was not taking part in the protest march but was on his way to a football field at Chuao. He did not reach his destination. At about 10:15am, Carlos José’s was killed by a group linked to the collective supporting the government when they opened fire against opponents. Doctors did all they could but Carlos José had been struck by a bullet in the head and nothing could be done. He had been a student at the St Francis de Sales Institute in the Sarría district and was a member of the Salesian Youth Movement.

On the same day, in San Cristóbal in the State of Táchira, a motorcycle group allegedly linked to local government support groups fired on Paola Ramírez Gómez, 23, as she was passing in front of Piazza San Carlos, returning from a job interview. She also was not participating in the protests. Paola was a Salesian past pupil from the Institute of Táriba. Her death was instantaneous, as shown by a video taken on a security camera on a nearby building.

Venezuelan Prosecutor General Luisa Ortega Díaz has asked the security authorities to guarantee freedom of expression. She said in a statement, “I appeal to the political agents who convene the demonstrations. It is a constitutional right to convene peaceful demonstrations and these should not endanger the physical safety of the demonstrators.”

Aware of the delicate situation in the country, Salesian Rector Major Father Ángel Fernández Artime expressed his support for Salesian missionaries in Venezuela and the Venezuelan people in statement he released while on a trip to Kenya visiting refugees. He said, “You are not alone. We, in the different parts of the Salesian world, are worried about you. We are attentive to what you are experiencing and well aware of everything that happens to you.”

As the BBC reports, triple-digit inflation, a high crime rate and clashes between protesters and security forces have affected the lives of many in the country including schoolchildren, many of whom are being kept out of school for their safety.

The BBC article also reports that the La Salle Education Centre, a private school run by the Christian Brothers Catholic religious order in the western town of Mérida, was recently vandalized by group of men on motorcycles who broke through the school’s main gate. They smashed windows of cars and pulled out radios before breaking into the main house where the Christian Brothers live. It was suspected they were searching for protestors who had taken refuge there earlier and when none were found went on a rampage. While no one was hurt, there was much destruction left in their wake. BBC is reporting that while the school reopened, nearly 40 percent of the students have not returned for fear it could happen again with students present. Parents are becoming too afraid to send their children to school.

The deaths of the Salesian students are not the first deaths for Salesian missionaries in Venezuela. In Feb 2014, during a suspected robbery at Don Bosco College in the Venezuelan city of Valencia two Salesian missionaries were stabbed to death and another was wounded. Father Jesus Plaza, 80, and Brother Luis Sanchez, 84 were both murdered; and Brother David Marin, 64, was stabbed in the leg multiple times and treated at a local hospital.

Salesian missionaries in Venezuela continue their schools and social development programs despite the protests and ongoing violence from pro-government groups. Missionaries provide education and workforce development paired with other social services to help poor youth break the cycle of poverty and have hope for the future.

Sources

ANS – Message of the Rector Major on the situation in Venezuela

ANS – Venezuela – Two Salesian past pupils victims of violence

BBC – Why Venezuelan parents are keeping their children at home

Catholic News Agency – Two Salesian religious murdered during robbery in Venezuela

The post VENEZUELA: Two Salesian Past Pupils Killed During Ongoing Political and Social Unrest first appeared on MissionNewswire.

In 2016, the Foundation helped more than 450 children and obtained access to employment for 80 older youth. The stories of how the program has helped youth in Spain show the real impact of the Salesian Foundation

Pablo (not his real name), five year’s old from Tenerife, is one young student who has benefited from the Don Bosco Foundation Project. When he first came to the Salesian program he did not talk to anyone and barely uttered a word. His mother had explained that he been the victim of violence, but after just three months in the program, he smiled for the first time. Now he has regained his speech and has integrated and participates in activities like all his peers.

The Salesian Foundation’s Second Chance Schools helps those students who have no job and no education to reconnect with education and support for a chance at better life. It targets youth 15 to 29 years old and offers them innovative training and practical experience in different industries business and supports specific individual needs of the participants in order to ensure that they remain in school and find employment.

Mary (not her real name) is 23-years-old and from La Orotava. She had no education and no job and was living in the house of her boyfriend’s parents together with her three-year-old daughter. Social Services sent her to the Don Bosco Project. There she began a training course and now she is working in a hotel.

Mohamed (not his real name), 25 from the Sahara, arrived as a child in the Canary Islands aboard a barge and lived for a time at the center for minors, but at the age of 18 he found himself living on the streets and ended up in trouble with the law. Eventually, he came to one of the Don Bosco Apartments, which provide shelter and education for youth. There he trained as a waiter and is now working as a waiter, with a permanent contract.

“All youth deserve a second change in life and to feel safe and a valued member of their community,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Students at the Don Bosco Foundation Project have a real opportunity to gain an education, connect with their peers, and gain the work and social skills needed for long-term employment.”

Hard hit by the current economic troubles in Europe, Spain now has the greatest inequality of the 27 countries of the European Union. According to the World Bank, close to 25 percent of Spanish workers are unemployed and a growing number of them can’t afford to buy enough food to live. One in five citizens is living below the poverty line and poor youth with too few employable skills struggle the most to find and retain stable employment.

Sources

ANS – Spain – “Don Bosco still changes lives”: Don Bosco Foundation Project

World Bank – Spain

The post SPAIN: Don Bosco Foundation Project is Helping Youth Connect in School and Excel first appeared on MissionNewswire.

The school’s two founders, Sr. Sara Park and Sr. Florentina Cho, settled in Kimbe in early Dec. 2016. They rented a hall from a local Catholic parish and started their humble new school with two make-up classrooms. The official start was on Feb. 6, 2017, when the Salesian sisters finalized the registration of the first students, graduates of the eighth grade, and held the first school year opening ceremony.

Another group girls, graduates of grade 10, requested that they be able to continue their education as well and join the school. The Caritas Sisters accepted them, and they started Grade 11 with more than 100 new students. Right now, 115 girls are studying at the secondary technical school. The students are learning the technical skills needed to either advance into higher learning or gain employment.

“Salesian programs are so successful in part because they remain flexible and diversified to meet the needs of their students,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Being an integral part of the communities in which they work, Salesian sisters are aware of how important providing access to education is for girl and have created programs to directly address those needs.”

Providing education for girls and young women is particularly important in Papua New Guinea, where girls also have substantially less access to basic education and healthcare than their male counterparts. Violations of women’s rights are also nearly systemic throughout the country, with nearly two-thirds of women having experienced violence.

Twenty-eight percent of the country lives below the poverty line. Close to 50 percent of adults are illiterate and 25 percent of children are unable to attend school. Part of the problem with getting to school, work and hospitals have to do with Papua New Guinea’s infrastructure. In rural areas, where nearly 88 percent of the population resides, there are few roads or means of transportation to get to schools or places of employment.

Sourcs

ANS – Papua New Guinea – Caritas Sisters open a new Secondary Technical School

World Bank – Papua New Guinea Poverty

The post PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Salesian Sisters Launch New Technical Secondary School for Girls first appeared on MissionNewswire.

“Girls as young as nine to 17 years old are engaged in prostitution. Some have been forced into the trade by poverty, cliques, mafias or as a result of maltreatment by their relations. The number of street kids is on the increase at an alarming rate,” said Father Jorge Crisafulli, the director of Don Bosco Fambul in a recent article from Awoko.

In 2015, thanks to a bus donation from Stadt Werke Trier in Germany, Don Bosco Fambul staff was able to operate a mobile unit that went out into the streets to assist children in need. During the outbreak of Ebola, the program was stopped to focus on the epidemic and prevention education. Following the outbreak, the bus was no longer operable so the program wasn’t able to get back off the ground. Thankfully, a recent city bus donation from the city of Badajoz, the capital of the Province of Badajoz in the community of Extremadura, Spain, has relaunched the project.

The city bus will be used as a mobile unit that will help thousands of children at risk of exclusion who are living on the streets of the city. The bus has been repainted and renovated. Inside, there’s space for education programs, counseling, and other programs. A generator provides power to PA systems, allows for phones to charge, and music to be playing.

Fr. Crisafulli noted that the bus would be operated by five social workers with six junior staff, a nurse, a driver, and two security personnel. The bus will operate on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays between 4:00pm and 10:00pm. He added that Wednesdays are focused on a family day to assess whether street children in the program are able to reintegrate with their families.

The bus will park at strategic points in close vicinity to the slums and places where street children sleep. In addition to social development services, youth will be provided with free HIV/AIDS counseling and testing, a free meal, and free legal services for those children that are in conflict with the law. The overall goal of the mobile outreach is to help reintegration children back with their families, if possible, or to connect them with foster families or alternative residential care for those who have spent a long time on the streets.

According to the World Bank, more than 60 percent of Sierra Leone’s population live in poverty with many living on less than $1.25 per day. The literacy rate is only 41 percent and 70 percent of young people in Sierra Leone are unemployed or underemployed as a result. The country was hard hit by the Ebola crisis. The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that there were more than 14,124 total cases of Ebola and 3,956 deaths from the virus in Sierra Leone alone. Don Bosco Fambul was on the forefront of efforts to help prevent Ebola in communities throughout Sierra Leone and provide care for children left orphaned by the deadly epidemic. The organization recently received Sierra Leone’s Presidential Award in recognition of its contribution in fighting Ebola.

Sources

Awareness Times – Sierra Leone News : Don Bosco Fambul Launches Mobile Programme

Awoko – Sierra Leone News: Don Bosco calls for action on behalf of street kids

World Bank – Sierra Leone

The post SIERRA LEONE: Mobile Outreach Provides Counseling and Medical Care to Street Children in Freetown first appeared on MissionNewswire.

“Mozambique continues to be one of the countries with the lowest rate of human development and life expectancy is short. People are hungry and have no access to basic services. This is true of more than half the population,” says Fr. Pescador.

Salesian missionaries are working with children and youth providing education and social development services to help youth break the cycle of poverty and have hope for a better life.  Fr. Pescador recounts the story of two young children who accessed Salesian programs and have gained success in life because of them. Gabriel and Isabel, twins who are now 18, started in the program early in life when they had nowhere else to turn.

“Twelve years ago, Gabriel and Isabel arrived in Mozambique and asked for a place where they could stay and receive support. Their father had been dead for some time, and they had just lost their mother,” explains says Fr Pescador. “The children were very small and the Salesian orphanage does not accept children so young. They had swollen bellies and infected lungs and were in need of assistance. A cook at the Salesian program suggested entrusting them to her niece, a past Salesian pupil who was very active in the parish. We agreed, thinking it was preferable that the two siblings remained together and be placed in a family. The family atmosphere of love and attention was the best thing you could offer these children,” says Fr Pescador.”

Gabriel and Isabel grew up within the Salesian family and attended Salesian schools while accessing other social development services as they grew up. Today, Gabriel has attended professional training courses at the Salesian Institute of Moamba and wants to continue his studies. Isabel is about to finish high school.

“Only God knows what will happen in the future. What we do know is that they are happy, they have been brought up in a family environment and have received an education that will help that have a good start in life,” concluded Fr Pescador.

Mozambique has made great strides in reducing poverty, according to the World Bank. But with nearly 50 percent of the population still living in poverty, progress has not been fast enough. Poverty is concentrated in rural areas, and even with growth within the county, the regions of Zambezia, Sofala, Manica, and Gaza saw an increase in poverty in the 2000s.

More than 70 percent of those living in poverty, reside in rural areas and rely on farming and fishing to make a living. The vast majority of the rural population lives on less than $1.25 a day and lacks basic services such as access to safe water, health facilities and schools.

Source

ANS – Mozambique – Gabito and Isabel: stories of love and hope in the Salesian Work

World Bank – Mozambique

The post MOZAMBIQUE: Salesian Vocational Training Programs Helps Gain the Skills Needed for Employment first appeared on MissionNewswire.

“My motivation to spend two years volunteering with the Salesian Lay Missioners program came primarily from my parents,” says Gordon. “My mother and father volunteered with the Jesuit Refugee Service in their youth, helping the Vietnamese refugees in the Philippines and Hong Kong, where I was born, to acquire visas to western countries. Growing up, I saw how my parents’ experience as volunteers shaped the rest of their lives. They used what they learned during their time abroad, and instilled in their children the values of faith, community, and simplicity.”

“As I came to understand this, I realized how a similar experience could be crucial to my own development as a Christian, so I signed up,” adds Gordon. “I spent a year teaching in South Sudan, and now, by the grace of God, I find myself living in Vietnam, working among the same people my parents did a generation ago.”

Salesian Lay Missioners attend an orientation process to prepare for their volunteer assignments. Orientation begins with cultural training encouraging volunteers to be open-minded and understanding of different cultural practices so they more easily foster relationships with the people they serve. Standard Salesian concepts and practices are also taught during orientation. Finally, orientation wraps with a week-long retreat where volunteers reflect back on they have learned and prepare for volunteer assignment.

“My experience living at Don Rua has been wonderful. I feel so blessed to have a role in such a vibrant, active community,” says Gordon. “One of my primary roles, as an English teacher, is to be a good listener. The stories of my students have been a profound source of inspiration for me. I have learned a great deal from their invaluable insights into Vietnamese history, culture, and faith. In many respects, I am the true student.”

Salesian schools, services and programs throughout Vietnam are helping to break the cycle of poverty while giving many young people hope for a more positive and productive future. 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 construction, hotel management, electrical and mechanical engineering, computer science and other fields. Many Salesian students are school dropouts seeking a second chance.

According to the World Bank, close to 14 percent of Vietnam’s population lives in conditions of poverty. The country has seen a drastic reduction of poverty over the last 20 years when the poverty rate was close to 60 percent. Vietnam has also made remarkable progress in education. Primary and secondary enrollments for those in poverty have reached more than 90 percent and 70 percent respectively. Rising levels of education and diversification into off-farm activities, such as working in construction, factories or domestic housework have also contributed to reducing poverty in the country.

While nearly 30 million Vietnamese have been lifted out of poverty in the past 20 years, challenges remain. According to the World Bank, although Vietnam’s 53 ethnic minority groups make up less than 15 percent of the population, they accounted for nearly 50 percent of the poor in 2010. Most minorities continue to reside in more isolated and less productive regions of Vietnam. Rapid economic transformation and growth have contributed to rising inequality in income and opportunities. Some of the poor, especially those living in rural areas or small cities, have limited access to high quality education and health services and limited long-term well-paying jobs.

Sources

Bosco Link – Teachers of future missionaries – Dalat volunteers

World Bank – Vietnam

The post VIETNAM: Salesian Lay Missioners Teach English Language to Students in Salesian Programs first appeared on MissionNewswire.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sources

ANS – Mexico – Kindness matters

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

While the city of Lubumbashi has both agricultural and mineral resource wealth, the area faces numerous economic and social challenges. The city and surrounding areas have close to 8.2 million people, most living in poverty. More than 60 percent of the population is less than 20 years old. A large percentage of children and young adults have dropped out of school because they are unable to pay for tuition, uniforms, and school supplies. This leaves many young adults unemployed and living on the streets.

The doors of Bakanja Ville, the main reception center of the Bakanja Center, are always open. Youth can access the program to take a shower, sleep, eat, wash their clothes, and engage in activities. A personal file is opened for each young person. Then Salesian missionaries begin a search for the family to see if reintegration is possible with the help of social workers. Salesian missionaries also go out into the street twice a month to help connect with street children in their own environment to tell them about the program and offer them a safe place to stay.

Each child has their own reason for being on the street so each intervention is customized for the individual. Those who demonstrate a willingness to leave the streets begin their rehabilitation at Bakanja Center. Here, there is a hostel for 80 young people. Some 300 children attend primary school and are offered literacy courses and remedial teaching. There are many success stories from the program. Former street children have become teachers, graduates or professionals who have found their place in life.

Additional programs are offered tailored specifically for youth. Cité des Jeunes is a vocational school that offers courses in carpentry, auto mechanics, construction, welding, mechanics and agriculture, and offers a hostel for 60 young people. Then there is Bakanja Magone, a vocational school that offers craft courses in addition to a hostel for 41 young people. Even those who have already been reintegrated back with their family can attend courses in carpentry, mechanics, welding, shoemaking, construction, ceramics, or driving. Finally, there is the Jacaranda Center that has a hostel attached for 35 young people. This center offers a training course lasting three to four years in mathematics, French language, and agriculture and farming techniques.

“Children who are living on the streets experience discrimination and exclusion every day,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Children who are able to access programs that help youth come in off the streets where they face poverty and are at-risk for exploitation, have a chance at a better life. Salesian programs aim to help children live safely while getting the emotional support they need and the education that will help them live independently.”

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has been plagued by intense civil war and internal conflict since the outbreak of fighting in 1998. As a result, there have been close to 5.4 million deaths, according to the International Rescue Committee. Most deaths resulted from non-violent causes such as malaria, diarrhea, pneumonia and malnutrition, all typically preventable under normal circumstances but often fatal in times of conflict. Close to 1.5 million people have been internally displaced or have become refugees in neighboring countries after having fled the country to escape the continued violence.

Sources

ANS – Democratic Republic of the Congo – Building a future for young people away from the streets

UNICEF – DR Congo 

*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 DR CONGO: Salesian Bakanja Center Aims to Help Street Children Access Shelter and Education first appeared on MissionNewswire.

By providing analysis and research on the real reasons for migration, informing potential youth migrants about the risks of the journey and the real chances of success along with giving individual guidance to those who want to leave, the campaign is working to deter young people from leaving countries where people are most at risk of human trafficking such as Senegal, the Ivory Coast, Ethiopia and Ghana. In collaboration with Salesian missionaries in Africa, the campaign will also raise funds to help with program development in targeted countries in Africa.

The campaign has already found success in Senegal after research there has shown that nearly 40 percent of youth leaving the country are leaving in search of better educational opportunities. With that knowledge, funds now are being raised through the campaign to provide scholarships to students in Senegal so they are able to access educational opportunities within their own country.

One young student that was helped by this program is 20-year-old Ahmed Ndiaye, who grew up in Linguere, a city located northeast of the capital city of Dakar is in Senegal. Ahmed left Linguere in 2009, to live with his brother in Dakar. He worked as an apprentice in a tailor shop and for years, grew up in conditions of poverty was forced by those who sheltered him and his brother to beg in order to reach every day the daily quota required to maintain them. They were beaten if they did not reach the target.

Ahmed lost his father a few years ago and he says that his mother has a lot of hope for him. As not to disappoint her he started to learn a trade and to study French. Many young Senegalese do not speak French, since they study only Arabic. Now Ahmed has joined the literacy course organized by the Don Bosco Center, which helps many young people to study and make up for gaps in their education, improving their employment opportunities.

But the literacy course is only a first step. Ahmed would like one day to attend a professional course, preferably an evening course, so that he can keep his day job. Ahmed has a dream to become a good tailor and a great business man. He lacks the money to start, but does not stop hoping and never fails to try because he does not want to disappoint his mother or himself.

“From awareness programs in communities to radio programs, the Stop Human Trafficking campaign is utilizing a number of different methods to reach its audience,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “The campaign is also using real stories of young people who have returned home after having been victims of human trafficking, which has been quite effective.”

As part of the campaign, the Don Bosco Center is also providing information on the risks of illegal migration including interviews with children who survived their migrant journey and returned home, videos, radio programs and local newspaper stories in addition to sponsoring forums, films and debates in rural areas.

“This campaign has been successful in reaching thousands of youth and creating awareness of the many forms of fraud, trafficking and exploitation facing those who venture on such migrant voyages while at the same time giving information on the possibilities for development that exist in these countries,” adds Fr. Hyde.

Sources

ANS – Senegal – The commitment to “Stop Trafficking”, for young people like Ahmed

Stop Human Trafficking Campaign

The post SENEGAL: Youth are Positively Impacted by Salesian Stop Human Trafficking Campaign first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Salesian missionaries report though that other areas do not have the capacity to have wells dug that will be sufficient enough to help the people. Residents are attempting to collect the water in any way they can. But the rain was not without its challenges.

“There was a lot of destruction happened along with the rain. Many livestock drank the water and fell down dead because they were famished, so when they drank to become full, they died,” says Father Luke Mulayinkal, who oversees the Salesian missionaries’ work. “When it rained, there were small dams built or dug in several areas that have water now. People and animals use that water and so the number of people searching for water have reduced. But imagine people drinking the first rain water, which has flowed through the ground which did not get rain for over a year. The Sister who oversees the Don Bosco Dispensary has reported that soon people will come with all types of stomach problems due to drinking this water.”

In early May, Salesian missionaries provided food aid kits containing five kg of maize, two kg of beans and half a liter of oil to 3,490 families. A total of 65 villages have received food in this second distribution. In addition, 110 children were provided milk in the village of Lengima. One of the biggest challenges since the drought began is the lack of food available in the market and what is available has risen in price to the point where it’s no longer affordable. The value of livestock has also decreased and many have died or are very weak.

Salesian missionaries within the Don Bosco Mission–Korr work on a daily basis to reach the 85 villages near the mission, some require missionaries to travel distances of more than 150 km to reach the villages. With the recent rains, transport and communications were interrupted and some of the villages have not been able to be reached. Missionaries are waiting for additional funding for relief supplies and then will continue their aid distribution to some of these far away villages. The goal is to support 4,805 families in total.

In early March, Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the international Salesians of Don Bosco, launched an emergency fundraising effort to support missionaries assisting people affected by severe drought in Kenya. While the rain provides some water to local villages, it was still not enough to help food production and supplies available are still not enough to adequately help the local people. Salesian missionaries are relying on donations and financial support to assist with this crisis.

Salesian Missions has launched an emergency fund, the African Drought Crisis, to assist Salesian missionaries who are working to help poor youth and their families affected by this drought and food insecurity in Kenya. To raise money for the fund, the Catholic nonprofit aid organization is issuing an urgent appeal for donations. Donations can be made by going to SalesianMissions.org/African-Drought.

Sources

ANS – Kenya – Finally the rain, but much more is needed!

Salesian Missions – Kenya

The post KENYA: Salesian Missionaries Provide Food Aid and Assist with Water Collection After First Rain in More Than a Year first appeared on MissionNewswire.

The Clairvaux Center is about 15 km from Antananarivo and provides a boarding school for more than 100 youth aged 13 to 18. The program also accommodates many others as day-students in various training courses. At the Clairvaux Center, Salesian missionaries provide for all the residents’ needs from food (every day more than 1,000 free meals are prepared and served) to clothing, medical care, and education. Training courses are provided from the basic of education to vocational training programs in five different employment sectors. There are also recreational activities for youth to engage with their peers.

Heritiana is one of the students attending programs at the center. He was abandoned as an infant by his father and forced to spend his childhood on the streets. Today, he is attending a professional course to become a mason. He wants to build a house, something he has never had. Haja, another student, is studying to become a carpenter. He is the eldest of seven brothers and sisters whose mother has died. Another student, Charles, who had run away from home to escape his father’s violence has finished the mechanical soldering course and is working in a machine shop.

“Heritiana, Charles, Haja, and many other vulnerable youth were able to leave the streets behind and access shelter and education at the Salesian center,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “At the Clairvaux Center, they found friends and teachers who took care of them and provided them with the support they need to have a better chance at a happy and productive life.”

Madagascar, an island in the Indian Ocean off the coast of East Africa, is one of the poorest countries in the world. Seventy percent of Madagascar’s almost 19 million people live in poverty with 5.7 million of those youth between the ages of 10 and 24 years, according to UNICEF. This number is expected to double by 2025. Due to Madagascar’s poverty, geography and an ongoing political crisis, the country is ranked 158 out of the 188 countries classified by the 2015 human development index of the United Nations Development Program. Women and children in the country are particularly vulnerable to the effects of poverty.

For close to 80 percent of the country’s inhabitants who live in rural areas and practice subsistence farming, living conditions have been steadily declining in recent years, particularly when it comes to access to transportation, health services, education and markets. Because of the lack of hygiene and access to safe drinking water coupled with chronic malnutrition, people in Madagascar often suffer from respiratory ailments, tuberculosis and hepatitis.

Sources

ANS – Madagascar – From the slums of the past to new opportunity at Clairvaux

UNICEF – Madagascar

The post MADAGASCAR: Salesian Clairvaux Center Provide Hope and Education to Street Children first appeared on MissionNewswire.

“Our programs are frequented by street children, orphans, children of workers, middle-class young people and people of many religious backgrounds,” says Fr. Kerio. “Then there are also the South Sudanese, refugees and displaced persons, the tribes and ethnic groups that are enemies in South Sudan, but here they are at peace with each other. So many prejudices have been dispelled because people find common ground and mutual understanding.”

The Salesian community provides education and social development services for youth and their families living in poverty in the region. Youth are able to access the Salesian program and gain assistance with homework, connect with their peers, and be connected with adults who provide mentorship and support in their lives. The community is also serving many South Sudanese refugees who have escaped violence and conflict in their home country. But many are faced with racial discrimination and challenges in Egypt. Salesian missionaries work to mitigate these difficulties through programs aimed at helping refugees integrate into their new communities.

In addition, Salesian missionaries have been helping Syrian refugees in Egypt as well as Turkey, and Lebanon since early 2012. Between 400 and 800 refugees are helped each day, many of whom are women and children. At these refugee sites, missionaries provide emergency relief by meeting basic needs and providing shelter, safety and medical assistance. Missionaries also offer technical skills training to assist refugees in the task of finding stable employment in their new host countries which for many is particularly challenging due to labor laws and a lack of established social and professional networks.

According to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), 26 percent of Egypt’s population lives in poverty, while 49 percent of those living in Upper Egypt cannot provide for their basic needs of food and shelter. Egypt’s unemployment rate has reached 13.2 percent and that number almost doubles for women totaling at 24.2 percent. Egypt, the 15th most densely populated country in the world, has been experiencing a rise in poverty and food insecurity for past three years, according to reports released by the United Nations food agency and its partners.

The country has witnessed significant political and economic changes since 2011. Through this transition, which includes periods of political unrest, the main income sources of the economy have been negatively impacted, particularly in the tourism sector, as well as revenues from the Suez Canal, oil and remittances from Egyptians working abroad, affected by the global economy.

Despite the visible progress to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Egypt has not reached the anticipated targets for poverty reduction, environment protection and gender equity. Egypt is still working on issues related to gender equality and the empowerment of women.

Sources

ANS – Egypt – Imagine a playground … a meeting place of cultures and peoples

UNDP – Egypt

The post EGYPT: Salesian Missionaries Offer Oratory and Parish in Cairo Community first appeared on MissionNewswire.

The government of Zambia asked Salesian missionaries to start the agricultural school in Lufubu with the goal of establishing an alternative to fishing, because the local community was over-fishing the lakes and needed a new source of food security that would combat hunger while preserving the environment. The school includes a working farm where the students gain hands-on experience with animal husbandry and the cultivation of vegetables and maize on a personal plot of land designated for each student. The farm includes 400 hectres of land, five of which are currently cleared. There is a river near to the farm that provides a reliable source of water year-round.

While the Salesian campus, which includes the agricultural school, farm and youth center, does have a bore hole that provides fresh water, it was limited. A stream about 200 meters away brings in fresh, clean water for washing, watering and even drinking, but unfortunately much of the water did reach the Salesian storage tank because of the many leaks. Salesian Missions provided the funding for Salesian missionaries in Lufubu to replace the 200 meters of PVC piping to deliver the fresh water from the stream to the storage tank effectively.

“Having access to clean water is essential and brings a sense of dignity to the youth we serve in our programs,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Improving water access also ensures that teachers and students are working and learning in an environment that promotes proper hygiene and has safe drinking water, reducing the number of waterborne illnesses that can affect those in our schools keeping them away from important study time.”

Salesian Missions also provided funding to help support food production at the farm. Brother Robert Malusa, a Salesian priest in Lufubu, noted that eggs were a desired commodity of the agriculture school, but besides these few local chickens, the only other way for people to get eggs is to go and buy them in the neighboring city 50km away. People in the local community simply cannot afford to travel to make this purchase. The new funding to purchase chickens with both provide the eggs needed in the community and give Saleisan teachers an effective way to teach this kind of farming in the agricultural school.

Funding was also utilized to buy goats for the farm. Salesian missionaries wanted the goats to experiment with different kinds of cheese to vary the Lufubu diet of strict corn and fish as well as the occasional goat meat and chicken. Both projects help to increase the productivity of the Salesian campus and helped to make it more sustainable.

Poverty is widespread in Zambia with 64 percent of the total population living below the poverty line. For those living in rural areas, the poverty rate rises to 80 percent, according to UNICEF. Over the past three decades, incomes in Zambia have fallen steadily and people do not have enough money to meet basic needs such as shelter, nutritious food and medical care.

The HIV/AIDS epidemic has taken its toll on Zambia’s children. More than 20,000 households in the country are headed by children whose parents have died because of HIV/AIDS. Many of these young children are desperate for adult support.

Sources

UNICEF – Zambia

The post ZAMBIA: Salesian Missions Provides Funding for Clean Water Project and Food Production at Agriculture School first appeared on MissionNewswire.

El Salvador is one of the most violent countries in Central America, along with Honduras and Guatemala. The murder rate in El Salvador rose more than 44 percent in the beginning months of 2014 when compared to the same time period the year before. In 2016, San Salvador was named the murder capital of the world, seeing more murders and violent crime than any other city. Gang violence is a leading cause of violence in the country, and it’s estimated that some 60,000 young people have gang affiliation. Gang involvement often offers a sense of belonging and a sense of family that counters the lack of education and employment opportunities offered in the country.

Crime is often associated with poverty and close to 35 percent of El Salvador’s population lives in poverty, according to the World Bank. Youth in El Salvador are confronted not only with poverty, but with instability, high levels of violence and inadequate access to educational opportunities. Despite ranking high for economic indicators, the need for practical education in El Salvador is more important than ever with 12 percent of youth ages 15-24 unemployed and 41 percent underemployed.

Conditions of poverty and violence have driven many families to send their children out of the country along dangerous routes north to reach the U.S. border in search of safety and educational opportunities. Families often feel this journey is less risky than what their children face at home.

FUSALMO works to address the root causes of poverty, inequality and violence and give youth a chance for a better life in their own communities. Through the organization’s Don Bosco Youth Integral Program, three sports centers were developed in Soyapango, San Miguel and Santa Ana, allowing more than 55,000 youth to benefit from this program. The sports centers offer youth a safe space to connect with their peers and supportive adults while accessing training on creating a culture of peace, vocational guidance, adapted physical education, sports, technology, labor, culture and other topics.

“FUSALMO develops educational activities that allow youth to discover their vocational specialties,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Through the organization’s sports centers, youth are provided with comprehensive educational tools and the foundation of promoting a culture of peace within their homes and broader communities.”

FUSALMO has been the recipient of USAID funding to take the educational model developed in these sports centers and provide the program in 664 schools in high-risk areas. The organization receives its funding from the Foundation for Salvadoran Integral Education (FEDISAL), the primary USAID partner, who has engaged several organizations in this initiative. The program started in 2013 and will run through 2018. FUSALMO provides these schools assistance in sports, technology, art, culture and education about coexisting in peace.

From August 2015 through July 2016, FUSALMO also facilitated a Young Entrepreneurs in IT project that was funded by the Silicon Valley Community Foundation. The primary objective of the project was to train youth in technical knowledge based on the Cisco Networking Academy curriculum with IT essentials, along with comprehensive training in entrepreneurship. These educational programs helped 231 youth to have the necessary skills to start their own business, generating self-employment and job opportunities for others.

“These Salesian programs are working to ensure that youth have the opportunities they need to gain an education and develop skills for employment, allowing them to remain in their home country,” adds. Fr Hyde. “Salesian missionaries focus on prevention. They address the root causes and reasons people leave their countries and provide programs to help youth gain the opportunities at home they seek elsewhere. This improves their lives and their communities as a whole.”

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Sources:

FUSALMO

MissionNewswire – Youth Get Technical, Entrepreneurship Skills for Long-Term Employment

Salesian Missions – FUSALMO

World Bank – El Salvador

The post EL SALVADOR: Salesian Organization FUSALMO Positively Impacts Lives of More Than 265,000 Children and Their Families first appeared on MissionNewswire.

The mission’s Catholic mass on Sunday and catechism are well attended as is the daily evening church services. Close to 200 children attend the Salesian-run kindergarten. Thanks to the provision of breakfast and lunch, many children attend school and learn to read, write and do arithmetic. Most importantly, the feeding program prevents malnutrition, which many children are affected by in the country.

There are also 65 students, both boys and girls, who make use of the Salesian hostel while attending the government high school. Salesian missionaries have started activities to keep youth engaged and occupied after school, including study time in the afternoon and computer and sewing courses. Salesian missionaries also offer various football and volleyball tournaments and a new basketball court where every afternoon many young people play. The installation of a new water fountain is enjoyed by both youth from the hostel and the children from the morning kindergarten.

Father Filippo Perin, who works at the Salesian mission in Pugnido, says that the present situation provides many reasons for hope, but also many difficulties.

“Although recently the situation here in Ethiopia has improved, many refugees continue to arrive from neighboring South Sudan for assistance in the refugee camps in the region of Gambella, because in their homeland they have not grown anything in the rainy season and now in the dry season they have nothing to eat. Currently the situation is such that in the Gambella region there are more refugees than indigenous inhabitants,” says Fr. Perin.

The Salesian mission in Pugnido also includes 10 outreach stations and a few chapels inside the refugee camp that provide assistance, education, pastoral care and social development services. The goal is ensure that youth have their most basic needs met so they are able to focus on gaining an education and the skills needed to find and retain stable employment.

Since 2006, the Salesian Pugnido mission has grown and developed to better meet the needs of the growing refugee population and those living in the surrounding area. The camp is home to some 60,000 refugees, the majority of whom are escaping violence and conflict within South Sudan.

Ethiopia is also one of the poorest countries in the world with more than 38 percent of its population living in poverty, according to Feed the Future. Close to 85 percent of the country’s workforce is employed in agriculture but frequent droughts severely affect the agricultural economy leaving more than 12 million people chronically, or at least periodically, food insecure. In addition, more than two-thirds of the population is illiterate.

The country has 4 million orphans which account for nearly 12 percent of all children, and according to UNICEF, more than half a million of these were orphaned as a result of the HIV/AIDS crisis that has affected the country. Thousands more children run away each year seeking a better life on the streets.

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Sources:

ANS – Ethiopia – News from the Salesian mission in Pugnido

UNICEF – Ethiopia

The post ETHIOPIA: Salesian Missionaries in Pugnido Provide Youth Education and Social Development Services in Refugee Camp first appeared on MissionNewswire.

The uplifting news is that you never really need to have a very acquire or bust technique with regards to instruction. It’s possible to initiate by earning toddler strides almost about state-of-the-art education and learning. Over the off possibility that you choose to have a very junior university in your common vicinity, this can be an example of the most efficient property for starting off your school instruction at any section in the everyday life. Most junior colleges provide you with lessons at numerous days amid the working day and evening, even some on Saturday retaining in your mind the tip target to oblige understudies of varied ages and foundations.

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The post What are Values of a Two-Year College. first appeared on MissionNewswire.

According to the article, during the last 40 years, Buck and his wife Lucy have traveled to Haiti countless times where they witnessed slow progress with governmental regime changes, continued violence and technical delays. Ozburn reports that in 2008, the Closes had dinner with Partners in Health co-founder, Dr. Paul Farmer. Farmer, like Buck and Lucy, the article says, had a deep connection to Haiti and gained fame by building rural health clinics there. According to the article, these clinics became a healthcare assistance model for developing countries. The article also attributes the meeting between the Closes and Dr. Farmer to the development of 1000jobsHaiti.

In the article Buck explains, “The three of us came up with the idea for 1000jobsHaiti because we saw that job creation was the most important thing we could do in Haiti. Dr. Farmer’s organization has made huge strides in health care and education in the Central Plateau of Haiti and 1000jobsHaiti’s goal is to make similar progress, over time, in the field of economic opportunity.”

Ozburn reports that 1000jobsHaiti fights poverty by providing sustainable jobs to Haitians at fair wages. The organization, he explained, doesn’t function like a traditional nonprofit. It builds partnerships with local, motivated Haitians that are anxious to improve their lives through their own efforts and creativity.

According to the article, one of the first accomplishments of the organization was employing small women’s groups in the production of artisanal goods like embroidered or knitted table linens, bed linens and tote bags. Ozburn reports that 1000jobsHaiti trained the groups and then supported them by selling and merchandising their products in the United States.

The project was in the middle of building sales and merchandising when the earthquake struck in Jan 20120. In the article, Buck explained, “We spent six months using all of our resources to bring emergency aid to our employees.”

Working within the new conditions in Haiti after the quake, 1000jobsHaiti formed a company to manufacture material for the new wave of construction happening in Haiti. The organization, as noted in the article, employed 25 men at fair working wages and currently produces concrete and earthen blocks used in the rebuilding effort.

“Our projects change lives in a pretty direct way,” Buck said in the article. “They give someone without income a way to earn a living and do it by creating, over time, sustainable business models that can carry on without an outside charity being involved.”

According to the article, 1000jobsHaiti’s relies on Haitian management to oversee the day-to-day functions of the construction business and women’s employment groups. Here in the United States, the organization has a marketing operation that mostly serves the women’s groups in sales and product design. In the article, Buck explains that finding the right Haitian leaders is essential to the project and they remain careful about expansion, making sure employees can depend on their jobs even when demand might drop.

Looking forward, Ozburn reports that 1000jobsHaiti plans to continue to grow the construction business. The Closes, the article says, are focusing their efforts in the United States to raise enough money to purchase $60,000 of equipment which would double their capacity and increase sales margins at the same time. Currently, the organization is selling more blocks than it can manufacture. With the new equipment, employment could double in Domond, the small rural town where the concrete blocks are made.

In closing, the article states that although there have been ups and downs to their progress, the Closes remain undeterred in their efforts on behalf of the Haitian people.

“This is not work for people who want overnight success,” Buck states in the article. “However, I’m confident our chosen strategy will be embraced.”

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PHOTO Courtesy 1000jobsHaiti

Original Article – DoGooder Spotlight: Transforming Haiti, One Job at a Time

The post HuffPost DoGooder Spotlight Highlights 1000jobsHaiti Founder Inspired by Salesian Sisters first appeared on MissionNewswire.

The training program is being supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and supports the ongoing efforts Don Bosco University has already made since their work began in Haiti in February 2010. The University has collaborated with Handicap International and Healing Hands for Haiti providing emergency care and rehabilitation services for those injured in the earthquake since that time. Thirteen people including teachers and qualified students from the faculty of rehabilitation studies at the University have been part of the international aid mission.

“The aim is to help the people. We know what state the country is in after the earthquake. We know this will also help us in our lives and in our profession,” says Alexis Mendoza, one of the volunteers. Volunteers are involved in assessing the condition of the patients, planning and fitting the artificial limbs and providing orthopedic help.

During a trip in 2010, Professor Rolando Martinez Panameño, dean of the School of Rehabilitation Science, estimated that out of approximately 10,000 people in need of help, 4,000 have had an amputation. Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. fundraising arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, added that University Don Bosco was able to provide assistance to children and adults who have had amputations following the 2010 earthquake by providing nearly 200 artificial limbs and more than 100 sessions of orthopedic assistance in Port-au-Prince.

“We are constantly working to expand our services in Haiti to ensure that people with disabilities are able to contribute to the rebuilding of their country. We know that even before the earthquake, children and adults with disabilities faced enormous challenges as resources in Haiti were stretched far beyond capacity,” says Fr. Mark Hyde who is thankful  for USAID support for Salesian programs around the globe.

The 32 new students will learn off-site at the University in El Salvador and will be supervised and mentored by a qualified professional as they conduct their work in Haiti. The training program covers all the various areas of prosthetics and orthotics and graduating students will obtain certification in the Standard Category II (orthopedic technologists) of the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics. Don Bosco University is the only accredited center for this training in all of Latin America.

The University was recognized by the first-ever World Report on Disabilities for its leadership in prosthetic and orthotics education in Latin America and for providing opportunities for adults and children with disabilities. The 2011 report was produced jointly by the World Health Organization and the World Bank.

The Salesian school began the first formal training program in the prosthetics and orthotics fields in Latin America in 1996 and since then, about 230 students from 20 countries have graduated with skills that are in demand in their home countries.

“The training program shows how education and training not only benefit the individual student, but also entire communities, as the students return to work in local hospitals and clinics, and even train others in some cases,” says Father Hyde.

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Photo: Courtesy of ANS (Salesian Info Agency)

Sources:

ANS article (7/6/2012) – University Don Bosco training new technicians to help injured Haitians

Related MissionNewswire article (12/22/2011) – Salesian University Recognized for Leadership in Providing Children with Prosthetics

The post EL SALVADOR: Salesian University Continues Training in Orthopedics in Support of Efforts in Haiti first appeared on MissionNewswire.

“Salesian programs are a good match for our mission to end hunger in our lifetime by providing food and life-saving aid while creating a global commitment to mobilize the necessary resources,” said Chessney Barrick, director of marketing and communications at Stop Hunger Now.

Stop Hunger Now’s mission is supported by more than 150,000 volunteers that work together, side-by-side, to provide life-saving sustenance to those in need. The Stop Hunger Now meal packaging program provides dehydrated, high protein, and highly nutritious meals that are used in crisis situations as well as in feeding programs for schools and orphanages in developing countries around the world.

Since its inception in 1998, Stop Hunger Now’s meal packaging program has provided more than 63 million meals to those suffering from hunger. While currently operating in 12 U.S. locations, two more are planned to open in 2012. In addition to packaging meals in the U.S., Stop Hunger Now has a meal packaging program in South Africa and hosted their first international million meal event on World Food Day, Oct 16, 2011, in Malaysia. The organization has set a goal to package 25 million meals in 2012, and looks to expand further by providing 150 million meals annually over the next five years.

In addition to food aid, Stop Hunger Now provides significant in-kind aid (such as food, medicines and other supplies) that support education and vocational training programs which are proven to have long-term sustainability—like those run by Salesian Missions. These programs promote education, encourage children to attend school, improve the health and nutrition of students, address gender inequalities, combat child labor, spur economic growth and create a platform to address global issues.

Meal shipments have already reached Salesian sites in Haiti, where meals are being utilized by the Lakay program for street children. The Salesians feed more than 600 youth every day in Cité Soleil alone, the poorest slum in Port-au-Prince. Other Stop Hunger Now shipments are en route to Honduras, South Sudan and East Timor where the meals will be shared among various Salesian programs located in those counties.

“The partnership with Stop Hunger Now allows Salesian Missions to expand its scope and breadth of services to youth in need,” said Jessica O’Connor, property and logistics officer at the Salesian Missions Office for International Programs. “The shipment of packaged meals helps us to improve the nutrition of orphans and other vulnerable children, and operate feeding programs for children in Salesian schools whose families cannot afford to feed them.”

Stop Hunger Now receives requests for meals from in-country partners all over the world who are interested in utilizing meals in feeding programs. Partnerships drive Stop Hunger Now’s major distribution channels. According to Barrick, they look for partners like Salesian Missions that are able to work with Stop Hunger Now effectively and efficiently while adding value to each other’s work. Partners are chosen based on the quality of their programs, the need in their country, their ability to ensure the food is used as intended and the expected impact of the partner’s programs.

“Partnering with Salesian Missions has been a great experience. The staff is quick, thorough, responsive and great at communicating the progress of projects and the state of the beneficiaries,” Barrick says, adding that receiving letters, photos and videos from those who actually receive the food has tremendous impact on the donors they rely on to package the food.

Salesian Missions has one of the largest networks that Stop Hunger Now works with and has extensive knowledge and experience when it comes to aid shipments. The partnership, while new, has already proven to be effective.

“Salesians Missions’ vast network throughout the globe provides an opportunity to extend our partnership beyond just one country,” says Barrick. “Their experience in logistics, communications and program facilitation has proven to be a huge asset in effectively donating Stop Hunger Now meals to their organization.”

Salesian Missions has a presence in more than 130 countries around the globe and specializes in providing more than just meals and a handout.

“Feeding hungry children is often the first step in providing an education,” says Father Mark Hyde, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco.

At every Salesian-run program serving youth around the globe, children receive educational opportunities and the support of caring adults. The Salesians are an integral part of the infrastructure in many countries and Salesian Missions plays an important role in making sure aid from the United States reaches its destination country and gets into the hands of those who need it most. Humanitarian partnerships like the one with Stop Hunger Now make a real difference.

“In order to build the movement to end hunger in our lifetime,” says Barrick. “We will have to work together as partners to share the stories from the field that create champions for our causes.”

ABOUT STOP HUNGER NOW

Established in 1998, Stop Hunger Now is an international relief organization headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina. It is driven by the vision of a world without hunger. Its mission is to provide food and life‐saving aid to the world’s most vulnerable and create a global commitment to mobilize the necessary resources. Stop Hunger Now currently conducts its successful meal packaging program in 12 cities throughout the United States and three locations in South Africa. More than 150,000 volunteers have packaged 65 million meals to support school feeding programs and provide disaster relief. In 2012, Stop Hunger Now will expand its services to two new locations in the United States, Northern California and Boston, and also into Malaysia. For more information, go to StopHungerNow.org.

ABOUT SALESIAN MISSIONS

Salesian Missions is headquartered in New Rochelle, NY, and is part of the Don Bosco Network—a worldwide federation of Salesian NGOs. The mission of the U.S.-based nonprofit Catholic organization is to raise funds for international programs that serve youth and families in poor communities around the globe. The Salesian missionaries are made up of priests, brothers and sisters, as well as laypeople—all dedicated to caring for poor children throughout the world in more than 130 countries and helping young people become self-sufficient by learning a trade that will help them gain employment. To date, more than 3 million youth have received services funded by Salesian Missions. These services and programs are provided to children regardless of race or religion. For more information, go to SalesianMissions.org.

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The post GLOBAL: Stop Hunger Now Partners with Salesian Missions to Feed World’s Poorest Youth first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions – headquartered in New Rochelle, NY, spoke about the work of Salesian Missions saying, “The situation is extremely critical. Salesian missionaries throughout Sri Lanka are desperately trying to assist thousands of displaced people who have escaped civil war violence. Salesian Missions is calling on the generosity of Americans to help rebuild lives in Sri Lanka.”

Women and children are believed to make up more than 80 percent of displaced populations in Sri Lanka. The majority of women widowed in the Eastern Province during nearly three decades of war are under the age of 30. The widows in the east are in urgent need of employment and livelihood opportunities. Changing conditions due to displacement have opened up new possibilities for women and led to their becoming more active in paid employment than prior to displacement. Salesian Missions is providing shelter at long term temporary camps for these families and job skills training to offer better opportunities. In addition to job skills training, these camps are also providing food, clothing, medicine at mobile clinic facilities and ambulance service as immediate support.

Salesian Missions has a particular focus on displaced children in the region.

Many youth were forced into becoming soldiers during the conflict. Hundreds were killed, maimed and wounded in the areas of conflict in Vanni. Casualties since January 2009 are believed to include hundreds of youth killed and more than 1,000 injured. The conflict has additionally disrupted the education of at least 60,000 students in the north.

“The Sri Lankan government has asked us to take in nearly 500 rescued child soldiers who have no where else to go,” says Fr. Hyde. “These youth have been ripped from their homes and families and have never attended school. If we are to rebuild these young lives, we must teach them job skills and give them the chance for a better life.” Technical training and education that help youth learn to help themselves and increase the capacity of their families and their communities will be a primary focus of the Salesian work in Sri Lanka.

Salesian Missions programs are found well beyond the borders of Sri Lanka. They are in more than 130 countries around the globe, and have reached more than 3 million youth over the past six decades. Even more impressive, the international programs have been made possible by the generosity of more than 5 million Americans.

Fr. Mark adds that all families and youth in Sri Lanka deserve to live safe and productive lives. In order to help the more than 14,000 displaced residents at the Murunkan IDP (internally displaced persons) Center, Salesian Missions needs the continued help of generous American donors.

The post SRI LANKA: Responding to Needs of Thousands Displaced by Sri Lankan Civil War first appeared on MissionNewswire.