Don Bosco City is the first Salesian organization in the world to achieve recognition

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco City in Colombia has won a special award for carbon neutrality during a ceremony for the “Business Recognition in Sustainability” program. This recognition program was created in 2017 to encourage companies to work with greater commitment to local sustainability. The goal is to recognize companies that promote social stewardship and efficient use of natural resources, as well as implement good practices related to sustainable production, consumption and pollution prevention.

There are currently 79 companies certified as carbon neutral in Colombia, including 17 in Antioquia. Don Bosco City is the first Salesian organization in the world to achieve this recognition.

A Salesian representative from Don Bosco City said, “Our Salesian center has been awarded the gold seal for its practices, such as implementing renewable energy that reduces electricity consumption, planting more than 3,000 trees of native species, incorporating the circular economy and waste management. These are institutional dynamics that focus on caring for the common home and sustainable work development through innovation. These are actions aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.”

Don Bosco City is one of the oldest and largest programs for street children in Latin America. Since its start in 1965, the program has rescued more than 83,000 boys and girls. Through the program, Salesian missionaries offer a multi-pronged approach designed to address the broad social issues that contribute to the poverty and exploitation these youth face while training them in the skills necessary to break the cycle of violence and poverty. Currently, there are 900 youth between the ages of 8 and 12 living and receiving education at the program. The work of Salesian missionaries in Colombia is internationally recognized.

Just over 34 percent of Colombians are living below the poverty line. Though Colombia is among the world’s emerging economies, more than three out of 10 Colombians still live in poor conditions. Colombia is also the world’s seventh most inequitable country.

One in five children in the country has no access to education. Many orphaned youth live in poverty and have lost their parents to natural disasters, the HIV/AIDS epidemic and other diseases, war or domestic issues. Some children remain living with a single parent, struggling to survive, and are often pulled out of school to earn income for the remaining family. Other youth live in shelters or on the streets.

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Sources:

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

ANS – Colombia – “Ciudad Don Bosco” receives award for renewable energy implementation

Don Bosco City

Salesian Missions – Colombia

World Bank – Colombia