Salesian missionaries provide education to raise awareness of rights of women and minors

(MissionNewswire) 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.

Salesians in Goma have described the difficult situation. Streets that allowed food supplies to be brought in are no longer accessible. A serious famine looms for all the inhabitants. The population continues to live under extreme duress.

Salesians in the region are working to provide support. There are more than 3,500 families living on the grounds of Don Bosco Ngangi. There were another 1,000 at Don Bosco Shasha until the rebels moved in. Now it is nearly empty. Salesians have also been providing food and non-food items for those displaced and dependent on humanitarian aid. Salesians have distributed corn, soy and sorghum to the children, as well as offered games, hot meals, school and medical care.

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Sources:

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

ANS – Democratic Republic of the Congo – Raising awareness among the children at the Salesian houses in Gahinja and “Maison Marguerite” on the rights of women and minors

Salesian Missions – Democratic Republic of the Congo

UNHCR – Democratic Republic of the Congo

*Any goods, services, or funds provided by Salesian Missions to programs located in these countries 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.