INTERNATIONAL LITERACY DAY: Salesian Missions highlights educational programs
2025 theme focuses on ‘Promoting literacy in the digital era’
(MissionNewswire) Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, joins humanitarian organizations and countries around the globe in celebrating International Literacy Day. Celebrated each year on Sept. 8, the day was launched in 1967 to “remind the public of the importance of literacy as a matter of dignity and human rights and to advance the literacy agenda towards a more literate and sustainable society.”
This year’s theme “Promoting literacy in the digital era” focuses on the ways in which digitalization has been changing ways people learn, live, work and socialize, in both positive and negative ways. UNESCO notes, “Literacy is a key for making these transformations inclusive, relevant and meaningful. Beyond reading and writing on paper, literacy in the digital era enables people to access, understand, evaluate, create, communicate and engage with digital content safely and appropriately. Literacy is also central for fostering critical thinking, discerning credible information and navigating complex information environments.”
Father Michael Conway, director of Salesian Missions, said, “Literacy is a fundamental part of Salesian education for all ages. Through primary, secondary, and vocational and technical education, Salesian missionaries teach essential literacy and English language skills, as well as skill-building to ensure youth can find employment.”
In honor and celebration of International Literacy Day 2025, Salesian Missions is proud to highlight Salesian programs with a focus on educational and literacy efforts for youth.
ISRAEL
Students from families with reduced income as result of conflict received scholarships provided by Salesians in Nazareth thanks in part to donor funding from Salesian Missions.
Salesians in Nazareth, Israel, were able to provide scholarships and psychosocial support for youth thanks in part to donor funding from Salesian Missions. The project was funded through the Don Bosco Network with support given by several Salesian organizations including Salesian Missions.
Through the project, Salesians provide scholarships to 106 students who are enrolled at the Salesian School in Nazareth. They were also able to provide 78 hours of psychosocial support to 50 staff and around 170 young students affected by war and unrest in the area.
The scholarships were provided to students, including 39 female students, in the form of school fee deductions. The students are from families severely impacted by the broader socio-economic challenges affecting the Arab community in Israel, many of whom experienced job loss, business closures and reduced income as a result of the conflict.
KENYA
Don Bosco Boys Town in Kenya became the country’s first Amazon Web Services Digital Academy member.
Don Bosco Boys Town, located in Nairobi, has become Kenya‘s first Amazon Web Services (AWS) Digital Academy member institution, which is significant step forward in cloud skills training and certification in the region.
A Salesian explained, “As an AWS Digital Academy member institution, Don Bosco Boys Town is now authorized to offer digital literacy cloud skills training and certification, potentially opening new avenues for youth employment in the rapidly growing tech sector.”
The launch ceremony was attended by key figures from both government and private sectors. During the event, the Salesian vice-provincial in East Africa presented an overview of the organization’s global presence, emphasizing its commitment to youth skill development. The partnership between Amazon, Thin Tech and Don Bosco Boys Town is expected to create new opportunities for digital skills training in Kenya.
WEST AFRICA
Donor funding from Salesian Missions provided scholarships for 209 students who are disadvantaged in West Africa.
Salesian missionaries in the Our Lady of Peace provincial community were able to provide 209 scholarships to youth who are disadvantaged thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions. The Antonio César scholarship program took place in Benin, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Guinea, Mali* and Senegal.
According to the UNESCO Statistical Institute, sub-Saharan Africa has the highest rates of exclusion from education. More than a fifth of children aged about 6-11 are out of school, a third of children aged about 12-14 and nearly 60% of young people aged about 15-17. The region faces a growing demand for education due to its steadily increasing school-age population. Girls face greater exclusion from school than boys of the same age.
Youth receiving the scholarships were aged 8-25, and they were either orphaned or from families that could not afford their schooling.
A Salesian explained, “We want to ensure that all youth have a chance to gain an education, particularly girls who face greater disadvantages in accessing education. Salesians provide education and social development programs to support poor youth and their families. It is our goal to connect all youth, despite their disadvantages, to education where they can gain skills for later employment and to succeed in life.”
ZAMBIA
The Makeni Post Novitiate House in Zambia has new library books and computers thanks to funding from Salesian Missions.
The Makeni Post Novitiate House, within the Salesian Sacred Heart Community in Lusaka, Zambia, was able to purchase library books and computer equipment to enhance student learning thanks to funding from Salesian Missions.
Through this funding, the seminarians preparing for the priesthood now have access to a broad spectrum of books, including more than 300 copies of educational books, computers, and a printer. The students will directly benefit from having a well-equipped library with needed computer equipment. Additionally, faculty members and staff of the seminary will benefit as they will have access to a wider range of resources to support their teaching and research activities.
A Salesian said, “This project brought joy to the dean of studies and the students who are now able to access the educational materials they need in the library and use the computers to browse the internet for more information that cannot be easily found in books.”
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Sources:
ISRAEL: Salesians in Nazareth provide scholarships and psychosocial support thanks in part to donor funding from Salesian Missions/Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)
KENYA: Youth build skills for digital economy/ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS)
WEST AFRICA: Donor funding from Salesian Missions provides scholarships for 209 students/Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)
ZAMBIA: Makeni Post Novitiate House has new library books and computers thanks to funding from Salesian Missions/Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)
*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.
