MADAGASCAR: Salesian missionaries launch new vocational educational center for young women
Agreement signed during recent Salesian meeting
MADAGASCAR
(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries have formally signed a cooperation agreement to establish a new educational and residential center for young women who are vulnerable in Antananarivo, Madagascar. The new training center will offer a secure home and a structured vocational educational program for young women aged 14-19.
The agreement was signed during the Salesian Family Consulta held in Valdocco, Italy, by Bryan Magro, president of the World Confederation of Past Pupils and Friends of Don Bosco, and Guido Pedroni, founder of the Missionary Community of Villaregia in Madagascar. The initiative formalizes the collaboration between the Friends of Don Bosco Malta and the Missionary Community in support of young women facing situations of social vulnerability.
The center will primarily welcome young women who have already been supported through the Casa Henintsoa project in Fianarantsoa, providing them with the opportunity to continue their education, acquire professional skills, and prepare for meaningful employment and independent living.
Under the terms of the agreement, the Friends of Don Bosco Malta will provide financial support for the operation of the residence and explore opportunities for Maltese volunteers to contribute directly to the project’s mission. The center is expected to open in October 2026, when the first group of young women will move into the new facility.
Magro expressed deep satisfaction with the collaboration. He explained, “This is a concrete and courageous response to the needs of young women who deserve opportunities, dignity and hope. This partnership demonstrates that when the Salesian Family walks together, we can create lasting impact. This new center is not simply a building. It is a promise of a future for many young women who will now have the chance to grow, learn and believe in themselves.”
The initiative reflects the Salesian commitment to supporting youth most in need, by helping them develop autonomy, receive vocational training and build a dignified future through education and work opportunities.
Salesian Brother Dominic Nam, world delegate for the Past Pupils and Friends of Don Bosco, described the collaboration as a concrete expression of the vitality of the Salesian Family, in which different groups unite around a shared mission to continue Don Bosco’s work among vulnerable youth.
Salesian missionaries have 11 centers and work in several locations in the country, including the Don Bosco House in Ivato in the outskirts of Antananarivo. Salesians have been in Ankililoaka since 1982. They have constructed schools and churches, as well as a youth center. They are working to ensure quality education and make sure no student is left behind.
Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world. Approximately 75.2% of the population lives in poverty, a rate that has largely stagnated over the last decade. Roughly 80% youth under the age of 18 live in extreme poverty.
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Sources:
ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS)
Salesian Missions – Madagascar
UNICEF – Madagascar
