Youth volunteers trained to lead sessions

(MissionNewswire) “Fy Don Bosco” summer activities, organized by Salesian missionaries and Salesian sisters with Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, host upwards of 7,000 youth at 16 centers across Madagascar each July and August. Each center adapts the program to fit the local need, but all activities are inspired by the theme of the Strenna for 2026 “Do whatever he tells you: believers free to serve.”

A Salesian explained, “Hundreds of young volunteers are trained as youth leaders in accordance with Don Bosco’s spirituality. The volunteers lead youth in sessions of activities, prayer, education, craft work, sports, sharing and the concluding Salesian goodnight. Weekly cultural initiatives and environmental education programs are also provided.”

With programs for youth, Salesians have been working to ensure that youth in Madagascar have been able to access primary and secondary education and later go onto vocational and technical training. This will help ensure that youth gain the skills for long-term employment and are able to give back to their communities.

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.

Madagascar 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 10-24, according to UNICEF.

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Sources:

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

ANS – Madagascar – “Fy Don Bosco”: summer activities for thousands of young people

Salesian Missions – Madagascar

UNICEF – Madagascar