Bosco Global supports Salesian Père Michael Training Center with sports equipment, music training center and health education

(MissionNewswire) The Salesian Père Michael Training Center in Bamako, the capital and largest city of Mali, is bringing joy, providing education, and cultivating peace among children and older youth. The center keeps its doors open all day and provides support to hundreds of youth from the Niarela district and the outskirts of the city.

Youth come to the center to play sports, learn music or study at its library. The center provides a safe haven where youth have an opportunity to live, dream of a future, study, and learn the importance of being committed and collaborating in groups. They are able to express themselves freely and access the support of adults.

The goal is to keep young people, ages 12-25, away from the street and harmful habits such as alcohol or drugs. Instead, youth are offered an educational space during their free time which promotes cultural activities and allows the development of values.

In November 2020, Bosco Global and the Municipality of Pozoblanco in Spain, launched a project to support the center. Over the last year, Salesian missionaries have been able to access sports equipment for the girls basketball team, set up a music training center, and organize health and hygiene awareness days to prevent diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle. Youth at the music training center are currently organizing an event in celebration of the year-long Bosco Global support project.

Bosco Global has appreciation and gratitude for all the people and organizations who made this project possible, especially those who are committed to young people and their right to have access to safe recreational activities.

Since 2012, Mali has faced a political and security crisis that has been concentrated mainly in the north of the country. The crisis has now reached the center of the country and is affecting hundreds of people, especially children. Since 2018, the country has faced an increase in violence, insecurity and serious violations of international humanitarian law. The country faced two coup d’états in August 2020 and May 2021.

According to the European Commission, some 750,000 people have been internally displaced since early 2018. In the first quarter of 2021, the number of civilians affected by serious human rights violations and abuses, including sexual or gender-based violence, increased by 25 percent. As a result of this crisis, the population is living in alarming conditions. It has affected access to food, water, health, safety and a means of livelihood.

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Sources:

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

ANS – Mali – The value of a courtyard in a context of fragility

Bosco Global

European Commission – Mali

Salesian Missions