Each oratory serves more than 100 children

(MissionNewswire) Three Salesian oratories (youth centers) in Piura, Peru, are making infrastructure upgrades thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. Bartolome Garelli, Maria Auxiliadora and Domingo Sage oratories needed significant reconstruction and new roofs. Donor funding not used for repairs will be used to purchase trophies and volleyball and soccer balls for sports championships.

These oratories operate with the support of Bosconia Social Work, which trains and supports volunteers who lead activities throughout the year. Each oratory serves more than 100 children ages 9 to 14, who attend recreation time every Saturday and Sunday.

The new roofs are providing protection for youth playing in the strong heat and the sun. Before the infrastructure repairs, the sun made it hot and uncomfortable for the youth. Salesians will be using the local Salesian technical school CETPRO for support to maintain the condition of the roofs.

Santiago Jose Vegas Solano, age 10, enjoys his time spent at the Maria Auxiliadora Oratory. He said, “I play there with my friends and cousins. We have a great time and in the end they give us chips, cookies and juices. Now we have a big roof and the sun doesn’t bother us.”

Peru faces high levels of income inequality and has more than a quarter of its population living in poverty, according to the World Bank. Poverty levels are significantly higher in rural areas but urban areas struggle most with inequality, most notably metropolitan Lima. Poverty in the country is made worse by a shortage of productive farmland and a lack of job skills among women entering the workforce, as well as a lack of adequate housing, nutrition and education.

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Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions – Peru

World Bank – Peru