Salesian missionaries dedicated to providing programs across country

(MissionNewswire) The Don Bosco Salesian Secondary School in Maridi, South Sudan*, has launched a tree planting campaign entitled “One student, one tree.” The school prepared seedlings of various kinds of trees and each student planted one. They will care for their tree during the time they are students at the school.

Through this project, the Don Bosco Salesian Secondary School administration intends to spread hope among youth and make South Sudan greener for future generations.

Father Michael Kalathipullatt, rector, and Father Charles Taban, principal, launched the effort at the school during the monsoon season, which is the favorable time to plant trees. Other schools and people in nearby villages have been inspired by the Salesian students’ actions and have started planting projects of their own.

During the tree planting, Fr. Kalathipullatt told the students, “He who plants a tree, plants hope. And our closeness to nature is really closeness to the divine, because God speaks through nature.”

Salesian missionaries in South Sudan are dedicated to providing programs and services across the country. Salesian missionaries provide education, social development services, nutrition programs, and health clinics for poor youth and their families. For some, the education offered at Salesian schools is the only opportunity to gain an education and the skills necessary for future employment.

South Sudan gained its independence from Sudan in 2011 but has faced an ongoing civil war that started in December 2013 and continues today. This has resulted in a dire humanitarian crisis. According to the United States Institute of Peace, more than 10 million people have been forced from their homes. The war has also triggered the world’s worst hunger crisis with more than 18 million Sudanese living in acute food insecurity.

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Sources:

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

ANS – South Sudan – Don Bosco Salesian secondary school in Maridi launches tree planting campaign

Salesian Missions – South Sudan

*Any goods, services or funds provided by Salesian Missions to programs located in this country 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.