ARGENTINA

(MissionNewswire) Salesian Don Bosco Oratory in Santiago del Estero, Argentina, held a summer camp for 500 youth from the area’s vulnerable neighborhoods. Youth were able to enjoy the camp from Jan. 18-31, which culminated with the Feast of St. John Bosco. Youth spent time connecting with their peers in a playful and educational space.

About 20 volunteers from the local Salesian Youth Movement participated in the planning and organization of the camp, along with young volunteers from other Salesian centers in the Province of North Argentina.

This year, the mottos “The best of me to share” and “The joy of meeting again” guided the volunteers in the games, sports and workshops they facilitated. The summer camp provided the opportunity for poor youth to experience a time of rest, relaxation, and joy with their peers and caring older youth and adults.

“All youth deserve a chance to have an enjoyable summer vacation where they can connect with friends and engage in safe activities,” says Father Timothy Ploch, interim director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Salesian camps provide much more than just recreational activities though. There is an educational component included in each one. Even sports programs teach teamwork, skill building and problem solving.”

More than a quarter of the people in Argentina live in conditions of poverty with no formal employment and poor-quality education, according to the World Bank. The country’s high school dropout rate is close to 37 percent and youth account for a third of those unemployed. Almost 12 percent of children ages 5-17 are working instead of being in school and 20 percent need government assistance. Many face malnutrition, a lack of clean water and sewage, and inadequate housing.

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ANS – Argentina – Vulnerable youth, adolescents and teens participate in Don Bosco Oratory Summer Camp in Santiago del Estero

Salesian Missions – Argentina

World Bank – Argentina

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ARGENTINA

(MissionNewswire) The Ceferino Namuncurá Salesian School, located in Salta, Argentina, educates 1,250 youth who live in situations of vulnerability. Through its projects, the school seeks to promote the well-being of youth as well as the planet. Youth are encouraged from an early age to take part in environmental responsibility through different activities.

The school offers family gardens, clean energy projects and ongoing education. Recently the school installed two solar water heaters with the support of the National Institute of Agricultural Technology and the Salesian Vocational Training Center in San José.

With the family gardens, Salesians have an opportunity to educate youth while growing food for the community. The gardens also provide waste for composting. In addition, the school works with the National Institute of Agricultural Technology’s Prohuerta program to provide training and seed deliveries to families who have children in the school. This encourages them to start their own gardens.

Salesian organizations around the globe have been focused on environmental sustainability projects in response to Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ to raise awareness and increase action on the values ​​of integral ecology. Salesians are working to create an environment that is safe and caring for all life on the planet while building up a new generation of environmentally committed citizens and leaders.

More than a quarter of the people in Argentina live in conditions of poverty with no formal employment and poor-quality education, according to the World Bank. The country’s high school dropout rate is close to 37 percent and youth account for a third of those unemployed. Almost 12 percent of children ages 5-17 are working instead of being in school and 20 percent need government assistance. Many face malnutrition, a lack of clean water and sewage, and inadequate housing.

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ANS – Argentina – Triple-Impact Point Education at Salta Salesian School

Salesian Missions – Argentina

World Bank – Argentina

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ARGENTINA

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries launched a new building at a vocational training center in Formosa, Argentina. The building is dedicated to Mary Help of Christians and was built and equipped as part of the “Women and Work” project to improve the living situation of women through job training. The training center includes study areas, multifunctional offices, green spaces, and a kindergarten for the care of children while their mothers are busy in classes or at workshops.

The new building complements the existing vocational training center, which has been providing education for the past 55 years. Young women and men take courses to find stable employment and become self-sufficient. With the new space, Salesians will offer new courses in maternal and child care assistance, gerontological assistance, event organization, computer science, tailoring, microenterprise start-up, aesthetics, hairdressing, and design.

Father Horacio Barbieri, provincial of the Salesian Saint Artemide Zatti Province of North Argentina, said, “We are convinced that work is the best tool to foster social integration and give dignity to people. Today the Salesian community, attentive to the needs of all, is called to take charge through concrete actions of the needs of our contemporaries. It is our desire to value the personal dignity of every human being and to be custodians of the inalienable rights of each person.”

The building was made possible thanks to funding from the German government’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Don Bosco World Mission Office, based in Bonn, Germany, among others.

More than a quarter of the people in Argentina live in conditions of poverty with no formal employment and poor-quality education, according to the World Bank. The country’s high school dropout rate is close to 37 percent and youth account for a third of those unemployed. Almost 12 percent of children ages 5-17 are working instead of being in school and 20 percent need government assistance. Many face malnutrition, a lack of clean water and sewage, and inadequate housing.

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ANS – Argentina – New Vocational Training Center inaugurated in Formosa

Salesian Missions – Argentina

World Bank – Argentina

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ARGENTINA

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Jugendhilfe Weltweit, the Swiss Salesian Missions Office, has provided support for an environmental education project for youth. The project, which will be implemented in eight Salesian centers in southern Argentina between 2022 and 2024, is known as “Our Common Home: with boys, girls and youth toward a sustainable environmental mindset.”

The project will provide training for more than 5,000 youth, and it will indirectly impact teachers, site staff and more than 400,000 people in the local communities. After the training, youth will be encouraged to form teams to continue to focus on the environment in their schools and communities. The goal is to raise awareness, reflection and knowledge of environmental issues.

The project was preceded by a survey that was conducted in December 2021. All Salesian centers were invited to participate in a three-month preliminary diagnostic and planning phase, during which they received advice from an environmental expert. The project was then launched based on the information and data collected in the survey.

The project will focus on waste management, composting and gardening, communication, and networking, as well as promoting good environmental practices and improving internal environmental management systems.

Salesian missionaries around the globe have been launching environmental and sustainable projects. These activities are in response to Pope Francis’ 2020 Laudato Si’, which underlined the importance of education and training that will help youth foster environmental responsibility. Rector Major Father Ángel Fernández Artime noted the importance of concrete initiatives in the care of the environment.

“This project is among many started at Salesian schools and centers,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “It’s important for youth to understand their environmental impact and the ways that they, their schools, families and communities can work together to make improvements and focus on greater environmental change.”

More than a quarter of the people in Argentina live in conditions of poverty with no formal employment and poor-quality education, according to the World Bank. The country’s high school dropout rate is close to 37 percent and youth account for a third of those unemployed. Almost 12 percent of children ages 5-17 are working instead of being in school and 20 percent need government assistance. Many face malnutrition, a lack of clean water and sewage, and inadequate housing.

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ANS – Argentina – With boys, girls, and young people toward a sustainable environmental mindset

Salesian Missions – Argentina

World Bank – Argentina

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ARGENTINA

(MissionNewswire) The Salesian University in Bahía Blanca, Argentina, known as UNISAL, has started its academic year with more than 1,200 students returning to attend in-person classes. The university offers quality education to youth who are looking to continue their academic studies. Its focus is on development and research, advancement in technology, human resources, and attention to innovative practices for the common good of the people and the progress of the nation.

UNISAL has 200 staff members and offers eight courses within the disciplines of psychology, law and social sciences. During the 2022 academic year, there are 21 active research projects along with continuing education diplomas, courses, and seminars available. UNISAL is also being evaluated for final accreditation by the Ministry of National Education and the National Commission for University Evaluation and Accreditation.

Access to education and training provides a foundation for youth to break the cycle of poverty and gain employment. Salesians have been working in Argentina to provide educational opportunities to poor youth through schools, technical and agricultural programs, universities, and other services that help youth learn skills to gain stable employment.

Youth groups from the Don Bosco Center in Bahía Blanca resumed activities in the courtyard in May 2021 but college courses remained online. Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, noted, “As more activities resume for Salesian organizations in Argentina and around the globe, Salesian staff are still having to modify how the programs are facilitated. Salesian programs have remained agile through the pandemic and are working to continue to provide services, while meeting safety guidelines, to help support youth and their families.”

More than a quarter of the people in Argentina live in conditions of poverty with no formal employment and poor-quality education, according to the World Bank. The country’s high school dropout rate is close to 37 percent and youth account for a third of those unemployed. Almost 12 percent of children ages 5-17 are working instead of being in school and 20 percent need government assistance. Many face malnutrition, a lack of clean water and sewage, and inadequate housing.

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ANS – Argentina – Over 1,200 students begin in-person classes at Salesian University of Bahía Blanca

Salesian Missions – Argentina

UNISAL

World Bank – Argentina

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ARGENTINA

(MissionNewswire) The Salesian Oratory in Santiago del Estero, Argentina, has launched the “Weaving Ties” program for 100 youth and adults from challenging socioeconomic backgrounds. The program, which receives support from the Salesian Missions Office in Buenos Aires, provides education for those ages 13-30. Participants come together Monday through Thursday for lessons and service to others. In one project, participants serve snacks to needy people in the community.

Most of those who attend have faced addiction issues, have not completed their studies, or are unemployed. Many come from poor families, and their parents survive on informal day-to-day jobs. Some of the younger children in the program who are still in school struggle with the formal educational structure. Their neighborhood offers few positive activities for youth. The program and others like it offered by the Salesian Oratory are a lifeline for many.

Nely is one of the participants. She is a young single mother who had dropped out of school but has found a second chance in the program. She said, “Personally, it has helped me so much. With the space they provide for us, I now want to go back to school.”

Daniel was losing himself in addiction, but he is now on a better path. He said, “I’ll never get bored of coming here because it’s a beautiful, unique environment in which I encounter that peace that I couldn’t find elsewhere.”

Many youth and adults—like Nely and Daniel—are making positive changes in their lives thanks to the “Weaving Ties” program. “Many people, in many small places, doing small things, can change the world,” said a Salesian with the Salesian Mission Office in Buenos Aires.

Salesian missionaries in Argentina and around the globe provide education and social development programs to help poor youth and their families achieve self-sufficiency and have hope for a better life. Through schools, vocational and technical training programs, youth centers, medical clinics, and more, Salesians are ensuring youth have the services and programs they need to thrive.

More than a quarter of the people in Argentina live in conditions of poverty with no formal employment and poor-quality education, according to the World Bank. The country’s high school dropout rate is close to 37 percent and youth account for a third of those unemployed. Almost 12 percent of children ages 5-17 are working instead of being in school and 20 percent need government assistance. Many face malnutrition, a lack of clean water and sewage, and inadequate housing.

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ANS – Argentina – Creating hope, weaving bonds

Salesian Missions – Argentina

World Bank – Argentina

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ARGENTINA

(MissionNewswire) The Salesian Regional Museum in Rawson, Argentina, has received the Fitterling Fund, a collection of 500 ceramics, including intact pieces and fragments, made in Pre-Columbian times in northwestern Argentina. The collection reflects different cultures, techniques, and beliefs, including Ciénaga, Aguada, Aguada Portezuelo, Yocavil, Belén Vaquería, and Inca. The pieces were created approximately between A.D. 400 and 1480.

The collection belonged to a private individual who collected the pieces during the 1960s and 1970s. After his death, and according to the new patrimonial criteria established by the province of Chubut, his children decided to give the collection to the Salesian Regional Museum as the holder. The museum is responsible for conserving this heritage as well as promoting the knowledge of the Fitterling Fund to the community of Rawson and the surrounding area.

The museum was created as a school museum in 1941 inside the Don Bosco school in Rawson. A group of 6th-year students, together with their teacher José Morell, were tasked with collecting artifacts within the community and on educational trips. Today, the museum offers visitors over 6,000 exhibits that highlight regional history and Salesian history, which includes the installation of the first printing press, the first hospital, the Salesian school for boys and girls, and other historical projects.

“The Salesian Regional Museum is committed to supporting education and culture,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “It continues to grow and expand its collection to provide the local community and tourists with a part of history.”

Salesian missionaries in Argentina and around the globe provide education and social development programs to help poor youth and their families achieve self-sufficiency and have hope for a better life. Through schools, vocational and technical training programs, youth centers, medical clinics, and more, Salesians are ensuring youth have the services and programs they need to thrive.

More than a quarter of the people in Argentina live in conditions of poverty with no formal employment and poor-quality education, according to the World Bank. The country’s high school dropout rate is close to 37 percent and youth account for a third of those unemployed. Almost 12 percent of children ages 5-17 are working instead of being in school and 20 percent need government assistance. Many face malnutrition, a lack of clean water and sewage, and inadequate housing.

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ANS – Argentina – Rawson’s Salesian Regional Museum receives a new pre-Columbian collection

Salesian Missions – Argentina

World Bank – Argentina

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ARGENTINA

(MissionNewswire) The Salesian Father Miguel Bonuccelli Institute of Higher Studies, based in Río Grande, Argentina, has graduated 32 new teachers who have taken courses in initial education, primary education and music education. The music program was first launched in 2017, and these are the first graduates of the program.

During the graduation ceremony, the new teachers each lit a candle to represent their dedication and responsibility to the teaching profession. Father Claudia Simón, rector of the institute, said, “We have dreamed of this program for many years, but now we have the first graduates of the training course for music teachers. As Don Bosco said ‘A Salesian house without music is like a body without a soul.’”

Fr. Simón highlighted the lessons learned by the graduates during their time at the institute. He said, “For many of you, last year, internships seemed impossible, dreams vanished. But, together, we learned not to let any obstacle put us down, and moved by hope, we tried to find a solution.  We met managers and teachers who opened the virtual doors of their classrooms and schools and their hearts, and we understood that it was possible to practice teaching through the digital medium.”

In closing his remarks, Fr. Simón added, “As a community, we are pleased because the objectives set have largely been achieved, and the result is you the new teachers who leave this Salesian house today with the certainty that it will always be your home. Educators who take on the responsibility and commitment to exercise their ministry and their profession on the basis of an ethics anchored to human and evangelical values, eager to listen, respecting the reality of every boy and girl.”

Salesian Father Miguel Bonuccelli Institute of Higher Studies has issued certifications valid at the national level since 1979. After 42 years of work, it continues to train professionals committed to inclusive education.

More than a quarter of the people in Argentina live in conditions of poverty with no formal employment and poor-quality education, according to the World Bank. The country’s high school dropout rate is close to 37 percent and youth account for a third of those unemployed. Almost 12 percent of children ages 5-17 are working instead of being in school and 20 percent need government assistance. Many face malnutrition, a lack of clean water and sewage, and inadequate housing.

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ANS – Argentina – First Music Teachers graduate from “Fr Miguel Bonuccelli Institute”

Salesian Missions – Argentina

World Bank – Argentina

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ARGENTINA

(MissionNewswire) Over the last several years many wine makers have graduated from the Salesian Center in Rodeo del Medio, Argentina, and work around the globe. Youth come away from the program learning the value of the winemaking work and have a respect for nature. The center has constantly evolved over its history.

The first bottle of Catholic Mass wine was produced in the center 120 years ago. Today, with the support of the Catholic University of Cuyo Salesiano, the center continues to educate youth and produce excellent wines.

In 1901, lessons in viticulture and enology began and the experimental cellar where wines are made was built. In 1905, the first workshop was created in a small room with a wooden table, running water and lighting with paraffin lamps. Starting in the 1930s, the center expanded to teach the cultivation of olives.

In 1965, Salesian missionaries launched the first faculty of oenology in Latin America. Following that, a wine tower was designed and launched to respond to the expanding wine industry in 1968. The wine tower allowed for larger volumes of wine to be created to keep up with the growing market demand.

In 1983, Salesian missionaries expanded the educational offerings in the field of winemaking with degrees in professional winemaking. Later, in 2007, the entire wine cellar was updated with new technologies for the production of wine and to increase the level of education offered. Today, many of the world’s great wine authorities graduated from the Salesian Center.

The Salesian Center in Rodeo del Medio is not the only winemaking education offered by the Salesians. The Don Bosco School of winemaking and viticulture in the city of Mendoza is in its 55th year in the heart of Argentina’s wine country. The world-renowned school has consistently maintained high standards in the science and art of winemaking.

More than a quarter of the people in Argentina live in conditions of poverty with no formal employment and poor-quality education, according to the World Bank. The country’s high school dropout rate is close to 37 percent and youth account for a third of those unemployed. Almost 12 percent of children ages 5-17 are working instead of being in school and 20 percent need government assistance. Many face malnutrition, a lack of clean water and sewage, and inadequate housing.

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ANS – Argentina – Rodeo del Medio: a Center of Oenological Excellence and Salesian Education

Salesian Missions – Argentina

World Bank – Argentina

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ARGENTINA

(MissionNewswire) The Salesian oratory in Cipolletti, a city in the Patagonian province of Río Negro, Argentina, has launched the “It’s a thing of the heart” project to provide school support and food assistance to children. Many children in the neighboring communities are poor and their families need assistance providing proper nutrition, along with the supplies and support students need to excel in school.

Salesian programs across Argentina are primarily focused on education. Salesian primary and secondary education prepares youth for technical, vocational or university studies. Other programs help meet the basic needs of poor youth and their families by providing shelter, proper nutrition and medical care, as well as helping youth to engage in their education and have hope for the future.

“In Salesian programs in Argentina and around the globe, projects have been launched to help poor children and their families with nutritional and education support, especially in the face of the global COVID-19 pandemic,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Due to lockdowns and business closures, more families have slipped further into poverty and need community support. Salesians are doing everything they can to address this growing need.”

The Salesian Missions Office in Buenos Aires, known as For the Youth-Don Bosco, launched a campaign in September to raise funds to help poor youth and their families impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The campaign, which ran from Sept. 13-30, aimed to raise funding to provide food assistance to more than 150,000 families and help support educational initiatives in the region.

The Salesian Missions Office in Argentina supports Salesian projects across the country. The office also publicizes Salesian initiatives and helps to finance many of them with the support of benefactors, companies and other organizations. Argentina is among the five countries most affected by COVID-19 in Latin America.

More than a quarter of the people in Argentina live in conditions of poverty with no formal employment and poor-quality education, according to the World Bank. The country’s high school dropout rate is close to 37 percent and youth account for a third of those unemployed. Almost 12 percent of children ages 5-17 are working instead of being in school and 20 percent need government assistance. Many face malnutrition, a lack of clean water and sewage, and inadequate housing.

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ANS – Argentina – Oratories of the Salesian house in Cipolletti give school support and food assistance

Salesian Missions – Argentina

World Bank – Argentina

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ARGENTINA

(MissionNewswire) The Salesian Missions Office in Buenos Aires, Argentina, known as For the Youth-Don Bosco, has launched a new campaign to raise funds to help poor youth and their families impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The campaign, which runs from Sept. 13-30, is called “Let’s Feed & Educate” and aims to raise funding to provide food assistance to more than 150,000 families and help support educational initiatives in the region.

“As we all know, the health, social and educational crisis caused by COVID-19 continues, and our work as Salesians continues to respond to the needs of those who suffer most,” said Brother Ariel Fresia,  director of the Salesian Missions Office in Argentina. “We encouraged all to give to the campaign to help us provide these important services in our communities.”

The Salesian Missions Office in Argentina supports Salesian projects across the country. The office also publicizes Salesian initiatives and helps to finance many of them with the support of benefactors, companies and other organizations. Argentina is among the five countries most affected by COVID-19 in Latin America.

Salesian programs across Argentina are primarily focused on education. Salesian primary and secondary education in the country prepares youth for technical, vocational or university studies. Other programs help meet the basic needs of poor youth and their families by providing shelter, proper nutrition and medical care, as well as helping youth to engage in their education and have hope for the future.

More than a quarter of the people in Argentina live in conditions of poverty with no formal employment and poor-quality education, according to the World Bank. The country’s high school dropout rate is close to 37 percent and youth account for a third of those unemployed. Almost 12 percent of children ages 5-17 are working instead of being in school and 20 percent need government assistance. Many face malnutrition, a lack of clean water and sewage, and inadequate housing.

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ANS – Argentina – The emergency continues, as does the supportive response!

Salesian Missions – Argentina

World Bank – Argentina

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ARGENTINA

(MissionNewswire) The Salesian House in Rawson, the capital city of the Argentine province of Chubut, a sparsely populated region located at the southern end of South America, has a project that creates and donates blankets for families in need during the winter months. The project, which began in 2010, was initially launched by a young girl in the Salesian school in Rawson who wanted to give back to her community.

When the project first started, seven blankets were made and donated to families in Rawson and the Chubut plateau region. Given the project’s effectiveness and the gratitude of beneficiaries, more people have joined the initiative and the number of blankets grew to 70 in 2019.

Seamstresses and weavers from across the country have helped create the blankets. There are also volunteers who deliver small squares of fabric that are then joined to form a blanket. Other people donate wool and some deliver the finished blankets.

The project was also able to remain active during 2020 at the height of the pandemic. Families knitted from their homes and then sent what they had created to the Salesian Home in Rawson. The closing event was carried out through a videoconference and was completed with an online sewing training session.

In 2021, 30 blankets have already been woven and many have already been given to families in need. This year, blankets were also provided to people in the Andean Comarca region in support of those impacted by the recent fires there.

“This project is a way for people to give back to their community and provides a gesture of goodwill to their neighbors,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “The project has grown substantially since it first started helping families in need get through the winter months. It is one among many services provided by Salesian programs in the region.”

Salesian programs across Argentina are primarily focused on education. Salesian primary and secondary education in the country prepares youth for technical, vocational or university studies. Other programs help meet the basic needs of poor youth and their families by providing shelter, proper nutrition and medical care, as well as by helping youth to engage in their education and have hope for the future.

More than a quarter of the people in Argentina live in conditions of poverty with no formal employment and poor-quality education, according to the World Bank. The country’s high school dropout rate is close to 37 percent and youth account for a third of those unemployed. Almost 12 percent of children ages 5-17 are working instead of being in school and 20 percent need government assistance. Many face malnutrition, a lack of clean water and sewage, and inadequate housing.

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ANS – Argentina – “Afrazados” project reaches its 11th edition

Salesian Missions – Argentina

World Bank – Argentina

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ARGENTINA

(MissionNewswire) Youth groups from the Don Bosco Center in Bahía Blanca, a city in the southwest province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, have resumed activities in the courtyard that had been previously suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Valdocco Theater, the Family Catechesis, the Explorers and members of the Missionary Childhood returned as coordinators rethink the youth activities under the current guidelines.

“As more activities resume for Salesian organizations in Argentina and around the globe, Salesian staff are still having to modify how the programs are facilitated,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Salesian programs have remained agile through the pandemic and are working to continue to provide services, while meeting safety guidelines, to help support youth and their families.”

Salesian missionaries offer programs in Bahía Blanca to help at-risk youth. The Don Bosco Boys program has grown considerably since it was started in 2001 to provide shelter and food for the city’s growing homeless population and for people who made a meager by living collecting newspapers and cardboard from the garbage.

Salesian Father Pablo Mardoni, from the Don Bosco Institute in Bahía Blanca, began the program with support from a small group of teachers and students. Later, they were joined by people from nearby districts who wanted to assist. Today, Don Bosco Boys provides outreach, a playground, an oratory and a homeless shelter.

Salesian programs across Argentina are primarily focused on education. Salesian primary and secondary education in the country prepares youth for technical, vocational or university studies. Other programs help meet the basic needs of poor youth and their families by providing shelter, proper nutrition and medical care, as well as by helping youth to engage in their education and have hope for the future.

More than a quarter of the people in Argentina live in conditions of poverty with no formal employment and poor-quality education, according to the World Bank. The country’s high school dropout rate is close to 37 percent and youth account for a third of those unemployed. Almost 12 percent of children ages 5-17 are working instead of being in school and 20 percent need government assistance. Many face malnutrition, a lack of clean water and sewage, and inadequate housing.

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ANS – Argentina – Youth groups of Salesian house in Bahía Blanca resume their activities

Salesian Missions – Argentina

World Bank – Argentina

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ARGENTINA

(MissionNewswire) The Salesian-run St. Antonio da Padova House, located in city of Córdoba, in northern Argentina, has more than 1,200 children and older youth in its program. St. Antonio da Padova House provides ongoing support and education for these youth in need.

St. Antonio da Padova House has schools, a youth center and a parish where youth are immersed in a family environment and are taught with respect and appreciation. Youth are able to access primary and secondary education along with vocational training. St. Antonio da Padova House also provides a secondary school for adults.

Many of the youth who attend St. Antonio da Padova House programs come from impoverished families that have survived through informal, short-term jobs or face unemployment; are without access to quality education and adequate housing; and are at risk of violence and dependence on substances.

In addition to the formal education and support programs offered, Salesian missionaries also focus on a greener environment. They offer environmental workshops and “green islands” where small plants have been planted. In addition, the electrical wiring has been remodeled to make it safer and more efficient, and solar panels have also been installed in some of the classrooms.

“Children and older youth who come from challenging backgrounds have a chance for a better life through the programs offered by St. Antonio da Padova House,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Here they have the care and support of adults, can access education from primary school right through to vocational training and can develop relationships with their peers in a safe environment.”

Salesian programs across Argentina are primarily focused on education. Salesian primary and secondary education in the country prepares youth for technical, vocational or university studies. Other programs help meet the basic needs of poor youth and their families by providing shelter, proper nutrition and medical care, as well as helping youth to engage in their education and have hope for the future.

More than a quarter of the people in Argentina live in conditions of poverty with no formal employment and poor-quality education, according to the World Bank. The country’s high school dropout rate is close to 37 percent and youth account for a third of those unemployed. Almost 12 percent of children ages 5-17 are working instead of being in school and 20 percent need government assistance. Many face malnutrition, a lack of clean water and sewage, and inadequate housing.

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ANS – Argentina – Commitment of “St Antonio da Padova” House : educate for better future

Salesian Missions – Argentina

World Bank – Argentina

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ARGENTINA

(MissionNewswire) Ivan Peñalva is a 25-year-old law student and member of the University Missionary Project initiated by the Salesian Youth Movement in the Córdoba Province in Argentina. He recently started new volunteer service at the Don Bosco House in Formosa.

At the Don Bosco House, children have breakfast, do their homework and catch up with their lessons. It is a pleasant and joyful educational environment where, in addition to studying, youth feel listened to, supported and loved. Volunteers work together with professional staff to provide school support to children who have difficulty carrying out virtual lessons for various reasons including lack of computers or internet.

Peñalva said, “It was a gift from God in these times of the pandemic and an enormous joy to be able to be with children again after a long time. I enjoy the educational environment.”

He added, “At the beginning of their lessons children had discouraged looks and some gave curt answers to personal questions. These no longer exist and now they have looks of joy, the greetings are warm. They are happy to be focused on their homework with the help we provide.”

Volunteers like Mariel have stepped up as well. She noted she is doing everything in her power to help children continue their studies. She keeps in touch with families by phone, pays attention to deadlines for reporting expenses, gives them the tools to do their homework and helps them.

Salesian programs across Argentina are primarily focused on education. Salesian primary and secondary education in the country prepares youth for technical, vocational or university studies. Other programs help meet the basic needs of poor youth and their families by providing shelter, proper nutrition and medical care, as well as helping youth to engage in their education and have hope for the future.

More than a quarter of the people in Argentina live in conditions of poverty with no formal employment and poor-quality education, according to the World Bank. The country’s high school dropout rate is close to 37 percent and youth account for a third of those unemployed. Almost 12 percent of children aged 5 to 17 are working instead of being in school and 20 percent need government assistance. Many face malnutrition, a lack of clean water and sewage, and inadequate housing.

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Sources:

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

ANS – Argentina – Joy of giving (and giving oneself) more and better

Salesian Youth Movement

Salesian Missions – Argentina

World Bank – Argentina

The post ARGENTINA: Children receive support for learning during pandemic first appeared on MissionNewswire.

ARGENTINA

(MissionNewswire) The Parents Union from Don Bosco School in San Luis, Argentina, carried out a solidarity campaign called “Leaving footprints in exchange for smiles.” The campaign, which was held in September and October, collected 300 pairs of shoes for those in need. The shoes were delivered to the soup kitchens at Dejando Huellas and the Rincon de Luz Foundation, both located in the southern area of ​​the city of San Luis.

According to the promoters of the initiative, the collaboration and participation of the whole community made it possible to achieve the objectives and produced immense joy for all those involved.

“My wife and I have been part of the Parents Union for five years,” said Diego Coronel, president of the Parents Union and promoter of the campaign. “We enrolled in our son’s first year of school. We were invited to participate, and there I found a place to work for the good of this Salesian community where our children receive education and support.”

During a visit to the soup kitchens of the city, the operators told him that although there are many unmet needs, shoes are what is most needed. Coronel added, “We were told there are children who don’t have any kind of shoes, so they just walk around barefoot.”

The Parents Union members received a list of names with matching sizes and started the campaign, eventually collecting more than 300 pairs of shoes. This is one initiative among. The Parents Union volunteers independently plan and carry out specific activities as well as collaborate on events developed by the Salesian school. Every May, volunteers produce and distribute the traditional Mary Help of Christians chocolate for more than 700 students and parents.

Coronel hopes that these volunteer experiences and support to the community also serve as an example to their children. He said, “I hope to pass on the values ​​that matter, that of equality above all, empathy toward others, humility, respect, solidarity, commitment, work, effort, the value of friendship, gratitude always, and then let them do what makes them happy.”

Salesian programs across Argentina are primarily focused on education. Salesian primary and secondary education in the country prepares youth for technical, vocational or university studies. Other programs help meet the basic needs of poor youth and their families by providing shelter, proper nutrition and medical care, helping youth to engage in their education and have hope for the future.

More than a quarter of the people in Argentina live in conditions of poverty with no formal employment and poor quality education, according to the World Bank. The country’s high school dropout rate is close to 37 percent and youth account for a third of those unemployed. Almost 12 percent of children aged 5 to 17 are working instead of being in school and 20 percent need government assistance. Many face malnutrition, a lack of clean water and sewage, and inadequate housing.

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Sources:

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

ANS – Argentina – Leave an imprint, in exchange for a smile

Don Bosco School San Luis Facebook

Salesian Missions – Argentina

World Bank – Argentina

The post ARGENTINA: Shoes collected for families in need first appeared on MissionNewswire.

ARGENTINA

(MissionNewswire) The Salesian St. Giovanni Bosco and St. Domenico Savio Parish, located in Cordoba, Argentina, has been offering an Educational Integration Scholarships program since 2007 in collaboration with the BBVA Group. The goal is to support adolescents between 12 and 19 years old whose families have a low level of income and are unable to financially support their education. These scholarships ensure youth have a chance to gain an education and stay in school until completion.

Education can pose a dilemma for many poor youth. They need an education for upward economic mobility and the achievement of social equity, but in many places, they can not access a quality education due to the cost.

The Educational Integration Scholarships program addresses this inequality by providing financial assistance to young people in vulnerable situations so that they can continue their studies. Furthermore, it assigns each student a tutor who has the responsibility to provide direct support to the student.

Mariel is one of the volunteer tutors who offers student support through St. Giovanni Bosco and St. Domenico Savio Parish. Youth who attend this school support program come from the slums of El Tropezón. Mariel noted that some of the scholarship money is used to help youth purchase books, photocopies and school materials, as well as items for personal hygiene, snacks and transport costs to and from school.

“Aid in many ways is an incentive, especially for the older ones. Most of the purchases are made by the mothers, but the older ones organize themselves with their purchases, plan, calculate and analyze,” said Mariel.

This year, due to the pandemic and forced isolation, many families have been left without income. Children and youth have stopped attending school because of closures, so the scholarship funding was aimed mainly at the purchase of food for their survival during these challenging times.

Students have also struggled with getting their homework completed during the pandemic. Many of these youth and their families have relatively old phones that are shared among the whole family. The internet may reach them only intermittently, and many of them do not know how to handle computer programs or tools such as Word, Excel or Google Drive. This has made remote learning nearly impossible for some.

Salesian missionaries are working to address these challenges. Volunteers like Mariel have stepped up as well. She noted she is doing everything in her power to help children continue their studies. She keeps in touch with families by phone, pays attention to deadlines for reporting expenses, gives them the tools to do their homework and helps them.

Salesian programs across Argentina are primarily focused on education. Salesian primary and secondary education in the country prepares youth for technical, vocational or university studies. Other programs help meet the basic needs of poor youth and their families by providing shelter, proper nutrition and medical care, as well as helping youth to engage in their education and have hope for the future.

More than a quarter of the people in Argentina live in conditions of poverty with no formal employment and poor-quality education, according to the World Bank. The country’s high school dropout rate is close to 37 percent and youth account for a third of those unemployed. Almost 12 percent of children aged 5 to 17 are working instead of being in school and 20 percent need government assistance. Many face malnutrition, a lack of clean water and sewage, and inadequate housing.

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

ANS – Argentina – Scholarships for Educational Integration

Salesian Missions – Argentina

World Bank – Argentina

The post ARGENTINA: Scholarships help poor youth stay in school first appeared on MissionNewswire.

ARGENTINA

(MissionNewswire) Normal activities facilitated by the Salesian Youth Movement in Argentina have been canceled over the last several months due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Salesian Youth Movement could not hold its regular camps, oratories, meetings, rallies and retreats. In response, a group of boys and girls from the Salesian Youth Movement in Rosario decided to use humor to address the situation and bring joy to one another and young children.

The idea emerged as a way to support one another during isolation. In full compliance with the health regulations on social distancing, various audiovisual productions were made in an attempt to make quarantine more enjoyable. The first video produced, which featured the “Don Boscosas” Kit, made everyone laugh.

“It all started with the idea of ​​making a video for all children, who due to the pandemic, could not go to their oratories or groups,” explained Franco, from the Virgen de Caacupé oratory. “The idea of ​​the video was to show everything we lack in those places and to trigger an identification mechanism. I also believe that humor and joy are the most subtle and effective way to give a message and make the development of any project much more fun and bearable.”

Ezequiel, another animator said, “It all started with the need to bring the playground to children in these times of isolation; to encourage them and accompany them with a little humor.”

Martín added, “I think we can say that we have achieved this objective.”

What began as a form of support for youth in Rosario ended up inspiring youth in other parts of the country. Gastón noted, “It helped us to understand that we can increase the confidence and self-esteem of each other and learn how to be more responsible with the commitment of the project undertaken. It allowed us to explore new ways to express ourselves, since the children not only had to plan and write the videos but also act them, sing and improvise. I think it helped me to bond with others and learn to work as a team with the kids.”

Salesian programs across Argentina are primarily focused on education. Salesian primary and secondary education in the country prepares youth for technical, vocational or university studies. Other programs help meet the basic needs of poor youth and their families by providing shelter, proper nutrition and medical care, helping youth to engage in their education and have hope for the future.

More than a quarter of the people in Argentina live in conditions of poverty with no formal employment and poor-quality education, according to the World Bank. The country’s high school dropout rate is close to 37 percent and youth account for a third of those unemployed. Almost 12 percent of children aged 5 to 17 are working instead of being in school and 20 percent need government assistance. Many face malnutrition, a lack of clean water and sewage, and inadequate housing.

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Sources:

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

ANS – Argentina – Always cheerful: boys and girls accompany other young people in the name of humor

Salesian Missions – Argentina

Don Bosco Norte Argentina

World Bank – Argentina

The post ARGENTINA: Salesian Youth Movement in Rosario creates new activities for youth during the coronavirus pandemic first appeared on MissionNewswire.

ARGENTINA

(MissionNewswire) Four students, who are in their fifth year at Don Bosco Technical Institute León XIII and part of the Atlas Group in Buenos Aires, Argentina, won a competition sponsored by NASA. The students designed a car and beat out 35 other projects from 11 countries to participate in the first race to be held on the moon. The race is organized by the Moon Mark group and is scheduled for October 2021.

Nicolás Macullan, Pablo Molina Ruiz, Federico Muzzio and Francisco Yennacaro knew each other at school and had already worked together. To be successful they divided their tasks. Macullan took care of the ideas for the car’s suspension. Ruiz handled 3D design and software. Muzzio researched the moon’s natural conditions, and Yennacaro took care of the necessary calculations.

The pace of work was challenging. The competition lasted a month, and there was a task that had to be completed each week. Ruiz said, “During the last two weeks of the project, we had been fighting against time. We thought we were done, and then realized that something was missing. We had to start over.”

Yennacaro noted, “It was fantastic. The experts were surprised to see that 17-year-olds were able to do in four weeks what many engineering students take several months to do.”

The natural conditions of the moon, where temperatures vary from –100° C to +100° C, were one of the great challenges. Macullan said, “We rushed to read a NASA manual on the production of microsatellites, looking for ideas.”

At the Salesian school, the four learned about 3D design and engine operations, along with the right method to face the challenge. Macullan added, “They taught us to work on projects, for real life. And they gave us the values ​​to work in a group.”

Salesian programs across Argentina are primarily focused on education. Salesian primary and secondary education in the country prepares youth for technical, vocational or university studies. Other programs help meet the basic needs of poor youth and their families by providing shelter, proper nutrition and medical care, helping youth to engage in their education and have hope for the future.

More than a quarter of the people in Argentina live in conditions of poverty with no formal employment and poor-quality education, according to the World Bank. The country’s high school dropout rate is close to 37 percent and youth account for a third of those unemployed. Almost 12 percent of children aged 5 to 17 are working instead of being in school and 20 percent need government assistance. Many face malnutrition, a lack of clean water and sewage, and inadequate housing.

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Sources:

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

ANS – Argentina – Salesian students win NASA competition: their car to participate in first Moon race

Don Bosco Technical Institute León XIII

Salesian Missions – Argentina

World Bank – Argentina

The post ARGENTINA: Four students from Don Bosco Technical Institute León XIII win competition sponsored by NASA first appeared on MissionNewswire.

ARGENTINA

(MissionNewswire) The Don Bosco Oratory in Santiago del Estero, Argentina, continues its “Young farmers, towards responsible and sustainable participation” project, which was launched in 2018. The project provides basic training in environmental subjects and includes workshops, separate waste collection and the creation of agro-ecological gardens.

Pope Francis’ Encyclical Laudato Sì underlines the importance of education and training capable of shaping a lifestyle and fostering environmental responsibility. The foundation of environmental education should be provided early to impact future generations.

The first objective of the project was encouraging the environmental commitment of youth. Thanks to the contribution of JuWe Vereinigung Don Bosco Werk in Switzerland, multiple initiatives have been developed over almost two years to help achieve this.

Although some workshops have been suspended during the coronavirus lockdown period, workshops have also been developed. These include courses in autochthonous forest and forest nursery, management of native forests and forests, agro-ecological gardens, and education and environmental management.

In 2019, the Don Bosco Oratory created an agro-ecological vegetable garden and a separate collection and recycling system for waste in the oratory building. Given how successful the program has been to date, staff with the oratory are working to bring project initiatives to the community.

A new project set to launch will provide a virtual environmental program to help teach families and children to create their own gardens at home. The Don Bosco Oratory is working on gathering seeds to be planted and obtaining the permits necessary to meet official regulations. Salesian staff members are also assessing local climate conditions where youth live so that their horticultural activity can be carried out with success.

“This is a wonderful time for families to be focused on learning skills to plant their own gardens and harvest their own food,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “This new project will have a positive impact on food assistance for the families and teach responsibility for youth.”

Salesian programs across Argentina are primarily focused on education. Salesian primary and secondary education in the country prepares youth for technical, vocational or university studies. Other programs help meet the basic needs of poor youth and their families by providing shelter, proper nutrition and medical care, helping youth to engage in their education and have hope for the future.

More than a quarter of the people in Argentina live in conditions of poverty with no formal employment and poor-quality education, according to the World Bank. The country’s high school dropout rate is close to 37 percent and youth account for a third of those unemployed. Almost 12 percent of children aged 5 to 17 are working instead of being in school and 20 percent need government assistance. Many face malnutrition, a lack of clean water and sewage, and inadequate housing.

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

ANS – Argentina – Home vegetable gardens: to continue taking care of the “common home”

Salesian Missions – Argentina

World Bank – Argentina

The post ARGENTINA: Don Bosco Oratory will launch new virtual environmental training to help families start gardens at home first appeared on MissionNewswire.

ARGENTINA

(MissionNewswire) The Don Bosco School, located in the city of Ramos Mejía, Argentina, has collaborated with the municipality of La Matanza to create an isolation center that will welcome the elderly affected by COVID-19. The school’s retreat house will host 250 beds for those in isolation.

Mayor Fernando Espinoza thanked the Salesian school for its efforts during a tour of the facility. He said, “This is an institution that is indeed a high mark of La Matanza, a house where values ​​are taught and which has an excellent educational level. And today, once again, we see how the Don Bosco School is helping, even more than usual, our community, giving up its structures to create a large place of isolation with 250 beds in this moment of crisis for our elderly.”

He added, “We hope not to have to use these beds, which add to the 4,000 isolation beds that we will have throughout La Matanza, but if we need them, we are already prepared. We are, however, grateful that this historic retreat house is available here because it is a comfortable place with lots of light and green spaces that create a welcoming atmosphere, which favors the elderly, raising their morale in these difficult times.”

At the end of the tour, Espinoza again appealed to everyone in the vicinity. “We hope we never have to use this place that we have prepared together with the Don Bosco School. To achieve this we must be supportive, responsible and aware of each other. Today, the only defense we have is respect for social isolation. Today, the only vaccine we have is that each of us fulfills the motto: I stay at home.”

Salesian programs across Argentina are primarily focused on education. Salesian primary and secondary education in the country prepares youth for technical, vocational or university study. Other programs help meet the basic needs of poor youth and their families by providing shelter, proper nutrition and medical care, helping youth to engage in their education and have hope for the future.

More than a quarter of the people in Argentina live in conditions of poverty with no formal employment and poor-quality education, according to the World Bank. The country’s high school dropout rate is close to 37 percent and youth account for a third of those unemployed. Almost 12 percent of children aged 5 to 17 are working instead of being in school and 20 percent need government assistance. Many face malnutrition, a lack of clean water and sewage, and inadequate housing.

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Sources:

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

ANS – Argentina – Retreat house of “Don Bosco” school in Ramos Mejía, now an isolation center for elderly

Salesian Missions – Argentina

World Bank – Argentina

The post ARGENTINA: Don Bosco School collaborates with the municipality of La Matanza to set up 250 isolation beds in school’s retreat house first appeared on MissionNewswire.

ARGENTINA

(MissionNewswire) Across Argentina, Salesians are responding to the coronavirus pandemic in their programs and communities in which they live. They are preparing and delivering meals, producing sanitizing gels and masks, and bringing supplies to poor families.

In Río Grande, Salesian missionaries are preparing sacks of food with fresh vegetables and distributing them in the city’s working-class neighborhoods. The Salesian mission of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians also has a greenhouse. A group of teachers and Salesians has collected fresh vegetables from the greenhouse and is delivering it to the chapels in the Margen Sur area, where the most popular housing blocks and neighborhoods are located.

In Almagro, a district of Buenos Aires, most of the Salesian schools and programs are closed but the refectory remains open. Food is prepared for 150 people, about 35 families, but close to 250 people show up each day. Federico Tirelli, director of the refectory, said, “There are families who attend the refectory every day but there are others now from the school and youth groups who need a hand and also receive food.”

Also, in Buenos Aires, in the municipality of Quilmes, there are thousands of poor boys and young people who Salesian missionaries routinely assist. The local Salesian center is remaining open for now so that young people can find a meal to nourish themselves.

The Salesian San José Center in Rosario is producing disinfectant sanitizing gel and masks and prepares food for people living on the street. The center is located in Rosario’s city center where it is estimated that there are more than 500 people living on the street, as well as many others living in precarious conditions. In the coming days, the Salesians plan to distribute food to more than 500 people, organizing a network of volunteers with all the necessary security and safety measures in place.

People living in Santiago del Estero are also in need of nutrition support. In response, Salesians are delivering bags of food and supplies for families living in the slums. “We think of many people who survive every day based on what they collect working on the street,” said Father Silvio Torres, director of the Salesian community. “For this reason, with the contributions of various companies and organizations within the province, we give families food parcels and educational material.”

Salesian programs across Argentina are primarily focused on education. Salesian primary and secondary education in the country prepares youth for technical, vocational or university study. Other programs help meet the basic needs of poor youth and their families by providing shelter, proper nutrition and medical care, helping youth to engage in their education and have hope for the future.

More than a quarter of the people in Argentina live in conditions of poverty with no formal employment and poor-quality education, according to the World Bank. The country’s high school dropout rate is close to 37 percent and youth account for a third of those unemployed. Almost 12 percent of children aged 5 to 17 are working instead of in school and 20 percent need government assistance. Many face malnutrition, a lack of clean water and sewage and inadequate housing.

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

ANS – Argentina – Map of Salesian hope for poor suffering from COVID-19

Salesian Missions – Argentina

World Bank – Argentina

The post ARGENTINA: Salesian programs across the country are responding with nutritional support to families in need first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Many students’ families in Argentina are unable to provide the cost for basic school supplies likes pens, pencils, notepads and books. As a result, students are often unprepared for their lessons or cannot take part in classroom activities like other students. Students who are not prepared often suffer academically and have higher rates overall of dropping out of school and not finishing their education.

“Salesian missionaries are working hard to educate youth in Argentina and provide them a path out of poverty,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Sometimes youth need the extra support to stay in school and get an education. This campaign provides that much needed support and stability to help youth achieve.”

Salesian primary and secondary education in Argentina helps youth prepare for later technical, vocational or university study. Working in more than 5,300 Salesian primary and secondary schools around the globe, missionaries educate children in some of the poorest places on the planet. Education gives vulnerable youth a sense of personal dignity and self-worth — breaking the cycle of poverty. At Salesian schools, young children attend classes and participate in sports and other activities. These schools provide them with a safe place to learn and grow.

“Education is always our primary focus,” adds. Fr. Hyde. “We know youth are dealing with much more than just having access to education. Salesian programs are tailored to meet the needs of the youth in the communities they serve. Homeless and malnourished youth are simply not able to focus effectively on their studies while they struggle to meet their basic needs. Salesian programs provide food, shelter and the school supplies youth need youth to be able to focus on the education provided.”

This campaign also provides an opportunity for Salesian students to pay it forward to other students in need. It teaches important lessons in team work and giving back to one’s own community.

More than a quarter of people in Argentina live in conditions of poverty with no formal employment and poor quality education, according to the World Bank. The country’s high school dropout rate is close to 37 percent and youth account for a third of those unemployed. Almost 12 percent of children aged five to 17 are working instead of in school and 20 percent need government assistance. Many face malnutrition, a lack of clean water and sewage and inadequate housing.

Access to education and training provides a foundation for youth to break the cycle of poverty and gain employment. Salesians have been working in Argentina to provide educational opportunities to poor youth through schools, technical and agricultural programs and other services that help youth learn skills to gain stable employment.

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PHOTO: ANS

ANS – Argentina – Salesian campaign to collect school materials, “so that children can study better”

World Bank – Poverty in Argentina

The post ARGENTINA: Salesian Campaign Provides School Supplies to 1,500 Students in Need first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Started by Father Francisco Oreglia, a Salesian priest, the Don Bosco School was the first institution of its kind in Latin America and has since become a leader in agro-industrial development both regionally and nationally. Salesian missionaries teaching at the school have witnessed tremendous growth in the winemaking industry throughout the years and today the main Argentinean wineries and agro-industrial establishments rely on the school for its production facilities. Declared “A Provincial Heritage of Tourist Interest”, the Don Bosco School is recognized as the birthplace of winemaking in Argentina.

Originally, the Don Bosco School was developed out of necessity to meet the needs of the local winemakers and fruit growers of the time who required fuller and more mature fruits and winemaking expertise. Farming and winemaking was the backbone of the economy of the Cuyo region and the increasing expansion both in terms of volume and quality required trained technical staff who could receive continuing education to enhance their expertise. Students at the school were often poor local youth who might not otherwise have access to education.

“Salesian missionaries have been working in Argentina to provide educational opportunities to poor youth for many years,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Salesian technical and agricultural programs and other services educate youth and help them learn skills to gain stable employment.”

“Investing in agriculture education in developing countries is also vital to a community’s livelihood and essential not only to overcoming hunger and poverty, but also to ensuring overall economic growth for surrounding villages and cities,” adds Fr. Hyde.

Salesian missionaries operate more than 90 agricultural schools world-wide and 10 agricultural programs in Argentina alone. In addition to agricultural programs in the country, missionaries run primary and secondary schools as well as technical and vocational programs.

“Salesian missionaries are working hard to educate youth in Argentina and provide them a path out of poverty,” says Fr. Hyde. “The academic and technical programs offered show how education and training not only benefit the individual student, but also entire communities as graduates return home and share the skills they have acquired or start up local businesses.”

Although viewed as a relatively wealthy country, Argentina has a poverty rate of just over 26 percent, according to the World Bank. Close to 4.4 million people live below the poverty line and the country’s high school dropout rate is close to 20 percent. Youth account for one in three of those unemployed.

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ANS – Argentina – 50 years of wine-making

World Bank – Argentina

The post ARGENTINA: Don Bosco School Celebrates 50 Years of Excellence in Winemaking and Viticulture first appeared on MissionNewswire.

In May 2012, TOMS began distributing shoes to youth in communities served by the Talita Kumi Foundation. Talita Kumi is present in more than 1000 indigenous communities in Northern Guatemala and serves more than 88,000 school-aged children. TOMS shoes are provided to families that participate in Talita Kumi’s education, health and economic development programs.

Youth living in rural Guatemalan communities are constantly on the move but lack options for transportation and normally do not have enough money to buy shoes. To get to school, students must walk close to 30 minutes on rocky, wet trails through the mountains. While at school, students participate in classroom learning while also engaging in outdoor sports and recreation activities. After returning home, students are often expected to help their parents perform tasks such as farming, milking cows, caring for animals and gathering wood for fires. Without shoes, these young people are at-risk for injury and diseases such as parasites, skin fungus and respiratory diseases, among others.

“When children are protected from the various illnesses and injuries associated with traveling barefoot they are better able to participate and focus in classes,” says Jessica O’Connor, property and logistics officer at the Salesian Missions Office for International Programs. “Many schools ask parents to invest in required school clothing forcing families to prioritize which children they can send to school. Distributing shoes will open the way for more children to attend school, especially for girls who are often left behind at home.”

As a result of TOMS shoes, youth enrollment and participation in school has increased and students are more prepared for school activities. Shoes also provide students with a sense of dignity. Angel, an 11 year old recipient of TOMS shoes, previously endured a painful walk to school barefoot in mud, rain and over rocks. As a result of the shoes, the trip to school is safer and easier.

“I was so excited, I really like them because they are very comfortable, soft, and weigh nothing. I would like to have them for a long time to go to school with. I no longer have diseases on my feet and I use them to play with my friends at school,” says Angel describing the new shoes.

The Talita Kumi Foundation’s health programs currently serve more than 80,400 school-age children. Salesian missionaries at the Foundation work to combat malnutrition among its program participants and decrease the rates of maternal, infant and general mortality through primary health-care and training of families and community organizations. When youth are suffering from diseases contracted by walking around barefoot, it is more difficult to combat malnutrition. By improving the health of the children, Talita Kumi can alleviate the physical and economic strain of repeated medical visits and improve the food security and nutrition of the population, especially among women and children.

“One of the methods that Salesian missionaries teach on the topic of health and welfare is the use of footwear for children,” adds O’Connor. “However, many families cannot afford to buy shoes for their children. By distributing shoes to the children in Salesian programs, we can improve the health of individual children while also stressing the importance of wearing shoes among the community in general.”

Rural poverty hasn’t changed much in Guatemala during the last 20 years, according to the World Bank. Close to 75 percent of the population is estimated to live below the poverty line and almost 58 percent live below the extreme poverty line which the World Bank defines as struggling to afford even a basic basket of food. For the country’s indigenous population the poverty rates jump even higher with almost 90 percent facing crippling poverty and few resources.

Salesian missionaries working and living in the country have been providing for poor youth’s basic needs while helping them to break the cycle of poverty. Through Salesian youth centers, orphanages, parishes, primary and secondary schools as well as technical schools, vocational training workshops and two universities, Salesian missionaries work extensively with poor youth and their families. In addition, there are many Salesian programs throughout the country, some of which help provide for youth living on the streets while others offer social and educational opportunities to those living in poor indigenous communities.

ABOUT TOMS:

In 2006, American traveler Blake Mycoskie befriended children in a village in Argentina and found they had no shoes to protect their feet. Wanting to help, he created TOMS, a company that would match every pair of shoes purchased with a pair of new shoes given to a child in need. One for One®.

Five years later, TOMS realized this movement could serve other basic needs and launched TOMS Eyewear. With every pair of eyewear purchased, TOMS will help give sight to a person in need. One for One®. As more everyday choices have the power to impact the lives of those around the world, the TOMS movement will continue to grow and evolve.

In 2013, Blake Mycoskie announced that through its Giving Partners, TOMS has hand-placed over 10 million pairs of new shoes on children in need and has helped give sight to over 150,000 people around the world. The success of TOMS’ One for One® business model has led to a continued evolution of its giving efforts, with the company making major investments in its shoe manufacturing, economic empowerment and commissioned field research while developing product partnerships that have raised millions of dollars for non-profit organizations.

ABOUT SALESIAN MISSIONS:

Salesian Missions is headquartered in New Rochelle, NY, and is part of the Don Bosco Network—a worldwide federation of Salesian NGOs. The mission of the U.S.-based nonprofit Catholic organization is to raise funds for international programs that serve youth and families in poor communities around the globe. Salesian missionaries are made up of priests, brothers and sisters as well as laypeople—all dedicated to caring for poor children throughout the world in more than 130 countries. To date, more than 3 million youth have received services funded by Salesian Missions. These services and programs are provided to children regardless of race or religion. For more information, go to SalesianMissions.org.

The post GUATEMALA: Salesian Students Receive TOMS Shoes, are Healthier and Better Prepared for School first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Access to education and training provides a foundation for youth to break the cycle of poverty and gain employment. Salesians have been working in Argentina to provide educational opportunities to poor youth through schools, technical and agricultural programs and other services that help youth learn skills to gain stable employment.

At the end of March, the President of Argentina, the Honorable Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, signed a decree for the creation of the Salesian University of Argentina in the city of Bahía Blanca, located in the southwest of the province of Buenos Aires. The decree was delivered to Rector Major Father Ángel Fernández Artime and Professor Marta Pines, during a ceremony which marked the official opening of the university. This decree is the culmination of more than eight years of preparation and development by the Salesian Province of Argentina South and the grant of official approval by the National Commission for University Approval and Accreditation last year.

The new university, set up as a nonprofit, will offer quality education to young people who are looking to continue their academic studies. Its focus is on development and research, advancement in technology, formation of human resources and attention to innovative practices for the common good of the people and the progress of the nation. Coursework will be offered in psychology, law, communication and education, and it is anticipated that additional courses will be added later to meet the specific needs of students.

“For eight years we worked hard to get approval”, said Brother Hugo Carlos Vera, Salesian and academic secretary at the university. “Now we have an opportunity to give quality service to young people in the region. Salesian University of Argentina wants to reach ordinary people and offer education to respond to the problems facing young people.”

Salesians have a long history of working with poor youth and their families in Argentina, providing primary and secondary schools along with trade, agricultural and college programs.

Last year, the Salesian Pascual Gentilini Agricultural School in San Jose celebrated its 85th anniversary. Its curriculum includes lessons in community service, vegetable gardening, cooking, maintenance, music, cultivation of annual crops and tea, fruit farming, zootechnics, bee-keeping, cattle-raising, leadership training and social work.

“Salesian programs adapt to local needs,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Salesian educational institutions teach, train and work with local youth living in poverty who want opportunities for a brighter future. The academic and technical programs offered show how education and training not only benefit the individual student, but also entire communities.”

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Sources

ANS – Argentina – A new Salesian University

World Bank – Poverty in Argentina

The post ARGENTINA: Argentine President Signs Decree for Creation of New Salesian University first appeared on MissionNewswire.

The Salesians have a long history of working with poor youth and their families in Argentina, offering access to education and training that provides a foundation for youth to gain employment and break the cycle of poverty.

This past July, the Salesians were featured in an edition of the Diario de Cuyo, a daily newspaper in the province of San Juan, acknowledging their work training many generations of young people in agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, viticulture and wine-making.

The article took note of the level of expertise demonstrated in the wine-making books created by Father Francisco Oreglia, a Salesian priest at the wine-making and horticultural program in Rodeo del Medio in the province of Mendoza. The article further noted that the teachings by the Salesians have benefited generations of wine producers in the southern hemisphere.

“The Salesians have been working in Argentina to provide educational opportunities to poor youth for many years,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Salesian technical and agricultural programs and other services educate youth and help them learn skills to gain stable employment.”

The Salesian Pascual Gentilini Agricultural School in San Jose recently celebrated its 85th anniversary. Its curriculum includes lessons in community service, vegetable gardening, cooking, maintenance, music, annual crops, cultivation of tea, fruit farming, zootechnics, bee-keeping, cattle-raising, leadership training and social work. Agricultural technical training encompasses one to six years of study and teaches modern methods of farming together with business management.

“Investing in agriculture education in developing countries is vital to a community’s livelihood and essential not only to overcoming hunger and poverty, but also to ensuring overall economic growth for the surrounding villages and cities,” adds Fr. Hyde.

The Salesians operate more than 90 agricultural schools world-wide and 10 agricultural programs in Argentina alone. In addition to agricultural programs in the country, the Salesians run primary and secondary schools as well as technical and vocational programs.

“The Salesians are working hard to educate youth in Argentina and provide them a path out of poverty,” says Fr. Hyde. “The academic and technical programs offered show how education and training not only benefit the individual student, but also entire communities when students return home and share the skills they have acquired or start up local businesses.”

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Sources:

ANS –  Argentina – “Salesians and Agriculture”. Recognition in Local Newspaper

World Bank – Poverty in Argentina

The post ARGENTINA: Salesian Agricultural Programs Receive Local Recognition for Training Expertise first appeared on MissionNewswire.

The Aug. 6 explosion—which destroyed apartment buildings filled with tenants—is being called the worst disaster in the history of the city, the third largest in the country.

“We did not suffer damage to our house, but the loud impact was heard that morning. Our school and other similar institutes in the area had to close for two days, at the request of the secretary for education in the province,” according to Father Ricardo Campoli, a Salesian priest in San José.

A fundraising campaign to solicit donations to assist the victims is being coordinated by Caritas Commission of the Salesian parish of Mary Help of Christians, together with neighboring parishes.

“The accident happened when a gas regulator was being replaced,” Fr. Campoli explained. “The worker in charge of this operation foresaw the explosion and ran out, shouting to everybody to get away from the complex, which consisted of three towers. Five minutes later the explosion occurred, and in a very short space of time, one of the nine-story towers collapsed. The surrounding towers also collapsed, and glass was flying in all directions. The tremor caused by the explosion was felt up to 40 blocks away.”

From the Salesian university chaplaincy and youth ministries to civil agencies, people rushed to help by providing food, blankets and comfort. Some even offered to take those left homeless into their own homes.

“The size of this event has left a trail of dead and wounded,” said Fr. Campoli. “So far, we have counted 12 dead, more than 60 injured, and 14 unaccounted for, among them children, adolescents, and adults of all ages. In the midst of so much suffering and loss, it is truly admirable to see the swift and effective support given by so many people.”

The Associated Press reported that dozens of people were trapped in the upper floors of the burning building. The building’s front and back facades were ripped open, exposing the shattered remains of apartments inside. Much of the downtown area has been evacuated as firefighters continue to search for victims in the rubble.

The Guardian newspaper is reporting that the explosion destroyed an entire apartment block.

PHOTO CAPTION:
Rescue workers stand among the rubble after an explosion caused by a gas leak tore through a 10-storey building in Rosario city, in the province of Santa Fe August 6, 2013. Twelve people have died, 60 injured and 15 remain missing as firefighters and rescue workers continue to search for people believed to be trapped in the area, according to local authorities. REUTERS/Marcelo Masuelli

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The Salesians have been working in Argentina to provide educational opportunities to poor youth. Salesian technical and agricultural programs and other services educate youth and help them learn skills to gain stable employment. Most recently, the National Commission for University Approval and Accreditation granted approval to Salesian University in Bahía Blanca. This new University will offer quality education to young people who are looking to continue their studies and advance their academic standing.

“Salesian programs adapt to local needs,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “The University will teach, train and work with local youth living in poverty who want opportunities for a brighter future.”

The University, set up as a nonprofit, has a mission that focuses on development and research, advancement in technology, formation of human resources and attention to innovative practices for the common good of the people and the progress of the nation. The first courses offered will be in education, communications, psychology and the study and theory of law.

Salesian staff members have worked for the last eight years planning and preparing for the University’s first academic year which is slated to commence in 2014. Staffing positions have already been decided for major academic programs. Marta Pini will act as rector of the University with César A. Lombardi and Silvia Mesenzani functioning as heads of the Law Department. Héctor Rausch will run the Social Sciences Department and Mónica Rosa Lauría will serve as head of the Psychology Department.

The Salesians have a long history of working with poor youth and their families in Argentina. With primary and secondary schools along with trade, agricultural and college programs being offered, youth have an opportunity to learn valuable skills to find employment. Most recently, Pascual Gentilini Agricultural School celebrated 85 years of teaching agricultural skills to poor youth in the region.

“The Salesians are working hard to educate youth in Argentina and provide them a path out of poverty,” says Fr. Hyde. “The academic and technical programs offered show how education and training not only benefit the individual student, but also entire communities when students return home and share the skills they have acquired or start up local businesses. In this way, students not only help themselves and their families, but also their local economies.”

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Sources

ANS – Argentina – Salesian University approved by CONEAU

World Bank – Poverty in Argentina

The post ARGENTINA: New Salesian University in Bahía Blanca Receives Accreditation first appeared on MissionNewswire.

New organization headquarters were opened recently and named Enrique Götz, in honor of a key figure in the early years of the foundation. The new building offers a wide living room, classrooms and spaces to accommodate various student groups and others.

Marcos Oliva Day, a former District Attorney and an avid kayaker, wished to teach youth to love, care and respect the place in which they live and to provide an opportunity for its exploration. The Knowing our House foundation protects the natural and cultural heritage of Puerto Deseado through this program, which is now recognized and emulated worldwide. To date, more than 12,000 youth have received training at the foundation and many have gone on to become instructors.

The foundation offers several courses in a variety of topics. “Training as monitors” is for teenage volunteers who study outside school hours with the support of the teachers of the Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia Austral and Universidad de La Plata. “Canoe in the family” takes place on the weekends with the support of the Club Náutico Capitán Oneto and other local municipalities and offers free lessons in sailing and canoeing while involving family members of all ages. “Organic gardening” teaches young people to plant and harvest crops and “Work experience for foreign volunteers” trains youth from Japan, France, England and Switzerland.

The youth who take part in these courses can communicate with sailors, writers, biologists, conservationists, artists and travelers arriving in Puerto Deseado while cultivating their imaginations and learning to appreciate different cultures in a respectful way.

This program has been so successful it has been replicated in other parts of the world. Robin Ruddock, history and biology professor at Stranmillis University College, Queen’s University, Belfast, began a similar program in Ireland as has kayaker, José Jaramillo, project developer at Río Gallegos, Chile and Marcos’ sister, Emma Olive Day, who has brought the program to 26 Schools in San Isidoro.

During the inauguration ceremony of the new building, Mayor Luis Ampuero recognized the foundation’s work and its contribution to the community throughout many years.

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Sources:

ANS – Argentina – A house to learn about Patagonia

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Construction of the school began in 1927 through a bequest by the school’s namesake, Pascual Gentilini, who donated the land for the new school. The school acquired its first students in 1931 and has evolved over the years from providing a basic “Farm Manager” course to a more substantial course, “General Agronomist”, to the far more substantial variety of courses offered to its students today.

“Salesian Missions not only provides educational opportunities in more than 130 countries around the globe, it also address core needs,” says Fr. Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions – the U.S. arm of Don Bosco. “The Salesian-run agricultural schools offer more than just agricultural training – they are often part of a larger program that also offers literacy education and other vocational training, in addition to feeding programs for hungry children.”

Today, the Agricultural School’s curriculum includes lessons in community service, vegetable gardening, cooking, maintenance, music, annual crops, cultivation of tea, fruit farming, zootechnics, bee-keeping, cattle-raising, leadership training and social work. Agricultural technical training encompasses one to six years of study and the youth at the school are enthusiastic students, eager to learn modern methods of farming together with business management.

The school, which started with only a handful of students, offered a safe home, an education in farming methods and most importantly, hope for the future. Since its inception, the school has seen much growth and today supports 209 boarding students, 40 teachers and 32 staff members including a lay Principal.

The primary mission of the school is to provide educational opportunities for the poorest of the poor. After youth have completed their studies, they are able to give back and contribute to their local economy. The benefit of training even one student has a positive ripple effect on the community. Graduates leave with knowledge and training to improve the lives of not only themselves, but their families and villages as well.

“Investing in agriculture education in developing countries is vital to a community’s livelihood and essential not only to overcome hunger and poverty, but also to ensure overall economic growth for the surrounding villages and cities,” adds Fr. Hyde.

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Sources

ANS – The Salesian “Pascual Gentilini” school completes 85 years

The post ARGENTINA: 85-Year-Old Agricultural School Teaches Hundreds Necessary Farming Techniques first appeared on MissionNewswire.