This is the second campaign run by Salesian organizations in Spain to help the people of Benin. In 2014, a container was shipped carrying rice, lentils, beans, pasta and other non-perishable food items as well as donated school supplies, bicycles and t-shirts. The items were donated to several Salesian programs in Porto Novo that provide education, workforce development and social services for poor youth and their families.

“Campaigns like these are a great example of how youth in Salesian programs are able to take what they have learned and pay it forward, supporting families in other communities in a time of need,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Both campaigns for Benin have been possible thanks to the cooperation of many individuals, small businesses, supermarkets, food suppliers and local shops.”

Salesian programs in Benin provide food, clothing, shelter, medical services and education to poor youth. With the goal of caring for youth in supportive environments with access to education and training, Salesian missionaries in the country hope to help break the cycle of poverty and provide hope for the future.

The Saint Joseph Center, run by Salesian Sisters in the city of Parakou in northern Benin, operates with financial assistance from UNICEF and offers children refuge from the cycle of poverty and exploitation. The Salesian Sisters at the center ensure that children receive nutritious meals and enroll in nearby schools, providing the essential support their families cannot. At the Vocational Training Center Laura Vicuña in Benin’s largest city, Cotonou, Salesian Sisters are working with young girls, many of whom have been victims of trafficking, providing shelter and education that includes training in skills and trades in order to create more stable lives for them.

In 2013, Salesian missionaries at Foyer Don Bosco in Porto Novo launched a program as part of a European Union collaborative initiative called, Development and Action in the Republic of Benin. The four year initiative focuses on the protection of youth at risk in the areas of Littoral, Ouémé and Alibori. Through this program, Salesian missionaries are working to strengthen the collaboration, coordination and teamwork of the state and non-state bodies engaged in the protection of children as well as work to identify children at risk, offer them advice and education and rehabilitation. The program is also creating awareness among local authorities and community leaders in addition to the general population on the protection of children and the need for community programs to safeguard their rights.

Youth in Benin face overwhelming challenges in combating poverty. According to UNICEF, Benin remains one of the poorest countries in the world with close to 70 percent of its population living in poverty. Almost 20 percent are chronically undernourished and the effects of poverty in rural areas are severe. Child labor and trafficking are also concerns with about half of all children between the ages of five and 14 engaged in some form of labor.

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Sources:

ANS – Benin – 23,000 kilos of aid for Benin

UNICEF – Poverty in Benin

The post BENIN: Salesian Programs in Spain Support Food for Benin Campaign with Recent Shipment first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Two Salesian programs in northern Spain, in collaboration with the Provincial Youth Ministry Delegation there, recently held a fundraising campaign to help a Salesian program for street children in the capital city of Porto Novo, Benin. The campaign kicked off last November and while the total collected is still being assessed, more than 9,200 kg of food was received from the town of Azkoitia alone.

“The fundraising campaign was a great success allowing many families to be helped,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “This has all been possible thanks to the cooperation of many individuals, small businesses, supermarkets, food suppliers and local shops.”

Rice, lentils, beans, pasta and other non-perishable food items were collected in Azkoitia at a Salesian institute and at various shops and supermarkets in the city. The community was very generous in its support of the fundraising campaign. On December 26, a shipment of the collected food and other donated items including school supplies, bicycles and t-shirts made its way from Azkoitia to Pamplona and then onto its final destination in Benin.

“Campaigns like these are a great example of how youth in Salesian programs are able to take what they have learned and pass it forward, supporting families in other communties in a time of need,” adds Fr. Hyde.

There are a variety of Salesian programs in Benin that provide food, clothing, shelter, medical services and education to poor youth in the country. With the goal of caring for youth in supportive environments with access to education and training, Salesians in Benin hope to help break the cycle of poverty and provide hope for the future.

Saint Joseph, a center run by Salesian Sisters in the city of Parakou in northern Benin, operates with financial assistance from UNICEF and offers children refuge from the cycle of poverty and exploitation. There, a team of caretakers ensures children receive nutritious meals and enroll in nearby schools, providing the essential support their families cannot.

At the Vocational Training Center Laura Vicuña in Benin’s largest city, Cotonou, Salesian Sisters are working with young girls, many of whom have been victims of trafficking, providing them shelter and education to learn skills and trades in order to create more stable lives for themselves.

Recently, Salesians at Foyer Don Bosco in Porto Novo launched a new program as part of a European Union collaborative initiative called, Development and Action in the Republic of Benin. A four year initiative culminating in February 2017, the program focuses on the protection of youth at risk in the areas of Littoral, Ouémé and Alibori.

Through this program, Salesians are working to strengthen the collaboration, coordination and teamwork of the state and non-state bodies engaged in the protection of children as well as work to identify children at risk, offer them advice and education and rehabilitate them. The program will also create awareness among local authorities and community leaders in addition to the general population on the protection of children and the need for community programs to safeguard their rights.

“Salesian programs are adaptable to the communities they serve,” says Fr. Hyde. “Education remains at the forefront and our programs strive to keep youth safe and provide for their basic needs so they can focus on gaining an education.”

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Sources:

ANS – Spain – 9,200 kilos of smiles and hugs

UNICEF – Poverty in Benin

The post BENIN: Salesian Youth in Spain Pay it Forward to Help Poor Youth in Benin first appeared on MissionNewswire.

In May, the Salesians at Foyer Don Bosco launched a new program as part of a European Union collaborative initiative called, Development and Action in the Republic of Benin. The program focuses on the protection of youth at risk in the areas of Littoral, Ouémé and Alibori.

A four year initiative that culminates in February 2017, the Salesian program’s goal is to strengthen the collaboration and coordination of the state and non-state organizations engaged in the protection of children. It will also work to identify children at risk and offer them advice, education and the opportunity to be rehabilitated. In addition, the program will work to create awareness among local authorities, community leaders and the general population on the protection of children and the need for community programs to safeguard children’s rights.

“To see real success in the protection of youth, an entire community must be involved,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “The program works to engage community leaders, unify the systems protecting children and work with youth one on one, giving them the tools and resources to achieve a brighter future.”

The Salesian program was officially launched in early May with three other programs included in the same European Union initiative. The first, Handicap International, will focus on the participation and integration of people with disabilities into the local community. The second, Protos, is working to improve the water supply, hygiene and sanitary services in the area. The third program, Plan Benin, is focusing on the participation of citizens in local development and water services.

At the launch event in May, each of the organizations gave a brief presentation of its history and proposed program, concluding with a short dramatization. Youth from Foyer Don Bosco provided a short sketch on the rights of minors. The main focus of the event came later in the day with several speeches and more in depth information on the Salesian program provided. The event also included cultural, sporting and recreational activities for youth, including street children, at the Salesian Center.

This is not the only program the Salesians have in Benin. Through the Vocational Training Center Laura Vicuña, Salesian Sisters are providing shelter, education and training in skills and trades to young girls, many of whom have been victims of trafficking, to give them the opportunity of a more stable life. Other Salesian programs exist in Benin as well, providing poor youth shelter, nutritious meals and education.

“Salesian programs are adaptable to the communities they serve,” says Fr. Hyde. “Education remains at the forefront. Our programs strive to keep youth safe and provide them an education, which is a direct path out of poverty.”

Source

ANS – Benin – Foyer Don Bosco cooperating with the European Union for the protection of young people in difficulty

UNICEF – Poverty in Benin

The post BENIN: New Salesian Program Works to Enhance the Child Protection System and Provide for Youth at Risk first appeared on MissionNewswire.