PHILIPPINES

(MissionNewswire) Caritas Don Bosco School, located in Santa Rosa, Philippines, celebrated the Christmas season with outreach projects and home-made gifts. Almost everyone at the school participated. Teachers and school employees took part in the annual Christmas outreach challenge, while students prepared messages in hand-crafted cards and gifts.

Groups from the educative pastoral council came together to bring joy to marginalized youth and Indigenous people. Outreach activities were planned to support the local community, along with helping to support others within the school. During the school Christmas party, individuals who participated in the challenge showed videos of their projects and shared reflections from what they learned. One teacher noted that it was not difficult to reach out and it is good to be the source of joy for others.

The parent-teacher council also conducted Christmas outreach activities within the school community and in the local surrounding community. Within the school, the council supported security guards and non-teaching employees and provided gifts to poor communities.

Students got involved with outreach activities as well. Student leaders and alumni organized a Christmas fellowship for marginalized youth and provided items that met their basic needs. The Voces Inspirare School Choir and robotics team collaborated for a light and choral show to benefit the school’s Batholomew Garelli Project, an education fund for poor senior high school students.

Throughout the Philippines, Salesian missionaries offer a variety of educational and social development programs for youth. The goal is to provide the opportunities necessary to gain an education and skills training to break the cycle of poverty and retain long-term employment.

More than one-quarter of the population of the Philippines lives in poverty, according to UNICEF. Poverty is most severe and widespread in rural areas where 80 percent of the population — close to 88 million people — make their home. The poorest Filipinos are Indigenous populations, small-scale farmers who cultivate land received through agrarian reform, landless workers and fishermen. In addition, poverty rates are higher for women than men.

Illiteracy and high levels of unemployment contribute to the elevated poverty rate. With more than 11 million out-of-school youth in the country and dropout rates doubling as children reach secondary school, access to education becomes a critical step in breaking the cycle of poverty.

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

ANS – Philippines – What Christmas Means at “Caritas Don Bosco School” in Santa Rosa

Salesian Missions – Philippines

UNICEF – Philippines

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PHILIPPINES

(MissionNewswire) Fifteen young women who are freshmen students at Don Bosco College, located in Canlubang, Philippines, have been awarded scholarships that will allow them to pursue their dreams of becoming skilled electrical technicians thanks to The Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) through One Meralco Foundation (OMF), according to a recent Malaya Business Insight article.

Each scholarship will cover tuition fees and allowances for students in the dual NC II program in electrical installation and maintenance and mechatronics. The scholarship program also provides a four-month on-the-job training for the students, who will be given the opportunity to join the Meralco workforce afterwards, according to the article.

The article further noted that this initiative falls under Meralco’s Gender Diversity and Inclusion Program called MBrace that aims to provide inclusive opportunities to empower women and increase the ratio of women in the company to 40 percent by 2030.

“Don Bosco College provides education for youth from poor backgrounds,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Youth are able to gain an education from primary school all the way through technical and vocational skills training. Salesians work to ensure that girls and young women are able to access the same education that boys and young men are able to access.”

Throughout the Philippines, Salesian missionaries offer a variety of educational and social development programs for youth. The goal is to provide the opportunities necessary to gain an education and skills training to break the cycle of poverty and retain long-term employment.

More than one-quarter of the population of the Philippines lives in poverty, according to UNICEF. Poverty is most severe and widespread in rural areas where 80 percent of the population — close to 88 million people — make their home. The poorest Filipinos are Indigenous populations, small-scale farmers who cultivate land received through agrarian reform, landless workers and fishermen. In addition, poverty rates are higher for women than men.

Illiteracy and high levels of unemployment contribute to the elevated poverty rate. With more than 11 million out-of-school youth in the country and dropout rates doubling as children reach secondary school, access to education becomes a critical step in breaking the cycle of poverty.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Don Bosco College

Malaya Business Insight – 15 aspiring women technicians receive Meralco scholarship

Salesian Missions – Philippines

UNICEF – Philippines

The post PHILIPPINES: Young women awarded electrical technician scholarships first appeared on MissionNewswire.

PHILIPPINES

(MissionNewswire) The Salesian Youth Movement, within the Salesian Southern Philippines Province, organized a summer camp inspired by the teachings of Pope Francis’ 2020 Laudato Si’, which underlined the importance of education and training that will help youth foster environmental responsibility.

The theme of the camp, “Salesian Youth Eco-Warriors: be the change!”, challenged youth to focus on their own environmental initiatives within their communities. The event was held at the Don Bosco Peace House in Mantalongon and was attended by youth from the districts of Cebu, Negros and Davao.

“Salesian missionaries around the globe have been launching environmental and sustainable projects,” 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.”

Throughout the Philippines, Salesian missionaries offer a variety of educational and social development programs for youth. The goal is to provide the opportunities necessary to gain an education and skills training to break the cycle of poverty and retain long-term employment.

More than one-quarter of the population of the Philippines lives in poverty, according to UNICEF. Poverty is most severe and widespread in rural areas where 80 percent of the population — close to 88 million people — make their home. The poorest Filipinos are Indigenous populations, small-scale farmers who cultivate land received through agrarian reform, landless workers and fishermen. In addition, poverty rates are higher for women than men.

Illiteracy and high levels of unemployment contribute to the elevated poverty rate. With more than 11 million out-of-school youth in the country and dropout rates doubling as children reach secondary school, access to education becomes a critical step in breaking the cycle of poverty.

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

ANS – Philippines – A summer camp inspired by teachings of “Laudato Sì”

Salesian Missions – Philippines

UNICEF – Philippines

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PHILIPPINES

(MissionNewswire) More than 300 students are gaining skills for employment at Don Bosco Training Center Mati in Mati City within the Davao Oriental province on Mindanao, the second largest island in the Philippines. Don Bosco Mati, as it’s known, opened in 2019, and the center’s agriculture and technical skills training courses are well known in Mindanao.

Father Joriz Calsa, who started at Don Bosco Mati in 2021, said, “We are glad that the training center continued its operation even amidst the pandemic with almost 300 students, thanks to our humble boarding houses and the continuous support through scholarships from government institutions. This year we even managed to send around 30 students for on-the-job training, and I have witnessed companies coming over to look for our graduates for job openings.”

Don Bosco Mati has acquired a star rating from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) for its welding course and received a three-year approval as a “donee” institution from the Philippine Council for NGO Certification, which means the school can take donations from partner industries.

The latest project, a chapel on the Don Bosco Mati grounds, will be completed this year, so the school will be able to celebrate Catholic Mass with its students. Formation for the various ministries in the parish has also continued. This year, Salesians made a point of making the sacraments more accessible to the poor by offering them more frequently even in their own villages.

More than one-quarter of the population of the Philippines lives in poverty, according to UNICEF. Poverty is most severe and widespread in rural areas where 80 percent of the population — close to 88 million people — make their home. The poorest Filipinos are indigenous populations, small-scale farmers who cultivate land received through agrarian reform, landless workers and fishermen. In addition, poverty rates are higher for women than men.

Illiteracy and high levels of unemployment contribute to the elevated poverty rate. With more than 11 million out-of-school youth in the country and dropout rates doubling as children reach secondary school, access to education becomes a critical step in breaking the cycle of poverty. Throughout the Philippines, Salesian missionaries offer a variety of educational and social development programs for youth, many with an emphasis on recreation and sports activities. The goal is to provide the opportunities necessary to gain an education and skills training to break the cycle of poverty and retain long-term employment.

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

ANS – Philippines – Don Bosco “mother-house” in Mindanao: all about growth

Salesian Missions – Philippines

UNICEF – Philippines

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PHILIPPINES

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries have operated the Don Bosco Training Center in San Jose, Philippines, since 1995. An organic agricultural production course was launched three years ago in response to the government’s call to augment the food production industry.

The Salesian diocese of San Jose is in a region which is known as the country’s rice granary. Rice is the staple food in the Philippines, and 80 percent of the population are farmers. The most recent course helps protect the environment through sustainable organic farming.

“Providing education to help youth and local farmers cultivate the land helps to make their farms more productive and show that farming can be a reliable source of income,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Missionaries provide education and workforce development paired with other social services to help poor youth break the cycle of poverty and have hope for the future. This also helps their families and communities.”

Don Bosco Training Center is not the only farming education that Salesians provide in the region. In the mid-1980s, Salesian Bishop Leo Drona founded the Gratia Plena Social Action Center to help the poor farming population after a destructive typhoon. It considers organic agriculture as a strategic response to environmental issues by promoting sustainable farming methods.

Through the Gratia Plena Social Services Center, Salesians support and guide farmers to acquire skills and the know-how to boost the local economy. The center also works in partnership with small-scale farmers, cooperatives, and development practitioners who believe in organic practices of producing food for life, health, and the environment. Salesians are exploring possibilities for the Don Bosco Training Center to work in closer collaboration with Gratia Plena Social Services Center.

Since 1950, Salesian Missions has been providing crucial help in the Philippines — working with at-risk youth, impoverished families and disaster victims. Humanitarian agencies warn of the dangers faced by the most disadvantaged children in the Philippines. There are at least 1.2 million children between the ages of 5 and 15 who are out of school and are being left behind. In addition, children born into the poorest 20 percent of the population are almost three times more likely to die during their first five years as those from the richest 20 percent.

Poverty rose sharply in the Philippines due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the World Bank, close to 4 million people became poor in the first half of 2021 due to pandemic-induced lockdown measures that dried up jobs and reduced domestic demand. Poverty incidence in the Philippines rose to 23.7 percent from 21.1 percent, indicating 3.9 million more people are living in poverty now than in 2018 when the statistics were last verified.

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

ANS – Philippines – Organic Agricultural Production a way to protect the environment

Don Bosco TVET Centers

Salesian Missions – Philippines

World Bank – Philippines

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PHILIPPINES

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Calauan, located in Calauan, Philippines, has a feeding program that distributes more than 7,000 meals each day. Currently, 3,500 children and adults receive daily rice porridge for breakfast and then rice with a side dish for lunch. Every six months the recipient list is updated, and each recipient is evaluated to see who still needs to be part of the feeding program. Some names are removed and new ones are added.

Don Bosco Calauan is located among a densely populated community that is mostly relocated families who are among the poorest and most disenfranchised. When the government moved these families to Calauan, they left their source of income in Manila. People engage in informal activities or trades to earn a living. Many children are malnourished and families still struggle to survive due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2010, Salesian missionaries launched skills training programs to help people learn trades and develop the skills for employment. The feeding program was also launched and remained strong even during the pandemic. Father Ferdinand Camilo is among the 25 volunteers who serve as cooks and helpers in food preparation. Brother Ronnel Tiu oversees the distribution of meals, which are made possible thanks to partnerships, foundations and individual donors.

“Children cannot focus on their education and people cannot do well at work on an empty stomach,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “The contributions of donors and partners allow Salesian missionaries on the ground to expand their efforts to reach families who desperately need our help, especially as the pandemic pushed some families further into poverty.”

Since 1950, Salesian Missions has been providing crucial help in the Philippines — working with at-risk youth, impoverished families and disaster victims. Humanitarian agencies warn of the dangers faced by the most disadvantaged children in the Philippines. There are at least 1.2 million children between the ages of 5 and 15 who are out of school and are being left behind. In addition, children born into the poorest 20 percent of the population are almost three times more likely to die during their first five years as those from the richest 20 percent.

Poverty rose sharply in the Philippines due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the World Bank, close to 4 million people became poor in the first half of 2021 due to pandemic-induced lockdown measures that dried up jobs and reduced domestic demand. Poverty incidence in the Philippines rose to 23.7 percent from 21.1 percent, indicating 3.9 million more people are living in poverty now than in 2018 when the statistics were last verified.

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

ANS – Philippines – Feeding thousands of people is a daily Salesian miracle in Calauan

Don Bosco Calauan

Salesian Missions – Philippines

World Bank – Philippines

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PHILIPPINES

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco technical and vocational training centers in southern Philippines received support for online teaching and learning for more than 500 trainees thanks in part to funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. The project received matching funding from Don Bosco Mondo in Germany through the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.

The “Interventions to Support Technical-Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in the New Normal” project, which launched in August 2020, involved 48 instructors from eight Don Bosco technical and vocational training centers located in Cebu, Negros, Iloilo, Eastern Samar in the Visayas Islands and Davao in the Mindanao Islands.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused upheaval in the educational system and left students and teachers scrambling to figure out how to continue their educational objectives. Educational institutions began using online instruction and blended learning environments with a mix of face-to-face instruction, when possible.

To do this effectively, Don Bosco technical and vocational centers needed support to be able to provide online education. Funding for this project provided for the setup of recording rooms in eight centers, digital production materials, and a trainee’s package including a flash drive, printed modules, two washable face masks and one face shield.

Further, the project provided funding for a rent-to-own tablet for trainees who didn’t have their own device, as well as a food and accommodation subsidy to trainees who were boarders during face-to-face classes. Instructors were provided rent-to-own laptops, and the centers provided a monthly internet incentive so the instructors could facilitate online teaching, activities, and follow-ups.

“Teachers are the backbone of the Salesian educational system and had to quickly modify how they provide education during the pandemic—not an easy feat for many Salesian teachers,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions. “Salesian teachers face many challenges educating poor youth, and the pandemic has only exacerbated these challenges. This project enabled Salesian teachers to meet these challenges head-on, providing youth education and hope for a brighter future.”

Since 1950, Salesian Missions has been providing crucial help in the Philippines—working with at-risk youth, impoverished families and disaster victims. Humanitarian agencies warn of the dangers faced by the most disadvantaged children in the Philippines. There are at least 1.2 million children between the ages of 5 and 15 who are out of school and are being left behind. In addition, children born into the poorest 20 percent of the population are almost three times more likely to die during their first five years as those from the richest 20 percent.

Poverty rose sharply in the Philippines due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the World Bank, close to 4 million people became poor in the first half of 2021 due to pandemic-induced lockdown measures that dried up jobs and reduced domestic demand. Poverty incidence in the Philippines rose to 23.7 percent from 21.1 percent, indicating 3.9 million more people are living in poverty now than in 2018 when the statistics were last verified.

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Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Don Bosco TVET Centers

Salesian Missions – Philippines

World Bank – Philippines

The post PHILIPPINES: Technical training centers supported first appeared on MissionNewswire.

PHILIPPINES

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries continue their work helping families in Cebu, Philippines, who have been impacted by Typhoon Rai, which hit the region with winds of 121 miles per hour before making landfall on Dec. 16. According to the National Council for Disaster Risk Management and Reduction, the effects of the typhoon impacted more than 1.8 million people including killing 407 and injuring 1,147.

Father Fidel Orendain, provincial of the Southern Philippines, said, “On my first visit to one of our schools badly hit by the super typhoon, very strong emotions flooded me. A pall of uncertainty and desperation gripped me over the grave destruction all over the campus. Now, several weeks and visits later, the situation has changed little and slowly.”

In one of his last visits Fr. Orendain was able to observe the difficulties for Salesian teachers during this challenging time. “Since face-to-face lessons were banned in schools for almost two years, teachers are required to come to the campus to print lessons in module packs so parents could pick them up for their kids to work on. Faculty members line up to use the printers that survived getting wet or being blown away by the typhoon. Half of their concern is focused on making and printing lessons. The other half is to rush back home to repair their houses.”

Fr. Orendain reported that a little over one-third of the teachers and staff of the Salesian educational center in Cebu had their roofs blown away. They were also concerned about the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and remaining safe.

Salesians have been working tirelessly to help those most in need. On Jan. 29, Father Godofredo Atienza, former provincial and current head of the Salesian Family Secretariat, represented Fr. Orendain on a visit to families residing on the group of islands of Olango. He noted, “Many of the houses in Olango have yet to be rebuilt and the electricity has yet to be restored. These families truly suffer, whether it is dry or it is raining, because most of their homes were totally flattened.”

Just reaching these families was challenging, requiring a journey first by car and then by boat. The Salesian team is committed to bringing the aid that has been made available by the generous support of Misean Cara, the Salesian Irish Province development office.

Salesian missionaries live in the communities in which they work and are continuing to assess damage and provide what they can to help support their local communities after this devastating storm.

Since 1950, Salesian Missions has been providing crucial help in the Philippines—working with at-risk youth, impoverished families and disaster victims. Humanitarian agencies warn of the dangers faced by the most disadvantaged children in the Philippines. There are at least 1.2 million children between the ages of 5 and 15 who are out of school and are being left behind. In addition, children born into the poorest 20 percent of the population are almost three times more likely to die during their first five years as those from the richest 20 percent.

Poverty rose sharply in the Philippines due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the World Bank, close to 4 million people became poor in the first half of 2021 due to pandemic-induced lockdown measures that dried up jobs and reduced domestic demand. Poverty incidence in the Philippines rose to 23.7 percent from 21.1 percent, indicating 3.9 million more people are living in poverty now than in 2018 when the statistics were last verified.

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

ANS – Philippines – Solidarity and resilience to recover from Rai/Odette devastation

Salesian Missions – Philippines

World Bank – Philippines

The post PHILIPPINES: Families remain in need after Typhoon Rai first appeared on MissionNewswire.

PHILIPPINES

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Formation Center in Lawaan, Philippines, was impacted by Typhoon Rai, which hit the region with winds of 121 miles per hour before making landfall on Dec. 16. According to the National Council for Disaster Risk Management and Reduction, the effects of the typhoon impacted more than 1.8 million people including killing 407 and injuring 1,147.

Once safe after the typhoon, Salesians, aspirants, youth from the Don Bosco Youth Center and lay mission partners worked to restore the damaged building. Water was restored and electricity was provided with a generator. The Don Bosco Youth Center was also able to reach out and help neighboring communities by providing clean water and a charging station for free. The Salesian community also received donated goods and was able to distribute them to people who had been impacted.

With the assistance of Father Chito Dimaranan, the Don Bosco Formation Center was also able to reach out to people on Bohol Island, which had been impacted by the storm. Relief supplies including water and filtering systems were provided to families and the broader community.

In addition, the garden at Mary Help of Christians was transformed to a public open space where people could relax and celebrate the Christmas season despite all the pain and suffering.

“Salesian missionaries live in the communities in which they work and were able to quickly assess the damage and provide what they could to help support their local communities after this devastating storm,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Salesians in the community will continue to assess what families might need and will be there helping local communities.”

Since 1950, Salesian Missions has been providing crucial help in the Philippines—working with at-risk youth, impoverished families and disaster victims. Humanitarian agencies warn of the dangers faced by the most disadvantaged children in the Philippines. There are at least 1.2 million children between the ages of 5 and 15 who are out of school and are being left behind. In addition, children born into the poorest 20 percent of the population are almost three times more likely to die during their first five years as those from the richest 20 percent.

Poverty rose sharply in the Philippines due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the World Bank, close to 4 million people became poor in the first half of 2021 due to pandemic-induced lockdown measures that dried up jobs and reduced domestic demand. Poverty incidence in the Philippines rose to 23.7 percent from 21.1 percent, indicating 3.9 million more people are living in poverty now than in 2018 when the statistics were last verified.

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

ANS – Philippines – Don Bosco Formation Center Becomes a Bearer of Hope After Typhoon Odette

Salesian Missions – Philippines

World Bank – Philippines

The post PHILIPPINES: Salesians help local community after Typhoon Rai first appeared on MissionNewswire.

PHILIPPINES

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries have been helping families in Cebu, Philippines, who have been impacted by Typhoon Rai, which hit the region with winds of 121 miles per hour before making landfall on Dec. 16. According to the National Council for Disaster Risk Management and Reduction, the effects of the typhoon impacted more than 1.8 million people including killing 407 and injuring 1,147.

With international support, including that from the Salesian Mission Office in Australia, Salesian staff and volunteers have been working tirelessly to meet basic needs of hundreds of people who have lost everything and who need assistance, food, clean water, clothing, and temporary shelter.

Before the typhoon, Salesians were helping victims of a local fire. More than 50 homes burned to the ground, and the families were then faced with the typhoon’s devastation. One family had built a makeshift shelter after the fire only to be told to find new shelter because of the typhoon. When the wind and rain subsided, they walked through mud, garbage, and debris back to their home to realize they had lost what was left of their belongings.

Reggie, a volunteer who finds funds to educate poor children in the Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Cebu City, tried her best to help these families. Jan Odivilas, from the Southern Philippine Social Communications Office, said, “Reggie was tired and her hair was unkempt when I sat down with her yesterday. But her face lit up when I told her I was hoping she could help organize a rescue operation.”

Odivilas added, “I gave Reggie the donations we collected. Around noon today, she called to tell me that she had bought all the non-perishable products and was with an army of volunteers filling 700 relief bags. She was already up at four in the morning. The rest of the day will be long. This isn’t her first rescue this month. And she knows very well that in the weeks to come there is a good chance that she will fill even more bags.”

Salesian missionaries live in the communities in which they work and are providing what they can to help support their local communities after this devastating storm.

Since 1950, Salesian Missions has been providing crucial help in the Philippines—working with at-risk youth, impoverished families and disaster victims. Humanitarian agencies warn of the dangers faced by the most disadvantaged children in the Philippines. There are at least 1.2 million children between the ages of 5 and 15 who are out of school and are being left behind. In addition, children born into the poorest 20 percent of the population are almost three times more likely to die during their first five years as those from the richest 20 percent.

Poverty rose sharply in the Philippines due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the World Bank, close to 4 million people became poor in the first half of 2021 due to pandemic-induced lockdown measures that dried up jobs and reduced domestic demand. Poverty incidence in the Philippines rose to 23.7 percent from 21.1 percent, indicating 3.9 million more people are living in poverty now than in 2018 when the statistics were last verified.

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

ANS – Philippines – Salesian solidarity brings help and hope to the needy

Salesian Missions – Philippines

World Bank – Philippines

The post PHILIPPINES: Salesians help families who lost everything in fire and typhoon first appeared on MissionNewswire.

PHILIPPINES

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Technical College in Cebu City, Philippines, suffered severe damage from Typhoon Rai, which hit the region with winds of 121 miles per hour before making landfall on Dec. 16. The typhoon has killed more than 370 and displaced hundreds of thousands of people, damaged homes, and toppled power and communication lines.

“After visiting the city by bicycle, I found that Don Bosco Technical College was the most damaged among the Salesian houses,” explained Father Keith Amodia, delegate for social communication of the Salesian FIS Province. “Our youth center in Pasil, which was close to the sea, also suffered damage from the wind and waves. The structural integrity of the perimeter fence has already been compromised and the whole thing is starting to lean to one side. Should it yield, the Salesians will be exposed to the river and the sea with the risk of also being pillaged.”

Many people are without electricity, and internet access is scarce as power lines have been damaged. Many families have lost their homes, especially those built with lightweight materials. There are also problems with drinking water, as the water district has suspended the supply. The government is using fire trucks to deliver water to communities.

Fr. Amodia added, “Our school has a generator, but it will only last until 8 p.m. and therefore we will spend the night in the dark. It is interesting to note that the direct internet line we are using for the online lessons of the school still works, but it will only last as long as there is electricity. Please pray for us. Many families here are suffering from being exposed to the elements. People are flocking to gas stations and hardware stores. The Cebuans, however, are hardy people. For generations, the Cebuans have lived with this climate, only now the storms are stronger due to climate change.”

Salesian missionaries live in the communities in which they work and are assessing the damage and providing what they can to help support their local communities after this devastating storm.

Since 1950, Salesian Missions has been providing crucial help in the Philippines—working with at-risk youth, impoverished families and disaster victims. Humanitarian agencies warn of the dangers faced by the most disadvantaged children in the Philippines. According to UNICEF, there are at least 1.2 million children between the ages of 5 and 15 who are out of school and are being left behind. In addition, children born into the poorest 20 percent of the population are almost three times more likely to die during their first five years as those from the richest 20 percent.

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

ANS – Philippines – Damage to Salesian structures caused by typhoon Rai

Don Bosco Technical College

Salesian Missions – Philippines

UNICEF – Philippines

The post PHILIPPINES: Typhoon Rai causes severe damage first appeared on MissionNewswire.

PHILIPPINES

(MissionNewswire) Father Antonio “Beng-Beng” Molavin, rector of the Salesian St. Ildefonso Parish in Makati, Philippines, has launched initiatives to help the parish population focus on removing plastics from the environment by working with Plastic Bank, a nongovernmental organization focused on recycling plastics. Rather than eliminating plastic, Plastic Bank aims to teach how to manage it.

Parish members are involved in projects to clean up their local community and to recycle plastics found, as well as items used in their homes. Youth in the Salesian oratory are also reusing plastic items rather than throwing them into the trash.

St. Ildefonso Parish was chosen by the Ecological Ministry of the Archdiocese of Manila to be the first parish in the Philippines to collaborate with Plastic Bank. Fr. Molavin explained, “If we take the problem of plastic pollution seriously and try to offer an effective solution, we would have solved a great ecological problem.”

The project is in response to the call from Pope Francis in his 2020 Laudato Si, which has as its theme “Good Christians and Upright Citizens.” Pope Francis underlined the importance of education and training that will help youth foster environmental responsibility.

“We brought the project first to our local Christian community, which has adopted the recovery of plastic as their main project during the pandemic,” said Fr. Molavin. “After educating about the topics, we started going house to house and instructed families to wash the plastic with soap so that it can be reused. Then we go around picking up the plastic, making sure it’s clean and dry.”

Over the next five years, the parish would like to create a network of 500 families who will work together to find a solution to the plastic problem. It is also hoped that S.t Ildefonso Parish will become an accredited Laudato Si Parish within five years. In addition to recycling, a gardening project was launched, trees have been planted and segregation of waste has started.

Since 1950, Salesian Missions has been providing crucial help in the Philippines—working with at-risk youth, impoverished families and disaster victims. Humanitarian agencies warn of the dangers faced by the most disadvantaged children in the Philippines. According to UNICEF, there are at least 1.2 million children between the ages of 5 and 15 who are out of school and are being left behind. In addition, children born into the poorest 20 percent of the population are almost three times more likely to die during their first five years as those from the richest 20 percent.

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

ANS – Philippines – Parish of St. Ildefonso of Makati fights use of plastic

Plastic Bank

St. Ildefonso Parish

Salesian Missions – Philippines

UNICEF – Philippines

The post PHILIPPINES: Initiative boosts recycling efforts first appeared on MissionNewswire.

PHILIPPINES

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Agro-Mechanical Technology Center (known locally as Don Bosco Legazpi), located in Banquerohan, Legazpi City, Philippines, is helping a new generation of farmers prepare for the future. The average age of farmers in the country is 57, and youth have a real opportunity to gain steady employment and make an impact on farming in their communities.

Don Bosco Legazpi is a technical vocational school offering skills training and a farm development program to help youth and local farmers achieve self-sufficiency. As part of the center, Salesians have seven hectares of land for agricultural production, known as the Don Bosco Demonstration Farm. On the farm, Salesians teach agricultural production and proper utilization of agricultural equipment.

There is also the Don Bosco agricultural multi-purpose cooperative which facilitates microfinancing to farmers and coordinates the use of tractors and other mechanics for land preparation, planting, weeding, marketing and training. Part of the agricultural production is raising pigs and chickens. Currently, Salesians have facilities for 14 sows and two buildings for 1,000 chickens each. The chickens produce eggs to sell to generate an income as part of the training program in entrepreneurship.

Don Bosco Legazpi has also created the Bosconian Young Farmers Club, an agricultural club of young past pupils. Last year, with the help of industry professionals, 10 volunteers received training and orientation about the club and how it should be run. The club includes these 10 volunteer members along with five honorary members. It is run by Salesian Father Ronilo Javines.

The Bosconian Young Farmers Club offers a youth cooperative that supports agro-entrepreneurial initiatives and promotes family-based natural farming, helps with the reduction of the ecological footprint of Salesian activities, and runs a youth farm.

“This small but very significant seed could bear many fruits and inspire other Salesians and past pupils in many agricultural realities to follow this path,” said Fr. Javines.

Since 1950, Salesian Missions has been providing crucial help in the Philippines—working with at-risk youth, impoverished families and disaster victims. Humanitarian agencies warn of the dangers faced by the most disadvantaged children in the Philippines. According to UNICEF, there are at least 1.2 million children between the ages of 5 and 15 who are out of school and are being left behind. In addition, children born into the poorest 20 percent of the population are almost three times more likely to die during their first five years as those from the richest 20 percent.

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PHILIPPINES

(MissionNewswire) Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, the Salesian Philippines South Province made a formal agreement with the Region 7 Office of the Department of Health to use its retreat house in Lawaan, Talisay City, as temporary boarding for frontline workers. These health care professionals had to isolate themselves, even from their families, for everyone’s protection.

Chester B. Hamoy, an alumnus of a Salesian school and a licensed nurse, said, “During the first few months, I was very scared. I was at a loss due to the sudden changes. I was also concerned for my safety due to people’s discrimination of health workers who were being accused of being carriers of COVID-19. I was also scared for my family since my father has comorbidity, and we live in a compound owned by my grandparents with relatives, some of whom are also senior citizens. That is why I decided to look for a place to stay so that I can be at peace that my family will be spared from the virus.”

Hamoy heard stories about nurses who were refused entry to their shared boarding houses and neighborhoods and of frontline workers doused with water by people afraid of the virus. The situation took its toll on him.

“When they offered accommodations at Don Bosco Retreat House, I did not immediately grab the opportunity because I really wanted to isolate myself even from my fellow front-liners,” explained Hamoy.

Medical professionals not only needed a place to stay, but they needed community support to get through the demanding physical and psychological job they had in front of them. Initially wary of each other, those who took refuge in the retreat house discovered a sense of community in their shared experience and struggle.

Hamoy said, “A lot of struggles came in—there was fear of the virus, safety, financial problems and family concerns. I was just so blessed that I was staying here. Attending the Mass every day made me forget my personal concerns for at least an hour. I was so fortunate to have Father Eugene with us. The support he gave did not just help me spiritually but also my mental well-being.”

Father Eugene Maglasang volunteered to stay with the frontline workers in the retreat house. He celebrated Masses for them, engaged them at meals and even organized a retreat for them in the mountains of southern Cebu. Those living in the house bonded together and supported one another as a community.

“I had the opportunity to make new friends in my stay here in the retreat house since 90 percent of the occupants were also working in Talisay District Hospital with me,” Hamoy added. “We had rules to follow, and we also had roles assigned to us. I have learned how to cook and tried to cook new recipes. It was a good diversion that we enjoyed outside work.”

The last of the health care workers left to go back to their own homes on May 10, 2021. Hamoy said, “I am sad right now because we are leaving. I am having separation anxiety. I did not feel it until yesterday when I was packing my things and trying to sort out what to bring and what to throw away. Seeing all my stuff made me emotional and I find it funny because I am not an emotional person. I became attached to this community after being together for one year.”

Since 1950, Salesian Missions has been providing crucial help in the Philippines—working with at-risk youth, impoverished families and disaster victims. Humanitarian agencies warn of the dangers faced by the most disadvantaged children in the Philippines. According to UNICEF, there are at least 1.2 million children between the ages of 5-15 who are out of school and are being left behind. In addition, children born into the poorest 20 percent of the population are almost three times more likely to die during their first five years as those from the richest 20 percent.

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PHILIPPINES

(MissionNewswire)  St. Dominic Savio Parish, located in Mandaluyong City, Philippines, launched a community pantry to provide free food directly to community members suffering from food scarcity due to the pandemic. The food supplies are donated by members of the community who can afford to do so and left in the pantry for anyone in need. The idea behind it is that people can take as much as they need and donate whatever they can.

This effort is spearheaded by Salesian Father Eduardo Hila, the St. Dominic Savio Parish priest. The project is a collaborative effort of 17 organizations that are a part of the parish, local government and private individuals. Local organizations are helping by asking for donations, packing, manning the pantry and inventory, and educating people about the purpose and value of the initiative. Local officials are there to monitor health protocols and social distancing for those people who are picking up essential goods.

The pandemic has caused increased worries, fear, and hopelessness among parishioners, and the parish is responding by showing compassion, kindness, and humility.

A Salesian missionary said, “The St. Dominic Savio Parish pantry sends a strong message of ‘God’s love in action’ and ‘Loving my neighbor’ by people being able to share their blessings, and those who are in need are able to get what they need. Sustainability is a great challenge for the volunteers, but they believe in the kindness and generosity of individuals and families. They encourage the residents of the six barangays to share what they have.”

People have enjoyed how the community has come together in support of one another. One parishioner said, “We receive a lot of support from our parish priest and from other priests in the community. We thought our food supply would run out, but there was always something coming.”

Since 1950, Salesian Missions has been providing crucial help in the Philippines—working with at-risk youth, impoverished families and disaster victims. Humanitarian agencies warn of the dangers faced by the most disadvantaged children in the Philippines. According to UNICEF, there are at least 1.2 million children between the ages of 5-15 who are out of school and are being left behind. In addition, children born into the poorest 20 percent of the population are almost three times more likely to die during their first five years as those from the richest 20 percent.

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PHILIPPINES

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Agro-Mechanical Technology Center (known locally as Don Bosco Legazpi), located in Banquerohan, Legazpi City, Philippines, had the funding to purchase 1,000 chickens thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco.

Don Bosco Legazpi is a technical vocational school offering skills training and a farm development program for youth and local farmers to help them achieve self-sufficiency. As part of the center, Salesians have seven hectares of land for agricultural production, known as the Don Bosco Demonstration Farm. On the farm, Salesians teach agricultural production and proper utilization of agricultural equipment.

There is also the Don Bosco agricultural multi-purpose cooperative which facilitates microfinancing to farmers and coordinates the use of tractors and other mechanics for land preparation, planting, weeding, marketing and training. Part of the agricultural production is raising pigs and chickens. Currently, Salesians have facilities for 14 sows and two buildings for 1,000 chickens each. The chickens provided by this funding will produce eggs to sell to generate an income as part of the training program in entrepreneurship.

“We appreciate the funding our donors provided that is enabling Don Bosco Legazpi to have the chickens they need to produce eggs and generate an income,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions. “Don Bosco Legazpi was specifically opened to provide technical farming education to poor youth with scarce resources, and instruct them in the practical skills of farming to allow them to earn a living and give back to their communities.”

Don Bosco Legazpi offers its students an opportunity to combine theory with practice through its hands-on approach. Students use the skills they learn in the classroom by putting them directly to work in the fields that are part of the center’s farm. They are taught theoretical and practical courses in topics such as greenhouses, growing vegetables, cereal crops, gardening, breeding, animal husbandry and veterinary sciences, and dairy products.

Since 1950, Salesian Missions has been providing crucial help in the Philippines—working with at-risk youth, impoverished families and disaster victims. Humanitarian agencies warn of the dangers faced by the most disadvantaged children in the Philippines. According to UNICEF, there are at least 1.2 million children between the ages of 5 and 15 who are out of school and are being left behind. In addition, children born into the poorest 20 percent of the population are almost three times more likely to die during their first five years as those from the richest 20 percent.

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Don Bosco Pasil launched Mamma Margaret’s Garden during the pandemic

PHILIPPINES

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Pasil, in Cebu City, Philippines, launched the Mamma Margaret’s Garden last year. Pasil is one of the villages in Cebu City that is highly populated and the houses are densely packed. Availability of land for planting is very limited so the project used recycled plastic bottles to plant fruits and vegetables

Salesian Brother Julius Ysulan and Brother Raffy Besonia run the garden and provide weekly educational sessions on environmental issues. After a year of planting and growing, the harvest is here. Families have fruits and vegetables without having to use their limited money to buy them at the store.

Mc Dowell C. Colarte II, a youth in Pasil, said, “Bro. Julius shared his seedling experience during the lockdown in Cebu City last year. He also introduced us to some environmental initiatives and Pope Francis’ 2020 Laudato Si’, which has as its theme ‘Good Christians and Upright Citizens.’ Bro. Julius talked about how beneficial plants can be to society, how a single trash can affect us, and how fun planting is—just like having a pet, you take care of it.”

James Delima, KOA member and youth leader, noted, “I’ve learned that we can use those unused things around us—empty plastic bottles and rubber tires—and turn it into something that we can benefit from. It’s not too late to help nature by throwing out trash and planting trees, fruits and vegetables so that we can harvest it if we don’t have anything to eat. It is true that planting is not that easy, but he who plants trees, love others besides himself.”

This garden is one of many initiatives launched during the pandemic. Several Salesian organizations in the Philippines started farming and gardening projects to help provide food relief to families in need. An 8,000-square-meter soccer field at St. John Bosco Parish, located in Tondo, Manila, had its first harvest festival where anyone could pay and harvest vegetables. The initiative launched in October 2020 and was spearheaded by the Department of Agrarian Reform, along with the Department of Agriculture, St. John Bosco Parish and the Manila local government. The project resulted in the first urban farm in Manila.

The project was launched by six agrarian reform beneficiaries from Cavite, who are known as farmer-scientists. They volunteered to teach the residents of Tondo skills and techniques in urban vegetable farming. After the initial training, Tondo residents planted squash, upo, kangkong, spinach, mustard, and pechay in the vegetable garden. The urban farm is benefiting people living in 17 barangays (neighborhoods) around the St. John Bosco Parish.

Since 1950, Salesian Missions has been providing crucial help in the Philippines—working with at-risk youth, impoverished families and disaster victims. Humanitarian agencies warn of the dangers faced by the most disadvantaged children in the Philippines. According to UNICEF, there are at least 1.2 million children between the ages of 5 and 15 who are out of school and are being left behind. In addition, children born into the poorest 20 percent of the population are almost three times more likely to die during their first five years as those from the richest 20 percent.

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PHILIPPINES

(MissionNewswire) Two youth attending the Don Bosco Technical Vocational Center in Calauan, Philippines, continued their studies thanks to scholarship funding provided by donors of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. The financial assistance received will enable the students to gain the education needed to find and retain stable employment either locally or internationally.

Don Bosco Calauan provides education in automotive servicing, motorcycle small engine servicing, computer systems servicing, electrical installation and maintenance, and shielded metal arc welding.

“We at Don Bosco Calauan are grateful to Salesian Missions for the support you have given us especially in this great moment of crisis,” said Father Jeffrey L. Mangubat, administrator and technical director of Don Bosco Calauan. “We thank you for being part of our mission in cutting the vicious cycle of poverty among youth as we provide them quality technical education and training which will bring them to obtain a decent future. The students and their parents are very grateful for this wonderful opportunity.”

The Salesians are regarded as the single largest provider of vocational and technical training in the world. They offer more than 1,000 vocational, technical, professional and agricultural schools around the globe. This training provides youth the practical skills to prepare for employment and helps them lead productive lives while becoming contributing adults in their communities. These programs go beyond educating. They also assist youth with making connections within industries and preparing them for the process of searching, finding and retaining employment.

“We know that access to education lays the foundation for a better future for all youth and that work must continue even as we face a global health crisis,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions. “In many countries around the globe where poverty is high and access to education is not universal, it is crucial that Salesian missionaries continue to offer technical and vocational training to as many youth as possible to ensure that they have access to long-term stable employment.”

Since 1950, Salesian Missions has been providing crucial help in the Philippines—working with at-risk youth, impoverished families and disaster victims. Humanitarian agencies warn of the dangers faced by the most disadvantaged children in the Philippines. According to UNICEF, there are at least 1.2 million children between the ages of 5-15 who are out of school and are being left behind. In addition, children born into the poorest 20 percent of the population are almost three times more likely to die during their first five years as those from the richest 20 percent.

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PHILIPPINES

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Technical and Vocational Training Centers in the southern Philippines are providing a blended learning environment for students and teachers during the 2020-2021 school year, thanks in part to funding received from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. The funding supported more than 500 trainees and 48 instructors in eight Don Bosco centers in Cebu, Negros, Iloilo, Eastern Samar in the Visayas Islands and Davao in the Mindanao Islands.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has caused an upheaval in all aspects of life, including education,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions. “Digital readiness has never been more important. We are pleased to be able to support Salesian missionaries as they work to find a new way of educating students and ensuring that their teachers have the resources that they need to continue to provide technical and vocational training.”

Don Bosco centers in the southern Philippines are committed to delivering blended learning this school year and in the future. Centers are working to reimagine educational opportunities to create a “new normal” that maintains and improves the quality of life of students.

Internet connectivity is a challenge not only faced by Don Bosco educators and learners but by the whole country. The biggest hurdle is the lack of access to online facilities for those living in conditions of poverty. With funding, recording rooms were set up in each of the Don Bosco centers for digital production of learning materials.

In addition, the funding provided a trainee package comprising of a flash drive, printed modules, two washable face masks and one face shield. Trainees were also given a rent-to-own tablet, along with a food and accommodation subsidy.

Online classes are using a combination of Google Classrooms, Google Meet and Facebook Messenger. During online classes, trainees can use the flash drive, which contains digital learning modules, including videos, illustrations, interactive exercises and other offline learning modalities developed by the Don Bosco centers. Content of the flash drives is updated with each week’s lessons along with a printable version of the educational materials.

The Don Bosco centers are providing a monthly internet incentive to instructors to facilitate online teaching, online activities, and online follow-ups. At the Don Bosco centers, there is internet connection for instructors. For instructors who do not have a device for online classes, rent-to-own laptops are being made available for two years interest-free.

Since 1950, Salesian Missions has been providing crucial help in the Philippines—working with at-risk youth, impoverished families and disaster victims. Humanitarian agencies warn of the dangers faced by the most disadvantaged children in the Philippines. According to UNICEF, there are at least 1.2 million children between the ages of 5 and 15 who are out of school and are being left behind. In addition, children born into the poorest 20 percent of the population are almost three times more likely to die during their first five years as those from the richest 20 percent.

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PHILIPPINES

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries are helping 2,600 families after the Suba River, near the St. Joseph Worker Salesian Parish, caused flash flooding in Victorias City, Philippines. The flooding resulted in the destruction of homes and many people lost everything.

Many families found shelter in the large Shrine of Mary Immaculate in the Cane Town district, a space Salesians opened during the flooding for those who needed a safe place. Salesian missionaries have been collecting donations including boxes of pasta, clothes, blankets, towels, shoes, bags of rice, soap, biscuits and preserves.

Salesian Father Joriz Calsa, youth ministry delegate, shared a message on the parish Facebook page. “Blessings of help poured in from some of our friends in Cebu, local communities and Don Bosco Past Pupils of different schools. So far, we are on our second week giving food assistance. The past two weeks we have distributed the food packs and other relief goods to 2,600 families. We focused on this help, since the materials for reconstruction cost a lot and it is beyond our means.”

Fr. Calsa added, “Our parish initiative was very much appreciated especially when we opened the doors of our large shrine as an evacuation center which sheltered 87 people the night of the flood. People also appreciated the distribution of food assistance.”

The relief work was supported by many parish volunteers who packed relief goods and then were involved in the distribution. The packages were initially distributed in the Cane Town Shrine, then from house to house. Relief items are still coming in and are being provided to families in need.

The St. Joseph Worker Parish covers a large rural geographic area where most people earn their living from agriculture. Located on the island of Negros, it is the first Salesian presence in the Philippines, having started in 1951. The parish is part of a broader Salesian mission in the area. Salesians offer education and social development services in the region.

Since 1950, Salesian Missions has been providing crucial help in the Philippines—working with at-risk youth, impoverished families and disaster victims. Humanitarian agencies warn of the dangers faced by the most disadvantaged children in the Philippines. According to UNICEF, there are at least 1.2 million children between the ages of 5 and 15 who are out of school and are being left behind. In addition, children born into the poorest 20 percent of the population are almost three times more likely to die during their first five years as those from the richest 20 percent.

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PHILIPPINES

(MissionNewswire) An 8,000-square-meter soccer field at St. John Bosco Parish, located in Tondo, Manila, Philippines, had its first harvest festival where anyone could pay and harvest vegetables. The initiative was launched in October 2020 and was spearheaded by the Department of Agrarian Reform, along with the Department of Agriculture, St. John Bosco Parish and the Manila local government. The project resulted in the first urban farm in Manila.

The project was launched by six agrarian reform beneficiaries from Cavite, who are known as farmer-scientists. They volunteered to teach the residents of Tondo skills and techniques in urban vegetable farming. After the initial training, Tondo residents planted squash, upo, kangkong, spinach, mustard, and pechay in the vegetable garden. The urban farm is benefiting people living in 17 barangays (neighborhoods) around the St. John Bosco Parish.

According to a recent article on CNN Philippines, Agrarian Reform Secretary John Castriciones said the project was initiated to help people badly hit by the pandemic. He explained that vegetable production has been impacted by the typhoons that struck the country last year. A recent independent survey noted that 30.7 percent of families, an estimated 7.6 million households, have experienced hunger due to lack of food, in the past three months.

“We know that there has been difficulty in transporting vegetables from the provinces because of the typhoons and restrictions due to the pandemic. That’s why there’s a need to educate residents in Metro Manila and other urban areas on urban agriculture,” said Castriciones in the CNN Philippines article.

According to Castriciones, there are plans to expand the project to Quezon City and Caloocan where there have already been talks with local government leaders.

Since 1950, Salesian Missions has been providing crucial help in the Philippines—working with at-risk youth, impoverished families and disaster victims. Humanitarian agencies warn of the dangers faced by the most disadvantaged children in the Philippines. According to UNICEF, there are at least 1.2 million children between the ages of 5 and 15 who are out of school and are being left behind. In addition, children born into the poorest 20 percent of the population are almost three times more likely to die during their first five years as those from the richest 20 percent.

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CNN Philippines – Tondo residents hold a “pick, harvest and pay” promo in their 1st urban vegetable garden harvest festival

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PHILIPPINES

(MissionNewswire) The Salesian St. John Bosco Parish, in Minoyan, Murcia, Negros Occidental, Philippines, has access to clean water thanks to a new project funded by the Salesian Missions “Clean Water Initiative.” The new water supply will serve the Salesian Youth Center, kindergarten, parish office and rectory. The project included the installation of pipelines for a new water source, construction of a raised stand for the water tank, and installation of a water tank and motor pump.

The Salesian parish population serves close to 15,000 people, 90 percent of whom are poor subsistence farmers and sugarcane plantation workers. The majority of the people depend on the government for the basic services that are, more often than not, inefficiently delivered.

Inside the parish compound, Salesian missionaries operate a kindergarten program, which prepares disadvantaged children for formal education. Among elementary students in the Philippines, it’s been found that children who attend kindergarten fare much better academically than those who don’t. However, most kindergarten programs are operated by private institutions that require tuition fees. Most parents in Minoyan only earn a meager income for food which leaves nothing for the cost of education.

In addition to classes, Salesian missionaries also offer pastoral activities and gatherings, requiring a steady water supply for the parish. Prior to the project, the Salesian parish received its water supply from an old source that was also supplying water to a large number of households in Minoyan, leading to an inadequate water supply for the parish.

“The water projects we fund ensure that Salesian programs around the globe have access to safe, clean water for the health and safety of those we serve,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Access to clean water brings a sense of dignity to communities and promotes proper hygiene. This also reduces the number of waterborne illnesses that can affect those in our schools, keeping them away from important study time.”

Since 1950, Salesian Missions has been providing crucial help in the Philippines—working with at-risk youth, impoverished families and disaster victims. Humanitarian agencies warn of the dangers faced by the most disadvantaged children in the Philippines. According to UNICEF, there are at least 1.2 million children between the ages of 5 and 15 who are out of school and are being left behind. In addition, children born into the poorest 20 percent of the population are almost three times more likely to die during their first five years as those from the richest 20 percent.

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PHILIPPINES

(MissionNewswire) The Salesian Youth Center at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Cebu, Philippines, has launched the #Let’sPlantPositivity initiative, a challenge to promote urban agriculture among youth. The initiative was organized by the Parochial Youth Coordination Council, led by Salesian Father Abundio Bacatan, the new director for youth.

Started on July 9, youth were challenged to grow fruit and vegetables at home to teach them the various stages of cultivation, to help them fight the negativity caused by the pandemic, and to reflect on Pope Francis’ encyclical “Laudato Sì,” which was inaugurated on May 18, commemorating the fifth anniversary of the publication of his eco-encyclical with the same title. At the end of the challenge, the eight youth who had done the best job with their project received gift vouchers.

Cultivation of food at home and at local farms has been critical during the pandemic. Many locations have seen food shortages, and families have lost income and can no longer buy food. Don Bosco Training Center in Mati, the capital city of the province of East Davao, located on the southeastern side of the island of Mindanao, also launched an agricultural project to deal with the quarantine period due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under the guidance of Father Rex Carbilledo, the director of the vocational-technical training center, the soil was prepared for cultivation and the first vegetables were planted. Salesians are planting eggplants, okra, lettuce, sweet potatoes, cassava, onions, ginger and sweet corn. The goal was to provide organic and affordable vegetables to the local population and neighboring communities, and to teach them cultivation and farming techniques.

“Providing an opportunity to cultivate the land during this time is important for ensuring that local populations have a source of food and are learning the farming techniques to help make their farms more productive,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Missionaries provide education and workforce development paired with other social services to help poor youth break the cycle of poverty and have hope for the future.”

Since 1950, Salesian Missions has been providing crucial help in the Philippines—working with at-risk youth, impoverished families and disaster victims. Humanitarian agencies warn of the dangers faced by the most disadvantaged children in the Philippines. According to UNICEF, there are at least 1.2 million children between the ages of 5 and 15 who are out of school and are being left behind. In addition, children born into the poorest 20 percent are almost three times more likely to die during their first five years as those from the richest 20 percent.

Salesian missionaries, supported by funding from Salesian Missions, were at the forefront of disaster relief during reconstruction after the Nov. 8, 2013 Super Typhoon Haiyan (locally known as Yolanda) devastated the country. According to United Nations estimates, 11.5 million people were affected by Haiyan and close to 1 million were displaced. More than half a million were homeless and living in the streets among the debris. Salesian missionaries mobilized all resources and efforts to aid the victims of this and other disasters.

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ANS – Philippines – #Let’sPlantPositivity: a challenge to promote urban agriculture among young people

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PHILIPPINES: Don Bosco Center Mati launches new farming initiative in response to COVID-19 pandemic

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PHILIPPINES

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries and volunteers with Don Bosco Center and the St. John Bosco Parish in Tondo, Philippines, have been working to ensure that families in the region have the food and support they need during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. To date, they have supported half a million families including those of parishioners and from other churches, youth, and technical education students.

Tondo makes up 38 percent of the total population of Manila and has the poorest of the poor living in the district. The homes in Tondo Barangay 115 are located in alleys that zig-zag haphazardly, allowing diseases to spread easily. Families in this area have been most impacted by the lockdown because they are sidewalk vendors or live on the street.

Salesian missionaries had assistance in helping the poor. Caritas Manila provided 26 million pesos worth of gift checks that Salesians evenly distributed to each family regardless of religion, race and stability. Private individuals who wanted to remain anonymous shared their resources with the sole purpose of assisting those who are most vulnerable. They shared sacks of rice, diapers, milk, canned goods, frozen meats, fresh vegetables and bottled water. These items were distributed to the 17 Barangays served by St. John Bosco Parish.

“Salesian missionaries are grateful for the donors and volunteers who helped make these relief efforts possible,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Volunteers worked to sort, pack and distribute goods to these families. We are so fortunate to have their support during this time.”

Salesians have also had to change how they provide spiritual support. Thanks to the advancement of technology, the parish and the Salesian community have reached people through Facebook live streaming of the daily rosary, Eucharistic Adoration and Sunday Masses.

More than one-quarter of the population of the Philippines lives in poverty, according to UNICEF. Poverty is most severe and widespread in rural areas where 80 percent of the population—close to 88 million people—make their home. The poorest Filipinos are indigenous populations, small-scale farmers who cultivate land received through agrarian reform, landless workers and fishermen. In addition, poverty rates are higher for women than men.

Illiteracy and high levels of unemployment contribute to the elevated poverty rate. With more than 11 million out-of-school youth in the country and dropout rates doubling as children reach secondary school, access to education becomes a critical step in breaking the cycle of poverty. Throughout the Philippines, Salesian missionaries offer a variety of educational and social development programs for youth, many with an emphasis on recreation and sports activities. The goal is to provide the opportunities necessary to gain an education and skills training to break the cycle of poverty and retain long-term employment.

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Sources:

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

ANS – Philippines – Life jackets of hope: Don Bosco Tondo and Covid-19

Salesian Missions – Philippines

UNICEF – Philippines

The post PHILIPPINES: Don Bosco Youth Center and St. John Bosco Parish provide support to half a million families during COVID-19 relief efforts first appeared on MissionNewswire.

PHILIPPINES

(MissionNewswire) The Don Bosco Center in Mati, the capital city of the province of East Davao, located on the southeastern side of the island of Mindanao, Philippines, has started an agricultural project to deal with the quarantine period due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under the guidance of Father Rex Carbilledo, the director of the vocational-technical training center, the soil was prepared for cultivation and the first vegetables planted. Salesians are planting eggplants, okra, lettuce, sweet potatoes, cassava, onions, ginger and sweet corn. In a month or so, some of the vegetables will be ready for harvest. The goal is to provide organic and affordable vegetables to the local population and neighboring communities and to teach them cultivation and farming techniques.

Don Bosco Mati was entrusted to the Salesians in 1998 and over the years has established itself as a resource for the community which is made up of mostly poor and marginalized families. The Don Bosco Training Center in Mati has served more than 2,000 youth since its launch in 1992. Graduates are hired by some of the biggest industries and companies in the country.

“Providing an opportunity to cultivate the land during this time is important for ensuring that local populations have a source of food and are learning the farming techniques to help make their farms more productive,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Missionaries provide education and workforce development paired with other social services to help poor youth break the cycle of poverty and have hope for the future.”

Salesian agriculture programs in the Philippines and countries around the globe provide farmers with basic education, as well as advanced studies in the latest agricultural practices and modern technologies. Salesian missionaries also hope agriculture programs will entice more local youth to choose agriculture as their long-term livelihood. With a long history of providing agricultural education, missionaries currently operate more than 90 agriculture schools around the world.

More than one-quarter of the population of the Philippines lives in poverty, according to UNICEF. Poverty is most severe and widespread in rural areas where 80 percent of the population—close to 88 million people—make their home. The poorest Filipinos are indigenous populations, small-scale farmers who cultivate land received through agrarian reform, landless workers and fishermen. In addition, poverty rates are higher for women than men.

Illiteracy and high levels of unemployment contribute to the elevated poverty rate. With more than 11 million out-of-school youth in the country and dropout rates doubling as children reach secondary school, access to education becomes a critical step in breaking the cycle of poverty. Throughout the Philippines, Salesian missionaries offer a variety of educational and social development programs for youth, many with an emphasis on recreation and sports activities. The goal is to provide the opportunities necessary to gain an education and skills training to break the cycle of poverty and retain long-term employment.

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Sources:

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

ANS – Philippines – Agricultural project of Salesian community of Mati

Salesian Missions – Philippines

UNICEF – Philippines

The post PHILIPPINES: Don Bosco Center Mati launches new farming initiative in response to COVID-19 pandemic first appeared on MissionNewswire.

PHILIPPINES

(MissionNewswire) Father Chito Dimaranan, rector and president of Don Bosco Technical College, has announced that engineers from Don Bosco Tech College Mandaluyong Innovision Center will develop and produce open-source ventilators to be distributed to various hospitals in the Philippines, according to an article in the Manila Bulletin. The project will be under the supervision of engineer Romel Pasia, and the design of the ventilators is based on an MIT-Boston Medical University design.

Marlou Madrio, an IT professional and rail practitioner in Singapore who is also a Don Bosco alumnus and the designer of the prototype, said in the article that Don Bosco engineers will later iterate the prototype and mass produce it afterwards. He told the Manila Bulletin that his timetable to finish the design reference prototype is three weeks.

“We started two weeks ago answering to the call of Fr. Dimaranan to develop an open-source ventilator. We are applying robotics to actuate a medical device known as an Ambu bag,” said Madrio in the article.

Ambu bag is the proprietary name for a device known generically as a manual resuscitator or a bag valve mask. It is used to provide positive pressure ventilation to patients who are not breathing adequately.

In a Facebook post Madrio stressed the great need in the Philippines for ventilators. He wrote, “Time is of the essence. There are only 1,253 commercial ventilators in the Philippines, 153 of which are in Metro Manila. We are 105 million Filipinos with only  89,000 hospital bed capacity.”

Also on Facebook, Fr. Dimaranan called on all Don Bosco alumni around the world to help create workable, inexpensive ventilators to meet the worldwide growing demand. He posted, “Bosconians all over the world, I am calling on you to support a team of fellow Bosconian engineers based in Manila, Cebu, Singapore, USA, and others who are right now developing a workable, doable, and cheap ventilator.”

Since its launch in 1953, Don Bosco Tech College has evolved into a complex institution that now serves around 2,000 students enrolled in kindergarten through senior high school as well as college courses, and technical and vocational education.

Since 1950, Salesian Missions has been providing crucial help in the Philippines—working with at-risk youth, impoverished families and disaster victims. Humanitarian agencies warn of the dangers faced by the most disadvantaged children in the Philippines. According to UNICEF, there are at least 1.2 million children between the ages of 5 and 15 who are out of school and are being left behind. In addition, children born into the poorest 20 percent are almost three times more likely to die during their first five years as those from the richest 20 percent.

Salesian missionaries, supported by funding from Salesian Missions, were at the forefront of disaster relief during reconstruction after the Nov. 8, 2013 Super Typhoon Haiyan (locally known as Yolanda) devastated the country. According to United Nations estimates, 11.5 million people were affected by Haiyan and close to 1 million were displaced. More than half a million were homeless and living in the streets among the debris. Salesian missionaries mobilized all resources and efforts to aid the victims of this and other disasters.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Chito Dimaranan / appearing in the Rappler

Don Bosco Mandaluyong

Manila Bulletin – Don Bosco Tech engineers developing open-source ventilators to help COVID-19 patients

Salesian Missions – Philippines

UNICEF – Philippines

The post PHILIPPINES: Don Bosco Tech College Innovision Center developing open-source ventilators to help address COVID-19 pandemic first appeared on MissionNewswire.

PHILIPPINES

(MissionNewswire) Salesian Missions donors are ensuring that Don Bosco Agro-Mechanical Technology Center (known locally as Don Bosco Legazpi), located in Banquerohan, Legazpi City, Philippines, has the equipment needed for a new soybean production program on its demonstration farm. Don Bosco Legazpi is a technical vocational school offering skills training and a farm development program for youth and local farmers to help them achieve self-sufficiency.

The Don Bosco Demonstration Farm allows graduates and their families to use the land to organize small cooperatives and assists them with sourcing microfinancing, farming assistance and marketing of their agricultural products.

With the funding provided, Salesian missionaries were able to secure two front wheel tires for a John Deere tractor, a portable soy harvester, a roller seed planter, a chisel plow and spring cultivators. Fifteen farmers connected to Don Bosco Legazpi benefited directly from this donation. Some farmers in neighboring areas who utilize the center’s land preparation services, such as plowing and rotavating, have also benefited from the donation.

Aurelio Gonzales, who is a local 80-year-old farmer, was one of the beneficiaries. He has two children who graduated from Don Bosco Legazpi and are now gainfully employed. He is a member of the Don Bosco Cooperative, which serves the broader community of farmers.

Since 2015, Gonzales has utilized the Common Service Facility of Don Bosco Legazpi, especially the use of a 4-wheel drive tractor for plowing and rotavating as part of the land preparation, roller planter for planting, and other post-harvest machines.

In August 2019, Gonzales ventured into sweet corn and yellow corn production. As farmer-beneficiary, he was given access to farm machines from Don Bosco Legazpi. With the technology provided, Gonzales has been empowered and his way of farming has improved from traditional farming into more efficient and effective ways of utilizing his land. The use of mechanical machines and equipment results in a good harvest of his crops.

“We appreciate the funding our donors provided that is enabling students and local farmers to have the proper equipment necessary for updated farming techniques,” says Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Don Bosco Legazpi was specifically opened to provide technical farming education to poor youth with scarce resources, and instruct them in the practical skills of farming to allow them to earn a living and give back to their communities.”

Don Bosco Legazpi offers its students an opportunity to combine theory with practice through its hands-on approach. Students use the skills they learn in the classroom by putting them directly to work in the fields that are part of the center’s farm. They are taught theoretical and practical courses in greenhouses, growing vegetables, cereal crops, gardening, breeding, animal husbandry and veterinary sciences, as well as milk, cheese and dairy products.

Since 1950, Salesian Missions has been providing crucial help in the Philippines—working with at-risk youth, impoverished families and disaster victims. Humanitarian agencies warn of the dangers faced by the most disadvantaged children in the Philippines. According to UNICEF, there are at least 1.2 million children between the ages of 5 and 15 who are out of school and are being left behind. In addition, children born into the poorest 20 percent of the population are almost three times more likely to die during their first five years as those from the richest 20 percent.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions – Philippines

UNICEF – Philippines

The post PHILIPPINES: Don Bosco Agro-Mechanical Technology Center has new farm equipment for crop production thanks to Salesian Missions donors first appeared on MissionNewswire.

PHILIPPINES

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries have the funding for the construction of the Mama Margaret Boarding House in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines, thanks to donor funding through Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco.

The construction started in the middle of August 2019 and is expected to finish in July 2020. When completed, the boarding house will have nine bedrooms each with a bathroom. The space will also have a kitchen, dining area, living room and a parking area. The house can accommodate up to 20 boarders, both male and female young workers in the area, and three house staff or guests. A full-time houseparent will oversee the management of the house and provide ongoing support to the young workers.

In 1982 the Salesian Philippine Province acquired the 375-square-meter parcel of land in Bacolod, Negros Occidental. A house was constructed and used by the Secular Institute of the Don Bosco Volunteers as a lay formation center and boarding house. In 2000, the Secular Institute of the Don Bosco Volunteers returned the property to the Salesians. With more than 36 years of use, the property needed a major renovation and to be reconfigured as a lodging house for young workers in the city.

“We appreciate the donor support that has made this project possible,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions. “The goal is not only to provide lodging and support for these young workers, but Salesian missionaries will be able to generate an income from the property, which will generate funding back into local programming for poor youth and their families. It’s a win-win for all involved.”

Since 1950, Salesian Missions has been providing crucial help in the Philippines—working with at-risk youth, impoverished families and disaster victims. Humanitarian agencies warn of the dangers faced by the most disadvantaged children in the Philippines. According to UNICEF, there are at least 1.2 million children between the ages of 5 and 15 who are out of school and are being left behind. In addition, children born into the poorest 20 percent of the population are almost three times more likely to die during their first five years as those from the richest 20 percent.

Salesian missionaries, supported by funding from Salesian Missions, were on the forefront of disaster relief during reconstruction after the Nov. 8, 2013 Super Typhoon Haiyan (locally known as Yolanda) devastated the country. According to United Nations estimates, 11.5 million people were affected by Haiyan and close to 1 million were displaced. More than half a million were homeless and living in the streets among the debris. Salesian missionaries mobilized all resources and efforts to aid the victims of this and other disasters.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions – Philippines

UNICEF – Philippines

The post PHILIPPINES: Salesian Missions donors provide funding for construction and renovation of new Mama Margaret Boarding House for young workers first appeared on MissionNewswire.

PHILIPPINES

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries have been responding with aid relief for those impacted by the Taal volcano eruption that started on Jan. 12, 2020. The Taal volcano is the second most active volcano in the Philippines and is located on Luzon Islands, in the province of Batangas. The most recent eruption forced tens of thousands of people to leave their homes in search of safety and shelter.

In Batangas and Canlubang, Salesian missionaries and their lay mission partners have been assisting thousands of people with support both before the eruption and now in its wake. The local Mayapa Parish is operated by Rector Father Cerada and three Salesian priests.

Fr. Cerada noted, “Our social action ministry is still very busy with relief operations since many Taal volcano victims are coming to our vicinity and living with their relatives since they don’t have electricity and water in their areas. We are glad that our partners are able to help us in relief operations. I also asked for the help of our Bishop and the social action ministry of the Laguna diocese of San Pablo. Right now, we are planning to rehabilitate our three affected barrios, especially helping people with their livelihoods.”

Money has also been raised locally to help some families. The funding, which been allocated for housing materials, food and medical care, supported 119 families who are staying at the Little Bliss Evacuation Center, located in Malasila, North Cotabato.

In addition, each child was given a lunch box, spoon and fork, toothbrush and toothpaste, a pair of slippers, and a tumbler. Mothers and the elderly were given vitamins, blankets and towels. Volunteers were also there to serve lunch for the evacuees. These efforts were made possible thanks to parishioners of the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, Don Bosco FIS-Provincial House, Don Bosco-Victorias, Philippine Dental Association, the BCBP group and local doctors who donated.

“We are inspired and proud of this small gesture of human and Christian solidarity in difficult times, and we pray that more Salesian family members are inspired and continue to reach out to the people in need,” added Fr. Cerada.

Since 1950, Salesian Missions has been providing crucial help in the Philippines—working with at-risk youth, impoverished families and disaster victims. Humanitarian agencies warn of the dangers faced by the most disadvantaged children in the Philippines. According to UNICEF, there are at least 1.2 million children between the ages of 5 and 15 who are out of school and are being left behind. In addition, children born into the poorest 20 percent of the population are almost three times more likely to die during their first five years as those from the richest 20 percent.

Salesian missionaries, supported by funding from Salesian Missions, were at the forefront of disaster relief during reconstruction after the Nov. 8, 2013 Super Typhoon Haiyan (locally known as Yolanda) devastated the country. According to United Nations estimates, 11.5 million people were affected by Haiyan and close to 1 million were displaced. More than half a million were homeless and living in the streets among the debris. Salesian missionaries mobilized all resources and efforts to aid the victims of this and other disasters.

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Sources:

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

ANS – The Philippines – Volcano Taal or Mindanao earthquake victims helped by many Salesian Family members

Salesian Missions – Philippines

UNICEF – Philippines

The post PHILIPPINES: Salesian missionaries provide aid relief for those impacted by Taal volcano eruption in January first appeared on MissionNewswire.

PHILIPPINES

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Technical College in Mandaluyong City, Philippines, recently held Toyota Motor Philippines’ Hybrid Campus Tour to educate students on the benefits of electric vehicles. A total of 465 students from various fields participated in seminars on the advantages of electric vehicles, according to an article in Wheels.PH. The news article reports that this third leg of the tour delivered the highest recorded attendance.

The event gave faculty members and students within mechanical engineering, architecture, electronics and communications engineering, computer science, and aviation mechanical technology an opportunity to take a closer look at Toyota’s hybrid technology.

In addition to the seminars provided, technical experts provided test drives for students and faculty members, allowing them a chance to get behind the wheel of the new Corolla Altis hybrid variant and the Prius C. Attendees were also able to engage with interactive displays like a stationary bike charger and multimedia exhibits.

In an interview with WHEELS.PH, Cristina Arevalo, first vice president with Toyota Motors Philippines, said that the Hybrid Campus Tour is helping the company to support the Toyota Environment Challenge 2050, which aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 90 percent.

In the article, Arevalo explained, “We are trying to contribute to this not only by production plant initiatives but by also promoting the use of the hybrid technology through the introduction of our hybrid electric vehicles.”

She went on to say, “We see them (youth) as our future partners in meeting our global environmental challenge. By explaining the socio-economic benefits of hybrid electric vehicles, we are hoping that these students will start to appreciate and talk about it.”

Winston Dereje, director of engineering at Don Bosco Technical College, noted in the article that the partnership between Don Bosco and Toyota is an opportunity to educate students on the science behind hybrid technology and how it helps the environment through lowering society’s carbon footprint.

“We educate for life—this is the mission of all Don Bosco Educational Centers,” said Dereje in the Wheels.PH article. “It is truly a technology with a soul and an inspiration for the young to be lifelong learners.”

Since 1950, Salesian Missions has been providing crucial help in the Philippines—working with at-risk youth, impoverished families and disaster victims. Humanitarian agencies warn of the dangers faced by the most disadvantaged children in the Philippines. According to UNICEF, there are at least 1.2 million children between the ages of 5 and 15 who are out of school and are being left behind. In addition, children born into the poorest 20 percent are almost three times more likely to die during their first five years as those from the richest 20 percent.

Salesian missionaries, supported by funding from Salesian Missions, were at the forefront of disaster relief during reconstruction after the Nov. 8, 2013 Super Typhoon Haiyan (locally known as Yolanda) devastated the country. According to United Nations estimates, 11.5 million people were affected by Haiyan and close to 1 million were displaced. More than half a million were homeless and living in the streets among the debris. Salesian missionaries mobilized all resources and efforts to aid the victims of this and other disasters.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Don Bosco Mandaluyong

Don Bosco Mandaluyong

Salesian Missions – Philippines

UNICEF – Philippines

Wheels.PH – Toyota Hybrid Campus Tour makes stop at Don Bosco Mandaluyong

The post PHILIPPINES: Don Bosco Technical College hosts Toyota Motor Philippines’ Hybrid Campus Tour to educate students on the benefits of electric vehicles first appeared on MissionNewswire.

New Rochelle, New York – This summer, between June and September, Salesian missionaries from various locations around the world will be visiting Catholic parishes throughout the U.S. to share inspirational stories about Salesian programs and the donors that support them making a difference in the lives of poor and disadvantaged youth. As part of the annual Missionary Cooperative Program, these forums are open to the public and Salesian donors and others interested in the work of Salesian missionaries are encouraged to attend.

This year, the visiting Salesian missionaries are from Sierra Leone, Tanzania, South Africa, Nicaragua, the Philippines and several locations in India. They will visit Catholic parishes from New York to California with several stops in between, sharing their stories of missionary work in education, workforce development and health and nutrition programs for youth and their families.

“We strive in many ways to communicate the depth and breadth of our mission and work, but nothing can compare to hearing firsthand accounts from our missionaries working and living in impoverished communities,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “In more than 130 countries around the globe, Salesian missionaries are providing support and life-changing programs that help youth and their families break the cycle of poverty and lead healthy and productive lives.”

Among those visiting include Father Jose Ubaldino, rector and parish priest at St. John Bosco Community in Sierra Leone’s capital city, Freetown. Sierra Leone has been ravaged by a 10-year civil war that has resulted in 500,000 displaced families, 60,000 orphans and thousands of street children seeking refuge in large cities. The Salesian-run Don Bosco Fambul in Freetown, is one of the country’s leading child-welfare organizations and has been on the forefront of efforts to help prevent the spread of Ebola while providing care for children left orphaned. Fr. Ubaldino will be visiting parishes in New York, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and California from June through August.

Several Salesian missionaries from cities across India will also be attending the forums. Father Dennis Panipitcha began his ministry in Arunachal Pradesh, India, where for 12 years he served in various capacities as administrator, rector and parish priest. Since 2006, he has been the rector and principal at Don Bosco Higher Secondary School in Kohima, Nagaland. As one of the only high schools in the impoverished northeast region of India, the school is recognized for transforming the economic, social and cultural status of the area’s residents. Fr. Panipitcha will be visiting parishes in Kansas and Nebraska in June and July.

“The great work of Salesian missionaries is only made possible through our generous donors and we encourage them, and others interested in learning how donations are making a very real and tangible difference in the lives of children and families in need, to join these public forums,” adds. Fr. Hyde.

To learn more about the visiting Salesian missionaries, including their bios and forum dates and locations, please visit Salesian Missions’ Missionary Cooperative Program.

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 GLOBAL: Salesian Missionaries from around the Globe Visit U.S. Parishes to Share Success Stories first appeared on MissionNewswire.

The association’s members are former students from the Don Bosco Missionary Seminary, formerly the High School Aspirantate, which closed in 2005 and paved the way for the current school. Several past pupils are in the medical profession including Dr. Alex Junia, a cardiologist and current president of the Philippine Heart Association as well as coordinator of the medical clinic.

The annual medical clinic was held in cooperation with the local government of Lawaan, a barangay of Talisay City. Government social workers were able to identify those most in need of medical care and coordinated their attendance at the event. The clinic provided medical consultations, pediatric clearances and referrals, glucose tests, blood pressure examinations, ECGs, medical ultrasounds and free medicines. Close to 200 packs of rice with noodles were also distributed to those who needed the nutritional support.

“The health of people we serve is very important to us,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “The work we do in the Philippines and in programs around the globe goes beyond education. We serve the whole person by making sure that basic needs like health and nutrition are met in addition to other social service needs.”

Access to nutrition, education and health services is essential to creating a sustainable society and optimistic future. More than one year after Typhoon Haiyan (also known as Typhoon Yolanda) devastated portions of Southeast Asia, particularly the Philippines, Salesian missionaries continue to work in the region to assist those who lost their homes and their livelihoods. While missionaries have successfully completed many community rehabilitation and rebuilding projects that have allowed survivors to return to their normal lives, there is still much work to be done.

“Salesian missionaries are engaged in a wide range of programs to improve the lives of the people in the Philippines,” adds Fr. Hyde. “Poor youth and their families receive support at community health centers, orphanages, parishes and youth centers. In addition, education is provided through Salesian-run primary, secondary, technical and agricultural schools – many of which provide room and board to their students.”

More than one quarter of the population of the Philippines lives in poverty, according to UNICEF. Poverty is most severe and widespread in rural areas where 80 percent of the population–close to 88 million people–make their home. The poorest Filipinos are indigenous populations, small-scale farmers who cultivate land received through agrarian reform, landless workers and fisherman. In addition, poverty rates are higher for women than men.

Illiteracy and high levels of unemployment contribute to the elevated poverty rate. With more than 11 million out-of-school youth in the country and drop-out rates doubling as children reach secondary school, access to education becomes a critical step in breaking the cycle of poverty.

Throughout the Philippines, Salesian missionaries offer a variety of educational and social development programs for youth, many with an emphasis on recreation and sports activities. The goal is to provide the opportunities necessary to gain an education and skills training to break the cycle of poverty and retain long-term employment.

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Sources:

ANS – Philippines – Past Pupils hold Medical Mission

Don Bosco Formation Center Facebook

Don Bosco Formation Center Website

UNICEF – Philippines

The post PHILIPPINES: Past Pupils of Don Bosco Hold Medical Clinic Providing Care for Children and the Elderly first appeared on MissionNewswire.

According to UNICEF, there are an estimated 1.5 million street children in the Philippines, about 75,000 of whom are living in Manila, with thousands more ending up homeless every month. Drop-out rates double as children reach secondary school and there are more than 11 million out-of-school youth.

“Most of the children who end up on our streets are forced into a life of sexual abuse and drugs, and are rounded up into crime syndicates often having no one to turn to,” says Sister Marivic Ana, executive director of the Laura Vicuña Foundation. “The girls are often abused by their own peers and others looking to exploit them and then they become victims of trafficking. They come to us severely traumatized.”

In 2012, the Laura Vicuña Foundation received the Impact Award under the Protection Category in the Asia Pacific Region from the Stars Foundation in London. The comprehensive work of the foundation, particularly its pioneering child protection clinic on wheels and its three Children of the Canes national conferences focusing on a socially responsible sugar industry, were highlighted as programs that helped it secure the award. The Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco used the $100,000 prize money received with the award to help build a larger facility for the healing and recovery of sexually-abused girls. The new building also houses a training center and the foundation’s offices.

“We focus our efforts on reaching out to children in their communities, schools and even homes which is why our mobile protection unit is so effective,” adds Sr. Ana. “We want to extend the reach of that unit to child laborers in the sugarcane industry. These children are highly at risk from hazardous labor, from trafficking and from sexual exploitation. Taking a second mobile unit out into the plantations where these children are is the only way that we can intervene now and offer them protection.”

The Laura Vicuña Foundation also offers technical education to empower youth by training them in the skills necessary to find and retain stable employment and lead lives free from poverty and exploitation. In addition to attending classroom seminars, students enrolled in the foundation’s technical training programs have access to hands-on skills training and internships set up through the foundation and the local business community.

“Traditional classroom learning is an important part of any education program, and when students are able to take those skills and practice them in an interactive learning environment, there is added educational value,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Salesian missionaries are preparing students for long-term stable employment while providing a steady workforce for growing industries in the Philippines.”

Throughout the Philippines, Salesian missionaries offer a variety of educational and social development programs for youth, many with an emphasis on recreation and sports activities. The goal is to provide the opportunities necessary to gain an education and skills training to break the cycle of poverty and retain long-term employment.

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Sources:

Laura Vicuña Foundation

UNICEF – Philippines

The post PHILIPPINES: Laura Vicuña Foundation Provides Hope and Healing for Victims of Abuse and Exploitation first appeared on MissionNewswire.

The success of the conference was made possible through the support of the Don Bosco Formation Center’s Pastoral Communication students from Talisay City, the Commission on Youth Ministry, the Salesian Youth Movement and FIS Social Communications.

The conference theme was “Ctrl Shift Del: Cyber Teens Responsible Leaders” and utilized commands typically available on a computer keyboard to convey the main conference message of “Teaching the youth to shift their views, control their lives and delete the negativity in social media.” As part of the conference, youth drafted and signed a manifesto against cyber-bullying.

“We see that cyber-bullying is an inhumane, intolerable act and if left unattended, will eventually damage more people and teens like us. However, we, as Cyber Teens Responsible Leaders, can be advocates for its eradication,” the manifesto read.

The manifesto also contained the young leaders’ commitment to advocacy on how to use social media appropriately and effectively.

“We believe that our advocacy begins with defining our boundaries on proper media usage anchored on the values of respect, empathy, discipline, sincerity and compassion. We likewise believe that such advocacy empowers young people like us in accepting our differences regardless of physical attributes, race, social status, economic standing, belief or religion,” the manifesto read.

It went on to say: “Therefore, we commit to be catalysts in an enlightened youth movement that boldly stands up against cyberbullying, raises awareness and educates our fellow teenagers on the responsible use of ICTs and lends voice to those who don’t have the courage to seek help and speak out.”

During the conference, a special Twitter hashtag, #CTRLYouthCon, was launched and conference messages reached nearly 30,000 people during the week following the event.

“Salesian missionaries aim to provide education and tools to help youth lead safe, happy and productive lives,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “This conference covered a very important topic for youth today.”

Having access to education is a critical step in overcoming poverty. In the Philippines, drop-out rates double as children reach secondary school and there are more than 11 million out-of-school youth, according to UNICEF. Almost a quarter of the country’s population (including a large percentage of children) live in poverty.

Salesian missionaries in the country offer a variety of educational and social development programs for youth, many with an emphasis on recreation and sports activities. The goal is to provide the opportunities necessary to gain an education and break the cycle of poverty as well as the skills to secure and retain long-term employment.

Sources:

ANS – Philippines – Youth Against Cyber Bullying

UNICEF – Philippines

The post PHILIPPINES: Salesian Anti-Cyberbullying Conference Provides Education to 200 Youth first appeared on MissionNewswire.

According to statements made by Father Reechee Espiritu, a Salesian administrator, in a recent Sun Star newspaper article about the festival, the name of the event derived from an acronym for One Negros Encounter, a celebration of the unification of two Negros provinces through the establishment of the NIR (Negros Island Region) or Region 18. “Juan” refers to St. John Bosco, founder of the Salesians.

Father Espiritu also noted that the festival was responsible for the recent partnership between St. John’s Institute in Bacolod and the Salesians of Don Bosco of the South Province. The sports festival worked to foster unity and camaraderie among the three Salesian educational institutions and showcased the talents and skills of participants through various sporting and recreational events. Games began shortly after the opening ceremonies and activities on January 8 and were followed by friendly sports competitions. The event closed with a Catholic mass and dinner for the athletes.

“Throughout the Philippines, Salesian missionaries offer a variety of educational and social development programs for youth, many with an emphasis on recreation and sports activities,” says Father Mark Hyde, the executive director of Salesians Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “The goal is to provide the opportunities necessary to gain an education and skills training to break the cycle of poverty and retain long-term employment.”

Salesian missionaries across the Philippines incorporate sports programs into their traditional educational activities. The Madridejos Football Club of Cebu Province, Philippines, recently extended its programs to Bantayan Island and donated soccer balls to Salesian elementary and high school students and those attending Salesian youth programs there. The soccer program is part of the rehabilitation and rebuilding assistance provided by Salesian missionaries since typhoon Yolanda devastated much of the country in 2013. The football club has helped many young people remain in school, and for many players, their skills on the field have granted them access to scholarships that have allowed them to continue their studies at the university level.

“Sports programs teach youth both on and off the field,” adds Fr. Hyde. “Learning and playing team sports encourages leadership skills as well as teaches youth to work as part of a team. Students also learn important social skills and have opportunities for growth and maturity.”

More than one quarter of the population of the Philippines lives in poverty, according to UNICEF. Poverty is most severe and widespread in rural areas where 80 percent of the population–close to 88 million people–make their home. The poorest Filipinos are indigenous populations, small-scale farmers who cultivate land received through agrarian reform, landless workers and fisherman. In addition, poverty rates are higher for women than men.

Illiteracy and high levels of unemployment contribute to the elevated poverty rate. With more than 11 million out-of-school youth in the country and drop-out rates doubling as children reach secondary school, access to education becomes a critical step in breaking the cycle of poverty.

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Sources:

Sun Star – Salesian schools in NIR to hold sportsfest

UNICEF – Philippines

The post PHILIPPINES: Three Salesian Schools Take Part in Sports Festival Highlighting Student Skills first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Access to education is a critical component to overcoming poverty. In the Philippines, drop-out rates double as children reach secondary school and there are more than 11 million out-of-school youth, according to UNICEF. Almost a quarter of the country’s population, including a large percentage of children, live in poverty.

The Tuloy Foundation goes beyond providing a home for at-risk youth. Once off the streets, foundation participants are removed from a life exposed to begging, theft, drugs and prostitution, among other negative influences. Children must be at least 9 years old to enter the foundation’s school program which begins in first grade and continues through technical training. Those who are just coming in off the streets receive food, clothing, shelter, healthcare, recreation, education and skills training. Older youth pursue technical training in a variety of technologies including automotive, electrical, welding and woodworking in addition to other studies. Participants also have the ability to access on-the-job training in sponsor companies.

“It is up to each individual youth to make the most of the programs being offered,” says Fr. Evangelista. “Youth decide if they want to stay living at the foundation until they are 18, and if so, spend the last 18 months with us taking technical and vocational training to prepare for employment after graduation.”

Father Evangelista was able to expand the program in 1999 through a partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development which leased 4.5 hectares of land in Alabang, the third largest district in Muntinlupa. In addition to residential and educational facilities, youth can take classes at the Tuloy Nature Therapy Center, a retreat that introduces these former street children to the beauty of nature. Offering classes in farming and agriculture, the center features sustainable organic aquaponics and a composting farm that provides food for the students and generates income for the center from the community.

In 2014, Capital One Philippines Support Service Corp. (COPSSC), the global business processing services arm of the United States based Capital One Financial Corp., opened a new learning facility at Tuloy’s Don Bosco School in Alabang. The facility houses Tuloy’s Call Center Readiness Program, a 13-month training program designed by Capital One Philippines to teach students key competencies required for entry-level positions in business processing outsourcing and other service industries.

The Call Center Readiness program expanded the current academic and vocational training offerings at the Don Bosco School. In the first seven months of the program, students receive intensive classroom training in the English language and computer basics as well as the fundamentals of customer service. In the final six months of the program, students receive interactive hands-on training at the new learning facility and upon successful completion, are given the opportunity to gain permanent job placement at Capital One Philippines.

The students at Tuloy are given many opportunities they would otherwise not have both inside and outside the classroom. Thanks to the generosity of private donors and sponsors, students can choose extra-curricular activities such as gardening, dancing and rugby. The importance of team sports, such as rugby, helps student learn teamwork, respect for others and discipline, all skills that can be applied to other aspects of life.

“The Tuloy Foundation provides education and a wide variety of opportunities to poor youth, helping them break the cycle of poverty,” adds Fr. Evangelista. “With programs like those offered at Tuloy, Salesian missionaries in the Philippines work to meet the ever growing needs of street children to ensure that every child has the opportunity to reach his or her potential.”

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Sources:

Tuloy Foundation

UNICEF – Philippines

The post PHILIPPINES: Salesian-run Tuloy Foundation Provides Education and Social Support to More than 800 Street Youth first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Youth come from all over the Philippines to access the services provided by Don Bosco Pugad. They are referred by other religious, civic and lay organizations as well as by government organizations that work with poor and at-risk youth. Many of the Don Bosco Pugad participants were ineligible for services elsewhere but were extremely vulnerable to drug and human trafficking, sexual exploitation and child labor. Others came to the center after having been used as young combatants.

Don Bosco Pugad’s educational programs work to empower young men by training them in the technical skills necessary to find and retain stable employment and lead lives free from crime, poverty and exploitation. The center offers educational programs in electrical technology, welding, machinery and equipment installation, air-conditioning and refrigeration, automotive technology, water refill station management, baking, cooking and poultry and vegetable gardening.

In addition to attending classroom seminars, students have access to hands-on skills training and internships set up through Don Bosco Pugad and the local business community. Many of the young men who graduate from Don Bosco Pugad go on to find employment in companies across the Philippines as well as in international companies.

“Traditional classroom learning is an important part of any education program, and when students are able to take those skills and practice them in an interactive learning environment, there is added educational value,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Salesian missionaries are preparing students for long-term stable employment while providing a steady workforce for growing industries in the Philippines.”

Sports and social activity programs and educational field trips offered at Don Bosco Pugad help youth develop socially, connect with their peers and learn practical life skills.

“Sports programs for youth teach valuable skills both on and off the field,” says Fr. Hyde. “Learning and playing team sports encourages leadership and teamwork. Students also learn important social skills and are given opportunities to grow and mature.”

Don Bosco Pugad is planning to expand its operations with the opening of a professional baking, culinary and agricultural school within four years. The goal is to provide advanced professional training to students who demonstrate an aptitude in these subject areas. Once the professional school is operational and has graduated students with advanced degrees, Salesian missionaries hope that some of those graduates will remain at the school to teach incoming students.

More than one year after Typhoon Haiyan (also known as Typhoon Yolanda) devastated portions of Southeast Asia, particularly the Philippines, Salesian missionaries continue to work in the region to assist those who lost their homes and their livelihoods. While missionaries have successfully completed many community rehabilitation and rebuilding projects that have allowed survivors to return to their normal lives, there is still much work to be done.

Throughout the Philippines, Salesian missionaries offer a variety of educational and social development programs for youth, many with an emphasis on recreation and sports activities. The goal is to provide the opportunities necessary to gain an education and skills training to break the cycle of poverty and retain long-term employment.

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Sources:

Bosco News – Center for poor and needy migrant youth

UNICEF – Philippines

The post PHILIPPINES: Don Bosco Pugad Helps Troubled Youth Gain an Education and Long-term Employment first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Organized in 1996 by Coach Cesar Cantancio by the invitation of the Madridejos Mayor, Doroteo Salazar, the Madridejos Football Club was part of a sports program developed for a fishing town in Northern Cebu. Eventually, the club became a football powerhouse throughout the Island of Cebu. Coach Cantancio has dedicated eighteen years of his life to developing the football club whose players consist of elementary and high school students. He learned to play soccer himself when he was a student at the Don Bosco Boys Home in Banilad, Philippines and went on to play for the Don Bosco varsity high school team and the University of Cebu.

The Madridejos Football Club has been a champion of the Salesian Provincial Meet and has had its members go on to achieve acclaim in the sport. Elson Dorimon, a former member of the club, went on to play in the Homeless World Cup in Poland in September 2014.

Through a partnership with and support from Don Bosco Boys Home in Banilad, the football club has helped many young people remain in school. For many players, their skills on the field have granted them access to scholarships that have allowed them to continue their studies at the university level.

“Sports programs for youth teach valuable skills both on and off the field,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Learning and playing team sports encourages leadership and teamwork. Students also learn important social skills and are given opportunities to grow and mature.”

The super typhoon which struck on Nov. 8, 2013 was one of the strongest tropical cyclones ever recorded and the deadliest typhoon on record in the Philippines killing more than 6,200 people in that country alone. According to the United Nations, the super typhoon affected more than 13 million people overall. An estimated one million homes were destroyed and 4 million people were left homeless with close to 2.5 million of those displaced needing food assistance. According to the UN World Food Program, more than 5 million of those affected were children, leaving 1.5 million children at risk of acute malnutrition.

Salesian missionaries in the country offer a variety of educational and social development programs for youth, many with an emphasis on recreation and sports activities. The goal is to provide the opportunities necessary to gain an education and break the cycle of poverty as well as the skills to secure and retain long-term employment.

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Sources:

ANS – Philippines – Promoting Football to the Grassroots

The post PHILIPPINES: Sports Program Helps Salesian Students Develop Life Skills and Stay in School first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Two of the Salesian priests live and work in Sana’a and there is one priest working at each of the other three centers in the country. They oversee the three recognized Catholic churches in Aden and care for the expatriate Catholics hailing from different parts of the world, particularly from the Philippines and India, who work as nurses in the country.

In addition, the Salesian priests assist the Sisters of Charity, the only Catholic religious congregation present in Yemen other than the Salesians. The Sisters of Charity focus their work on humanitarian activities in hospitals, centers for the aged and the infirm and homes for poor and disadvantaged youth. In Sana’a, Salesian missionaries also serve the Catholics attached to the diplomatic missions of various countries.

While the Salesian priests and Sisters of Charity remain safe, the situation is precarious. The fighting intensified weeks ago in the southern port city of Aden, where forces loyal to Yemen’s President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi, who is now exiled, clashed with allies of the Houthis, a well-organized and influential Shiite group in a majority Sunni population, who now control the capital and forced President Hadi from power.

Aden is at the center of the conflict and was President Hadi’s last seat of power before he fled to Saudi Arabia last week. On April 2, Houthi rebels and their allies in Yemen stormed the presidential palace in Aden following heavy clashes. Despite air strikes led by Saudi Arabia, the rebels pushed through Aden using tanks and armored vehicles. They attacked several government buildings including the central prison, where they freed hundreds of inmates, according to a BBC report. At least 44 people have been killed in the violence, including 18 civilians.

“As regards the situation here, so far I am safe. Of course there were frightening moments with rockets passing just above the taxi I was traveling in, shooting and yelling around our church, the sound of bombs and rocket explosions within a range of 5 to 10 kilometers,” says the Salesian priest remaining in the city of Aden.

The lack of an authoritative central power and the withdrawal of foreign missions has made the continued Salesian presence in the country all the more difficult and dangerous. India has asked its citizens, who number more than 4,000, to leave the country.

While the situation in Yemen has always been difficult for Salesian missionaries, the current fighting in Yemen, and in particular within Aden, has made it more difficult than ever.

“Even though there was a civil war here earlier, Aden was a safe place with the presence of many established embassies and their security guards and the army around. But now it is different. There are no embassies in Aden and the countries which were protecting and training the military here have pulled out. Many business firms, companies and wealthy families have left,” adds the Salesian priest in Aden.

Recently, a bomb fell on one of the nursing hostels that had just been blessed by the Salesian priest. Fortunately, none of the nurses were at the hostel during the time and there were no reported injuries. The Sisters of Charity have vowed to remain in Yemen to continue their humanitarian work. The Salesian priests remain as well assessing the situation day to day.

Sources

ANS – Yemen – The situation of the country and of the Salesians

ANS – Yemen – To leave or to stay, while war rages

BBC News – Yemen crisis: Rebels storm presidential palace in Aden

New York Times – Qaeda Militants Attack Port City in Yemen, Freeing Prisoners

The post YEMEN: Salesian Missionaries Situation in Yemen Precarious Due to Recent Fighting first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Recently, EMotors Inc. delivered a fleet of zero-emission ZüM electric tricycles (e-trikes) to members of a Don Bosco multipurpose cooperative whose members consist of farmers and fishermen from Barangay Candahug in Palo, Leyte in the northeastern region of the Philippines. The e-trikes were made possible through donors and an EMotors partnership with Don Bosco Direct (Disaster Intervention and Emergency Response Coordination Team). EMotors is a 100 percent Filipino-owned manufacturer and assembler of ZüM e-trikes.

“Since the devastating typhoon struck in November 2013, ongoing restoration and rebuilding continues but the equally important component of livelihood restoration is yet to be fully met,” said Elizabeth Lee, president of EMotors, in a recent press release on the inquirer.net motoring website, Motion Cars, about the Don Bosco partnership. “The ZüM e-trikes as a means of livelihood sends a strong message of encouragement and hope to earnest Filipinos who are now struggling to find their place given the devastating circumstances the catastrophic storm left behind.”

The typhoon destroyed homes, businesses and methods of transportation. The new vehicles will allow many to get back to work while providing much needed transportation in the area. The new e-trike owners were provided a training on the vehicle’s usage and maintenance. The use of e-trikes instead of the gas-powered vehicles typically used across the Philippines will also help address the global issue of climate change by lessening the Philippine’s carbon footprint.

“We are privileged to be part of the community’s future as we mark another milestone in our goal to serve the needs of Filipinos for an affordable, low maintenance, innovative and easy to use vehicle, one that helps increase one’s income while at the same time, help clean our air,” said Lee, in the same press release.

In addition to the new e-trikes, Salesian missionaries are working on employment initiatives primarily in the farming, livestock management and manufacturing sectors designed to jump-start the local economy. By integrating research, technological advancement and vocational training in these areas, Salesian programs aim to create sustainable, long-term entrepreneurship and employment opportunities which, in turn, will provide typhoon victims and vulnerable youth financial security and hope for a better future.

“There is still much to be done,” said Vic Gocela, deputy coordinator for Don Bosco Direct, in the Motion Cars press release. “The arrival of the e-trikes may seem like a small step for the recipient drivers and operators, but it symbolizes one big step for the whole community. It gives inspiration and a ray of hope for many of our fellow Filipinos there.”

The super typhoon which struck on Nov. 8, 2013 was one of the strongest tropical cyclones ever recorded and the deadliest typhoon on record in the Philippines killing more than 6,200 people in that country alone. According to the United Nations, the super typhoon affected more than 13 million people overall. An estimated one million homes were destroyed and 4 million people were left homeless with close to 2.5 million of those displaced needing food assistance. More than 5 million of those affected were children, leaving 1.5 million children at risk of acute malnutrition, according to the UN World Food Program.

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Sources:

Motion Cars – A clean slate: Community starts over fresh in the New Year

The post PHILIPPINES: Don Bosco Direct Partnership with EMotors Provides New Electric Tricycles to Increase Access to Transportation first appeared on MissionNewswire.

The Tuloy Foundation, founded in 1993 by Father Marciano “Rocky” G. Evangelista of the Salesians of Don Bosco, is an organization committed to educating poor, homeless children in the Philippines. Beginning with just 12 children, the foundation’s school program has since grown to include a comprehensive curriculum utilizing multiple facilities. To date, thousands of street children have created successful lives for themselves with the help of Tuloy.

Youth must be at least nine years old to enter the foundation’s school program which begins in first grade and continues through high school and includes technical training. Youth who are just coming off the streets receive food, clothing, shelter, healthcare, recreation and education and skills training. Older youth pursue vocational training in a variety of technologies, including automotive, electrical, welding and woodworking in addition to other studies. Students also have the ability to access on-the-job training in sponsor companies.

Recently, Capital One Philippines Support Service Corp. (COPSSC), the global business processing services arm of the United States based Capital One Financial Corp., opened a new learning facility at Tuloy’s Don Bosco School in Alabang, the third largest district in Muntinlupa City in the Philippines. The facility will house Tuloy’s Call Center Readiness Program, a 13-month training program designed by Capital One Philippines to teach students key competencies required for entry-level positions in business processing outsourcing (BPO) and other service industries.

The Call Center Readiness program expands the current academic and vocational training offerings at the Don Bosco School. In the first seven months of the program, students receive intensive classroom training in the English language and computer basics as well as the fundamentals of customer service. In the final six months of the program, students receive interactive hands-on training at the new learning facility and upon successful completion, are given the opportunity to gain permanent job placement at Capital One Philippines.

“Tuloy’s new learning facility forms part of COPSSC’s thrust to make a positive difference in the communities where we live and work, supporting youth education, especially for disadvantaged children. We will constantly take steps to partner with local organizations to uplift the community’s well-being,” says Paul Townsend COPSSC’s general manager in a recent Asian Journal article about the opening of the new facility.

“The local BPO industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the country today. We hope that by providing these students with education specific to contact center employment, we will help arm them with the skills necessary to enter the industry, leading to better job placement and greater opportunities in the long term,” adds Townsend in the same article.

The new learning facility was made possible by seed funding from Capital One Philippines, which was announced last October in conjunction with the company’s grand opening. In addition to the seed funding, the company has invested more than 3000 employee volunteer hours. The new program launched on Sept. 1 and accommodates up to 30 students. The facility features a lecture room and a fully-equipped computer lab with 15 personal computers that can facilitate business processing simulations.

“Traditional classroom learning is an important part of any education program, and when students are able to take those skills and practice them in an interactive learning environment, there is added educational value,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Salesians are preparing students for long-term stable employment. Partnerships like this one with Capital One Philippines, help students find and retain employment while providing a steady workforce for growing industries.”

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Sources:

Asian Journal – Capital One opens learning facility for Tuloy Don Bosco School

Tuloy Foundation

Salesian Missions – Philippines

UNICEF – Philippines

The post PHILIPPINES: Tuloy Foundation and Capital One Partner to Bring Technical Training and Employment Opportunities to Youth first appeared on MissionNewswire.

The super typhoon which struck on Nov. 8, 2013, was one of the strongest tropical cyclones ever recorded and the deadliest typhoon on record in the Philippines killing more than 6,200 people in that country alone. According to the United Nations, the super typhoon affected more than 13 million people overall. An estimated one million homes were destroyed and 4 million people were left homeless with close to 2.5 million of those displaced needing food assistance. More than 5 million of those affected were children, leaving 1.5 million children at risk of acute malnutrition, according to the UN World Food Program.

Salesian missionaries in the Philippines who have been working with vulnerable children and their families at Salesian schools, youth centers and community programs for many years, were positioned to be on the front lines of the relief efforts. Salesian buildings in Cebu were named Official Help Centers and students, teachers, staff and volunteers worked alongside missionaries to collect, prepare and pack relief goods.

In cooperation with the National Crisis Management Unit in the Philippines, 25,000 emergency kits were distributed in the days immediately following the storm. In addition, Salesian missionaries provided food, clothing, water and medical care to 40,000 families in Leyte, Cebu, Samar and Aklan. A year later, thousands of families are surviving with the help of volunteers and organizations linked to the Salesians.

“Because we have been working in the Philippines since 1950 and already have an established network in the affected areas, we are able to provide vital coordination and infrastructure support,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Our work did not stop in the immediate aftermath of the storm. Salesian relief efforts continue for those in need and reconstruction efforts are underway to rebuild communities.”

Initiated in the wake of the storm, the Don Bosco Adopt and Rebuild a Community Project (Don Bosco ARC) began replacing destroyed homes and buildings that were poorly constructed before the storm with ones that can withstand future weather events. To date, close to 150 homes have been completed. Ultimately, the Don Bosco ARC project will benefit 2,600 families on four separate islands.

Reconstruction of homes, schools and shelters has also continued with many projects close to completion. More than 2,700 families have received materials to repair roofs and walls and have been able to return to their homes. Salesian missionaries are also focusing their efforts on building shelters for the disaster prone country. Of the nearly 500 temporary shelters in East Samar, Aklan and on the island of Bantayan, 417 have already been completed and others are under construction. Salesian Missionaries have also focused their rebuilding efforts on schools with 11 new schools under construction, eight of which are in Leyte, two in Cebu and one on the island of Bantayan.

As many Filipinos lost their livelihoods in the wake of the storm, Salesian missionaries are also working on employment initiatives primarily in the farming, livestock management and manufacturing sectors designed to jump-start the local economy. By integrating research, technological advancement and vocational training in these areas, Salesian programs aim to create sustainable, long-term entrepreneurship and employment opportunities which, in turn, will provide typhoon victims and vulnerable youth with financial security and hope for a better future.

“Salesian missionaries have made great progress in the year since the typhoon but there is still much work to be done, particularly helping those whose livelihoods were affected find meaningful employment in order for them to support their families,” adds Fr. Hyde.

Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, launched a “Philippines Typhoon Emergency” fund in response to the need. To give to that fund, go to SalesianMissions.org/typhoon.

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Sources:

ANS – Philippines – One year after the typhoon: 3,000 homes rebuilt and 11 new schools

UN World Food Program – Philippines: Children In Typhoon-Hit Areas Get Nutritional Support

The post PHILIPPINES: One Year after Typhoon Haiyan Salesian Missionaries Have Aided Close to 3,000 Families in Rebuilding Homes While Beginning Construction on 11 New Schools first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Close to 35 percent of El Salvador’s population lives in poverty, according to the World Bank. Youth in the country are confronted not only with poverty, but with instability, high levels of violence and inadequate access to educational opportunities. Despite ranking high for economic indicators, the need for practical education is more important than ever with 12 percent of youth ages 15-24 unemployed and 41 percent underemployed.

El Salvador is one of the most violent countries in Central America, along with Honduras and Guatemala. The murder rate in El Salvador rose more than 44 percent in the beginning months of 2014, when compared to the same time last year. Gang violence is a leading cause of violence in the country and it’s estimated that some 60,000 young people have gang affiliation. Gang involvement often offers a sense of belonging and a sense of family that counters the lack of education and employment opportunities offered in the country.

Don Bosco University is working to provide opportunities for advanced education and employment for disadvantaged youth in El Salvador. The university offers degrees in engineering, social sciences, humanities, economics, technology and aeronautics, among others. The donated furniture, shipped late last year in preparation for a new faculty building, was installed in October. The furniture will help provide students and faculty a better working and learning environment.

In addition to this donation, Salesian programs around the globe have received school and office furniture as well as workstations thanks to the partnership between Salesian Missions and IRN. In recent months, IRN has sent shipments of furniture and workstations to Salesian sites in Haiti, the Philippines, Liberia and the Dominican Republic. Additional shipments have been sent to Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras, Paraguay and Togo.

“IRN donations have furnished Salesian schools and development offices in Central America, South America, Africa and Asia,” explains Jessica O’Connor, property and logistics officer for Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “We plan to continue working with IRN because they are a reliable partner who is eager to assist in our mission and provide quality donations to our programs.”

Salesians are known for their education programs for youth around the globe. With countless elementary, secondary and university level educational centers as well as training and certification programs, Salesians are helping to provide a direct path out of poverty for many youth and their families. Programs rely on donations such as those provided by IRN to keep facilities functional for students and staff.

The Institution Recycling Network was started in 1999 to match surplus items that need to be recycled with organizations and people who need them. Every educational, commercial and healthcare organization in the U.S. has surplus furniture and equipment. Hundreds of millions of people living in poverty or recovering from natural disasters worldwide are in desperate need of the kinds of surplus goods these very organizations are discarding. IRN makes the match and facilitates the distribution of the surplus into the hands of the organizations and people who need it most.

“There is a clear match between Salesian Missions’ need for furniture and equipment for their worldwide projects, and the supplies of surplus to which IRN has access,” says Mark Lennon, principal of the Institution Recycling Network. “Salesian Missions has been an excellent partner.”

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Sources:

Don Bosco University El Salvador

World Bank – El Salvador

Institution Recycling Network

The post EL SALVADOR: University Students, Faculty Benefit from Furniture Donated by Institution Recycling Network first appeared on MissionNewswire.

The super typhoon, which struck on November 8, 2013, was one of the strongest tropical cyclones ever recorded and the deadliest typhoon on record in the Philippines killing more than 6,200 people in that country alone. According to the United Nations, the super typhoon affected more than 13 million people overall. An estimated one million homes were destroyed and 4 million people were left homeless with close to 2.5 million of those displaced needing food assistance. More than 5 million of those affected were children, leaving 1.5 million children at risk of acute malnutrition, according to the UN World Food Program.

Initiated in the wake of the storm, the Don Bosco Adopt and Rebuild a Community Project (Don Bosco ARC) began replacing destroyed homes and buildings that were poorly constructed before the storm with ones that can withstand future weather events. To date, 50 homes have been completed, 50 more are in the process of construction and work contracts are in place for an additional 75 residential units. Ultimately, the Don Bosco ARC project will benefit 2,600 families on four separate islands.

The success of the program was recently highlighted by visiting representatives from the World Bank who were in the Philippines to learn more about climate change challenges in the country.

“Upon arriving in Barangay, where the Don Bosco ARC Project is underway, World Bank representatives confirmed that as of May 2014, no other permanent shelter reconstruction, other than the Salesian efforts, have been launched on the island,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Officials congratulated Salesian missionaries on the ground for a job well done — an honor they are now using to further propel their passion for their work, and for the Filipino people.”

Salesian missionaries in the Philippines have been working with vulnerable children and their families at Salesian schools, youth centers and community programs for many years and were positioned to be on the front lines of the relief efforts during, and immediately after, the typhoon. Salesian buildings in Cebu were named Official Help Centers and students, teachers, staff and volunteers worked alongside missionaries to collect, prepare and pack relief goods. In cooperation with the National Crisis Management Unit in the Philippines, 25,000 emergency kits were distributed in the days immediately following the storm.

Salesians in the country were also able to assist with the logistics of relief efforts which was identified by many aid experts as the greatest challenge. With experience working with the military to safely receive and transport relief supplies to those in need, Salesians in the Philippines provided crucial disaster relief support and coordination in the days and months following the storm.

“Because we have been working in the Philippines since 1950 and already have an established network in the affected areas, we are able to provide vital coordination and infrastructure support,” adds Fr. Hyde. “Our work did not stop in the immediate aftermath of the storm. Salesian relief efforts continue for those in need and reconstruction efforts are ongoing to help rebuild communities.”

As many lost their livelihoods in the wake of the storm, Salesians are also working on employment initiatives in the farming, livestock management and manufacturing sectors, among others, designed to jump-start the local economy. By integrating research, technological advancement and vocational training in these areas, Salesian programs aim to create sustainable, long-term entrepreneurship and employment opportunities which, in turn, will provide typhoon victims and vulnerable youth with financial security and hope for a better future.

Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, launched a “Philippines Typhoon Emergency” fund in response to the need. To give to that fund, to to SalesianMissions.org/typhoon.

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Sources:

Salesian Missions – All the World a Village

UN World Food Program – Philippines: Children In Typhoon-Hit Areas Get Nutritional Support

The post PHILIPPINES: Salesian Missionaries Receive Praise from World Bank for Rebuilding Efforts after Typhoon Haiyan first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Illiteracy and high levels of unemployment contribute to the elevated poverty rate. With more than 11 million out-of-school youth in the country and drop-out rates doubling as children reach secondary school, access to education becomes a critical step in breaking the cycle of poverty.

For many decades, Salesian programs in the Philippines have been educating poor youth and providing them the skills necessary to find and retain employment. Recently, Don Bosco Technical Institute-Makati in Manila, the capital of the Philippines, has partnered with Electrolux, a European appliance manufacturer, to create a training program that will provide ongoing education for the company’s front line sales representatives. The goal of the training is to help Electrolux’s sales force better understand the technology behind the items they are selling in order to better assist prospective buyers.

Don Bosco Technical Institutes offers technical skills training programs for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Programs at the institute run 15 months in length and provide certification in auto mechanics, electro-mechanics and refrigerator and air-conditioning mechanics as well as certification to become a fitter machinist. Electrolux has set up a training room at the technical institute where Don Bosco teachers train front line sales people in the technology of appliances supplied by Electrolux that include refrigerators, washing machines and air-conditioners.

The program at Don Bosco involves both a one-day basic and two to three day intensive training session for Electrolux sales people which is in addition to in-house training given by Electrolux. The hope is that once training is completed, employees will be better able to respond to prospective buyers’ questions about the products’ capabilities, particularly related to energy efficiency, recyclability and the unique consumer advantages of the Electrolux brand.

The front line sales force is made up of young high school graduates between the ages of 18 and 25. Hired as contract employees, the additional training opens the door to possibilities for regular employment positions.

Students enrolled in Don Bosco Technical Institute technical skills training programs also benefit from this partnership by having access to a wider range of products from which to learn their trades. The Electrolux training room, which can host 25 people per session including two instructors, is too small for regular Don Bosco classes, but Father Dindo S. Vitug, technical director at the Don Bosco Technical School Vocational Education and Training center, has plans to open the room for technical students when Electrolux training is not in session.

“We want our students to have a broader perspective and not be limited to just one brand,” said Fr. Vitug, in a recent Philippines Inquirer.net article about the partnership. “Students will learn something new from having the training program at Don Bosco, as our educators can teach the students what they themselves have learned about Electrolux technology, particularly refrigeration and air-conditioning.”

Don Bosco Technical Institute was chosen for the training program because Electrolux felt that teachers from Don Bosco not only knew the technology of the appliances but were highly skilled at teaching and transferring that knowledge to students.

Learn more about Salesian Missions programs in the Philippines.

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Sources:

Salesian Missions – Philippines

Don Bosco Technical Institute-Makati

Philippines Inquirer.net – Don Bosco teaches the ‘out-of-school’

UNICEF – Philippines

The post PHILIPPINES: Don Bosco Technical Institute Selected as Electrolux Partner to Bring New Technology Training to Electrolux Employees first appeared on MissionNewswire.

According to the United Nations, in addition to killing thousands of people, the super typhoon affected more than 13 million overall. An estimated one million homes were destroyed and 4 million were left homeless. Among those who had been displaced, close to 2.5 million were in need of food assistance. More than 5 million of those affected were children, leaving 1.5 million children at risk of acute malnutrition, according to the UN World Food Program.

Salesian missionaries in the Philippines who have been working with vulnerable children and their families at Salesian schools, youth centers and community programs for many years, were positioned to be on the front lines of the relief efforts. Salesian buildings in Cebu were named Official Help Centers and students, teachers, staff and volunteers worked alongside missionaries to collect, prepare and pack relief goods. In cooperation with the National Crisis Management Unit in the Philippines, 25,000 emergency kits were distributed in the days immediately following the storm.

Salesians in the country were also able to assist with the logistics of relief efforts which was identified by many aid experts as the greatest challenge. With experience working with the military to safely receive and transport relief supplies to those in need, Salesians in the Philippines provided crucial disaster relief support and coordination in the days and months following the storm.

“Because we have been working in the Philippines since 1950 and already have an established network in the affected areas, we are able to provide vital coordination and infrastructure support,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Our work does not stop in the immediate aftermath of the storm. Salesian relief efforts continue for those in need and now reconstruction efforts are underway to rebuild communities.”

Today, eight months after the typhoon, Salesian rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts continue in the Philippines long after many other humanitarian organizations have left the country. The Salesian-run Haiyan Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Project continues to deliver relief such as food, clothing, blankets, kitchen items and carpentry and agriculture tools as well as five gallon containers of fresh drinking water to many areas, especially remote areas hard hit by the storm.

Reconstruction of homes, schools and shelters has also continued. To date, Salesian organizations have delivered enough construction materials to aid more than 2,300 families in the rebuilding of their homes. More than 700 additional families will be receiving assistance with finding transitional homes and 50 out of 360 planned houses have already been constructed.

Salesians in the Philippines are also helping with the rebuilding efforts of residential and duplex storm shelters (often known as comfort rooms). Forty-six of 50 residential shelters have already been completed as well as 23 of the duplex storm shelters.

As many lost their livelihoods in the wake of the storm, Salesians are working to develop a plan to retrain those in need. Development of a proposal for a wood accessory and beads processing shop is underway and other projects focused on mechanized farming, plant nurseries and livestock dispersal are being studied for viability. In the meantime, Salesians have provided tools for 235 families and Don Bosco-Liloan in Cebu is spearheading a project to help improve the livelihoods of fisherman in the municipality of Madredijos on Bantayan Island.

Because the Philippines is prone to natural disasters, Salesians in the region are training their own staff in emergency response protocol before the next storm. Don Bosco Network members are documenting emergency response coordination in the first 48 hours after an emergency occurs as well as drawing up standard protocol for handling emergencies. These documents outline a basic strategy for Salesians providing professional assistance in case of emergency anywhere in the world.

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Sources:

Salesian Missions – Salesian Missions Supports Programs to Help 200,000 Families Affected by Typhoon

UN World Food Program – Philippines: Children In Typhoon-Hit Areas Get Nutritional Support

The post PHILIPPINES: Salesians Continue Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Efforts in Wake of Super Typhoon first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Those living in rural areas make up close to 75 percent of the country’s poor and the World Bank classifies Liberia as a low-income, food-deficit country, reporting that half of the population is food-insecure or highly vulnerable to food insecurity. Orphans, street children and adolescent ex-combatants often find themselves on their own facing adult responsibilities with little support and no education.

Salesians have been working in Liberia since starting a vocational institute there in 1979. Since then, Salesians in the country have been developing programs with a focus on providing youth with the education and skills necessary to transform their lives and their country.

Recently, Salesian-run Don Bosco Technical High School and Mary Help of Christians Catholic High School, both located in the capital city of Monrovia, received desks, chairs and other furniture thanks to an ongoing partnership between Salesian Missions and the Institution Recycling Network (IRN). More than 1000 students at both schools benefited from the new furniture in their classrooms, libraries, laboratories and school offices.

“The children have comfortable tables and chairs to use and students, especially those in the elementary grades, are very happy with the improvement,” says Father Sony Joseph Pottenplackal, rector and principal of Don Bosco Technical High School. “The furniture has contributed greatly to their discipline and learning environment, and has brought a smile to the faces of many of the young students. This has been a great contribution to the school.”

Desks and chairs help to provide a more dignified and organized educational environment for students to complete their studies. As a result, students are often more focused on their classroom work and more prepared for their lessons.

Salesian Missions’ partnership with IRN has provided valuable furniture to equip Salesian classrooms, offices and administrative buildings around the world, including desks, bookshelves, workstations, chairs, whiteboards, filing cabinets, auditorium seating and more.

“There was a clear match between Salesian Missions’ need for furniture and equipment for their worldwide projects, and the supplies of surplus to which IRN has access,” says Mark Lennon, principal of the Institution Recycling Network. “Salesian Missions has been an excellent partner.”

The Institution Recycling Network was started in 1999 to match surplus items that need to be recycled with organizations and people who need them. Every education, commercial, and healthcare organization in the U.S. has surplus furniture and equipment they need to get rid of. Hundreds of millions of people living in poverty or recovering from natural disasters worldwide are in desperate need of the kinds of surplus goods these very organizations are discarding. IRN makes the match and facilitates the distribution of the surplus into the hands of the organizations and people who need it most.

IRN partners with nonprofits who are known to be reputable and effective providers of relief and development assistance, and who are able to use the types of surplus that IRN can provide. The organization has a “wish list” from each of its nonprofit partners of the types and quantities of surplus they can use.

In addition to the donation in Liberia, IRN has sent shipments of furniture and workstations to Salesian sites in Haiti, Guatemala, the Philippines, El Salvador, the Dominican Republic and Togo as well as other sites around the globe.

“IRN donations have furnished Salesian schools and development offices in Central America, South America, Africa, and Asia,” explains Jessica O’Connor, property and logistics officer for Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “We plan to continue working with IRN because they are a reliable partner who is eager to assist in our mission and provide quality donations to our programs.”

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Sources

Salesian Missions – Liberia

World Bank – Liberia

The post LIBERIA: More Than 1,000 Students Benefit from New School Furniture first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Illiteracy and high levels of unemployment contribute to the elevated poverty rate. With more than 11 million out-of-school youth in the country and drop-out rates doubling as children reach secondary school, access to education becomes a critical step in breaking the cycle of poverty.

Salesian programs in the Philippines have been educating poor youth and providing them the skills necessary to find and retain employment for many decades. Recently, 16 young men graduated from the Porsche Training and Recruitment Center Asia, as part of a collaborative program between Porsche AG, the Don Bosco Technical Institute in Makati City and PGA Cars.

Students enrolled in the program complete a 10-month basic training course that includes both theoretical and practical training at the Don Bosco Technical Institute where Porsche has set-up and equipped a separate and dedicated training facility. During the program, students undergo advanced Berlitz-administered language lessons in English and Spanish as well as training in customer service.

Twice a year the Institute selects its top 35 students to advance to the Porsche Training and Recruitment Center’s comprehensive nine-month training program with Porsche specialists where students train on official Porsche vehicles using Porsche specialized tools. The program’s curriculum is continuously developing and adapting to the latest innovations and technology. The facility boasts state-of-the-art technical training equipment and advanced training and testing equipment complete with the latest specialized tools.

Graduates of the program become certified Porsche Mechatronics and have employment opportunities awaiting them at several Porsche dealerships in Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Latin America.

“Everyone dreams of achieving something great in their lives,” said Robert Coyiuto Jr., chairman of PGA Cars Inc., in his speech at the commencement ceremony. “The Porsche Training and Recruitment Center Asia was created to help underprivileged Filipino youth reach those dreams. Our mission is to provide quality Porsche technical training for youth and ensure that they have jobs that will empower them to achieve more.”

Started in 2008, the training course has graduated 10 classes with 146 graduates becoming certified, 127 of whom are already working for various Porsche Centers worldwide. Many of the graduates are working in dealerships in the Middle East and Latin America but recently there has been an increasing demand from Porsche Centers in the South Pacific and other emerging markets.

“This program and collaboration has been very successful,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “The goal of the program is to assist poor youth in developing the skills and knowledge for lasting employment. We are helping youth fulfill their dreams while meeting Porsche’s need for constant access to a pool of qualified staff.”

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Sources:

Business Mirror- Making dreams come true for the underprivileged youth

Don Bosco Technical Institute – Philippines

Porsche – Porsche Training and Recruitment Center Asia

UNICEF – Philippines

The post PHILIPPINES: Salesians and Porsche Collaborate to Educate and Employ Poor Youth first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Evangeline’s husband, like all farmers in this small village in Leyte Province, central Philippines, does not own land and earns 50 pesos (a little over $1) a day. Usually, they get paid in rice and forage near their home for vegetables to eat. In between the harvest and the next planting season, he has no job.

“We don’t have any income after harvest. Farming is the only skill he has,” said the 36-year-old mother of two, cradling her two-year-old son outside her tarpaulin-roofed home.

Her 13-year-old son is still in Grade 3, which is usually for eight-year-olds, because financial struggles mean he had to keep dropping out of school.

Then Haiyan, the strongest storm on record to ever make landfall, struck central Philippines on Nov. 8. The family lost their roof, livestock and most of the few belongings they had.

Still, the temporary arrival of relief goods eased long-standing problems of malnutrition and food insecurity in the village where most have been living hand-to-mouth for years.

Now that the Alohas receive rice from the United Nations’ World Food Program (WFP), the husband, who went back to work in December, is getting cash for his labour, which they save or use to buy meat or dried fish.

“We can now eat three meals a day instead of two,” Evangeline told Thomson Reuters Foundation.

Fellow villager, Elena Andita, 28, said WFP’s high-energy biscuits and peanut-based fortified food helped her malnourished one year-old son to become stronger.

Yet existing inequalities, including lack of land ownership and entrenched poverty, are impossible to tackle through short-term emergency relief. Questions on how the government can or will address these remain, as the Philippines embarks on possibly the most ambitious reconstruction program in Southeast Asia since the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

NUTRITION PROBLEMS

Haiyan, known locally as Yolanda, left nearly 8,000 people dead or missing and some 4 million displaced from their homes. Evangeline said they survived by holding onto a tree, their two-year-old son tied to his father with a rope.

The storm also destroyed hundreds of thousands of hectares of planted crops, mainly rice – the main staple food in the Philippines – and the livelihoods of almost 6 million workers. Of these, 2.6 million were already in vulnerable employment and living on or near the poverty line even before the deadly storm, said the ILO.

Almost three months on, the 100-odd families in Cabrasan Guti, part of Tanauan Municipality in Leyte Province, are attempting to rebuild their livelihoods in whatever way they can. But they also say they will need external aid until they can begin to feed themselves again. Situated inland, the villagers cannot catch fish for sustenance, unlike their coastal neighbours.

Many typhoon-affected villages are in a similar position.

Stormy weather brought about by Tropical Depression Agaton in mid-January worsened the situation in parts of Haiyan-affected areas, destroying crops, forcing the displaced to move again, and further exacerbating the food security situation of typhoon-hit farmers.

In San Fernando district in Samar Province, half of what Angeles Grefiel planted was washed away by Agaton. The family had to use rice seeds provided by the International Committee of the Red Cross, which they had hoped to save till the next planting season.

Samir Wanmali, emergency coordinator with WFP, told Thomson Reuters Foundation access to nutritious food had always been a problem in the Philippines, especially in poor provinces such as Leyte and Samar.

“We’re talking about the fact that we have generations of children that have grown up without having proper access to the right types of food. Food that are high in protein and micronutrients, which allow them to grow properly,” he said.

“A natural disaster like this sort of exposes them further and so for us it’s really important that the focus goes from emergency to household food security and household livelihoods,” he added.

Evangeline said the last time she ate meat was on New Year’s Eve. If the aid stops or her husband gets paid in rice again, she will be forced to go back to foraging for food and, if need be, buying things on credit.

What if her children get sick, this correspondent asked.

“They don’t get sick,” she said firmly, shaking her head.

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Writing by Thin Lei Win on Mon, 3 Feb 2014 – Reuters / Trust.org

Photo: Evangeline Aloha, carrying her two-year-old son, walks to her home at the edge of Cabrasan Guti in the municipality of Tanauan, Leyte Province, Philippines, through coconut trees that fell over or were snapped in half by Typhoon Haiyan’s ferocious winds, January 23, 2014. THOMSON REUTERS FOUNDATION/Thin Lei Win

See this article at its original location >

The post ALERTNET: Typhoon Haiyan Exposes Hunger, Poverty in the Philippines first appeared on MissionNewswire.

According to the United Nations, the disaster killed thousands of people and affected more than 13 million overall. An estimated one million homes have been destroyed, leaving 4 million homeless. Among those who have been displaced, at least 2.5 million are in need of food assistance.

More than 5 million of those affected are children, with some 1.5 million children at risk of acute malnutrition, according to the UN World Food Program.

A network of Salesian NGOS is among about 25 international humanitarian agencies operating in Tacloban City, one of the hardest hit areas. Two locations where Salesian programs operate were in the direct path of the typhoon—in Borongan and Panay Island. No communication has been possible since the storm struck.

Operations in Manila and Cebu City were able to maintain lines of communication and join in the national drive for relief efforts—designating their centers as drop-off and volunteer locations for gathering and packaging relief supplies.

Salesian buildings in Cebu were named Official Help Centers and work began immediately after the typhoon struck. Students, teachers, staff, and volunteers worked alongside missionaries to collect, prepare and pack relief goods. In cooperation with the National Crisis Management Unit in the Philippines, 25,000 emergency kits were distributed in the days immediately following the storm.

The Salesians have also been able to assist with logistics—identified by many aid experts as the not only a top need, but the biggest challenge.

“Because we have been working in the Philippines since 1950 and already have an established network in the affected areas, we are able to provide vital coordination and infrastructure support,” said Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the international Salesians of Don Bosco.

With established partnerships with local broadcasting companies, the Salesians were able to get out word immediately to those who wanted to help—providing instructions for items needed and where to bring them. Goods began to come in almost immediately and more than 200 volunteers arrived to assist.

With experience working with the military to safely receive and transport in relief supplies and transporting them to those in need, the Salesians in the Philippines are providing crucial disaster relief support and coordination.

Thanks to these efforts, peaceful and efficient aid delivery is taking place, helping those in need.

Through a partnership between Salesian Missions and Stop Hunger Now, a shipment of rice-meals and medical supplies is on its way. Working with World Futbol Project, 6,000 indestructible balls have been received in Cebu, and the Salesians are working to distribute them to children affected by the devastating typhoon. Letting the children know someone cares for them and giving them a chance to play and “be kids” lessens stress during traumatic events, explains Fr. Mark adding that the Salesians specialize in this type of work all around the globe.

On Cebu Island, some Salesian schools were used as emergency shelters during the typhoon’s furry. Along Cebu’s east coast, the sisters sheltered about 800 people for two days at the Mary Help of Christians School, cooking hot meals and providing consolation. There is heavy damage to the children’s home and youth center, which were refuge to vulnerable children even before the storm.

At the St. Mary Mazzarello School in Negros Occidental, trees were uprooted, electric poles knocked down, and the library roof was stripped away. At Mary Help of Christians School on Mindoro Island, the roof of the boys’ dormitory was blown away, trees were uprooted and additional damage is being assessed. Restoration and rebuilding efforts throughout the Philippines will be needed long-term.

Headquartered in New Rochelle, NY, Salesian Missions has launched a fundraising campaign to raise money for the Philippines disaster relief operations in addition to providing staff support for sourcing and purchasing necessary goods. Among the supplies identified as most in need are ready-to-eat food, water filters, tents, medicines, bandages and disinfectants. To give to the effort, go to www.salesianmissions.org/typhoon.

The post PHILIPPINES: Salesian Missions Supports Programs to Help 200,000 Families Affected by Typhoon first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Donations are urgently needed to get food, water and other life-saving supplies to the victims. Since the Salesians were already working in the affected communities, they were able to begin responding immediately.

To make a donation, people are urged to go to SalesianMissions.org and select “Philippines Typhoon Emergency” on the Donate Now page. The funds raised by Salesian Missions will be used to help deliver life-saving aid to vulnerable children and families affected by the devastating typhoon.

“Salesians were on the ground and able to respond immediately,” said Fr. Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, referring to the fact that Salesians have been working to help vulnerable children and families in the Philippines since 1950. “But they need additional help and we are responding to that call.”

Salesian missionaries, students and volunteers worked over the weekend to prepare an initial 30,000 food packages to help victims. Additional funds are necessary in order to meet the continued need of victims.

In addition to preparing the distribution of life-saving aid, Salesian buildings that withstood the storm have been opened to the communities to offer shelter. Families are sleeping in gymnasiums and classrooms that have been converted into safe havens for the homeless.

Salesian missionaries in the Philippines have reported that in works in Cebu and Manila are functioning and have lines of communication and are able to coordinate a response. They are still waiting to hear from Salesian-supported communities that were in the direct path of the hurricane—and remain without any lines of communication.

The Salesians had already been working to help victims of the Oct. 15 earthquake, and report that the situation is dire.

We are trying to link up with others to help in the relief operations,” said Fr. George P. Militante from Cebu. “We are hearing that the basic needs for food, water, tarps and temporary shelters are the priorities.”

To donate, go to SalesianMissions.org and select “Philippines Typhoon Emergency” on the Donate Now page.

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(Photo: REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco)

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. The 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 and helping young people become self-sufficient by learning a trade that will help them gain employment. Every day, millions of youth have received services provided by the Salesians. These services and programs are provided to children regardless of race or religion. For more information, go to www.SalesianMissions.org.

The post PHILIPPINES: Salesian Missions Responds to Typhoon Devastation, Issues Urgent Call for Donations first appeared on MissionNewswire.

The Tuloy Foundation, founded in 1993 by the Salesians, has been helping at-risk youth succeed in school. The Foundation’s school program began with just 12 children but has since grown into a comprehensive curriculum with multiple facilities all focused specifically on the needs of at-risk youth. To date, thousands of street children have created successful lives for themselves with the help of Tuloy.

Youth must be at least nine years old to enter the program which begins in first grade and continues through high school and technical training. Youth who are just coming off the streets receive food, clothing, shelter, healthcare, psycho-social interventions, recreation and education and skills training. Older youth pursue vocational training in a variety of technologies, including automotive, electrical, welding and woodworking. Students also have the ability to access on-the-job training in sponsor companies.

“Youth have to decide if they want to live here until they are 18,” explains Father Rocky Evangelista, director of the program, in a recent Philippine Star article. “And when they are 18, they graduate into the wide world. Their last 18 months are spent undertaking vocational training to prepare them for this.”

Fr. Evangelista was able to expand the program in 1999 through a partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development which leased 4.5 hectares of land in Alabang, Muntinlupa to the Tuloy Foundation.

Today close to 1,000 boys and girls attend the program, with more than 200 of the students residing at the Tuloy orphanage. In addition to residential and educational facilities, youth can take part in the Tuloy Nature Therapy Center, a retreat that introduces street youth to the beauty of nature. The Center also offers students classes in farming and agriculture while its livestock and vegetable garden help supply food.

Mario, a student at Tuloy, was just 10 years old when he ran away from home, desperate to escape his abusive father. Living alone on the streets, he relied on begging and odd jobs to pay for his food. He was destined for a life of poverty, drugs and crime had he not been discovered by social workers and placed in the care of the Salesians.

Today, Mario lives with other former street children at Tuloy’s Namunkura Dorm. He is thriving in a safe and supportive environment where he is receiving a formal education and hope for a brighter future.

“Youth must first gain self-esteem and self-respect,” says Fr. Evangelista. “Then they respect others and start to dream and aspire.”

The students at Tuloy are given many opportunities they would otherwise not have, both inside and outside the classroom. Thanks to the generosity of private donors and sponsors, students can choose between activities such as gardening, dancing and rugby (sponsored by the Australian construction company, Leighton). According to the same Philippine Star article, the boys on the Tuloy rugby team are the defending champions of the youth touch rugby competition organized by the Philippine Rugby Football Union.

The importance of team sports, such as rugby, is highlighted in the teamwork, respect for others and discipline they inspire – all skills that can be applied to other aspects of life.

The Tuloy Foundation provides an education and a wide variety of opportunities to poor youth, helping them break the cycle of poverty. With programs like those offered at Tuloy, the Salesians in the Philippines work to meet the ever growing needs of street children to ensure that every child has the opportunity to reach his or her potential.

Sources:

Philippine Star – The Haka boys of Tuloy Don Bosco

UNICEF – Philippines

Salesian Missions – Philippines: A Better Path for Street Children

The post PHILIPPINES: Salesian Tuloy Foundation Gives At-Risk Youth a Chance to Excel first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Close to 823 million people do not have enough to eat and nearly half of them are children, according to Stop Hunger Now, an international relief organization that provides food and life‐saving aid to the world’s most vulnerable. Of those who go hungry daily, 98 percent reside in developing countries where there is not only a shortage of food, but major challenges for aid to reach its destination. Working with Salesian Missions to ensure delivery and distribution, more than 10 countries have already received shipments of food this year, and will receive several more in the coming months.

Stop Hunger Now provides more than just food aid. It also provides significant in-kind aid (such as food, medicines and other supplies) that support education and vocational training programs which are proven to have long-term sustainability—like those run by Salesian Missions. These programs promote education, encourage children to attend school, improve the health and nutrition of students, address gender inequalities, combat child labor, spur economic growth and create a platform to address global issues.

“Salesian programs are a good match for our mission to end hunger in our lifetime by providing food and life-saving aid while creating a global commitment to mobilize the necessary resources,” says Chessney Barrick, director of communications and cause marketing at Stop Hunger Now.

The Stop Hunger Now meal packaging program was created to give dedicated individuals the opportunity to participate in a hands-on international hunger relief program and to become educated, engaged advocates for the world’s poor and hungry. It is volunteer-based and coordinates the streamlined packaging of highly nutritious dehydrated meals comprised of rice, soy, vegetables, flavoring, and 21 essential vitamins and minerals.

Founded in 1998, Stop Hunger Now has delivered aid and disaster relief supplies in the form of food, medicines, medical supplies, medical equipment, clothing, school supplies and more to thousands of disaster victims and other hungry and vulnerable people in 65 countries.

More than 300,000 volunteers have participated in the organization’s fun, exciting and rewarding activites. Stop Hunger Now meal packaging provides volunteers the opportunity to have an exponential and sustainable international impact right from their own communities.

The organization operates meal packaging locations in 17 cities throughout the U.S. and international locations in South Africa and Malaysia. Late in 2013, it plans to initiate the meal packaging program in new locations including Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth and Bologna, Italy.

This year Stop Hunger Now shipments have already reached the Salesian Society of St. John Bosco in the Philippines. Here, more than 28 Salesian programs shared 660 boxes of fortified rice-soy meals. More than 3,100 poor children and families benefitted from this food assistance.

“The shipment of packaged meals helps us to improve the nutrition of orphans and other vulnerable children and operate feeding programs for children in Salesian schools whose families cannot afford to feed them,” explains Jessica O’Connor, property and logistics officer at the Salesian Missions Office for International Programs.

Other Stop Hunger Now shipments have been received in Haiti, South Africa, Zambia and Sierra Leone where the meals will be shared among various Salesian programs located in those countries.

“The partnership with Stop Hunger Now allows Salesian Missions to expand its scope of services to youth in need,” adds O’Connor. “Stop Hunger Now is one of our favorite partners to work with because they are very flexible. They actively seek out opportunities to enhance shipments with additional donated items that the beneficiaries need, and they go the extra mile to help Salesian Missions meet any additional emergency requests for food that we receive.”

Partnerships, like those with Salesian Missions, drive Stop Hunger Now’s major distribution channels. According to Barrick, the organization looks for those who are able to work with Stop Hunger Now effectively and efficiently while adding value to each other’s work. Partners are chosen based on the quality of their programs, the need in their country, their ability to ensure the food is used as intended and the expected impact of the partner’s programs.

With programs in more than 130 countries around the globe, Salesian Missions has one of the largest networks that Stop Hunger Now works with and they have extensive knowledge and experience when it comes to aid shipments. The Salesians are an integral part of the existing infrastructure in many countries and Salesian Missions plays an important role in making sure aid from the United States reaches its destination country and gets into the hands of those who need it most.

“Partnering with Salesian Missions has been a great experience and their vast network around the globe provides an opportunity to extend our partnership beyond just one country,” says Barrick. “Their experience in logistics, communications and program facilitation has proven to be a huge asset in effectively donating Stop Hunger Now meals to their organization.”

Barrick also praises Salesian Missions’ staff who she says are very thorough, responsive and excellent at communicating the progress of projects and the state of the beneficiaries. She notes that receiving letters, photos and videos from those who actually receive the food has tremendous impact on the donors they rely on to package the food.

“Feeding hungry children is often the first step in providing an education,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Hungry and malnourished youth cannot focus on learning. Our programs work to educate and meet the basic needs of poor youth.”

At every Salesian program serving youth around the globe, children receive educational opportunities and the support of caring adults. Humanitarian partnerships like the one with Stop Hunger Now make a real difference.

“In order to build the movement to end hunger in our lifetime,” says Barrick. “We will have to work together as partners to share the stories from the field that create champions for our causes.”

ABOUT STOP HUNGER NOW

This year, Stop Hunger Now is celebrating its 15^th anniversary in its ongoing work to create a movement to end hunger. More than 100,000,000 meals have been packaged and distributed with other life-saving aid to 65 countries, impacting millions of lives. The organization is driven by a vision of a world without hunger and a mission to end hunger in our lifetime by providing food and life-saving aid to the world’s most vulnerable and by creating a global commitment to mobilize the necessary resources.

In its efforts to respond to emergency needs around the world Stop Hunger Now receives and distributes significant donations of in-kind aid. These donations are large quantities of food, medicines, medical supplies and other such items as may be of use in fighting hunger and providing relief in a crisis. For more information visit www.stophungernow.org.

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. The 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 and helping young people become self-sufficient by learning a trade that will help them gain employment. 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 Stop Hunger Now, Salesian Missions Partnership Feeds Poor Youth around the Globe first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Shipments are already on the ground in Haiti, Guatemala, Madagascar, Philippines, Sierra Leone and Zambia. Salesian-run orphanages and youth centers are able to utilize the aid for the homeless children and at-risk youth they serve. From primary and secondary schools to vocational and technical training centers, students are able to get more out of the educational opportunities the Salesians provide, knowing they will not go hungry.

Stop Hunger Now operates meal packaging locations in 17 cities throughout the U.S. and in international locations in South Africa and Malaysia. Later this year, the organization plans to initiate the meal packaging program in new locations including Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth and Bologna, Italy.

Stop Hunger Now helps break the cycle of poverty for meal recipients through education, skills development and health care, while providing much-needed nutrition. The majority of meals go to support school feeding, vocational training, early childhood development programs, orphanages and medical clinics.

Stop Hunger Now’s goals are to provide food and life-saving aid to support sustainable education and development programs and to create a movement of educated volunteer advocates that are actively involved in poverty and hunger related issues.

“Salesian Missions is a good match for our mission to end hunger in our lifetime by providing food and life-saving aid while creating a global commitment to mobilize the necessary resources,” says Chessney Barrick, director of marketing and communications at Stop Hunger Now.

Salesian programs operate in more than 130 countries around the globe. Salesian Missions helps support programs that promote education, encourage children to attend school, improve the health and nutrition of students, address gender inequalities, combat child labor, spur economic growth and create a platform to address global issues.

Because of the partnership and its resulting shipments, Salesians in the Philippines were able to help feed 3,155 poor youth and their families with the 660 boxes of fortified rice-soy meals they received. The shipment also included shampoo and eyeglasses, helping close to 700 people in need. Twenty-eight Salesian organizations throughout the Philippines were supported through the shipment which was coordinated by Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco.

The fortified rice-soy meals not only feed hungry children, they give them the energy to participate fully in educational programs and activities.

“Feeding hungry children is often the first step in providing an education,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions. “When children have their most basic needs met, they are then able to concentrate on their studies and further their education.”

For Keisha Mae, a wood and furniture technology trainee in the Philippines, the fortified meals make a significant difference to the quality of her educational experience.

“I often go to school with an empty stomach as there is no food available in the house. During snack time some of my classmates share whatever they have,” explains Keisha Mae, “But since this Rice-Soy Casserole was donated, the training center served it to the trainees during snack time. Its vegetable ingredients make it look so nutritious and satisfy our starving stomachs.”

For parents of those enrolled in programs run by the Salesians of Don Bosco in Freetown, Sierra Leone, this critical food aid gives them peace of mind knowing that despite living in poverty, they are able to give a nutritious meal to their children. Many parents allow their children to attend school simply because they know they will be fed there. Offering just one plate of food, Salesian staff managed to persuade one mother living in poverty to allow her young son to attend activities at the informal school in the youth center and enter the first level of pre-school. Nineteen pallets of rice meals were delivered to programs in Sierra Leone, benefitting close to 1,200 youth.

In another shipment, the City of Hope in Zambia was able to provide for 4,320 people ranging from infants to the elderly. The Salesian center there includes an orphanage and vocational training programs as well as a primary and secondary school. The meals provided by Stop Hunger Now allow the organization to divert money previously used on food to other critical program needs. Money saved was also used to increase the size of the programs provided and number of students admitted.

The Salesian Sisters who run the City of Hope reported that the children receiving the meals are much healthier and have less headaches and hunger pains. In addition, they are better able to focus on their school work and their grades are improving.

“Stop Hunger Now is one of our favorite partners to work with because they are very flexible. They actively seek out opportunities to enhance shipments with additional donated items that the beneficiaries need, and they go the extra mile to help Salesian Missions meet any additional emergency requests for food that we receive,” explains Jessica O’Connor, property and logistics officer at the Salesian Missions Office for International Programs.

With programs in more than 130 countries around the globe, Salesian Missions has one of the largest networks that Stop Hunger Now works with. They also have extensive knowledge and experience when it comes to aid shipments. The Salesians are an integral part of the existing infrastructure in many countries and Salesian Missions plays an important role in making sure aid from the United States reaches its destination country and gets into the hands of those who need it most.

“The partnership with Stop Hunger Now allows Salesian Missions to expand its scope of services to youth in need,” adds O’Connor. “The shipment of packaged meals helps us to improve the nutrition of orphans and other vulnerable children. Operating feeding programs for youth in Salesian schools whose families cannot afford to feed them is very important and integral to the success of our students and their ability to gain an education.”

ABOUT STOP HUNGER NOW

This year, Stop Hunger Now is celebrating its 15^th anniversary in its ongoing work to create a movement to end hunger. More than 100,000,000 meals have been packaged and distributed with other life-saving aid to 65 countries, impacting millions of lives. The organization is driven by a vision of a world without hunger and a mission to end hunger in our lifetime by providing food and life-saving aid to the world’s most vulnerable and by creating a global commitment to mobilize the necessary resources.

In its efforts to respond to emergency needs around the world Stop Hunger Now receives and distributes significant donations of in-kind aid. These donations are large quantities of food, medicines, medical supplies and other such items as may be of use in fighting hunger and providing relief in a crisis. For more information visit www.stophungernow.org.

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. The 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 and helping young people become self-sufficient by learning a trade that will help them gain employment. 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 Salesian Missions, Stop Hunger Now Partner to Deliver Critical Food Aid in More Than 10 Countries first appeared on MissionNewswire.

“IRN donations have furnished Salesian schools and development offices in Central America, South America, Africa, and Asia,” explains Jessica O’Connor, property and logistics officer for Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “We plan to continue working with IRN because they are a reliable partner who is eager to assist in our mission and provide quality donations to our programs.”

The Salesians are known for their education programs for youth around the globe. With countless elementary, secondary and university level educational centers as well as youth training and certification programs, the Salesians help to provide a direct path out of poverty for many youth and their families. Programs rely on donations such as those provided by IRN to keep facilities functional for students and staff.

The Institution Recycling Network was started in 1999 to match surplus items that need to be recycled with organizations and people who need them. Every education, commercial, and healthcare organization in the U.S. has surplus furniture and equipment they need to get rid of. Hundreds of millions of people living in poverty or recovering from natural disasters worldwide are in desperate need of the kinds of surplus goods these very organizations are discarding. IRN makes the match and facilitates the distribution of the surplus into the hands of the organizations and people who need it most.

“There was a clear match between Salesian Missions’ need for furniture and equipment for their worldwide projects, and the supplies of surplus to which IRN has access,” says Mark Lennon, principal of the Institution Recycling Network. “Salesian Missions has been an excellent partner.”

IRN partners with nonprofits who are known to be reputable and effective providers of relief and development assistance, and who are able to use the types of surplus that IRN can provide. The organization has a “wish list” from each of its nonprofit partners of the types and quantities of surplus they can use.

When a project comes to IRN, it makes a match against these wish lists and offers the surplus to the most appropriate nonprofits. At this point it is first-come-first-served; the first nonprofit(s) to express interest in the surplus project is the one to receive it. In many cases a single nonprofit will claim the entire project but in some cases, the surplus will be split among two or more nonprofits.

“There is almost infinite demand in the U.S. and worldwide for good quality surplus so IRN’s surplus program will continue to grow,” says Lennon. “The school or company that supplies the surplus pays IRN for the service of matching their surplus with our nonprofit network. In almost all cases they pay IRN much less than they would pay to bring in dumpsters and throw the surplus away.”

There is a three pronged benefit to the work that IRN does. The generating organizations profit by disposing of their surplus for less than the cost of throwing it away, while the recipient organizations profit from a very low cost source of quality furniture and equipment. Impoverished and disaster-stricken people benefit from furniture and equipment they otherwise would have no access to. And finally, the planet benefits from reuse of important resources.

“We know of no other organization in the country other than IRN that is able to match large quantities of surplus with qualified recipients, and then manage the entire project to remove and load the surplus for shipment,” adds Lennon.

About Institution Recycling Network (IRN)

IRN is headquartered in Concord, NH and is a cooperative recycling organization that works with more than 350 colleges and universities, hospitals, K-12 schools and private companies to improve the performance and economics of recycling. IRN negotiates transportation, processing and marketing of recycled commodities and provides a single point of contact to recycle dozens of different materials. IRN handles over 75 commodities – everything from cardboard and fluorescent lamps to concrete and Astroturf. IRN is known particularly for its effective recycling of unusual and complex commodities such as electronic equipment, construction and demolition wastes and surplus property. For more information about IRN, visit www.IRNSurplus.com.

About Salesian Missions

Salesian Missions is headquartered in New Rochelle, NY. The mission of the U.S.-based nonprofit Catholic organization is to raise funds for its international programs that serve youth and families in poor communities around the globe. The Salesian missionaries are made up of priests, brothers and sisters, as well as laypeople – all dedicated to caring for poor youth throughout the world in more than 130 countries, helping them become self-sufficient by learning a trade that will help them gain employment. To date, more than 3 million young people have received services funded by Salesian Missions. To learn more visit www.salesianmissions.org.

The post GLOBAL: Salesian Missions Partners with Institution Recycling Network, Benefitting Programs Around the Globe first appeared on MissionNewswire.

The Culinary Arts program started in 2010 and is one of many technical and professional courses offered at the Tuloy Foundation. The program operates out of a newly constructed two story culinary arts building on the Foundation’s school campus. The school offers poor youth the opportunity to change the course of their lives through education.

More than one quarter, just over 25 percent, of the population lives in poverty in the Philippines according to UNICEF. There are more than 11 million out-of-school youth with drop-out rates doubling as children reach secondary school.

The Tuloy Foundation provides a chance for at-risk youth to succeed in school. Street children are able to take part in alternative learning modules. Youth progress from first grade through high school. Older youth pursue vocational training in a variety of programs including automotive, electrical, welding, woodworking and most recently, culinary arts. Most students come to this course without any prior culinary knowledge.

“Various kinds of tastes and meals are quite foreign to them,” says Chef Migné of his students. “They eat when there is food (and often only when) and sleep as a way to forget about eating (when there is nothing to eat).”

The course focuses primarily on Filipino and other Asian cuisines while also teaching about cuisine from other parts of the world. There are classes in food technology, nutrition, food storage and preservation and hygiene. To offer the broadest possible education, the students are taught skills which go hand in hand with cooking such as waiting tables and bartending. In this way, employment opportunities can be broadened after graduation.

So far, the students have been engaged in the coursework and happy to learn new skills.

“We have been surprised to discover that we should have been using various kinds of knives and cutting boards, pots and pans for different kinds of plates,” says one of the most recent students. “And that’s to say nothing of the various herbs, spices and other ingredients. There’s just so many and different – and very costly items.”

The students in the class are also taught the importance of leadership skills, math skills (for weights and proportions) and the study of various food properties.

“If a student makes a mistake he doesn’t say he’s sorry but corrects the mistake and doesn’t make it again,” says Chef Migné. “The students also learn that in the workplace teamwork and respect for one’s colleagues is important, which is a useful life lesson.”

While attending the course the students stay at the Tuloy Foundation to avoid possible absences and transportation costs. When they have finished, they have the opportunity to gain work experience in prestigious restaurants and hotels thanks to Chef Migné’s contacts.

Students that have already graduated from the program have gained employment both in the Philippines and abroad demonstrating that the culinary coursework is a path to employment and a way to break the cycle of poverty for these former street children.

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Sources:

ANS – Philippines – Educating young people: from street kid to aspiring chef

Tuloy Foundation

Salesian Missions – Philippines

UNICEF – Philippines

The post PHILIPPINES: Salesian Culinary Program Helps Teach Trade Skills to Street Children in the Philippines first appeared on MissionNewswire.

STARS founding Chairman Amr Al-Dabbagh presented the award to Sr. Marivic Sta. Ana, FMA, executive director of the Laura Vicuña Foundation. The ceremony was held at The Orangery at Kensington Palace this past Dec. 15.

The Salesian Sisters will use the $100,000 prize money received along with the award to help build a bigger home for the healing and recovery of sexually-abused girls. The new building will also house a training center and the foundation’s offices.

The comprehensive work of the foundation for the protection and development of poor youth, particularly the foundation’s pioneering child protection clinic on wheels and the three Children of the Canes national conferences convened by the LVF towards a socially responsible sugar industry were highlighted as programs that helped them secure the award.

Founded in 1990, the Laura Vicuña Foundation helps children to understand their rights, enabling many to go on to become rights advocates themselves. The foundation runs a center for the healing and recovery of sexually abused, exploited and trafficked youth as well as two vocational-technical schools and an alternative learning program to aid in the protection of youth in high risk communities in Metro Manila.

According to UNICEF, there are an estimated 1.5 million street children in the Philippines, about 75,000 of whom are living in Manila, with thousands more ending up homeless every month. Drop-out rates double as children reach secondary school and there are more than 11 million out-of-school youth.

“Most of the children who end up on our streets are forced into a life of sexual abuse and drugs, and are rounded up into crime syndicates often having no one to turn to,” says Sr. Marivic. “The girls are often abused by their own peers or by pimps, and become victims of trafficking. They come to us severely traumatized.”

“While I was in London, I had the opportunity to tell His Excellency Amr Al-Dabbagh about the importance of reaching out to children in their communities, schools and even homes which is why the mobile protection unit is so effective,” adds Sr. Marivic. “We want to extend the reach of that unit to child laborers in the sugarcane industry. These children are highly at risk from hazardous labor, from trafficking and from sexual exploitation. Taking a second mobile unit out into the plantations where these children are, is the only way that we can intervene now and offer them protection.”

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Sources:

ANS – Philippines – Laura Vicuña Foundation wins 2012 Stars Impact Award

Laura Vicuña Foundation – Website

UNICEF – Philippines

The post PHILIPPINES: Foundation Run by Salesian Sisters Wins 2012 Stars Impact Award first appeared on MissionNewswire.

The theme for this year’s Human Rights Day is My Voice Counts. This 2012 theme focuses on the rights of all people, particularly those whose voices are often marginalized — women, youth, minorities, persons with disabilities, indigenous people and the poor. The goal is to make sure everyone’s voice is heard in public life and is included in political decision-making.

“Everyone has the right to be heard and to shape the decisions that affect their community,” says Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General in a recent statement on Human Rights Day. “Over the past century, we have made undeniable progress along the path of inclusion. Yet far too many groups and individuals face far too many obstacles.”

“No country has succeeded in ensuring that all its inhabitants are able to participate fully in public affairs, including the right to be elected to public office and to have equal access to public services,” adds Ban Ki-moon. “Enacting new rights or removing unjust laws is not always sufficient. Too often, discrimination persists in practice, creating barriers and mindsets that can be hard to overcome. International law is clear. No matter who you are, or where you live, your voice counts. On this Day, let us unite to defend your right to make it heard.”

Through educational programming, the Salesians fight tirelessly each day to make sure the voices of marginalized youth are heard and accounted for. In honor of Human Rights Day, Salesian Missions highlights their unique educational programs that are helping poor youth receive an education and find a path out of poverty, bringing them hope for the future.

COLOMBIA

For more than 30 years, homeless children have received support at Don Bosco City in Medellin, Colombia, one of the oldest and largest programs for street children in Latin America. The program serves both boys and girls and goes beyond traditional homeless shelters by providing a three-stage program which culminates in vocational training. First, youth are given safety and shelter, along with food and clothing. Next, youth move into a special house where they receive remedial education and learn to live with others. In the final stage, youth receive jobs skills training or attend local schools. Through this model of education and rehabilitation, youth are able to learn the skills needed to support themselves and break the cycle of poverty. Learn more about Salesian Missions programs in Colombia >

INDIA

Children’s Parliaments in India are some of the projects in which the Salesians have pledged to ensure that the voices of children are heard. Over 7,600 children participate in the Andhra Region Parliament, part of the Tsunami Project which aims to improve education for the most vulnerable children. The objective of this Parliament is to educate young people to know their rights and to work to reduce inequalities and injustices. Learn more about Salesian Missions programs in India >

PHILIPPINES

In the Philippines, drop-out rates double as children reach secondary school, according to UNICEF, and there are more than 11 million out-of-school youth. Salesian Missions’ Tuloy Foundation provides a second chance for at-risk youth to succeed in school. Street children are able to take part in an alternative learning module with five levels of instruction in six subjects. Children progress from first grade through high school. Older youth pursue vocational training in a variety of technologies, including automotive, electrical, welding and woodworking. Learn more about Salesian Missions programs in the Philippines >

SIERRA LEONE

The Don Bosco Fambul program in Sierra Leone aims to change the lives of children. It directly addresses issues facing street children – including emotional trauma from the war and lost family. With the goal of reuniting with their families, youth participate in a 10-month program which includes counseling and medical care – as well as education. Youth attend classes during the day according to their level of ability and any previous schooling. In the evening, they are responsible for helping each other with homework. Youth are tested each month and receive encouragement for progress – building self-esteem and motivation – and hope for the future. Learn more about Salesian Missions programs in Sierra Leone >

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Sources:

ANS – Over 7,000 children make their voices heard

United Nations – Human Rights Day

United Nations – Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Salesian Missions – Our Work

The post HUMAN RIGHTS DAY: Salesians Highlight Programs that Provide Education for Marginalized Youth first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Salesian Missions Tuloy Foundation runs schools, orphanages and residential programs for street children in the Philippines. Here, according to UNICEF, drop-out rates double as children reach secondary school and more than 11 million youth are out-of-school.

Without education, youth struggle to find work and often remain in poverty. Education and providing access to education for all youth are the primary goals of the Salesians in the Philippines.

“A new book in the hands of a student opens him or her up to the opportunities that are available through education. While this is true whether it takes place down the street or across the globe, it is especially powerful in places like the Philippines,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco.

The Salesian Tuloy Foundation provides a chance for at-risk youth to succeed in school. Youth are able to take part in an alternative learning module with five levels of instruction in six subjects. Students progress from first grade through high school. Older youth pursue vocational training in a variety of technologies, including automotive, electrical, welding and woodworking. Salesian programs provide practical vocational skills in addition to standard education, enabling youth to support themselves once they graduate.

There is also a focus on agricultural education for youth in the Philippines. The Salesians run three specialized training centers teaching modern agricultural skills – as well as how to use and maintain light machinery that make filling, planting and harvesting more efficient. The results are encouraging with almost 60 percent of graduates successful in finding employment and 25 percent of graduates running their own farms.

“Education has proven to be an effective means of breaking the cycle of poverty, while giving the most vulnerable youth a sense of personal dignity and self-worth,” says Fr. Hyde. “Salesian vocational, technical, professional and agricultural schools in the Philippines give youth practical skills that enable them to grow into productive adults who contribute by rebuilding communities and stopping the cycle of poverty.”

In addition to residential and educational facilities, youth can also take part in the Tuloy Nature Therapy Center. For those conditioned to life on the street, the 4.7 hectare retreat introduces young people to the beauty of nature. The center also offers youth the chance to learn about farming and agriculture while using its livestock and vegetable garden to help supply food.

Thousands of youth have rebuilt their lives with Tuloy Foundation’s programs. Since it began in 1993 with 12 children, it has grown into a comprehensive program with multiple facilities – all focused specifically on the needs of at-risk youth.

As the needs of youth grow in the Philippines, so do Salesian programs – ensuring every child has the opportunity to reach his or her full potential.

In more than 130 countries around the world, Salesian Missions programs range from classroom education and feeding programs to agricultural and trade schools. They have provided orphanages and shelters for homeless youth to more than 3 million. The focus of the Salesians’ work is on making education a reality, even for the poorest youth, while also providing the essentials such as food and housing.

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Sources:

Salesian Missions – Work in the Philippines

Salesian Missions – Tuloy Foundation

The post PHILIPPINES: Donated Educational Books Increase At-Risk Youth’s Chances for Success in School first appeared on MissionNewswire.

According to the article, Levy volunteered at the orphanage in summer of 2010, and during his time there worked as a computer skills teacher and teacher’s assistant while staying in one of the 10 dorms with the children. In addition, he played soccer and basketball with the youth, sang with the choir, and participated in community service. He was able to fully experience life at the orphanage during his stay.

Levy writes, “Every day on the streets of Manila, Philippines, children as young as seven years old are forced to sell their bodies to survive. Many join gangs and become addicted to drugs. Not only do these children face traumatic experiences, such as sexual violence, but they are also homeless, usually because they were abandoned or neglected by their parents. It is hard to comprehend the hardships faced by these young children, left to fend for themselves on the mean streets of Manila.”

Levy says that in the sea of indifference, poverty, and exploitation, Tuloy Foundation Orphanage is making a real difference in the lives of youth. Tuloy specializes in working with street children, most of whom have been addicted to drugs, members of gangs, and victims of sexual violence. The articles states that Tuloy was opened in 1993 and has since taken in about 1,000 street children, giving them a safe home, love, and the skills to become self-sufficient adults. Through their outreach programs, Tuloy Foundation Orphanage has reached more than 10,000 since its opening.

Tuloy doesn’t just house youth, it focuses on educating them with practical vocational skills in addition to standard education that enables the youth to support themselves once they graduate, Levy explained. These skills, he says, include automotive, air-conditioning and computer repair, cooking, and culinary arts. In addition Levy wrote that once students have mastered a skill and graduate, Tuloy will connect them with a job and continue to let them live at the residence while they get the necessary experience to gain a degree and support themselves.

Levy also explained that in addition to teaching youth a trade, educators also instill important work ethics that help them to maintain employment and function in their daily lives. Levy explained a lesson he saw first-hand while volunteering in 2010.

“During my stay, the staff focused on improving the punctuality of the children. For example, if a child was late to morning assembly, they were informed that they did not waste just one minute of their own time, but rather one minute of every other child’s time which would total 500 minutes wasted, since there were 500 children at assemblies,” Levy explained.

Levy said in the article that while Tuloy has received a number of grants and gifts to build dormitories, it still lacks the funding to operate all of the dormitories. He explained that at the present time, three new dormitories remain empty because of a lack of operational funding. Ninety children, Levy writes, 30 who could be housed in each dormitory are left on the streets having to fend for themselves potentially joining gangs and doing drugs.

Levy’s goal, as stated in the article, is to raise enough money to fill one Tuloy dorm with children. The article notes that it will take $150,000 to support a full dormitory over the next five years. To date, Levy has raised $110,000 which includes a dollar-to-dollar match from his parents, who fully support his fundraising efforts. As a result, according to the article, Tuloy will be able to open a new dormitory for 30 children in the fall of 2012. Donations are still needed to cover the operation of the dormitory over the next five years.

“It is a truly magical place that is giving a future to thousands of children who have known only poverty, homelessness, drugs, and abuse.” Levy states in the article. “I plan to spend another month volunteering at Tuloy during the summer of 2012.”

Levy encouraged potential donors to learn more about the organization at TuloyFoundation.org and those willing to support can donate at Salesian Missions.

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Original article – Saving Street Children in the Philippines: The Tuloy Foundation Orphanage and Don Bosco School

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(MissionNewswire) International Women’s Day—created by the United Nations and celebrated by organizations and countries around the globe—is observed each year on March 8.

According to the United Nations, “it is a day when women are recognized for their achievements without regard to divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political. It is an occasion for looking back on past struggles and accomplishments, and more importantly, for looking ahead to the untapped potential and opportunities that await future generations of women.”

It is also a day for celebrating organizations and people who work year round to empower women and girls in an effort to make the world a better place. It is work that too often goes uncelebrated.

Salesian programs empower girls in impoverished countries around the globe by helping them build a sense of dignity and self worth, says Father Mark Hyde, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco.

“Education builds self esteem and opens the door to opportunity,” he says. “By providing girls with the opportunity to learn life skills and a trade, they become self sufficient and are able to care for their families. When girls have access to education, families are made stronger and have more opportunities to remain together—breaking the cycle of poverty and improving entire communities.”

Salesian Missions has programs helping the poor in more than 130 countries around the globe, including programs to empower women and girls. Here are some examples of that work:

BOLIVIA

In Bolivia, women face more difficulties finding good education and productive jobs, according to the 2003 Human Development Report on Gender. In addition, education of women and girls impacts the health and education of their children.

Through the innovative “Girls in the Vanguard” initiative of Salesian Missions and USAID, more than 1,000 girls in five key countries – including Bolivia – were given the opportunity to receive training and obtain jobs in the private sector. Training focused on jobs with advancement potential, in areas that were often male-dominated. Special business advisory councils and past pupil associations were formed at each site to provide additional assistance. The program took place from 2001-2006, giving girls and young women in Bolivia the skills needed for a better future for them, their families and their communities.

CAMBODIA

In Cambodia, education for girls opens doors to opportunities. With basic education, girls are better equipped to face the daily dangers of human trafficking, child prostitution and substance abuse. Today, more than 2,000 girls who live in poverty have access to basic education through the Don Bosco Children’s Fund. In addition, with vocational and technical education, they see possibilities for jobs and independence. Hundreds of students at four specialized schools for girls/young women will open new doors with skills in printing, electronics, secretarial skills and sewing.

COLOMBIA

The “Right to Dream” program for many poverty-stricken children in Medellin, Colombia. One such child is Alejandra – who now has access to social support and educational program previously unimaginable to her and her siblings as they worked on the streets to help their family survive. One hundred students ages 7-18 receive vocational training and hot meals.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

In the Dominican Republic, women striving for a better life find support with the “Madres Project” in Santo Domingo.  The project addresses the root causes of street children by working with mothers. By learning skills to earn a living wage in the workforce, women in charge of families can improve their living conditions and keep their children off the streets.  Women complete courses in literacy, post-literacy, health care and various modules of computer studies.  All training modules include lessons in human rights. The program is a partnership with Salesian Missions and the International Volunteer Movement for Development.  In addition, they run a training program for youth in the poorest areas of the city called “Boys and Girls with Don Bosco.”

GHANA

Girls in Ghana find less opportunity than boys to improve their lives through education. In many cases, girls are expected to contribute to the family’s income – which takes priority over attending classes.

Through a boarding school for girls in Odumase, girls have the opportunity to continue their studies while learning job skills that will also help their family.

GUATEMALA

More than 21% of Guatemalans had an income of less than $1 a day in 2004 – no improvement since 1989 according to the Pan-American Health Organization. Extreme poverty is often associated with rural life.

Rural Q’echi (Mayans) are among the rural populations looking to improve their lives.  Through Salesian Missions programs, they are focusing on increasing the capacity of their communities. With the assistance of the Q’echi promoters, community groups are educated in self management for projects benefiting family and community. Salesians also work through the Foundation for Advancement of Indigenous Women in Guatemala (Talita Kumi) to raise the status of women and empower them to become house hold and community decision-makers.

INDIA

In India, education can help overcome inequities in jobs and income that are related to gender. Nisha’s story is an example of how one woman’s achievement helps contribute to the community as a whole:

Nisha, strong and confident, works in her beauty salon doing manicures, styling hair and doing facials in Pune, an Indian town with more than a million inhabitants. “Finally I am able to work for my own living and to offer my children a good education,” Nisha says. But it was not always so. Married as a young girl, Nisha worked as a maid and had to take care of her husband after a severe accident. Her life took a new direction after she became acquainted with the self-help groups founded by the Salesians of Don Bosco and now supported by Jugend Dritte Welt, an NGO affiliated with the Salesians. “Suddenly I wasn’t alone and found a new perspective for my life,” says Nisha. After completing a cosmetics course, Nisha opened her own beauty salon. Today she is able to repay her microcredit loans that she owed to the support group. More than 900 women participate in the microfinancing and skills training groups.

KENYA

At the Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya, girls and women receive training opportunities and learn about the important role they play in society and the community. The microfinance program funded by UNHCR and Caritas Italiana offers graduates, women and other refugees an opportunity to establish small business ventures using skills learned.

MEXICO

The Salesians in Mexico are directing their efforts toward the country’s at-risk population, including girls and young mothers who face severe dangers on the streets. Innovative programs are preventing poor children from dropping out of school and are providing important opportunities to keep their lives on the right track.

In Mexico City, girls and mothers face severe dangers living on the streets. Through the “Yolia” program, girls and women become regulars at the day center. There, they have meals, receive tutoring, obtain therapy, and learn job skills such as jewelry making and hair styling.  Some girls may also choose to live in the residential area, where they receive additional education and services, while building a sense of dignity and self worth.

PERU

The number of women in the Peruvian workforce is increasing, according to the Pan-American Health Organization.  So, too, is the need for job training for marketable skills that will help women support themselves and their families.

Since 1982, Salesian Missions has offered training for girls at a vocational school in Yanama. Currently, more than 300 students enrolled in these schools, which are now located in parts of Brazil, Bolivia and Ecuador, as well as Peru.  Girls are trained in using alpaca and sheep wool to make sweaters, rugs, gloves and other articles, which are marketed locally and abroad.  On graduating, they receive a weaving machine as the first step in the new career.

PHILIPPINES

In the Philippines, drop-out rates double as children reach secondary school, according to UNICEF, and there are more than 11 million out-of-school youth.

Salesian Missions’ Tuloy Foundation provides another chance for at-risk youth to succeed in school.  Street children are able to take part in an alternative learning module with five levels of instruction in six subjects.  Children progress from first grade through high school. Older youth pursue vocational training in a variety of technologies, including automotive, electrical, welding and woodworking.  The school developed specialized classes focused on female students, including bag making courses.

SOUTH AFRICA

South Africa has one of the world’s highest crime rates, according to UNICEF. While violence impacts everyone, gender-based violence is a significant problem.  Girls who live on the street face violence, drug addiction, abuse and other dangers. The “Unwind Your Mind” camps are specifically-designed to encourage girls to talk about what brought them to the street and consider their goals for the future.  They also looked at the importance that young women play in society.

TANZANIA

When a Salesian Missions secondary school opened in Didia, Tanzania, it was the first secondary school within a 40 mile radius. Just as important, girls had the opportunity to take part in classes at the co-educational facility.

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The post INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY: Salesian Missions Highlights Programs that Empower Women Through Education, Opportunity first appeared on MissionNewswire.

The study entitled Child Poverty in East Asia and the Pacific: Deprivations and Disparities noted that family poverty often affects children most directly through their access to shelter, food, water, sanitation, education, health and information. When a child is deprived of one or more of these essential services, their experience of poverty deepens.

Analysing the situation of children living in seven East Asia and Pacific countries with a child population over 93 million, the report found over 30 million suffered from at least one form of severe deprivation, such as the inability to go to school, or access basic health care, safe drinking water, a sanitary toilet or adequate nutrition – and more than 13 million suffered from two or more forms of severe deprivation.

“The study demonstrates that income gains, including in middle income countries in the region, have not necessarily translated into gains for all children,” said Mahesh Patel, UNICEF Regional Advisor for Social Policy. “Any national equity and disparity reduction policy must start with child poverty reduction at its centre.”

The report reviews child poverty studies carried out in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Mongolia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vanuatu and Vietnam from 2007 to 2010.

“The thorough analysis presented in these national studies will help countries target programmes and policies to better reach the most vulnerable in society and to use resources most efficiently,” said Anupama Rao Singh, UNICEF regional director for East Asia and the Pacific.

The seven Asia-Pacific countries were among 53 worldwide that participated in UNICEF’s Global Study on Child Poverty and Disparity, which draws attention to the daily deprivations suffered by children and their negative impact on national development.

In Lao PDR, for example, while 38 per cent of children are assessed as income poor, as many as 75 per cent are assessed as living in poverty based on this broader – and increasingly recognized – measure of child poverty.

In Vietnam, children from ethnic minority groups are 11 times more likely to suffer from multiple severe deprivations than children from ethnic majority groups – a pattern found in many other countries.

In Vanuatu, nearly one in five children suffers from severe health deprivation.

The report also underlines that much more needs to be done to reduce the disparities that impede the development of large numbers of children in East Asia and the Pacific. Inequity is rampant, with income inequality either remaining stagnant or increasing in all seven countries despite significant GDP growth over much of the last decade. Deprivations and disparities faced by children must feature prominently in national development and poverty alleviation plans in the region and inform how resources are allocated. Child-sensitive social protection policies that address the needs of the most vulnerable children will also be essential to reducing the deprivations children face in the region.

Gaps between rural and urban areas, different ethnic groups, geographic areas, and households headed by well-educated versus poorly educated adults were among the most notable disparities across the seven countries.

“Clearly the challenge now facing us in East Asia and the Pacific is to address the additional dimensions of child poverty revealed in this study, building on, but going beyond the foundation of economic growth in the region,” Rao Singh said.

The report also revealed the following trends:

Rural versus urban – child poverty was 30 per cent higher in rural Cambodia than in urban areas, 60 per cent higher in rural Thailand, 130 per cent higher in rural Philippines and 180 per cent higher in rural Vietnam;

Geographic disparities – sub-national disparities within countries are, in some instances, more pronounced than the disparities between lower- and middle-income countries in the region– for example, the number of children suffering from severe deprivation in Vietnam was more than six times higher in the north-west region than the Red River Delta; and 50 per cent higher in southern Thailand than the North;

Disparities among ethnic minorities – disproportionately high levels of poverty and deprivation are evident among some ethnic minority children. This is an issue in almost all seven countries surveyed in the region. For example, the number of severely deprived ethnic minority children was about 60 per cent higher than the number of severely deprived children from dominant ethnic groups in both Lao PDR and Mongolia, 9 times as large in the Philippines and nearly 15 times larger in Thailand;

Education of household head– severe deprivation more than doubled in households where the household head had only a primary-school education or less, compared to households where the household head had secondary or higher education;

Family size – the incidence of severe deprivation in Mongolia and Vietnam almost doubled in households with more than seven members, compared to those with four or fewer. In Thailand, the incidence more than tripled under these conditions.

UN Photo/Kibae Park

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Salesian Missions works with UNICEF in countries around the globe.

The post UNICEF: Study Provides New Insight Into How Poverty Affects Children first appeared on MissionNewswire.