(MissionNewswire) Salesian centers, services and pastoral teams joined together to launch traditional Christmas campaigns in multiple cities across Portugal. These campaigns provided a range of items for poor youth and their families during the holiday season.

In Estoril, the campaign helped two associations through the sale of tickets to Christmas parties at three schools. With the proceeds, the Ajuda de Berço Association was provided food and hygiene products. The Turma Solidária Association in Alcabideche was provided clothing collected by the students.

In Évora, SolSal-Family Support Service promoted the “Hands that Multiply” food collection campaign among the educational community. Father Sebastião Coelho, director of SolSal, encouraged everyone to help more than 200 families supported by the organization and provide donations at the parish solidarity bazaar.

A campaign also took place the Salesian School in Funchal to provide comfort to the neediest families near the school. Some students were asked to contribute basic necessities for personal hygiene while others brought requested food items.

Students, teachers and staff of Salesian centers in Lisbon were asked for donations for the Christmas Campaign to benefit poor families. Students contributed hygiene products, food and baby products.

In Manique, 57 classes from the local Salesian institute made Christmas baskets filled with non-perishable food items based on the needs of local families assigned to them. In Mirandela, the campaign benefited the Children and Youth Home and families in need in eight Salesian parishes. Salesians in Mirandela also provided clothing for students in some of the city’s institutions.

The National Shrine of Our Lady Help of Christians in Mogofores collected food, clothing and gifts with the help of the parish’s social store and youth groups that will participate in World Youth Day to be held in Lisbon in 2023. The distribution of gifts during the Christmas celebration is a Shrine tradition.

Finally, the Association of Parents and Guardians of Pupils of the Porto Salesians launched a food collection drive. The baskets benefited poor families in the school, youth center and Salesian Past Pupil Center.

According to the World Bank there is close to 2.6 million people living below the poverty line in Portugal, 487,000 of whom are under the age of 18. The country is one of the most unequal countries in Europe as far as wealth distribution. Wealthy citizens earn five times the rate of income than those living in poverty.

Unemployment and low incomes are two of the factors that contribute to unequal wealth distribution. Portugal has a low hourly rate for workers in comparison to other countries in Europe. Many parents have to work multiple jobs, which leaves less time at home with their families and children. This leaves children without the proper guidance at home leading to behavior problems and lack of preparedness for school, including getting homework done and eating breakfast before coming to school.

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Sources:

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

ANS – Portugal – Christmas Campaigns in Province’s schools, works, social services

Salesian Missions

World Bank – Portugal

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(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries in Estoril, Portugal, have developed a digital oratory in response to the challenges posed by the interruption of normal school activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The app promotes educational, recreational and playful activities led by Salesian students and educators for children and their families.

“The digital oratory was a response to stay close to students and their families and provide social support, promote hope, and mobilize essential resources for physical, psychological, and spiritual need,” said a Salesian representative in Estoril. “We adapted what we provide in person to a digital space, addressing head on the challenges of the pandemic and using technology to fill the needs that youth and families still have.”

Activity areas include sports, music, science, emotions, spirituality, arts, cooking, social networks, study methods and techniques, games, and photography. In addition, the activities are segmented by age groups, from 4 to 18 years, to ensure greater adaptability to the diversity of the participants.

The interactions between educators and participants exceeded initial expectations, reinforcing that by working together it is possible to overcome difficulties and to learn and continue to grow.

According to the World Bank there is close to 2.6 million people living below the poverty line in Portugal, 487,000 of whom are under the age of 18. The country is one of the most unequal countries in Europe as far as wealth distribution. Wealthy citizens earn five times the rate of income than those living in poverty.

Unemployment and low incomes are two of the factors that contribute to unequal wealth distribution. Portugal has a low hourly rate for workers in comparison to other countries in Europe. Many parents have to work multiple jobs, which leaves less time at home with their families and children. This leaves children without the proper guidance at home leading to behavior problems and lack of preparedness for school, including getting homework done and eating breakfast before coming to school.

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Sources:

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

ANS – Portugal – Salesians of Estoril develop “Salesian Digital Oratory” to continue accompanying young people

Don Bosco International

World Bank – Portugal

The post PORTUGAL: Digital oratory connects youth to services first appeared on MissionNewswire.

(MissionNewswire) The “Brilliant mothers – Empowerment of single-parent female families” project facilitated by SolSal (Salesian Social Service) has been awarded the “Social Value Award” by the Cepsa Foundation. The project, promoted by the Salesian Foundation, is carried out in Evora, Portugal, and is one of five Portuguese projects that was recognized.

The “Social Value Award” was created in 2005 with the aim of recognizing and promoting the social activity of different entities that work to improve the quality of life. Over the past 15 years, these awards have enabled the development of more than 340 projects, which had an impact on the quality of life of around 40,000 people.

The Cepsa Foundation award provides financial support for the SolSal project, which provides support to single mothers in situations of vulnerability. The day-to-day demands of these women who are raising children without the support of their husbands, partners or extended family are difficult. They may also face dealing with low income and low education levels, which have a great impact on their family, relationships and self-esteem.

The project addresses parenting, along with personal, social, and professional challenges through an integrated approach. There is school and educational support for youth, support in accessing services to understand individual and family rights, workshops on personal care and attention habits, assistance drafting a resume, and help searching and applying for jobs.

“Single mothers face many challenges in gaining an education and finding stable employment while meeting the demands of raising a family alone,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “This project helps level the playing field by supporting these women in areas that are often most challenging. Helping them find stable employment also helps them to become more self-sufficient which can improve family relationships and self-esteem.”

According to the World Bank there is close to 2.6 million people living below the poverty line in Portugal, 487,000 of whom are under the age of 18. The country is one of the most unequal countries in Europe as far as wealth distribution. Wealthy citizens earn five times the rate of income than those living in poverty.

Unemployment and low incomes are two of the factors that contribute to this wealth distribution. Portugal has a low hourly rate for workers in comparison to other countries in Europe. Many parents have to work multiple jobs, which leaves less time at home with their families and children. This leaves children without the proper guidance at home leading to behavior problems and lack of preparedness for school, including getting homework done and eating breakfast before coming to school.

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Sources:

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

ANS – Portugal – Award for “SolSal Évora” project in favor of single mothers

Don Bosco International

World Bank – Portugal

The post PORTUGAL: Project for single mothers wins award first appeared on MissionNewswire.

(MissionNewswire) The Salesian Center in Lisbon, Portugal, created the SolSal (Salesian Social Service) in 2008 to provide support to vulnerable children and older youth, along with their families, to promote their well-being and autonomy. Currently, the organization serves 114 families, 28 percent of whom are migrant families from 10 different countries. There are also three refugee families that came to Portugal as part of a refugee relocation program within the European Union.

“Even if our participation in the refugee program ended in March 2018, we continue to accompany them as we do with many other migrant families,” said Alexandra Constantino, head of SolSal Lisbon and coordinator of the Salesian Social Service at the national level, together with the Salesian Father Álvaro Lago.

SolSal is one of the entities that adhered to the Refugee Support Platform, a civil society initiative to organize the reception of refugees according to a model of community integration, rather than in refugee centers. All of the children and youth attend school either in local Salesian schools or in public institutions.

The families live in houses provided by the Salesian Foundation. Only one of the adults is currently out of work while all the others are employed, full-time or part-time. Everyone also has easy access to medical visits and consultations.

The SolSal initiative provides these families baskets of basic necessities and meals. In addition, these families have access to family counseling programs, psychological support, parental education activities, and cooking and finance workshops.

For immigrant families, SolSal provides support in accessing public administration services. One of the greatest difficulties for these families is accessing the support provided by the state, as well as dealing with the renewal of identification documents and residence permits. To further help new immigrants coming to the country, SolSal provides support with social inclusion and gives families access to Portuguese lessons and conversation sessions for language learning.

The pandemic has imposed greater difficulties on the SolSal initiative, but Salesians have continued their work, modifying to safely meet the needs of families they serve.

“Our biggest victory was continuing with the doors open, despite all the changes we had to make in the functioning of the service,” said a psychologist working with SolSal. “We have seen many success stories, including Antónia Andrade, a Cape Verdean woman who started at SolSal eight years ago, and today, is a volunteer who helps in the collection and distribution of goods to families in need.”

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Sources:

Photo: João Ramalho

ANS – Portugal – Lisbon “SolSal” service accompanies migrant families

Don Bosco International

The post PORTUGAL: Help continues for migrant and refugee families first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Salesians in the country focus their efforts on education and vocational skills training for poor youth. Recently, Salesians missionaries in Vila Nova de Poiares, a municipality in the Coimbra district in north central Portugal, have launched a new professional training course aimed at young people who have struggled in school and have failed two or more courses.

The missionaries in Poiares have been providing vocational skills training for the last nine years. The new professional training program serves students in grades 9 through 12 and beyond. Depending upon their experience, students begin with basic or more advanced education courses, culminating in an apprenticeship and on-the-job training. The smaller class sizes and individual assistance offered in the new program are appealing to those who struggle in larger, more traditional classes.

“Education and skills training is necessary for poor youth to help them break the cycle of poverty,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Salesians helps students achieve success in basic education courses in order to be more prepared for Salesian vocational and technical training, which helps youth access long-term stable employment.”

In the Poiares region, work in wine production, catering and the tourism industry is readily available. The new program takes advantage of existing Salesian resources – a three-hectare vineyard, a restaurant, workshops for electricians and a multimedia studio – by focusing coursework on viticulture, catering, electricity, hotel management and media.

The goal is to provide vocational skills training in professions were work is accessible and available. The ability to offer real work experience contributes to the overall success of the Salesian program and educational experience, particularly when students find themselves at an advantage connecting with employment immediately after graduation. Many students are offered jobs at the companies where they completed their apprenticeships while others choose to go on to obtain advanced degrees.

“The new vocational program meets a local need and provides advancement for poor youth in the region – a win-win for both employers and job seekers,” adds Fr. Hyde. “Through coursework and additional social development programs, students leave the vocational school with the professional skills and aptitude necessary to excel in the workforce.”

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Sources

ANS –  Portugal – Vocational Training, a successful response

European Commission – Research findings – Social Situation Monitor – Income inequality in EU countries

Portuguese American Journal – Crisis: The pain and shame of poverty – Portugal

World Bank – Portugal

The post PORTUGAL: New Vocational Program Gives Struggling Students Second Chance first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Five of the six missionaries are headed to the Cape Verde islands and will be volunteering at the school of arts and crafts in São Vicente as well as at the Salesian-run parishes of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Our Lady of Grace, both in Praia, the country’s capital. According to the World Bank, the Cape Verde Islands have seen steady economic growth and enjoy a per capita income that is higher than many continental African nations. However, close to 25 percent of the country’s population lives in poverty.

The sixth Project Life missionary is heading to Mozambique, which according to the World Bank is one of the poorest countries in the world. Despite impressive growth and development over the last several years that has reduced the once 70 percent poverty rate (in the late 1990s) to 54 percent today, poverty continues to be severe and widespread. More than 70 percent of those living in poverty reside in rural areas and rely on farming and fishing to make a living. The vast majority of the rural population lives on less than $1.25 a day and lacks basic services such as access to safe water, health care and education.

The young volunteer in Mozambique will have the opportunity to assist poor students in educational projects at a vocational-technical school in the capital city of Maputo in addition to giving open-air lessons in the city of Tete, located on the Zambezi River in the northern part of the country.

“Volunteerism is an important part of Salesian programs around the globe,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Our volunteers spend their time in schools, youth centers and Salesian programs that provide education, workforce development and other supportive services for poor youth and their families. The time volunteers spend helps to increase the capacity of our programs and brings a lot of joy to the youth they serve.”

Before being sent abroad on their assignments, volunteers are rigorously trained in working with youth in poverty, the employment situation in the country assigned, education techniques, leadership and health topics. Volunteers learn to develop their capacity for collaboration as well as how to begin a dialogue with other cultures, religions, ethnic minorities and those living in extreme poverty. Volunteers benefit by expanding their knowledge and skills set and most often find the experience an opportunity for great personal growth.

The Don Bosco program, Project Life, also offers volunteer assignments to individuals and groups who wish to help poor youth within Portugal and in Portuguese speaking countries. Short term projects that address the immediate needs of the poor as well as long term projects focused on education and social services are available. Additional volunteers have participated in fundraising efforts that result in feeding programs, scholarships and accommodations for students in need.

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Sources

ANS – Portugal – “Don Bosco Programme – Project Life”: Salesian Youth Volunteering

World Bank – Cape Verde

World Bank – Mozambique

The post PORTUGAL: Volunteers Give Back By Helping Poor Youth in Salesian Programs first appeared on MissionNewswire.

Recently, a new socio-sports program was introduced at the Salesian Youth Center in the town of Niterói, near Rio de Janeiro. The program, the third of its kind in Brazil, is made possible through a collaboration between the Salesian Missions office in Madrid and the Real Madrid Foundation and will benefit close to 200 youth from the most disadvantaged areas of the city.

The program’s motto is, “They play, we educate” and participants receive nutritional, family and psychological support, regular health check ups and the opportunity to participate in social and educational workshops in activities such as gymnastics, crafts, reading and citizenship. Training sessions on topics such as health, hygiene, values and the prevention of alcohol, tobacco and drug abuse will also be provided.

Outside of normal school hours, participants in the program will receive sports training by coaches specifically qualified by the Real Madrid Foundation.

“Sports programs teach youth both on and off the field,” says Father Mark Hyde, the executive director of Salesians Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “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.”

At the program’s inauguration, the biggest surprise for the 200 youth in attendance was the participation of Marcelo Vieira da Silva Júnior, a player from Real Madrid and the Brazilian national team, who recently won the Confederations Cup.

The collaboration between the Salesians and the Real Madrid Foundation has been very successful, granting more than 2,000 youth and vulnerable children the opportunity to participate in similar programs around the globe. This new socio-sports program in Brazil is operating alongside 13 other socio-sporting schools in nine countries including Togo, Benin, Congo*, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Portugal, Senegal and the Dominican Republic.

Sports programs are a few among many programs helping disadvantaged youth in Brazil.

At the Don Bosco Youth Center in Cabana, youth from the slums take part in socio-educational opportunities to help close educational gaps. At the Salesian-run Community Center in Porto Alegre, street children receive three nutritious meals a day, clean clothing, medical care, schooling and a safe place to get much needed rest. And at a new Salesian-run Center in Abaetetuba, abandoned and at-risk youth take part in a wide variety of healthy and educational activities. The Center includes a recreation facility where children are able to participate on sports teams, make friends and gain a sense of accomplishment. All of the programs work with youth to help them lead productive lives and break the cycle of poverty.

Brazil is one of more than 130 countries around the globe where Salesians work to give hope and provide opportunity to vulnerable youth through education and skills training. Salesian Missions is the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, working to raise funds and develop programs to aid youth and families in some of the poorest places on earth. Learn more about where the Salesians work and the programs they provide at www.salesianmissions.org.

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Sources:

ANS – Brazil – Niterói socio-sports school inaugurated, with soccer star Marcelo

UNICEF – Brazil Statistics

Real Madrid Foundation – Website

*Any goods, services, or funds provided by Salesian Missions to programs located in this country were administered in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including sanctions administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control.

The post BRAZIL: New Socio-Sports Program is Teaching Youth Teamwork and Social Skills first appeared on MissionNewswire.

The two new schools—the Don Bosco Educational Plaza in Hainamosa and the Dominic Savio School House in Santo Domingo—use football as a tool for social integration, improving the quality of life for boys and girls who are at risk of social exclusion. Alongside the sports, schools provide various support services to children and their families, such as tutoring, classroom space for homework, vocational training, healthcare, nutrition education and cultural and recreational activities.

“We want young people to be integrated and develop healthy activities. They play, we educate,” said Emilio Butragueño, explaining the importance of the initiative.

The partnership between Salesian Missions and the Real Madrid Foundation is well underway and allows more than 2,000 youth and vulnerable children to participate in similar programs today. There are currently 13 operational socio-sporting schools in nine countries: Togo, Benin, Congo*, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Brazil, Portugal, Senegal and now the Dominican Republic.

“In the Dominican Republic, sports help youth to grow and develop into healthy, caring members of society,” says Father Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “And they pass on their knowledge for generations to come,” he adds.

ABOUT SALESIAN MISSIONS IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC:

Salesian Missions is paving the path toward a better future for young people, where half of youth ages 13 to 18 suffer in poverty and lack needed skills to compete in the job market. The Salesians are using innovative approaches to prevent children from life on the streets and the lure of gangs. And they are instilling knowledge and values that will carry forward in the generations to come.

After finishing his studies, Edward stayed involved in the program – working with youth in the same situation he had been.  He later graduated from the university with a degree in public relations and now is in charge of the graphic design department at the Salesian Technical Institute, where he also teaches.

“There are only three of my childhood friends that are alive since most of them got into gangs.  This project saved my life from the personal perspective to the professional development.  I don’t know what would have happened to me if it wasn’t for this project,” said Edward.  “I still play basketball with the boys & girls in the project.  This is the best way to discover their personalities and different ways I can help them.”

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*Any goods, services, or funds provided by Salesian Missions to programs located in this country were administered in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including sanctions administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control.

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