WORLD YOUTH SKILLS DAY: Salesian Missions highlights educational programs for disadvantaged youth
Salesians offer more than 1,000 vocational, technical, professional and agricultural schools
(MissionNewswire) Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, joins humanitarian organizations and the international community in celebrating World Youth Skills Day, celebrated on July 15 each year since 2014. The United Nations designated the day as a way to bring greater awareness of the importance of technical and vocational education and training, as well as the development of other skills relevant to both local and global economies.
A 2024 report, titled Global Employment Trends for Youth 2024, “cautions that the number of 15- to 24-year-olds who are not in employment, education or training (NEET) is concerning, and that the post-COVID-19 pandemic employment recovery has not been universal. Young people in certain regions and many young women are not seeing the benefits of the economic recovery.”
Salesians are regarded as the single largest private provider of vocational and technical training in the world, and they offer more than 1,000 vocational, technical, professional and agricultural schools. Training provides youth with practical skills to prepare for employment and helps them lead productive lives while becoming contributing adults in their communities. Programs go beyond educating. They also assist youth with making connections within industries and prepare them for the process of searching, finding and retaining employment.
“Salesian missionaries offer technical and vocational training to as many youth as possible who are at risk or disadvantaged in countries around the globe to ensure that they have access to long-term stable employment,” said Father Michael Conway, director of Salesian Missions. “When youth learn employable skills, they can enter the workforce prepared, earning an income to help themselves and improve their communities.”
To mark World Youth Skills Day 2026, Salesian Missions is proud to highlight technical and vocational programs that provide life-changing education and skills training for youth.
EL SALVADOR
Donor funding from Salesian Missions helped improve employment training for women at six Salesian institutions in El Salvador.
Salesian missionaries in El Salvador had the donor funding to improve technical and vocational education for young women, aged 16-35, thanks in part to Salesian Missions. The project, “Education as an Engine for the Integration of Young People in Vulnerable Situations”, is part of the Skilling El Salvador 2022–2026 Program and was carried out at six Salesian institutions.
The goal for the four-year project aimed to improve training through expanding and diversifying the courses offered. Twelve new short courses and four longer courses were offered. These new courses taught nontraditional technical skills for women.
Salesians aimed to ensure a smooth transition from coursework to the labor market. The Labor Intermediation Offices supported graduates in their transition, consolidating 166 agreements with companies. A key milestone in 2025 was the first Salesian Employability Congress, which brought together representatives from the business, education and social sectors to address the challenges of today’s labor market.
The young women who enrolled in the coursework were from situations of socioeconomic vulnerability from areas with limited access to quality technical training and high unemployment rates. They came from families with incomes below the poverty line, and many were at risk of irregular migration or recruitment by criminal groups. These women face additional barriers to employment with added responsibilities at home, gaps in access to technical training and lower participation in the formal labor market.
As a result of the project, Salesians were able to increase the number of women graduates. During the four years, 1,169 women were enrolled and 974 graduated, exceeding the goal of all six institutions.
INDIA
Don Bosco Nava Nirman in India provided 32 girls with scholarships thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions.
Don Bosco Nava Nirman, located in Muniguda, India, provided scholarships for 32 girls thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions. The school was developed in 2010 after the Kandhamal violence in the region in 2008. One of the greatest contributions Salesians make in the region is through their education, especially for youth who are poor and marginalized.
A Salesian noted, “We have been concentrating on the education of girls and young women, which is an urgent need in this area. Generally, girls are marginalized by the parents as well as the society at large as they are not seen as potential earners in the workplace. Our entry into the education of the girls is in a way an attempt to transform this general perception. Today, through support provided to us, we are able to educate many girls through our scholarship program.”
Donor funding helped to offset the cost for hostel fees, as well as academic fees and book purchases. Although the school received funds for 26 scholarships, it was able to make scholarships available for additional children. In total, 32 children received financial support for their education.
NIGERIA
In Nigeria, the St. Jude Science & Technical College renovated a hostel for students thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions.
Salesian missionaries at St. Jude Science & Technical College, located in Vandeikya, in the Benue State of Nigeria, were able to renovate a hostel thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions. The work included structural repairs of the walls, flooring, tiling, and ceiling, refurbishment of windows and doors, painting, and final touches such as adding bunk beds. Close to 800 youth benefited from these improvements.
A Salesian noted, “The improved living conditions have supported our students. They have new lighting to improve visibility, better ventilation and more space. The bunk beds are providing adequate sleeping arrangements, reducing overcrowding and stress associated with poor living conditions.”
Eze Favour is one of the students, and she is studying to be a medical doctor. Before the renovation, the students were in a building with a leaking roof and lack of space, with some students sleeping on the floor. Favour is filled with joy for the transformation that has taken place.
She noted, “The hostel is now presentable, allowing the students to sleep well. The building is very welcoming and presentable. All the students are enjoying the new hostel. We wish it had been done sooner because the living conditions are so much better. I’m able to focus and study better now.”
PAKISTAN
At a hostel for youth in Pakistan, 160 students from disadvantaged families received nutritious meals through donor funding from Salesian Missions.
Salesian missionaries operating a hostel for youth, located in Lahore, Pakistan, had donor funding to help support boarding students. The funding is from Salesian Missions and covers food costs for 160 youth, 10 more than originally planned in the project. There was also a small surplus, which was used to buy sports equipment for the students.
The youth, aged 14-21, come from disadvantaged families. Sixty percent of them attend the Don Bosco Technical Center while others are in formal education at another Salesian school. Almost all come from large, single-income families. Some have lost one or both parents while others come from single-parent families.
A Salesian explained, “The main goal was to cover their nutrition, which is the biggest expense at the hostel. We worked closely with our cooks and kitchen staff and planned the meals based on their experience and the typical dishes the boys eat at home with their families. We bought groceries every week, making sure to choose suppliers with the best quality and prices. We also update the menu regularly to include fresh, seasonal products.”
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Photos courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)
