Don Bosco Youth Center provides shelter and services for homeless youth.

NEW ROCHELLE, NY (May 22, 2023) Sixty-three youth who attend the Don Bosco Center in Rundu, Namibia, had a healthy breakfast before school thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. The youth ranged in age from 7-15 and were from poor families. This food helped to ensure they had at least one healthy meal a day.

“One of the youth who benefited from this donation is an abandoned young boy who always thanks and prays for the people who donate to us,” said Father Louis Malama, the Salesian parish priest who oversaw the project. “This breakfast program means a lot to the youth and families we serve. We appreciate the donors who help support our work.”

Don Bosco Youth Center, opened in 2002, provides shelter and services for homeless youth. The center offers computer classes for 65 students, preschool for 70 children and school for 104 students who have dropped out of formal education. In addition, more than 80 youth attend the daily oratory activities, including sports programming.

According to the World Bank, Namibia is one of nine countries in Africa considered as upper-middle income, but poverty is still prevalent with extreme wealth imbalances. Namibia’s poverty rate is 32% with an unemployment rate of 29.6%. Poverty in Namibia is acute in the northern regions of Kavango, Oshikoto, Zambezi, Kunene and Ohangwena, where upwards of one-third of the population lives in poverty. HIV prevalence in the country is 16.9%.

Salesian programs across Namibia are primarily focused on education. Salesian primary and secondary education in the country helps youth prepare for later technical, vocational or university study. Other programs help to support poor youth and their families by meeting the basic needs of shelter, proper nutrition and medical care.

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