Living his life’s vocation on the streets of Turin, Italy, John Bosco never refused to help a poor child in need. To him, every marginalized and exploited young person deserved equal opportunities for education and employment. Our missionaries in Ciudad Bolívar, Colombia feel the same.

The Salesians serving there named their mission after our founding father and patron saint. And there’s no doubt he would be proud of their commitment to improving lives and circumstances through practical education.

Since 1994, St. John Bosco the Worker Center has been a beacon of hope and opportunity in what otherwise is one of Bogotá’s most disadvantaged and dangerous areas. Close to a million people live in makeshift homes crafted from plastic, metal, wooden boards, and other recycled objects. Many struggle to meet their basic daily needs, while the dangers of violence and abuse are ever present.

Missionaries are addressing these problems by providing spiritual guidance, material support, and desperately needed access to job training. The Center offers more than a dozen vocational programs and educational courses, in addition to cooking classes, life-skills training, and sports and recreational opportunities.

Ever faithful to Don Bosco’s legacy, these missionaries open their doors wide to anyone in need.

“The community continues to expand on the slopes of the mountains and is primarily made up of youth and mothers with limited resources. Lately, the area has also seen the influx of thousands of migrants fleeing Venezuela in search of opportunities for a better life,” says one of our missionaries. “To all of them, our St. John Bosco the Worker Center offers a way to escape poverty through education, and to escape violence through spiritual guidance and counseling.”

Recently, missionaries opened a new Reception House for Venezuelan Youth, which serves over 150 young people. Among other support, participants receive help navigating barriers to social integration so they can successfully build new lives.

“Don Bosco would say, ‘Always think well of everyone and be ready to help others,’” says Father Michael Conway, director of Salesian Missions. “And our missionaries in Ciudad Bolívar are doing just that.”

Learn more about our work in Colombia.

Our mission empowers marginalized youth and families with the education and support they need to build better lives—wherever they are, and whenever they need it. What’s your mission?