Uganda: Critical Food Shipment Enables At-Risk Youth to Thrive
Fourteen-year-old Ronald is in the seventh grade at Don Bosco Children and Life Mission (Don Bosco CALM) School. He is one of more than 1,700 youth at four Salesian schools in Uganda who are now receiving nutritious meals thanks to your support of a special partnership between Salesian Missions and several charitable organizations.
These humanitarian partners donate tons of food and other life-saving supplies for distribution at our Salesian-run programs around the world. Then, caring friends like you help cover the cost of shipping, so we can get these essential items into the hands of those who need them most – including Don Bosco CALM in Uganda.
“Before I started receiving the nutritious meals at Don Bosco CALM, I was always hungry because there was never enough food to eat. My family and I only had posho and beans whenever it was available,” Ronald explains. Posho is a Ugandan staple made of cornmeal, water and salt – barely enough to keep a young, growing boy healthy.
Like many others in this impoverished country, Ronald and his friends struggled with chronic malnutrition. They faced daily struggles including difficulty concentrating, a lack of energy, frequent illness, and stunted growth.
To make matters worse, our missionaries witnessed an increased military presence which has made the entire community uneasy. Farmers have been scared off from selling their produce in local markets because of their concerns about potential violence in the area. This, together with economic challenges and weather disasters, has doubled the price of staples like maize, rice and beans – making it nearly impossible for families to afford meals for at-risk children like Ronald.
Thankfully, we funded food shipments that provide critical relief and offer hope amidst these dire circumstances. Ronald and his classmates can now count on consistent, nourishing meals every day. This gives them the energy, confidence and strength to focus on their studies, enjoy recreational activities, and engage with each other in socially positive ways.v
Ronald has big plans for his future. He wants to follow a career in business when he’s done with school and is extremely grateful that caring friends like you have made it possible for him to pursue his dreams.
Burundi: Healthy Meals Help Make Dreams Come True
Charbel, just 13 years old, is growing up in Burundi, one of the poorest countries in the world. He attends Don Bosco High School in Ngozi where, thanks to your generosity, he has hope for a brighter future.
The entire country faces high levels of food insecurity. Political unrest, financial volatility, poor agricultural conditions, and rapid population growth have created uncertain futures and dire circumstances for those trying to scrape together a living.
But thanks to our partnerships with other humanitarian organizations, and your generosity, we are on a mission to help end hunger – at least for the 1,088 students at Don Bosco High School (which includes a boarding school that houses 650 students).
The students are given three meals a day at school which is much more food than what they would get at home. While at school, the students receive a quality education, have free time to socialize with friends, participate in music lessons, and learn valuable life skills.
Charbel has taken a special interest in farming. He spends his free time helping at the school farm which he visits at least once a day. When asked about what he wants to do in the future, Charbel states, “I want to become a great farmer so I can feed my family and other kids like me.”
Without you, Charbel might never have discovered how a farm works or imagine himself raising chickens and goats. Your generosity has enabled him to envision this life for his future.
Now, Charbel has begun turning his dream into a reality. When he goes home for the holidays, he tends to a small farm he created. He already has three chickens and he is very proud of them.
And as one of our caring friends, you can be proud too, because your generosity makes success stories like his possible.