In Sarh, Chad, impoverished young people rely on the Don Bosco Center as a lifeline for education and a pathway out of poverty. But frequent power outages across the region have disrupted their daily life. To address this issue, our Salesian missionaries have launched an ambitious initiative to install 40 solar panels, bringing dependable electricity that will transform learning and improve conditions for thousands of children and young people.

15-year-old Yannick describes why the Center is so important to him. “I often come here to the Salesians. For me it means being able to read and study, because there is a library which has books that we don’t have at home and where I can learn so much. There is also a computer lab so I can work on a computer. Unfortunately, often the electricity goes off here at the Don Bosco Center, as in the whole city. There is no light … and that slows everything down.”

The shortage of electricity creates hardship throughout the country, particularly in deprived communities where the only option is for children to attend school under the shade of a big tree. Since Chad is one of the hottest climates on the planet, classes are held during the cooler afternoons until darkness sets in. This limited timeframe makes it a struggle for the children to finish their studies.

Thankfully, the new solar panels at the Don Bosco Center will deliver reliable electricity for the benefit of 500 children enrolled in the nursery and primary schools, 50 students attending classes at the computer science lab, and approximately 5,000 youth who regularly visit the Center. 

Father Michael Conway, Director of Salesian Missions, explains the importance of the project. “Education is a proven pathway out of poverty, so we need to ensure that disadvantaged youth in Chad have the basic infrastructure needed to succeed in school,” he says.

Your generosity to Salesian Missions supports hundreds of educational and training programs throughout the world that are giving children and young people the opportunity to pursue brighter futures.

Learn more about our work in Chad.

Our mission is to provide the infrastructure and resources that enable children to succeed in school. What’s your mission?