The Miracle of a Brighter Future

Eight years after a brutal civil war tore the Ivory Coast apart, citizens continue to struggle with lasting physical, emotional and societal wounds.

The violence unraveled the economy, collapsed the public health system, destroyed educational infrastructure and opportunity, and eroded trust within and among communities. Today, nearly half the population lives in conditions of poverty, with more than a quarter struggling to survive on less than $1.25 per day. Adult literacy hovers at 44 percent. And thousands of youth who were orphaned or abandoned during the war now live on the streets, begging and stealing just so they can eat.

And yet, our Salesian missionaries serving in the Ivory Coast have witnessed something extraordinary.

“[People here] have suffered terrible things,” says Father Carlos Berro. “Yet they say, ‘I thank God that nothing worse has happened to me.’ And they say it sincerely. They feel alive.”

This remarkable capacity to look forward comes from our work to help the people of the Ivory Coast help themselves—with programs and services designed to address the root causes of poverty and violence while promoting individual and community resilience.

We invite you to be part of this miracle today.

When you make a gift to Salesian Missions, you send kids to school. You feed hungry families. You heal injuries and illness. You rescue youth from the streets, teach them a trade, and help them find employment. And through all of these things, you transform their despair into genuine hope for a brighter future.

This hope is vital in the Ivory Coast, and wherever war and conflict have crushed the spirits of innocent children and families who deserve nothing less than the opportunity to build a decent life.

Any goods, services, or funds provided by Salesian Missions to programs located in these countries were administered in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including sanctions administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control

In the Central African Republic and Syria, in Ethiopia and South Sudan, in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Colombia, in Angola and Timor Leste and more, victims of violence have turned to our Salesian missionaries for immediate and long-term support. Just as we have in the Ivory Coast—and just as we will continue to do so wherever needed—we were able to respond because of compassionate friends like you.

Thank you, in advance, for your generosity!

(If you would like to view a documentary about the role Salesian missionaries played during Ivory Coast’s civil war, you may do so here).

Donate Now

News & Updates

From Hurting to Healing in Colombia

Not too long ago, both Catalina and Claudia were shouldering powerful weapons as “volunteer” soldiers in Colombia’s decades-long civil war. Now 21 years old, these poised and intelligent young women have graduated from nursing school and eagerly anticipate futures defined by fulfilling careers—and lives—in service to others.

“Don Bosco Teaches Us That Education is the Future”

Like the Ivory Coast and Colombia, Syria has struggled with ongoing conflict and despair for far too many years. When war first erupted there, more than eight years ago, Salesian missionaries serving in Aleppo reluctantly closed their schools and youth center due to safety concerns.

Photo Gallery

Connect with Us

On Facebook:

After a brutal civil war that lasted nearly a decade, citizens of the Ivory Coast continue to struggle with lasting physical, emotional and societal wounds. They have found a remarkable capacity to move forward from this horrific tragedy in a positive way, with the help of our Salesian missionaries.

Comment

On Twitter:

Citizens of the #IvoryCoast continue to struggle with physical, emotional & societal wounds, even after a decade-long brutal civil war has ended. Their extraordinary ability to move forward helps alleviate the scars of such an atrocity.

We hope and pray that you support our life-saving work. Your gifts will be used for this program and other similar Salesian programs around the globe that benefit poor and needy youth. Please join us to help make the world a better place.