Better choices for vulnerable youth
El Salvador is experiencing an ongoing societal crisis. During the country’s civil war in the 1980s, thousands of internally displaced people flocked to the capital city of San Salvador—where their only option for housing was to build their own makeshift communities out of scrap cardboard, plastic and wood. The city has yet to truly recover from this influx it was ill-prepared to manage.
Children born into these desperate conditions face inevitable poverty and despair. As a result, violence and crime have spiraled to such an alarming degree that an estimated 60,000 youth throughout the country are now involved in gang activity.
But there is good news. Our spirited and dedicated missionaries like Father José María Moratalla Escuerdos (affectionately known as “Padre Pepe”) are making a meaningful difference for hundreds of at-risk youth.
Will you give these vulnerable youth a chance for a better life?
At the Don Bosco Technical Institute (Instituto Técnico Obrero Empresarial Don Bosco—ITOE), Padre Pepe empowers youth to resist the temptation of joining a gang. Instead of guns and bullets, he arms them with the knowledge and skills they need to find sustainable employment and become productive members of society.
Your gift today will help us further expand these crucial educational opportunities—both at ITOE, and around the world.
