Mission News
Creativity. Independence. Love, patience and kindness. At Don Bosco Fambul’s Child Care Center in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Salesian missionaries nurture the first two qualities with an abundance of the other three. And brighter futures blossom because of it—as our own Father Gabriel Stawowy witnessed first-hand. Fr. Gabriel traveled to Freetown this past December to participate…
Living by Don Bosco’s Example
February 16, 2024
Hardship is a constant fact of life in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)—where far too many people already struggle to get by on just $1 a day. Now, escalating conflict is only making things worse. Thankfully, a group of dedicated past Salesian pupils have delivered a small glimmer of hope to those seeking…
Young Women Breaking Barriers
February 16, 2024
There’s a saying in Africa that goes something like this: “When you educate a girl, you educate an entire society.” Still, many societies on the continent remain resistant to gender equality, which makes such an education challenging to acquire. Recent graduates from a Salesian school in Tanzania serve as an inspiration. “One of the most…
Cultivating Sustainable Futures in Brazil
February 16, 2024
Ever since its original inhabitants first began farming the land, “Brazil” and “agriculture” have been nearly synonymous. The country’s rich soil, copious water, and abundant sunshine make farming a viable economic choice for both small family enterprises and large industrial operations. That’s one reason why Salesian missionaries in São Paulo work to cultivate connections with…
Keeping Vulnerable Kids Safe in the Dominican Republic
January 16, 2024
Nearly two-thirds of children younger than 14 in the Dominican Republic experience some form of physical, psychological or verbal abuse at home. This violence, driven by poverty, regularly leads many of them to the streets. And that’s why Salesian missionaries in Santo Domingo created the “Protect Childhood” campaign. This initiative aims to raise public awareness…
Speaking the Language of Hope
January 16, 2024
Tenin. Mamadou. Bernard. Suleyman. Their backgrounds are as diverse as their names, ages and countries where they were born. But all are united by one common purpose … to build better lives and futures in Italy, far from the conditions that drove them from their homes. With help from our Salesian missionaries, they’re laying the…
Shining a Beacon of Hope
January 16, 2024
It hit below the fold—news of cyclone Michaung was hidden among reports of endless wars, natural disasters and other catastrophes around the world. But for thousands of people in India and our Salesian missionaries serving in the region, the storm’s immediate impact and devastating aftermath remain headline news. Roaring toward Chennai at the beginning of…
Feeding the Hungry in Sri Lanka
November 9, 2023
“May the Lord bless you!” exclaimed Chaminda when he received desperately needed, nutritious rice meal packages for his young family from our missionaries at Don Bosco Chinthanaloka in Ahungalla, Sri Lanka. And it’s thanks to the support of friends like you. Like many of his neighbors, Chaminda works hard in the nearby cinnamon fields—investing long…
A Clinic Without Walls in Myanmar
November 9, 2023
Myanmar* is a country in crisis. And with no apparent end in sight, our Salesian missionaries on the ground have adjusted their ongoing relief efforts to bring critical aid directly into the hands of those who need it most. “I’m not exaggerating when I say, ‘it can’t happen soon enough,’” says Father Timothy Ploch, interim…
Planting the Seeds for Brighter Futures
November 9, 2023
Life is hard for any single mother. It’s even harder for young women in Rwanda, where pervasive gender inequalities and intentional exclusion push them to society’s most distant edges—where they find little support for improving their lives … and the lives of their children. An innovative new farming program in the Gasabo district of Kigali…