Mission News
According to the Human Development Index, Timor-Leste ranks 133 out of 188 for life expectancy and standard of living. Salesian missionaries had already been working hard to improve these outcomes by providing more access to education overall. But now, they’re expanding on the life-changing opportunities of going to school with a new practical internship program.…
Empowering Young Women to Lead and Succeed
March 16, 2023
Today, women in the Philippines still face significant gaps in education, employment and earning potential—despite their country’s high scores on internationally defined measures of gender equity. With help from Salesian Missions, this is about to change, one student at a time. Working with the United States Agency for International Development’s American Schools and Hospitals Abroad…
A Welcoming Home for Newly Arrived Families
March 16, 2023
Until recently, Alesio lived on the streets of Santiago, Chile with his wife and two young children. But thanks to Salesian missionaries at Casa Pinardi, all four now enjoy safe shelter … and renewed hope for brighter futures. “Although Chile’s poverty rate is relatively low,” says Father Timothy Ploch, interim director of Salesian Missions, “income…
A Salesian Approach to Stemming Youth Migration
March 16, 2023
According to official estimates, global youth migration is on the rise. And while it’s challenging to pinpoint exact numbers, one thing is certain—thousands of marginalized young people leave their countries in search of work and better opportunities abroad every single day. Around the world, our Salesian missionaries are devising creative ways to address this challenging…
Embracing New Beginnings in Ecuador
February 16, 2023
Born in Ambato, Ecuador and growing up mostly on the streets, young Álex never understood what it meant to be loved. Traumatized by abandonment and scarred by abuse, he only knew how it felt to be hungry, exhausted and alone—until he arrived at the Don Bosco Farm. Originally established in 1996, this Salesian-run sanctuary offers…
Assisting Displaced Families in Need
February 16, 2023
Under cover of night, Mustafa hurriedly loaded his expectant wife, in-laws, and first-born baby into a car and drove as fast as he could toward the border of Pakistan—where he prayed they would find safety from Afghanistan’s increasingly dangerous and repressive regime. With help from our Salesian missionaries, his prayers were answered. Mustafa’s young family…
Ukrainian Refugees in Vienna, Willkommen!
February 16, 2023
Have you ever tried to learn a foreign language as an adult—one that isn’t rooted in your native tongue or alphabet? For most people, it’s challenging even to imagine, let alone successfully accomplish. Now, imagine trying to do it while burdened with the traumas of war, displacement and loss. This is what thousands of Ukrainian…
Education is the Heart of our Mission
January 17, 2023
Despite its natural beauty, and its status as a top safari destination among adventurous travelers, Zambia remains one of the poorest nations in the world—one that struggles to provide even the most basic services for its people: access to clean water and sanitation; quality maternal-child healthcare; essential food aid; and more. In Salesian communities throughout…
Being of Service to the Young
January 17, 2023
Not too long ago, members of the 153rd Salesian Missionary Expedition departed Valdocco, Italy for remote regions around the world to serve ad gentes (meaning “to the nations”). During this month when we celebrate our patron saint’s feast day, it’s fitting to recognize these dedicated servants who willingly bring Don Bosco into the lives and…
Sustaining Communities through Farming
January 17, 2023
How do you reverse the tide of generational poverty in a country where nearly 90 million people suffer from it every day? You start, literally and figuratively, by teaching young people how to fish—which is exactly what Salesian missionaries are doing at St. Joseph’s Farm in Sagamu, Nigeria. Developed in October 2021 with funding provided…