Mission News
In Mexico’s capital city, nearly 240,000 children — many of them girls — live in profound poverty on the streets. Robbed of their basic rights and dignity, and with little hope of attending school or earning a living, these girls face a bleak future. Through the “Yolia” program, Salesian missionaries are working to change that…
Giving Hope & Dignity through Water & Electricity
April 23, 2014
On March 22, global leaders, communities, and individuals marked World Water Day with a slate of activities highlighting the growing need for fresh, clean available water. More than 768 million people worldwide lack access to reliable water sources. This need is especially urgent — and Salesian missionaries are working tirelessly to resolve this critical situation…
Overcoming the Odds in Peru: Children of Lead Project
April 23, 2014
As a young child living in the slums of Puerto Nuovo, Peru, little Alvaro happily played in the shadow of shipping barges — never knowing the danger lurking in the air he breathed, or in the soil beneath his feet. These barges carried one of Peru’s largest exports, lead. And the nearby mines supplying that…
Brighter Futures for Homeless Youth
March 10, 2014
Today in Bolivia, more than 4,000 innocent boys and girls — some as young as 6 years old — live on the streets. Many have been abandoned by parents too desperately poor to feed them. Others have escaped violence at home or at school. At the Don Bosco Project in the capital of Santa Cruz,…
Improving the Standard of Living for Child Slaves
March 10, 2014
This month, in the lead-up to Ash Wednesday and the sacrifices of Lent, celebrants from around the world marked Shrove Tuesday with traditional foods, costumed parades, live music and jubilant displays of fireworks. Sadly, the euphoria inspired by these pyrotechnics easily masks the grave human rights violations behind their manufacture — a situation Salesian missionaries…
New Industry and New Hope for Youth in Colombia
March 10, 2014
In a country where six million people live in extreme poverty — and where one in five children lacks access to school — the youth of Colombia face futures with little opportunity. By fostering connections among vocational training, sustainable development and long-term skilled employment, Salesian missionaries in the city of Santander de Quilichao aim to…
The Democratic Republic of Congo: Training Medical Professionals
February 12, 2014
“The Democratic Republic of Congo is the worst country to be a mother,” asserts a new humanitarian report. The findings include a staggering statistic: One in 30 women will likely die as a result of maternity-related complications. At the Salesian-run Don Bosco Center in Goma-Ngangi, a new training program for medical professionals hopes to tackle…
From Violence to Hope: Empowering Young Women in Sierra Leone
February 12, 2014
In Sierra Leone, violence against women runs rampant — while sadly, its perpetrators often remain above the law. Beaten, trafficked, forced into marriage (or worse), girls as young as 13 regularly fall victim to what becomes a lifetime of torment and despair — with no hope of protection. The Salesian-run Don Bosco Fambul Girls Shelter…
Salesians: Serving the Whole Person
February 12, 2014
Every three seconds, a child dies from a preventable disease — simply because of a lack of access to basic medical care. In fact, millions of people in impoverished countries remain vulnerable to illnesses that shouldn’t be fatal but are. In more than 200 medical clinics and hospitals operated by Salesian missionaries around the globe, we…
Central African Republic: The Crisis Continues
January 14, 2014
Since our first report on the Central African Republic, the situation in the capital city of Bangui remains grave. Sadly, even little children are now being recruited into armed conflict — or worse. Many have suffered gruesome attacks. As the violence approaches unprecedented levels, Salesian missionaries continue to shelter and care for increasing numbers of…