Programs help youth develop confidence, contribute to peaceful environments.
NEW ROCHELLE, NY (Sept 21, 2026) Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, joins humanitarian organizations and countries around the globe in recognizing the International Day of Peace, observed on Sept. 21 each year. The United Nations General Assembly declared the International Day of Peace as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples.
This year’s theme “Invest in Peace – For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day” honors the everyday architects of peace who drive local action, lay the groundwork for stability and build a lasting peace from the ground up. The U.N. has noted, “Peace is more than the absence of war; it is the foundation necessary to collectively tackle humanity’s challenges. It is the lived experience of safety, dignity, opportunities and cooperation in our daily lives.”
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said in a statement about the day, “Peace is not just made at conference tables, but in classrooms, neighborhoods, and everywhere people meet with open minds and open hearts. Together, day by day, we can build a more just world, with compassion, equality and dignity for all.”
Salesian missionaries provide social development and educational programs to youth and families in poverty regardless of gender, race or religion. They work to level the playing field for youth so that they have the support needed to gain an education and the skills for future employment. Programs teach life skills like collaboration and communication to help youth develop confidence and contribute to peaceful environments.
“Salesian missionaries are on the front lines working to ensure youth have access to education and social development programs that help bring stable and peaceful environments,” said Father Michael Conway, director of Salesian Missions. “We are working to change the lives of youth who are poor and disenfranchised and put them on a path to becoming full members of their communities while encouraging a life filled with peace and meaningful contribution.”
In honor of the International Day of Peace, Salesian Missions highlights Salesian educational and sports programs that are positively impacting youth around the globe.
MYANMAR
Don Bosco Youth Center in Kalay, Myanmar*, was able to update and expand classrooms to create more spaces for education. With donor funding from Salesian Missions, Salesians were able to add five classrooms, which will enable them to admit more students.
Kalay is located at the gate to the northern Chin State and is one of the business border towns adjacent to India. In 2021, the military took over the town, destroying everything. Salesians report that fighting happens on the outskirts of town, houses are burned down, roads are blocked and youth run away from the town for their safety. Life has become more difficult with people living well below the poverty line. With the economy down, many people are engaged in smuggling goods or enter early marriages without hope for the future.
A Salesian reported, “Don Bosco Youth Center is the only boarding school for youth. Many come seek our care for education and spiritual growth. The expansion of these classrooms allows us to serve many more vulnerable and at-risk youth who have little opportunity for education.”
A resident in the community, Ko Khai No, explained, “I know many youth who are taking classes at the center. Don Bosco, with its preventive system, brings positive changes for youth and their families. I am quite impressed and grateful for the Salesians for all they are doing in our community.”
SIERRA LEONE
Salesian missionaries operate the Don Bosco Socio-Sports School in Lungi, Sierra Leone, thanks to support from the Salesian Mission Office in Madrid and the Real Madrid Foundation.
As part of the Real Madrid Foundation’s “They Play, We Educate” program, participants receive nutrition, family and psychological support, regular health checkups, the opportunity to participate in social and educational workshops, gymnastics, crafts, reading, and citizenship activities. Training sessions on topics such as health, hygiene, values, and the prevention of alcohol, tobacco, and drug abuse are also provided.
The Don Bosco School has four soccer teams, two basketball teams and three volleyball teams, involving 70, 45 and 98 students, respectively. The school has been renovated for this season, and youth have access to all the equipment they need to learn and practice the sports. Students will also engage in competitions.
Ansuma, one of the youth involved in the school, said, “The school taught me much more than soccer. I have learned to control my temperament and now I also help at home and in school activities.”
UKRAINE
Salesian missionaries with the Salesian Lyceum in Lviv, Ukraine* were able to use donor funding to install a volleyball pitch thanks to funding from Salesian Missions.
More than 400 students were impacted by the donation and have been able to now play volleyball during their physical education classes and afterschool activities. UNICEF reports that since the start of the conflict with Russia, more than 1,600 schools have been impacted by the bombing. Education has been interrupted for many students and they are no longer able to access coursework or have leisure activities with their friends.
The Salesian Lyceum has been meeting these needs for many students, many of whom have been internally displaced in the country. Some of the students are orphaned and in the care of relatives or the Salesians.
Father Taras Bayovskiy, headmaster of the Salesian Lyceum, said, “I am grateful that we now have a volleyball pitch. What we have available for students is limited, and promoting a healthy lifestyle through sports activities without adequate sports infrastructure has always been a challenge for us. We now have a soccer field, a volleyball court, and modular locker rooms. These facilities enable us to participate in three student sports leagues including soccer, volleyball and rugby.”
WEST AFRICA
Salesians were able to provide scholarships to 325 youth thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions. The youth came from 18 communities in five countries in West Africa, including Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea Conakry, Mali* and The Gambia. The Antonio César scholarships covered schooling, supplies and support for transportation.
Salesians also held awareness days to promote the importance of education for these youth, to encourage them in their studies and to prepare them for the future. These activities supported parents and Salesian confreres as well as helped schools address challenges in getting these youth to remain in school.
One of the youth supported through the program was 16-year-old Nathan. He is a student at St. Jean Bosco in Cotonou, Benin. Nathan lost his father when he was young and lives with his mother who has few resources.
Nathan said, “For a long time, I thought that my school journey would stop due to a lack of resources. I didn’t believe I’d be able to continue my studies, let alone be able to attend professional training. But everything changed thanks to the scholarship that I received. I was able to complete my secondary education and obtain my baccalaureate. I am now pursuing professional training with the firm desire to succeed and learn a profession and one day be able to support my family like they have supported me.”
He added, “This scholarship transformed my life. It gave me hope, confidence and a real direction to follow. I would like to express my deep gratitude to the school and to all partners and benefactors who make this project possible. Thanks to you, young people like me can dream again and especially believe in a better future.”
*Any goods, services, or funds provided by Salesian Missions to programs located in this country 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.
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