There is a Don Bosco Hostel for boys at the Shambyu St. Joseph’s Catholic Mission and village in the Shambyu kingdom in Kavango East. The mission was founded in 1930 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate and is staff by two native pastors, Father Berthold Mukongwa and Father Michael Murongo. The mission also has a clinic and a Marian House Hostel for girls.

The Don Bosco Youth Center is situated on a two-hectare piece of land, where it takes in children and older youth from the poorest communities in Rundu. The center consists of a large multi-functional hall, a kitchen and bathroom facilities. Children are able to play, access healthy food and use the bathroom facilities. Rehabilitation programs and family social workers help children connect with their relatives in order to reintegrate them back with their families, when appropriate.

Students at the Don Bosco Center and Don Bosco Primary School in Rundu have access to clean water thanks to donor funding from the Salesian Missions “Clean Water Initiative.” The project provided a new water tank and pump to supply fresh drinking water. The water supply at the newly opened school has been limited due to water interruptions in the town of Rundu, which has created a challenging situation. The Don Bosco Center, which includes the primary school, administration, computer training center, chapel and other youth facilities, welcomes more than 600 people each day. The Don Bosco Primary School teaches children ages 2-10 who come from conditions of poverty in their home lives. The lack of water often cancelled classes and other programs at the Don Bosco Center.

To address this crisis, funding was provided for a 10,000-liter (2,641 gallon) water tank to avoid water interruptions that often last up to two weeks. The water tank, which has a lifespan of up to 15 years and can hold two weeks’ worth of water, was constructed at the center and connects to the school’s water supply line. A new water pump is helping the school to automatically pump water in the tank, improve water pressure, and save money, time, and energy.

Residents of the Ruurumwe village, located outside of Rundu have access to clean water thanks to donor funding from the Salesian Missions “Clean Water Initiative,” which provided a new borewell, water tank and pump. The 550 people living in the village are poor and survive on small-scale farming and government grants. The water supply from a small seasonal river is erratic and too often not enough. During the summer, residents survive on water from holes and small wells, but this water is not safe for human consumption. The new borewell and 5,000-liter water storage tank will supply fresh, clean water for the entire village and allow people to grow food for the community.
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Don Bosco Youth Center in Rundu renovated a children’s playground thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions. Prior to the renovations, the playground was in a dilapidated state and dangerous, leaving children without a place to play and connect with their peers. With the donor funding, Salesians were able to buy renovation materials and paint. The children who attend the youth center come very poor families and some of them have been abandoned. Since the launch of the primary school, close to 120 children use the playground each morning before school. On the weekends, 180 youth attending programs at the youth center utilize the playground. To safeguard the playground, Salesians have asked the school to contribute a small amount of money toward the maintenance.

Salesians in Rundu have a new house thanks to funding from Salesian Missions. The house will directly benefit 11 Salesians, five of whom will be there full-time, and more than 5,000 people in the community who will be accessing youth programs and the parish.