Salesian missionaries with the Don Bosco Center in Kara counter the deeply-rooted cultural beliefs that routinely demonize children and blame them for illnesses, deaths and other misfortunes that are more accurately the outcome of overwhelming poverty. The Don Bosco Center offers a loving home where youth can recover from their physical and emotional wounds. In addition, the Center provides opportunities to break the cycle of poverty through education and training.

Close to 500 people supported by the Maria Auxiliadora Parish in Gbényedzi, Lomé, have access to COVID-19 prevention materials thanks to funding from Salesian Missions donors. The funding enables Salesians at the parish to purchase and distribute face masks, install handwashing devices, and purchase thermo-flash devices for taking temperatures. Salesians were also able to purchase, store and distribute food for those in need with the funding.

The Salesian Institute of Philosophy and Human Sciences in Lomé, the capital city of Togo, has completed a construction project at the school thanks to funding provided by Salesian Missions. The project included building several classrooms within the institute. Further work, including plastering, carpentry, painting and adding electricity and furniture, will be completed as part of a separate project.

There are 274 students enrolled at the institute who will benefit from the new construction. Forty of the students are women between the ages of 17 and 40 who are earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in philosophy, education sciences and communications. Most of the students are from Togo with some coming from other West African countries and central Africa. The construction project will also benefit the lecturers who teach at the school and the school’s administrators.