Sometimes, our Salesian missionaries directly support children and families in need. Other times, they inspire the next generation of compassionate leaders to do the same. That’s how a young girl attending a Salesian school in Rawson, Argentina, launched a country-wide project to help impoverished families weather the harsh winter months.

Known as the “Afrazados” project—or “Wrapped Up” in English—the initiative began in 2010 as a hyper-local attempt to provide blankets to Rawson’s most needy families. That first year, the student enlisted help to produce seven blankets. Thanks to her vision and the popularity and effectiveness of her efforts, the program has grown to include seamstresses and weavers from across the country who heard about it and signed on to help.

And it doesn’t stop there. Eager participants without sewing skills pitch in by donating wool and fabric squares. They also work as volunteers to deliver the finished product to recipients. As a result, in 2019, Afrazados increased its reach by tenfold—delivering 70 blankets, made with love, to those in need.

“This project is a way for people to give back to their community and provides a gesture of goodwill to their neighbors,” says Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions. “It’s a perfect illustration of Don Bosco’s legacy brought to life, and while the student who initially launched the program has graduated, she leaves a legacy of her own for other students to build on.”

Not even the COVID-19 pandemic could halt this momentum. Families knitted, sewed and crocheted from their homes and sent what they had created to the Salesian Home in Rawson. During a virtual celebratory closing event, these families were able to take advantage of an online sewing training session, too. Already, they have produced 30 blankets toward this year’s cause. And we can’t wait to see what happens next!

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Learn more about our work in Argentina.