Youth gain education, support for basic needs to help find path out of poverty.

NEW ROCHELLE, NY (Oct. 17, 2024) Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, joins humanitarian organizations and countries around the globe in honoring the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty held on Oct. 17 each year. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty and the 35th anniversary of the World Day to Overcome Extreme Poverty.

The United Nations has noted that by the end of 2022, 8.4% of the world’s population, or as many as 670 million people, were living in extreme poverty. By 2030, it’s expected that 7% of the global population, around 575 million people, could still find themselves trapped in extreme poverty, surviving on less than $2.15 per person per day.

Salesian missionaries around the globe are focused on helping people living in poverty find a pathway out. Salesians build wells in communities without water, feed starving children, provide medical care and other basic necessities, and educate, which is their primary goal. Working in more than 5,500 Salesian educational institutions and youth centers around the globe, missionaries educate children in some of the poorest places on the planet.

“Education is always our main focus for helping youth find ways out of poverty,” said Father Michael Conway, director of Salesian Missions. “The goal is to help youth gain an education and the skills for later employment in order for them to earn a living and become self-sufficient. Programs also go beyond traditional education and help to support youth with basic needs, like offering feeding programs at school, so that they can do the hard work of focusing on their studies.”

In honor of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, Salesian Missions is proud to highlight initiatives that help to break the cycle of poverty for youth and their families.

EL SALVADOR

Youth in Salesian programs in cantons of Tonacatepeque, El Salvador, received bicycles thanks to a donation from World Vision secured by Salesian Missions. The bicycles, distributed by the Laura Vicuña Pro Education Foundation, were given to 120 boys and girls. In addition, 163 others, including siblings and mothers, will benefit from the bicycles. Also included in the shipment from another donor were laptops to enhance the children’s education.

The bicycles will serve as a means of transportation to go to school, take corn to the mill, carry water jugs and to have fun with neighborhood friends. To distribute the bicycles, an athletic competition was held for youth in the age categories of 8-9 years old, 10-12 years old, and 13-15 years old. Competitions were held separately for boys and girls for each age group. The winners received the bicycles.

Nikol Margarita Galdamez, age 9, said, “At first I didn’t want to compete, I was afraid that others would beat me. In the second round, I went for it and won.” Another winner, Oscar Leonel López, age 11, explained, “The bike is too big for me, but I can reach it and I can ride it. I am very happy!” One young girl, René Larios Mazariegos, age 9, expressed her joy, “I always dreamed of a bike.”

INDIA

Salesian missionaries with Don Bosco Snehalaya in Assam, India, were able to fund the “Comprehensive Support for Poor and Needy Children in Assam” project thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions. The funding provided support for 142 young people in need of care and protection at five Salesian childcare institutions.

Donor funding was used for food, education, clothing and counseling, as well as support for the staff to provide the services. Youth were able to take part in Snehalaya Annual Day, which launched the organization’s Silver Jubilee. They also joined the celebration for the birthday of the co-founder and director, as well as the Republic Day of India.

The institutions that were supported were the Snehalaya Boys Home, which provides support for 29 boys ages 12-16; Auxilium Snehalaya, which supports 30 girls, ages 6-11; Ila Snehalaya, a home for 23 young boys, ages 6-11; Jyoti Snehalaya, a home for 33 girls, ages 12-18; and Snehalaya Center for Child Rights, a home for 25 boys, ages 15-18.

NIGERIA

Children who live at and visit the Don Bosco Child Protection Center, in Onipetesi, Lagos, Nigeria, have fresh, clean water thanks to donor funding from the Salesian Missions “Clean Water Initiative.” With the funding, the center was able to construct a borehole and tank stand, as well as provide maintenance for an old well.

The project is providing safe water for the 20 children who live at the center as well as the 80-100 children who visit it each day. Other members of the Onipetesi community who visit the center and Salesian staff at the center also benefit.

Salesians report that there are upwards of 100,000 children who live on the streets of Lagos. The center is a refuge for abandoned and homeless street children who have nowhere else to go. Some of the children are orphans while others have been physically abused or accused of witchcraft and sorcery. Salesians provide them shelter, meet their basic needs, and give them psychological and moral support.

UGANDA

Students attending Don Bosco Primary School, part of Don Bosco Children and Life Mission (Don Bosco CALM), in Namugongo, northeast of Kampala, Uganda, received new school uniforms, sports uniforms and school supplies thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions.

The 200 children, ages 5-13, were from families most in need. They could not afford to buy their children new school uniforms or the school supplies to take part in educational activities.

Mbabazi Prosper, age 9, was one of the recipients. He lives with his grandmother who is unable to buy the things he needs for school. Prosper said, “I was not going to school before because my grandmother could not afford the school fees. Now I study at Don Bosco and I’m sure I will succeed in the future. Thanks to the donors we received new uniforms, books and pencils that allow us to participate in school. We are all grateful.”

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