Author: Salesian Missions

Publication Date: June 24, 2025

MADAGASCAR: Salesian missionaries expand classrooms at Don Bosco Mahajanga thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions

Students receive practical training relevant to local economy.

NEW ROCHELLE, NY (June 24, 2025) Salesian missionaries are working on a construction project to expand classrooms at Don Bosco Mahajanga, a technical and vocational center in Madagascar. Donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, is financing the project. The funding has been utilized for the ground floor construction work that was needed, which is currently 80% finished.

The classroom extension project will enable the center to increase classroom sizing by 20 to 40 students per training cycle. These students typically range from ages 15-20, and they are often transitioning from general education or unemployment to skilled trades. The goal is to provide practical training relevant to the local economy, enhancing their employability and improving livelihoods. The students come from families with limited financial resources, and vocational training offers them a path to economic empowerment.

Father Bruno Ramaharaisoa, director, explained, “Beyond the direct beneficiaries, the project will also indirectly benefit the teaching staff and administration by creating a more conducive working environment and increasing the skilled workforce in the region. It is poised to have a significant positive impact on the educational opportunities and future prospects of numerous young individuals in the region, while also contributing to broader community development. The new building is seen as a catalyst for future positive initiatives in the field of education.”

Mahajanga is a large city located in the northwest coast of Madagascar. The schools in the area are insufficient. As a result, many youth are not able to access education. This leads to unemployment, child labor, and other economic and social issues.

Salesian missionaries have 11 centers and work in several locations in the country, including the Don Bosco House in Ivato in the outskirts of Antananarivo. Salesians have been in Ankililoaka since 1982. They have constructed schools and churches, as well as a youth center. They are working to ensure quality education and make sure no student is left behind.

Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world. Seventy percent of Madagascar’s almost 19 million people live in poverty with 5.7 million of those youth between the ages of 10-24, according to UNICEF. This number is expected to double in 2025.

### Contact: media@salesianmissions.org