Salesian missionaries support youth in gaining education.

NEW ROCHELLE, NY (Oct. 16, 2024) Salesian missionaries in Myanmar* were able to provide housing and nutrition to 350 boys who are boarding in Salesian communities thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. These boys are mainly from war-afflicted zones where there is very little education and safety. The Salesian communities supported include Nazareth, Thibaw, Hlaing Thar Yar and Mandalay.

Donor funding helped youth during the six months of November 2023 to April 2024. During this time Salesians were able to provide the boarding for the students and meet nutrition needs, including the purchase of rice, beans, vegetables and cooking oils.

A Salesian said, “We are appreciative of Salesian Missions and the donor funding provided that has allowed us to aid 350 boys who are boarding in different Salesian communities. Education in Myanmar has been challenged given the ongoing war. We are supporting these youth with their education and basic needs like housing and nutrition.”

In Myanmar, the military takeover of the democratically elected National League For Democracy Government has unleashed an unprecedented political, socioeconomic and humanitarian crisis on top of the continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, sending the country into a dangerous spiral of conflict and poverty, according to the United Nations. More than 3 million people are internally displaced, and there has been significant human suffering, asset depletion, rising food insecurity and reversal of many of the development gains made in recent years. Nearly 50% of the population is estimated to be living in poverty.

Salesian missionaries are responding to the needs of children, youth and their families who are in crisis. Not only do programs address desperate poverty, but they also serve people whose lives have recently been impacted by natural disasters and a refugee emergency.

*Any goods, services, or funds provided by Salesian Missions to programs located in this country were administered in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including sanctions administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control.

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