Close to 800 youth who are boarders at the hostel will benefit.

NEW ROCHELLE, NY (March 25, 2024) The Salesian Hostel in the Don Bosco community of Onitsha, located in the Anambra State of Nigeria, has the support needed for a new roof project thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. While the roof is not yet completed, the funding helped pay for construction of roof beams, fabrication of the iron trusses, and connection, fixing and anchorages of the structural steel works.

Close to 800 youth, ages 11-18, are boarders of the hostel and will benefit from this project. The roof also creates a safer workplace for educators, Salesian staff and personnel at the hostel. A Salesian noted, “This new roof is ensuring a safe and comfortable environment for everyone who is staying and working at the hostel. We are grateful for donor support.”

Salesians have been working in Nigeria since 1982, providing social and educational support for poor youth and their families. Currently, Salesians have five technical and training centers in the country, two child protection centers, a health care center, a secondary school, nine youth centers and one formation center.

Salesians also operate a school of philosophy and six job service offices to help youth who are graduating from Salesian schools with access to employment. In addition, Salesians have two farm projects and a migration office, and they have completed 41 water boreholes to ensure clean water across Nigeria.

According to UNICEF, Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country and the ninth most populous country in the world. By United Nations estimates, Nigeria will be one of the countries responsible for most of the world’s total population increase by 2050. While Nigeria has the second strongest economy in Africa, it also has extreme rates of poverty with 100 million people living on less than $1 a day.

About 64% of households in Nigeria consider themselves to be poor while 32% of households say their economic situation had worsened over a period of one year, according to UNICEF. Poverty still remains one of the most critical challenges facing the country and population growth rates have meant a steady increase in the number of people living in conditions of poverty.

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