To summarise the last three weeks of "Canillitas" we can refer to some statistics: five trips on planes, more than 7,500 kilometres travelled (1,700 on the road), nine presentations in schools, with almost 3,000 students who saw the documentary and were able to talk to the protagonists, three presentations with the Salesian Family, a participation in a meeting of Salesian Provincial Volunteers in Warsaw (Poland), three presentations at European institutions, two bilateral meetings in Brussels, a presentation at COMECE, as well as numerous meetings with the media.

This tour of European cities and institutions allowed the public to hear the stories and testimonies of Moisés Liranzo, a 14-year-old beneficiary of the "Canillitas with Don Bosco" programme, Karen Montás, Director of the "Canillitas" programme, and Salesian missionary Juan Linares, the founder of the programme that seeks a future for the most disadvantaged minors by saving them from child labour. Everywhere, their presence was met with admiration and applause, and many students were interested in the possibility of volunteering in the project.

Summarizing a little on the 'Canillitas' tour, it is worth recalling that the presentation in Rome, at the Benedict XVI Hall near the Teutonic Cemetery (Campo Santo Teutonico in the Vatican), organized by the Don Bosco NEL MONDO Foundation on 26 September. The following day was what young Moisés calls "one of the best days of his life", as he was able to meet Pope Francis during the general audience in St Peter's Square and hand him a letter and a drawing made by the beneficiaries of the "Canillitas with Don Bosco" programme in Santo Domingo.

The second phase on the tour was Vienna, with a presentation for the Salesian Family and a visit to the Don Bosco Gymnasium in Unterwaltersdorf, where 150 students met the protagonists of the documentary. This was followed by a visit to Poland, where more than 1,000 students between Warsaw, Tarnowskie Góry, Bydgoszcz and Łódź, greeted the protagonists and attended the screening of the documentary.

In Brussels itself, the two-day stay was filled with meetings and presentations, organized by "Don Bosco International" (DBI), which took "Canillitas" to the heart of the European institutions. The Apostolic Nuncio to the European Union, the Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Union (EU), the European Commission, the European Parliament, the Embassy of the Dominican Republic in Belgium and the Permanent Representation of Spain to the EU all took an interest in Salesian works with child victims and expressed their willingness to collaborate to eradicate this scourge that affects more than 160 million people in the world.

The last phase on the tour was Portugal, with a visit to Salesian schools in Lisbon, Estoril and Manique, and a meeting with the Salesian Family in the Portuguese capital. The enthusiasm of young Moisés was great, welcomed with affection by many students who described him as a courageous person, "with an inspiring message to make Don Bosco's dream come true".

"We Salesians face many problems and challenges," said Juan Linares. "Child labour is one of them and all together, governments, societies and families, we have to face it together.

The Director of the programme, Karen Montás, wanted to thank everyone for their welcome and interest and emphasized how impressed she had been "by how schools are in Europe, the organization, the education of the pupils and the closeness: you can feel Salesian familiarity, respect and joy," she said.

Now the documentary will take its protagonists to twelve Spanish cities and will be on tour until 3 November with a twofold objective: to make known a reality that is widespread throughout the world and to seek support and funds so that these projects can continue to develop, and Salesian missionaries can continue their work.

• Title Title
• Title Title
• Title Title
• Title Title
• Title Title
• Title Title
•  

Tweet