Rome, Italy - March 2016 - On 11 March 2016 President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella, conferred the honour of Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic on Sister Laura Girotto, a missionary of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. The honour was granted in recognition of the tireless and courageous work done by her and by the FMA in the Kidane Merhret Integrated Project in Adwa in Ethiopia. Through this project the Sisters cares for the most needy primarily in education and health, especially for women and children.

Porto Alegre, Brazil - March 2016 - The first annual meeting of the Salesian Communication Network was held from 15 to 17 March to carry out a review of the activities of 2015 and to review the plan for 2015-2017. The meeting was chaired jointly by Fr Gildasio Mendes dos Santos, Provincial of Campo Grande and Sister Ana Teresa Pinto, with the participation of the executive directors, coordinators and delegates from the provincial Social Communications teams. 

Perez Zeledon, Costa Rica - March 2016 - On 5 and 6 March, 50 young people gathered at the Salesian House of San Isidro El General for a religious exercise to celebrate the start of the ESCOGE Programme. This programme is inserted in the Salesian Youth Movement to help young people in their vocational discernment.