Brazil – "SOS Petrópolis": solidarity campaign for flood victims

22 February 2022
Brazil – "SOS Petrópolis": solidarity campaign for flood victims

(ANS - Niterói) - The Pope also expressed his solidarity with the victims of the devastating floods and landslides that struck the Brazilian city of Petrópolis last Tuesday, February 15. "May the Lord receive the deceased in His peace, comfort their families and support those who are providing assistance," he said at the end of the Angelus last Sunday, February 20. If the toll of the natural disaster is certainly tragic - 181 victims, 104 missing, and hundreds injured, according to data released yesterday, February 21, by the Fire Department - lights of hope come from the many people who are mobilizing throughout the country to help the population in need. And the Salesian presence could certainly not but be present.

The Salesian institutes "Santa Rosa" and "Região Oceânica-Piratininga", both located in Niterói, in the "St. John Bosco" Province of Brazil-Belo Horizonte (BBH), count on the support and solidarity of their respective educational communities for the victims of the tragedy that struck the city of Petrópolis, in the mountainous region of Rio de Janeiro.

The students, in collaboration with pastoral leaders, created a mobilization network to collect food and other important items during this time. The youth went from classroom to classroom to encourage other students to participate.

Among the awareness-raising actions carried out by the youngsters were the creation of a video in reel format for broadcasting and sharing on social networks, as well as flyers created by the Communications Department to publicize the places where basic necessities were collected for the flood victims.

The Salesian presences have therefore mobilized to help the victims of the tragedy of Petrópolis (RJ) and launched the campaign "SOS Petrópolis" for the victims of the rains, active until Friday, February 25.

Specifically, the youth have requested the following items for the needy of Petròpolis:

- Clothes and shoes

- Blankets and mattresses

- Non-perishable food

- Personal hygiene and cleaning products

Gustavo Duarte, a third-year student of the "Região Oceânica-Piratininga" institute, used his pocket money to buy bottled water and sorted his clothes to donate them to the people affected by the tragedy in the mountainous region of Rio de Janeiro.

Ana Paiva, a student at the "Santa Rosa" Institute who regularly attends the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians, and also participates in the activities of the movement "Encounter of Adolescents with Christ" (EAC, in Portuguese), has been very involved in spreading the initiative in the school and through social networks to publicize the places where the collections can be taken. Together with her family, she is also raising funds to buy items to donate, which will be delivered to the Santa Rosa unit.

"Together we are stronger!" conclude the BBH youth and Salesians.

For more information, click here.

View the embedded image gallery online at:
https://www.infoans.org/en/component/k2/item/14759#sigProIda12b701dd2

InfoANS

ANS - “Agenzia iNfo Salesiana” is a on-line almost daily publication, the communication agency of the Salesian Congregation enrolled in the Press Register of the Tibunal of Rome as n 153/2007.

This site also uses third-party cookies to improve user experience and for statistical purposes. By scrolling through this page or by clicking on any of its elements, you consent to the use of cookies. To learn more or to opt out, click "Further Information".

Further Information