In an era when it is difficult have in-person relationships – due to the many daily commitments, technology… – the Salesian Estate Ragazzi in the Vatican seeks to build an approach to rediscovering the beauty of relationships between people, and to train children to recognise a brother or sister in the other, despite distance or difference.

And he does so through his traditional tools: games, workshops and formative moments which together form a journey through the different areas of a young person's life (family, school, street, world), and in which Pope Francis' encyclical Fratelli Tutti serves as a compass for generating a contagious fellowship between people.

This year's theme is “Bee heroes - teams of heroes”, a play on words and an appeal to the world of bees that invites boys and girls to reflect on how to change their attitudes and mindset to become daily heroes of fellowship. “Through team play, listening to the advice of famous coaches, the youngsters confront each other on the field to win a single great challenge: discovering that they are brothers or sisters” explains Fr Fontana.

The 2023 edition is attended by 250 children, divided into 3 groups according to age groups: from 5 to 7 years, from 8 to 10 and from 11 to 13. Accompanying them are 35 leaders and 5 Salesian educators (three Salesians of Don Bosco and two Daughters of Mary Help of Christians) in collaboration with the “Play It” company and the  “Todo en una Festa” leadership agency, in addition to 20 youngsters who have participated in the event in the Vatican over recent years, but are now too old to be the ones led and have made themselves available to act as leaders.

The activities are held in the Paul VI Hall and outdoors, behind the Vatican Museums, where there are swimming pools and tennis courts, from 3 July to 4 August. The typical day includes a welcome and group games, with breakfast offered to all. Then, a hymn is sung to begin the day and, the program starts with a prayer and presentation. Sports activities, swimming and artistic workshops begin at 10 o'clock . “We have workshops where you can create something with your own hands: a game or a souvenir to take home. We try to involve the children in getting back to hands-on work with paper, glue, brushes to develop creativity. This is how they discover recycling, painting techniques, collage, plasticine” says Fr Fontana.

After lunch, at 2 pm there are games and mini-tournaments, followed by some formation activities, and where there is a new story every day. “For example, we had a magician show, while another time there were experts from the Ice Cream Academy, who explained how to prepare the summer sweet loved by children” adds the Salesian.

At 5 pm snacks are offered and the youngsters begin returning home, with activities closing at 6 pm.

Fr Fontana identifies a summary of all these typically Salesian activities in a sign placed near the entrance gate to the pools, where in front it says 'Estate Ragazzi', but behind it is says 'Summer Oratory'.

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