"In the Dominican Republic there are 340,000 children who work: they are children, children of poverty, of violence on the streets, of abandoned neighbourhoods, of broken families. They are canillitas, children who are on the move to find a way to live with informal jobs, convinced that in this way they are helping the family, affirming their identity and gaining social recognition. But what does it really take to fight social inequality and child labour? Are deterrence, warning, repression, imprisonment sufficient measures? Recent studies show that there is no statistically significant relationship between harsher penalties and a decrease in crimes. Something else is needed: deviance, like the educational challenge, is both a process, a path that is constructed and accomplished over time." A reminder of this comes from the Salesians in the Dominican Republic, who have invested in opportunities and relationships for 38 years by launching the “Canillitas con Don Bosco” Project. They have accompanied more than 93,000 children, adolescents and young adults, helped more than 70,000 families and, indirectly, there have been more than 150,000 beneficiaries. They offer job training, education, relationships, support, friendship.
The DON BOSCO NEL MONDO foundation is the Salesian Congregation body that is responsible for supporting educational, social, reception and formation projects for young and vulnerable people, such as "Canillitas con Don Bosco". "It is important for us to witness, through this event, to the concrete nature of the Salesian presence in the world" says Bro. Alberto Rodriguez Mármol, SDB, President of the DON BOSCO NEL MONDO Foundation. About 15,000 missionaries present us with their project proposals to respond to the urgent needs of young people in 136 countries, to which we, as a Foundation, try to respond every day, with the necessary economic, moral and communication support to our donors and to public opinion. We are convinced that the creation as cardinal of our Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, is a great opportunity to bring the Canillitas from all over the world to the heart of the Church, so that the charism of Don Bosco is active, vital and recognisable."
The "Canillitas" documentary, directed by Raúl de la Fuente (winner of three Goya Awards), tells the story of the scourge of child labour in the world through the eyes of Edwin, Cristóbal, Moisés, Achilles, Kioranny and Abril. Theirs are raw stories of poverty, violence, family break-ups, but also stories of rebirth, hope, of a new beginning. "They all attend the Canillitas Project schools, participate in manual and school levelling workshops and, above all, go back to being children who like to run, play and dream of becoming sportsmen, doctors, artists, lawyers" comments Alberto López Herrero, producer of the documentary. The process of transformation is underway and Salesian pedagogy is effective and capable of enhancing the potential of young people, regenerating the social fabric, revitalising communities and improving the lives of the most degraded neighbouhoods in the world, in a network with all the educational agencies found locally."
Source: SIR
