21 years after the arrival of the Salesians in Fiji, 5 years after the visit of the Rector Major to Suva and 3 years after the inauguration of the first SDB parish in Suva, Fiji - the Salesians give thanks to God for an almost complete multipurpose hall, the Don Bosco Youth Centre, in SJB Parish Suva.

The video updates donors on the impact of their contributions whilst highlighting the potential of the centre and the need for further support.

ASMOAF has been working in collaboration with the local Salesian community in Suva, Fiji to raise funds to construct the centre, which will provide young people with a place to visit and feel at home; a place where they can learn, live and laugh. 44% of the population in Fiji are under the age of 25 and there are limited opportunities for employment; the community centre will be vital in helping these youngsters on the right path for their future lives.

Parish priest Fr Mikaere Leilua is overseeing the project and in the video, expresses his deep gratitude to the donors. The project is now well underway, having suffered setbacks related to wet weather and delays in the delivery of the steel beams, however, it is now full steam ahead!

The video can be viewed on YouTube and those who have contributed to the project are encouraged to share the video with their friends, families and communities. It is hoped that the construction of this centre will be a turning point for the Salesians in Fiji, providing them with even greater means of empowering the local communities.

The Salesians of Don Bosco have been a part of the Fijian community since the year 1999, primarily a house of studies catering for young Salesians from the Pacific region, as well as some involvement in local parish activities. During a visit in 2015, the Rector Major (Fr Ángel Fernández Artime) expressed a strong desire to see the community expand to include a strong youth-focused outreach, which was a motivating factor of this project.

The centre will include a multipurpose community space, open areas for learning, kitchen and dining area, sporting and recreational facility and a community garden. The idea is to make the centre as self-sustainable and eco-friendly as possible, so that it will last for an extended period of time. All these resources will help create a central hub where young people will be able to meet in a safe environment and grow as they walk accompanied by their peers and their Salesian mentors.

To view the video, please click here: https://youtu.be/58WEWVKahXA 

To help support the Pacific Appeal, please click here: https://www.salesianmissionsaustralia.org.au/donate/pacific-appeal 

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