Rome, Italy - December 2021 - On December 14, Pietro Zuccotti, undergraduate student of "Advertising & Marketing" of the Communication and Education faculty of the "Salesian University Institute Venice - IUSVE", was awarded the title of "Alfiere della Repubblica, Ensign of the Republic" by the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella at the Palazzo del Quirinale. The young man received the citation for his commitment to social volunteering, pedagogical activities, and the promotion and historical conservation of the territory. Among the various initiatives he has initiated, specially noteworthy was the creation of booklet on Road Safety Education, which was later adopted by the Verona Traffic Police. The "Ensign of the Republic" Certificates of Honor are awarded to girls and boys who represent positive models of citizenship and who are examples of the many deserving young people in the country.

Source: https://iusve.it/

(ANS - Lombriasco) - New production techniques, environmental sustainability and innovation in agriculture are the basic ingredients of the new training incubator dedicated to students of the Salesian Agricultural School in Italy and around the world.

(ANS - Rome) - 1,172 places have been granted on projects in Italy and abroad financed to the "Salesiani per il Sociale APS" for aspiring volunteers of Italy’s national Community Service. The call will expire on January 26, 2022.

(ANS - Rome) - Is there a chance to compose new Christmas carols? Ancient and more recent traditions present a rich range of melodies and texts that pierce the heart to revive the meaning of the Christian holiday. From the words of Pope Francis about the "Global Educational Pact", the Salesian Mission Office of Turin, "Missioni Don Bosco" and the Pontifical Foundation "Gravissimus Educationis" have drawn upon the invitation to promote an initiative that involves young people in a direct confrontation with religious values, an indispensable complement to all the other proposals facing human existence. The initial question, therefore, has a "yes" as an answer.

Caserta, Italy - 1898 - In this picture, dated 8 December 1898, a glimpse of the courtyard of the Caserta Oratory during recreation. The Caserta Oratory had been inaugurated a year earlier, in 1897, on the day of the Immaculate Conception. It was the second Salesian presence in southern Italy, founded by Blessed Michele Rua to carry out the "Southern Italy Project" in support of the poor and abandoned young generations.

Rome, Italy - December 2021 - On 6 December at Villa Bonaparte, the seat of the French embassy to the Holy See, the creations of the students of the National Center for Salesian Works of Borgo Ragazzi Don Bosco in Rome were particularly appreciated. The Ambassador, H.E. Mrs. Elisabeth Beton Delègue, during the celebration of the feast day of St. Nicholas of Mira, patron saint of Lorraine, in the presence of Cardinal H.E. Jean-Claude Hollerich, Archbishop of Luxembourg, donated to the guests the "Boxemaennchen" offered by H.E. Mrs. Michèle Pranchère - Tomassini, Ambassador of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg to Rome. At the event Bro. Jean Paul Muller, SDB, Economer General of the Salesian Congregation was also present. The typical cookies for the feast of St. Nicholas were made by the students of the “Food Service Technicians” course of the Borgo Ragazzi Don Bosco Vocational Training School, who practiced and experimented with their productive skills for weeks. The fact that they were able to meet a world of diplomats and dignitaries unknown to them, in the French embassy, was an extraordinary challenge that they mastered very well, thanks also to their teachers who accompanied them.