Sangradouro, Brazil – January 2024 - With the aim of helping overcome the linguistic barriers that Xavante young people encounter in daily life, the Salesians have organised the first "Portuguese language week" for them. The initiative aims to provide participants with better conditions for communication and understanding of the national language. This first edition, held in Sangradouro, was attended by 25 students. The course, which takes place from 15 to 19 January, is led by Professor Thirly Vieira de Moraes, a pedagogue and literature teacher in two schools in Primavera do Leste-MT, with the collaboration of teachers from Sangradouro. The lessons, after an initial evaluation, deal with simple and basic topics of the Brazilian language, with the aim of offering participants a first understanding of the language. This is the first experience aimed at young people and Xavante adolescents, who will undergo an evaluation of the course to design future experiences. Salesian missionary Fr Joseph Tran Van Lich has evaluated the project optimistically, and expects that it will then continue with a lesson every week, involving a Salesian, to help deepen the knowledge of the language, do homework and study. Another intensive course is planned for next July.

Ypacaraí, Paraguay – January 2024 – A retreat on the theme "Pastoral educators of young people in today's world", led by Fr Pascual Chávez, Rector Major Emeritus began on 15 January, at the Salesian Family House (CAFASA) in Ypacaraí . There are about 50 participants, including Salesians and Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, in this joint Retreat, which will last until Sunday, 21 January.

Italy – January 2024 - On January 15, the "Comic Book Biographies" of the new Venerable Fr Carlo Crespi, SDB, were distributed in six sections  of Middle School classes in Vanzaghello and Magnago, (Milan). The initiative came about through the interest of the Religion teacher, Simone Magistrelli, in the multifaceted figure of this Salesian missionary in Ecuador for sixty years, and involved the "Associazione Padre Carlo Crespi – ONLUS", established in Legnano, Fr Crespi's birthplace. The initiative was attended by Dr. Juan Carlos Castrillon, Ambassador Consul General of Ecuador in Milan and an Officer at the Consulate; the Mayor of Vanzaghello with the Councilor for Culture; the Mayor of Magnago, the President of the Ecuadorian Folklore Group "Para Todos" and two Ecuadorian dancers of the "New Generation" Group. The meeting involved six second year classes, all in all 120 students. After the Ambassador's greeting to the students the Mayors and the Headteacher, the President of the Father Carlo Crespi Association spoke, explaining who Fr Crespi was, also using the projection of a segment of the feature film shot in 1926 by Fr Crespi in the Amazon forest in Ecuador. After the performance of the dancers in traditional Ecuadorian costume, each student and the authorities present were given the comic book biography of Father Crespi.

Krakow, Poland – January 2024 – Young leaders from various Salesian presences in the Province of Krakow (PLS) gathered to participate in the first meeting this year of the Salesian Leadership School from 12 to 14 January, at the Salesian Seminary in Krakow. The young people reflected, among other things, on the theme "A Dream that becomes reality. Four dimensions of the Oratory", and took part in the different moments of formation and celebration: the liturgy of the Word of God, presided over by Fr Dawid Wilkos, SDB, together with workshops, confessions, Masses and recreational activities.

Goma, D.R. Congo – January 2024 – On 16 January, members of the Salesian Family from Salesian works in Goma and Shasha, in the AFC-EST Delegation, were at the the Don Bosco Industrial Technical Institute in Goma to take part in a day of presentation and in-depth study of the Strenna 2024 by the Rector Major, Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, entitled: "The dream that makes you dream". A heart that transforms "wolves" into "lambs". The day opened with good year wishes from Fr Gauthier Tshibangu, SDB, AFC-EST Provincial Delegate, to the entire Salesian Family of the Delegation. Fr Jean Bosco Dubele, SDB, Formator at the Theological Institute in Lubumbashi, then presented the theme of the Rector Major's Strenna 2024 in some detail, focusing his intervention on five essential points. Subsequently, the different groups of the Salesian Family presented their activity reports for 2023. After the Eucharist presided over by Fr Tshibangu, and concelebrated by 13 Salesians, the day ended with a moment of fraternal sharing with thousands of young people and members of the Salesian Family.

Brazil – January 2024 – The 15th expedition of the Academic Project of Assistance to Indigenous Peoples (PAAPI) 2023/2024 began in the Salesian Indigenous Missions in Sangradouro and Meruri. The project is an initiative of students from the Faculty of Medical Sciences of Santos (UNILUS), whose objective is to promote health and prevent diseases in the indigenous territories of Boe-Bororo and Xavante, in Mato Grosso. The group of 34 students, from the first to the third year of medicine, accompanied by doctors and teachers, arrived on 13 January at the Salesian presences in Meruri and Sangradouro. There, the missionary volunteers organised a health centre and the various play, sports and painting activities with the children, as well as serving snacks to all participants.