Iju, Nigeria – September 2024 – From 20 to 27 September 2024, Fr Daniel Antúnez, President of the Missioni Don Bosco Salesian Mission Office in Turin, and his team undertook a week-long visit to the Africa Nigeria-Niger Salesian Province (ANN) to supervise and evaluate sponsored projects in the country. During the visit, the team made stops at several key initiatives that are part of the Missioni Don Bosco commitment in the country. Among these, the Bosco Boys projects stand out, operating in Lagos and Ibadan, offering shelter, education and support to vulnerable children and young people. They also visited the Stitches project, a vocational training programme to equip young women with tailoring skills, and the Ijebu Ode technical school, where students are trained in various trades to improve their employability and economic independence. Fr Antúnez and his team were deeply impressed by the impact the projects have on local communities, noting the dedication and commitment of both the staff and the beneficiaries. However, they also offered suggestions to improve some areas, stressing the need for sustained efforts to ensure the longevity and success of the initiatives. The visit served not only as a verification, but also as an opportunity for meaningful dialogue and reflection. The team interacted with local partners to better understand the challenges and needs on the ground. These discussions aim to define plans for greater collaboration and resource allocation. The team expressed optimism about the future, hinting at further collaborations to expand the reach and effectiveness of Missioni Don Bosco's work in the region.

Hua-Hin, Thailand – September 2024 – The Salesian St Paul Province of Thailand (THA), which also includes Cambodia and Laos, hosted the 2024 Annual Seminar, focusing on Salesian Accompaniment. The seminar was facilitated by Salesian Brother Raymond Callo, a member of the Formation Sector at Salesian Headquarters in Rome. Two groups were scheduled: the first took place from 25 to 27 September, while the second from 28 to 30 September. The first seminar was held at the Salesian Retreat House in Hua-Hin, involving 80 people including Salesians, Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, Sisters of the Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Daughters of the Queenship of Mary Immaculate and members of the Association of Mary Help of Christians. After the opening ceremony, Fr Boonlert Paneetattayasai, Superior of the THA Province, gave a welcome speech, urging all participants to welcome this opportunity with open minds and hearts, allowing them to appreciate the essence of Salesian Accompaniment. He developed several important and essential components in the process of supporting people, in particular young people. In addition to the Salesian historical context regarding accompaniment, Bro. Raymond Callo stressed the importance of being ready to support others by cultivating essential skills such as presence, active listening, empathy, the art of understanding, the sacrament of presence and the crucial attitudes necessary for spiritual growth. The seminar proved very useful for the Salesians and the members of the Salesian Family, providing them with a clear direction to effectively support young people in today's world.

Miejsce Piastowe, Poland – September 2024 – The “Festival of Strength 2024” (Festiwal Mocy, in Polish), an event organised by the Congregation of St Michael the Archangel (CSMA) and the Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB) took place in Miejsce Piastowe from 20 to 22 September. Since the evening of 20 September, young people from all over Poland, including almost 200 young people from the Salesian Family, have gathered to celebrate together. Fr Krzysztof Poświata, CSMA, Vicar General, and Fr Franciszek Janyga SDB, Delegate for Youth Ministry in the Salesian Province of Krakow (PLS), welcomed and greeted the participants. During the days the young people were able to attend many conferences, testimonies, concerts, games and above all moments of recollection and prayer. Several guests, musical groups, and contemporary TikTok stars were invited to the event, led by Marta Surnik. The "Bosco Race" (Boski bieg in Polish) took place on Saturday, 21 September. The distance, not surprisingly, was exactly 1815 metres. Fr Łukasz Wójcik SDB gave a conference and Bishop Artur Ważny, Bishop of Sosnowiec, celebrated the Eucharist. All the while, priests were among the young people to serve with a good word and the sacrament of reconcilation, and there was also adoration of the Blessed Sacrament throughout the night in the Shrine. Mass was celebrated at the end of the meeting, celebrated by Fr Dariusz Wilk, Superior General of CSMA.

Photo: Rzeszów Oratory

Phnom Penh, Cambodia – September 2024 – The Don Bosco Kep educational project, which includes a technical school and a programme to support the education of rural and indigenous children and young people, this week in Phnom Penh received the recognition of "Environment Friendly Operator 2024", from the Royal Ministry of the Environment. The ceremony was led by the Hon. Eang Sophalleth, Minister of the Environment, who presented the awards to public and private organisations, representing the 25 provinces of the Kingdom. Don Bosco Kep has been awarded for its green campus, which over time has become a model of sustainability and inspiration in the context of the province of Kep. Among the programmes carried out by the Salesian work, the conservation of mangroves and the "Clean Kep" programme which includes a series of activities aimed at raising awareness among students and teachers, deserve a mention. Great satisfaction was expressed by Fr Albeiro Rodas, Director of "Don Bosco Kep", who recalled the importance of following the invitation of Pope Francis to work concretely for nature and to promote sustainable practices to support vulnerable communities.

Tetere, Solomon Islands – September 2024 - The Salesian Christ the King parish in Tetere organised a four-day "Wantok Bosco" youth camp from 19 to 22 September, involving over 200 young people, gathered for Christian and human formation. The theme of the event was inspired by the Rector Major's 2024 Strenna and Pope Francis' message to the young people of Oceania during his recent visit to Papua New Guinea. The "Wantok Bosco" programme included moments of prayer, interaction, culture and leisure, as well as four sessions on important issues concerning young people: the dangers of addiction; cultivating potential, building self-esteem and establishing life goals; the challenges of faith for modern young people; the second coming of Christ as our eternal hope. Fr Gregorio Bicomong, SDB, Superior of the Salesian Vice-Province of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands (PGS), together with other Salesians held these sessions, offering valuable insights to young people.

Minsk, Belarus – September 2024 – From 20 to 22 September, the Don Bosco Youth Fest in the St John Bosco Salesian parish in Minsk took place on the theme "Dreams come true". The organisers invited participants to reflect on Don Bosco's dream at the age of 9, encouraging them to awaken their dreams and commit themselves to fulfilling them. The program included various prayer activities, games, workshops to improve their skills, as well as testimonies and advice from expert teachers. On the last day Mass was celebratef by the Provincial Delegate of the Belarusian Delegation, Fr Pavel Shcharbitsky, SDB. During the homily he stressed that no one achieves his dream alone, everyone needs the support of family and friends along the way, walking together we support each other.