New Delhi, India – August 2024 – The Salesian Youth at Risk Forum (YaR) has launched a campaign entitled: "FAMILY is where I BELONG". The latter aims to create environments similar to those at home in alternative care settings, to strengthen families and to empower communities for good childcare. Ms. Vandhana Kandhari, UNICEF India Child Protection Specialist, was the guest of honour and gave the keynote address. She also presented the new poster of the campaign and supported the importance of a family environment for the growth and holistic development of children. Fr Joe Prabu, Executive Director of YaR, stressed the value of family environments and mentioned the importance of strengthening families to provide better support to children, promoting the social acceptance of children in alternative care. At the end of the event there was a representation staged by the young people of the Don Bosco Ashalayam Boys Home, which was followed by thanks to Raj Parit for the technical coordination and to Mr. Austin Francis for the poster of the campaign.

Dosquebradas, Colombia – September 2024 - On 2 and 3 September, the joint meeting of the Provincial Councils of the Salesian Provinces of Colombia, Bogotá (cob) and Medellín (COM) is taking place at San Juan Bosco School in Dosquebradas (Risaralda). The event is held with the aim of strengthening the processes of discernment around the care of the Salesian vocation starting from the identity of consecrated persons. In addition, by reflecting, sharing and discerning together, a space has been opened to strengthen the experience of fraternity. During the Meeting, the curatoriums held in the formative communities of the Novitiate, Postnovitiate (Colombia) and Theologate (Guatemala) were followed up. In another moment, the work animated by the processes of Salesian Youth Ministry, Formation and Economy was shared from the perspectives of joint work for the new six-year period. This experience challenges the work arising from the shared mission of the Salesian charism in the country and strengthens the dynamic of the initiatives and processes that are carried out to enrich the accompaniment and needs of Educative and Pastoral Communities and young people in the Colombian context.

Salta, Argentina – September 2024 - At the Salesian Ceferino Namuncurá School in the city of Salta, belonging to the Argentina North Province (RNA), students demonstrate a firm commitment to the care of our Common Home. The use of renewable energy, the reuse of materials and the maintenance of a school garden are some of the ecological activities that are part of the daily life of the institution. The "Eco-school and school garden" project invites students to take on environmental responsibility through various activities and experiences that are significant for them and for the community. The school is a member of the Don Bosco Green Alliance, the international platform of the Salesian Green Movement which brings together members of institutions of the Salesian Family engaged in global environmental actions, thoughts and policies. As part of this alliance and within the Eco-school project, the Ceferino Namuncurá School faced several key challenges: use of renewable energy: in collaboration with INTA (National Institute of Agricultural Technology) and the San José Vocational Training Centre (VTC), a solar hot water tank was installed for school use; reuse of materials; development of the school garden to promote the production of vegetables for school and family consumption. In addition, as part of the Ecoscuola project and in relation to the annual solidarity initiatives, a new challenge has been undertaken with the support of the "Bottles of Love" project, through which students produce eco-bricks to create a room for games and snacks in the Floresta district of Salta, in an area with a vulnerable population.

Jakarta, Indonesia – September 2024 – On 3 September Pope Francis arrived in Indonesia at 6.19 am (Rome time), 11.19 am local time. The Ita Airways flight landed at Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, the first stop of the trip to Asia and Oceania, the 45th international apostolic trip and the longest of the pontificate. To welcome the Pope, at the foot of the forward stairway, were the Minister for Religious Affairs and two children in traditional dress with a gift of flowers. After the greeting of the delegations and the Guard of Honour, the Pope moved to the Apostolic Nunciature, where he met a group of sick people, migrants and refugees accompanied by the Community of Sant'Egidio and the Jesuit Refugee Service. The Pope's trip will come alive tomorrow,with the welcome ceremony outside the Presidential Palace and with the courtesy visit to the President of the Republic. Subsequently, there will be the first public meeting with the authorities, civil society and with the diplomatic corps, followed by the private meeting with the members of the Society of Jesus at the apostolic nunciature and then by a meeting with the bishops, priests, deacons, consecrated men and women, seminarians and catechists in the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, then closing the day with a meeting with the young people of  the "Scholas Occurrentes" in the Grha Pemuda House of Youth.

Vatican News

Mumbai, India – August 2024 – Teachers from the primary, secondary and junior college sections of Don Bosco Naigaon, Mumbai, participated in a seminar on Specific Learning Disorders (SLD), led by Fr Edward D'Souza, a member of the management and an educator specialised in the sector. Fr D'Souza explained that about 10-15% of the school population, globally, is affected by this disorder and illustrated to those present how to approach students with SLD. The teachers were involved in a series of simulation exercises, which helped them to experience the challenges faced by these students. Fr D'Souza then explained how SLD is a neurological disorder caused by differences in the structure of the brain, which affects the way information is processed and which can have an impact on one or more skills. The speaker also made it clear to the teachers that if the special needs of the students are not taken into account, they will behave in an inappropriate way. The seminar ended with teachers becoming more aware of these disorders. They therefore left the seminar with a renewed commitment to extend understanding, patience, support and appropriate recovery to ensure the success of all students during their school life.

Nairobi, Kenya – August 2024 - Kenya held its second national WorldSkills competition from 19 to 23 August, in preparation for the WorldSkills Africa Competition which will be held in Livingstone, Zambia, in April 2025. The event saw 119 young people from 49 Vocational Training Centres (VET Centres) and universities compete in 21 areas of expertise. The Don Bosco VETs in Kenya were well represented by the Don Bosco Boys' Town Technical Institute in Karen and the Don Bosco Technical Institute in Kakuma. Their trainees participated in the electrical and plumbing and heating installations, with the Don Bosco Boys' Town winning gold medals in both areas of expertise. In addition, a Don Bosco Kakuma trainee was honoured with the Gem Award, a prestigious recognition for competitors from marginalised communities. This victory is a significant milestone for the Don Bosco Institute, demonstrating its critical role in shaping the future of Africa's skilled workforce. It is a celebration of his mission to transform lives through the development of skills. These events also highlight the importance of vocational and technical training in today's economy, encouraging younger people to pursue technical careers and contributing to the development of a competent and highly skilled workforce. Don Bosco Tech Africa played a key role in the planning and execution of the competition, with the deputy director of the DBTA, John Njuguna, SDB.