Sliema, Malta – March 2017 – Forty-eight young Salesian past pupils from Malta, Italy, Slovakia, Slovenia and Croatia, gathered for a four-day meeting, with discussion and conferences on the theme of Youth Inclusion: education, employment and opportunity. This project was organized by the National Federation of the Past Pupils and Friends of Don Bosco in Malta and co-financed by the EU program "Erasmus +".
Concepcion, Chile – 6 March 2017 - As part of the celebrations for the 130 years of Salesian presence in Chile, Fr Alberto Lorenzelli, Superior of Chile, together with the Rector of Saint Joseph’s College, Fr Carlo Lira, inaugurated the "San Juan Bosco" Museum. The collection on display includes many historical photographs of Salesian work, as well as liturgical vestments and ornaments.
Jesolo, Italy - March 2017 - "Youth Festival", an event of the Triveneto Salesian Youth Movement, was held on 5 March at the Pala Arrex of Jesolo. It involved 12,000 participants, 400 leaders, the performances of more than 200 young artistes led by a dozen professional artistes, 40 technicians and about 50 stands. Music, games, entertainment, exhibits, testimonials, entertainment ... these are just some of the key ingredients that enable young people to express their desire for life. These elements helped the young people to study the theme of the festival, centred on the great desire of Don Bosco which was to take care of the souls of the young.
Puebla, Mexico - February 2017 – On 26 February, Fr Gabino Hernández Paleta, Superior of the Mexico City Province (MEM), presided over the inauguration ceremony of the new soccer fields, and the basketball and Physical Training Programme at the Francisco Mateos Salesian Oratory of Puebla. The oratory is in one of the poorest and most difficult areas of the city. It is a privileged space open to all.
Brussels, Belgium - March 2017 – On 1 March, a delegation of about 25 young people from three Italian provinces - North-East (INE), District of Piedmont and Valle d'Aosta (ICP) and Lombardo-Emiliana (ILE) - attended the launch of the "White Book", a policy document that will be examined by the EU Council, EU Parliament and the social partners, by the President of the European Commission, and by Jean Claude Juncker in the plenary session of the European Parliament. Their participation was made possible thanks to the invitation of MEP Luigi Morgano from Brescia. In recent months he has supported numerous initiatives of Don Bosco International. The visit is part of the "Program TGS 18+" that the TGS (Social Youth Tourism movement) organizes every three years. It consists of a visit to the European Institutions and Civil Society in Brussels, with the aim of bringing Europe closer to its citizens and enhancing active citizenship in the manner of Don Bosco.
Medellin, Colombia - March 2017 - From 28 February to 4 March, twenty-four local coordinators of Communication and Historical Memory of the Medellín Province (COM) met to plan the work to be carried out in 2017. The meeting was led by the Delegate for Communication and Historical Memory, Brother Andrés Felipe Loaiza, SDB, and the Social Communications Delegate of the Province, Johana Velez.