Guarapari, Brazil – February 2025 – The Salesian Apprenticeship Program in Brazil has recently expanded its network to Guarapari, a coastal city in the state of Espírito Santo. Launched on February 17, the program is currently engaging over 20 students from the Salesian education center CESAM, who will gain practical work experience at a newly opened supermarket chain in the city. Theoretical training sessions are being held at the Doctum Guarapari College in the Olaria district. This Salesian-led apprenticeship initiative aims to promote the safe and legal integration of adolescents into the job market. In Brazil, apprenticeship is the only legal and secure way for individuals under 16 to enter the workforce and serves as an effective means of combating child labor. Fernanda Aparecida Chisté, Coordinator of Salesian Social Action, expressed her satisfaction with this milestone, emphasizing that it will provide many young people with protected and secure employment opportunities throughout their contract duration.

Jakarta, Indonesia – February 2025 – A group of 24 young people from Meghalaya represented the state at the International Youth Exchange Program in Jakarta, Indonesia, from February 16 to 22, 2025. This delegation, selected from a pool of 600 applicants across 12 districts, participated in an initiative that was made possible through the collaboration between the Government of Meghalaya and the Salesians of Don Bosco Shillong Province. The program aimed at fostering cultural understanding, leadership, and personal growth among the youth, and this marked the fourth time Meghalaya had sent a delegation to this prestigious international platform. The initiative began with a two-day orientation in Shillong, followed by their journey to Jakarta via Singapore. Upon arrival on February 17, the youth explored various historical and cultural sites in the Indonesian capital. On February 18, they participated in a cultural exchange with local youth at St. John Bosco Parish, where they were warmly welcomed by Parish Rector Fr. Paulus Rarasta SDB and the local community. The group also visited vocational and technical training institutes, gaining insight into diverse educational practices. On February 20, they traveled to Bali for further activities organized by the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs. This program, a result of the joint efforts of the Government of Meghalaya and the Salesians of Don Bosco Shillong Province, also included a cultural exchange at the Don Bosco Institute in Jakarta. 

Lisbon, Portugal – February 2025 – The “Fundação Salesianos,” (Salesian Foundation) a social solidarity institution promoted by the Salesian Province of St. Anthony in Portugal, has once again launched its annual campaign encouraging the donation of a percentage of personal income tax (Imposto sobre o Rendimento das Pessoas Singulares – IRS) to support young people, families, and educational and social projects in Portugal and abroad. This year’s campaign runs under the slogan: “With Your IRS, We Plant Hope, We Harvest the Future”, emphasizing how a simple act—donating 1% of one’s income tax to the Fundação Salesianos—can have a significant impact on many lives. Inspired by the teachings of Don Bosco, this initiative seeks to transform an act of solidarity into opportunities for thousands of young people and their families. For more information about the project, visit: salesianos.pt.