Sihanoukville, Cambodia - October 2016 - Opening of the school year for students of Don Bosco Sihanoukville. The students were welcomed by the Salesians Fr Eugenio Xalxo and Bro. Robert Panetto, along with some of the teachers. 

Turin, Italy - October 2016 - A cordial meeting took place between the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the Holy See, Francis Kim Kyung Surk, and the Salesian community of the UPS at Crocetta, Turin. On the evening of 17 October, Surk shared with the Salesian students of theology the history and current situation of the Korean Catholic Church, recalling the most important stages of the local church founded by the laity. "In recent years,” he said, “Catholics have grown from 2% to 11% and now number 5.5 million." In his words of thanks, the Rector Fr Marek Chrzan said that the meeting had taken place "in an attitude of openness to the universal Church and, in particular, to that of South Korea. It has been good for me and for the young Salesians to know, however briefly, the history and the situation of our brothers and sisters in the land watered by the blood of martyrs Andrew Kim Taegon, Paul Chong Hasang and their 101 companions.”

by Antonio Carriero

Valencia, Spain - October 2016 - More than three thousand people, including a large representation from the two Salesian Houses in Valencia, took part in the "Zero Poverty" gathering on 15 October.  Chanting slogans and carrying placards and banners against poverty, young people, families, teachers, Salesians and Salesian Family members marched through the streets of Valencia. Zero Poverty is one of the largest mobilizations of history against poverty.  It was founded in 2005 to mark the ratification of the Millennium Development Goals in 2000 by 189 heads of state and government at the UN. In Valencia, Zero Poverty is promoted by a number of NGOs, of which "Jóvenes y Desarrollo" is part.