The second edition of the DBGYFF, supported by the DON BOSCO IN THE WORLD Foundation, will take place in as many of the 134 countries in multiple locations all around the world on 13-14 October 2023. The festival, this time re-engineered specifically for the young people of the Salesian Congregation and Family, wants to be a tool at the service of the Salesian mission, and therefore intends to bring together and involve young people from all latitudes so that they may become the bearers of a message of hope and peace and be the protagonists of the change that the world needs. "Love builds peace and solidarity" is indeed the chosen theme of the festival.
And the preparatory phase of the festival has already begun several months ago. "We are working at all levels so that the DBGYFF 2023, Second edition of the DBGYFF will be as successful and more than the previous one," said Fr Gildasio Mendes dos Santos, General Councillor for Social Communication (CS). “I have already personally sent a letter on the DBGYFF festival to all the Salesian provincials of the world, now we are also involving the Coordinators of the seven Salesian Regions and the Salesian Delegates of CS in the task of animation, and soon all the Directors of each Salesian house and the leaders of each institution of the Salesian Family will also be contacted: it is indeed a great effort, and we believe in the force and power of unity of the Salesian family".
On his part, the Director of the DBGYFF, Fr Harris Pakkam, adds: "In this first phase we are really concentrating on fomenting the participation of young people, taking care to involve every group and every institution of the Salesian Family: it is the sowing phase, we could say: we want to reach the roots, the minds, but above all the hearts of young people, explaining to them at length all the opportunities provided by this festival. This is, in fact, the time for them to think, plan and programme their project'. And in this regard Fr Pakkam also informs that videos and aids have already been prepared to facilitate the submission processes for the festival.
The President of the DON BOSCO NEL MONDO Foundation, Br. Alberto Rodríguez, SDB, emphasises: "We are very happy to be able to support this festival once again, because it is a project that is totally in line with our mission: it is for the benefit of young people, to train and educate them towards the common good; and this initiative also encourages our involvement with them. For my part, I would like to thank our benefactors and sponsors once again, because it is thanks to them that we can support young people, with this project, as with the others that we carry out.
Indeed, participation in the festival project is already widespread, both geographically and within the Salesian Family. From Papua New Guinea, Salesian missionary Fr Ambrose Pereira, who has always been very active in educating young people about the media, reports: "I really like this project: it is an opportunity that every Salesian should know how to seize, because it really allows us to assist our young people, to guide them, in short, to accompany them, and to be with them dreamers of a new future. Here at our place, we are eagerly waiting for it to get started'.
The President of the World Confederation of Past Pupils and Friends of Don Bosco, Bryan Magro, from Malta confirmed his and his institution's support. "As Past Pupils we are happy to collaborate with this proposal. We support it wholeheartedly, because it bears high the name of Don Bosco and is authentically at the service of young people".
Again, Antonio Boccia, the World Coordinator of the Association of Salesian Cooperators, asserts: "DBGYFF is an opportunity to gather, form and empower young people. We will give all our support to promote DBGYFF in all environments where Salesian Cooperators collaborate".
From Brazil, Father Wagner Ferreira da Silva, the new President of the 'Canção Nova' Community, the 25th group of the Salesian Family, comments: 'This initiative is very close to our charism. We will encourage it in every possible way, with our collaborators and beneficiaries".
Mother Josephine Selvi, Superior General of the Sisters of Mary Ausiliatrix, the 27th group of the Salesian Family, originally from India, reiterates: "We are already joining efforts with the Salesians in many local initiatives and projects. We will take advantage of this meaningful initiative, which is a beautiful opportunity to tell the world about the great strength of the Salesian family behind the name of Don Bosco, through its young people".
From Central America also comes the echo of the DBGYFF Regional Coordinator for Latin America, Zaida Navarrete: "Here everyone is preparing with great interest and participation and awaits its developments with great enthusiasm. We want to awaken the world with the spirit of Don Bosco and build, together with young people, a better world".
The provincial of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA) in Chennai, India, Sr. Nirmala Lazar adds: "I am very happy to hear about this initiative that involves the entire Salesian Family at a global level. Certainly girls from all our schools and institutions will also participate, to reaffirm all together that 'love builds peace and solidarity'".
Finally, the CS Delegate of the Province of Brazil Campo Grande, Euclides Brites, also expressed himself: "I really liked the way the whole award system has been planned at the global, regional and local level, so that everybody is rewarded. For my part, I am already encouraging the young people of BCG to work hard to participate and win as many as possible".
The deadline for submitting videos to the festival is 31 July 2023, and there are still about 130 days left to inspire young people around the world to express themselves creatively for the message 'love builds peace and solidarity', and submit their entries.
For more information, to participate in the festival and to stay up-to-date, visit: www.dbgyff.org. Take a glance at : VIDEO 1, VIDEO 2.
