SolSal Day has been celebrated every 3 November since 2016, but the story of "SolSal" began in 2008 in Lisbon. In these first 15 years of history, there have been thousands of meetings between people who, following in the footsteps of Don Bosco, have made it possible to take care of many children and young people in situations of vulnerability, at risk or in danger, as well as their families.
In this educative and pastoral year, there are 12 main initiatives of "SolSal" in Lisbon including two new ones: the "GPS - Guide to Youth Proactivity" and the "Peer Collaborative Learning Program".
Through the GPS project, young people are accompanied in the definition and implementation of their school, personal and/or professional life projects, by exploring their vocational interests and preferences and the development of skills and potential. The programme promotes the building of life projects through a typically Salesian process in which the proactivity of young people is encouraged and appreciated.
In turn, the Peer Collaborative Learning Programme consists of study sessions in small groups, based on positive interdependence and shared responsibility among young people, with the aim of achieving greater school engagement among participants. The methodology of the programme promotes the cooperation, participation and leading role of each young person, thus facilitating the teaching-learning process.
And to celebrate SolSal Day in Lisbon, a symbolic distribution of... embraces was also staged: there were 33 in all, with reference to the house number of the institution's entrance, but representing the many thousands of embraces and significant meetings carried out in recent years through the involvement of the entire Salesian educative and pastoral community of Lisbon.
SolSal Day was also experienced with great joy in the Educative and Pastoral Community in Évora. There the educators worked so that children in the kindergarten could learn what solidarity and SolSal are, to help them understand the importance of being in solidarity with their neighbour and the value of activities such as the Social Services carried out by the community in Évora. To this end, the children were also involved in a food collection campaign, and on SolSal Day they delivered what they had obtained.
Also the students were offered a thought in the Salesian "good morning" dedicated to Mamma Margaret, and thus the meaning of the date chosen for the celebration of SolSal Day was explained to them: it is set on 3 November to commemorate the date on which Don Bosco's mother came with her son to Valdocco to be a mother to hundreds of other children in need.
In addition, the Walk of Solidarity was also launched, which will take place on Sunday, 12 November, and whose registration fees will be donated to the Évora social "Family Care Service" project.
Finally, the day ended with a festive gathering of families, volunteers, the Salesian community and employees, in which knowledge, life experiences, games and many celebrations were shared. In short, a day in which "SolSal" took place: Salesian solidarity.
