The initiative was planned, structured, and developed thanks to "Missioni Don Bosco," the Salesian Missionary Office based in Turin. The event aimed to improve the center's services. It focused on building new sports facilities and improving sanitary conditions. It also worked on enhancing educators' skills and promoting healthy living among children and young people. This included courses and tournaments, even for children with disabilities.
Thanks to donations from numerous benefactors, collected primarily through the "Race of the Saints" initiative, the project is now nearly completed:
- The renovation of both the basketball court and the volleyball court, which will also be used for handball, has been completed.
- Metal benches for players and spectators have been made and installed.
- The construction of the locker room building has been finished, much to the appreciation of the young people, who now have an adequate space, even from a sanitary point of view, to prepare and refresh themselves after sports activities.
- A protective net has been installed on the existing fence to prevent balls from escaping to avoid potentially dangerous climbing attempts recover them.
Additionally, sports equipment has been purchased and made available to children and young people, such as basketballs, soccer balls, volleyballs, and handballs, along with all the necessary materials, including whistles, nets, cones, stopwatches, scoreboards, and uniforms.
The first games and tournaments have been organized, and training sessions have started to strengthen the educational abilities of 12 trainers on the rules and principles of soccer and basketball.
The Kankan project enables the Salesians to reach around 720 young people who directly benefit from the sports equipment and activities of the program making the project quite precious. Specifically, this includes more than 350 teenagers, 22 of whom are girls attending the Salesian Vocational Training Center (CFP); and 370 children and young people, aged 10 to 25, who attend the oratory daily, along with about 20 trainers, 6 of whom are women. The indirect beneficiaries are estimated at over 1,200 people, including boys and girls from the Missira neighborhood, where the Vocational Training Centre is located, and from the Bordo neighborhood and surrounding areas.
“This was a great project which, thanks to the support of all the benefactors, continues to promote peace, integration, inclusiveness, and health among the young people and the population served by the Salesian mission in Kankan, Guinea. Once again, thanks to all the benefactors for their support!” is the message shared by the Salesian Missionary Office.
For more information, visit the website: www.missionidonbosco.org
