The Network includes 22 countries and 18 Salesian Provinces - which span the entire American continent - and more than 300 works, programs and services that serve around 100,000 children, adolescents and young people with the following profiles:
- In street situations and as child laborers.
- With special needs - prisoners, soldiers, physically or mentally disabled.
- Migrants.
- Drug addicts, with behavioral disorders, HIV/AIDS.
- Unemployed and/or unskilled.
- With families in vulnerable situations.
- In working class environments and marginalized neighborhoods.
- In a situation of female discrimination.
It all began in 1998, following a meeting convened by the then Rector Major, Fr Juan Edmundo Vecchi. The network was born as a pastoral project and saw the light with the name of "Preferential Option", and from that moment the different Provinces also decided to commit themselves to work in synergy.
Since 2001 the Salesian social works have been organized as part of the youth ministry of the Provinces, which has strengthened various local and regional processes. In 2008, the first strategic plan was formulated to define the objectives of the network and the organization of its members. And after more than 20 years of work, in September 2019 the network of social works moves towards a more strategic vision under the name of "Salesian Social America Network" within a project that includes three main axes of intervention:
STRUCTURE: Contribute to social transformation through the systematization of processes, inter-institutional relations and networking.
FORMATION: Through a process of formation that leads to the qualification of the personnel of the educative-pastoral communities of the network.
COMMUNICATION: With the aim of promoting the exchange of information between the members of the network and making the work of the Salesian social works more visible. The project was then seen and approved by the Provincials of the region, the then Regional Councilor, Fr Timothy Ploch, the Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández, and financed by the Salesian Mission Office of Madrid, "Misiones Salesianas".
The Provincial of Ecuador, Fr Francisco Sánchez and his Council then welcomed the official seat of the RASS within the Ecuadorian Province.
Currently, this project is carried out by the coordination team, by the Delegates of the social works of the region and by the operational team who, from the Quito office, consolidates the work.
To achieve true social transformation, all efforts are aimed at:
Improving the quality of the Salesian response to high-risk children and young people in America. Greater professionalization of the network and impact in the region. Promoting regional projects. Ensuring continuity of processes. Coordinating with the Planning and Development Offices (PDO, in English), Mission Offices and Non-Governmental Development Organizations.
The RASS is also present on social networks: :
- Facebook: América Social Salesiana
- Twitter: @salesianos_RASS
- YouTube: América Social Salesiana
- Instagram: Americasocialsalesiana
Or you can contact them via:
- Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Whatsapp: +593 963 637 186
