This year’s theme of “Right to foods for a better life and a better future” focuses on diversity, nutrition, affordability, accessibility and safety in our food systems. Farmers produce enough food to feed more than the global population, but hunger still persists. Up to 783 million people face hunger due to conflict, repeated weather shocks and economic downturns, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FOA).
FOA further noted, “Over 2.8 billion people in the world are unable to afford a healthy diet. Unhealthy diets are the leading cause of all forms of malnutrition — undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies and obesity, which now exist in most countries, cutting across socio-economic classes. Yet today, too many people suffer from hunger and are unable to afford healthy diets. More vulnerable people are often forced to rely on staple foods or less expensive foods that can be unhealthy, while others suffer from the unavailability of fresh or varied foods, lack the information they need to choose a healthy diet, or simply opt for convenience.”
“Salesian Missions is working to ensure youth who are poor and vulnerable have the nutrition they need to focus on school and gain an education,” said Father Michael Conway, director of Salesian Missions. “Through strategic partnerships, Salesian Missions is shipping meals to Salesian programs around the globe. These are provided to youth and children through feeding programs in Salesian schools and centers.”
This World Food Day Salesian Missions is proud to highlight feeding programs to ensure youth have the nutrition they need to survive and thrive.
DR CONGO
People who were internally displaced and were living at Camp Don Bosco, located at the Don Bosco Ngangi Youth Center in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo, had access to healthy nutrition thanks to a partnership between Salesian Missions and Feed My Starving Children. The donation, sent in partnership with Flexport.org, which managed the logistics and sponsored the shipping costs for two containers, helped 2,780 people over three months in 2023.
Camp Don Bosco was set up in the fall of 2022. Don Bosco Ngangi Youth Center welcomed the displaced people and allowed them to use a plot of land that was once used for youth sports activities. Most of the 21,000 people camped on the land had been displaced from Rutshuru and Nyiragongo.
Camps for displaced people, such as Camp Don Bosco, are overcrowded and lack adequate infrastructure. Living conditions are extremely precarious, with limited access to clean water, sanitation, food and health care. Disease, malnutrition and other health problems spread rapidly in such conditions.
A Salesian noted, “The highly nutritious food from Feed My Starving Children has been warmly welcomed by the families living in the camp. The families know that they are getting much-needed nutrition and are able to provide healthy meals for their families. Families with children testify that this food is highly nutritious and facilitates a quick recovery of malnourished children.”
HAITI
Salesian students in Haiti received healthy nutrition through a partnership between Salesian Missions and Rise Against Hunger. The shipment was received by the Salesian-run Vincent Foundation and then distributed to seven Salesian centers and schools in the second half of 2023. More than 3,100 youth were impacted by the donation.
The Vincent Foundation school, located southwest of Cap-Haïtien, was founded by President Vincent in 1936. It was handed over to the Salesians in 1955. The professional school offers courses in tailoring, cabinetmaking, automobile mechanics, electricity and agricultural technology. In addition to this school, the shipment was shared with Don Bosco Technique, Lakay Don Bosco, Timkatec, Lakay Foyer and Atelier, and Lakou CDR and Atelier.
Salesians serve vulnerable youth around the country. During the second half of 2023, Cap-Haïtien faced high levels of generalized insecurity, including looting and hostage-taking. The region also faced extremely high inflation and almost complete unavailability of fuel for transportation.
TIMOR-LESTE
Youth in Salesian programs in Timor-Leste have access to better nutrition through a new year-long project that has launched through a partnership with the Don Bosco Foundation Timor-Leste, Salesian Missions and Rise Against Hunger. The nutrition project, called “Rewrite the Future,” began in January and will run through December 2024.
The project will provide healthy food to close to 2,000 youth in 28 centers across eight municipalities. Salesians will distribute maize, rice, corn, eggs, chicken, vegetables, potatoes, kidney beans/soya beans, cooking oil, sugar, salt, noodles and canned fish.
The project will also introduce new activities meant to support the feeding program and build sustainability at six pilot centers near Dili. The pilot program will provide kitchen garden training, hand-washing and hygiene initiatives, and malnutrition management activities.
Salesians started the first quarter of the project by preparing the meal plans with a nutritionist while holding training for staff. Food was also purchased, prepared and delivered to the 28 centers, which included schools, youth centers and orphanages. Salesians will be tracking health markers and school performance of the students at the six pilot centers as the project continues.
UGANDA
Nearly 1,700 youth at Salesian schools in Uganda had better nutrition through a partnership between Salesian Missions and Rise Against Hunger. More than 600 youth at Don Bosco Children and Life Mission (Don Bosco CALM) received meals provided by Rise Against Hunger, as well as nearly 700 students at the Don Bosco School Bombo and 380 students at the Salesian vocational schools in Bombo and Kamuli.
Don Bosco CALM rescues, rehabilitates and reintegrates children who are living on the street back into society. Along with meeting basic needs, Salesians provide education, socio-cultural activities, and recreation such as sports programming to help youth have a bright future.
Salesians work primarily with boys who are homeless and those who have been orphaned, battered, and neglected. They also provide support for other vulnerable youth and children, including those who are HIV/AIDS positive. All of the children are in school with some attending Don Bosco Primary School, Salesian secondary schools and vocational training institutes.
One of the recipients of the meals is Edward Kavuma, age 12. He attends primary school at the Don Bosco Nursery and Primary School and lives with his aunt who is a subsistence farmer in a rural community in Wakiso. He previously was not studying because his aunt could not afford the school fees. He said, “Before this Rise Against Hunger donation, it was a challenge to have a balanced diet as we were only eating posho and beans for lunch and supper because it is what the school administration could afford.”
