This year’s message from Pope Francis focuses on “The prayer of the poor rises up to God” (cf. Sir 21:5). In his address, Pope Francis said, “Christian hope embraces the certainty that our prayer reaches God’s presence; not just any prayer but rather the prayer of the poor! Let us reflect on this word and ‘read’ it on the faces and in the stories of the poor whom we encounter daily, so that prayer can become a path of communion with them and a sharing in their suffering.”
Nearly 30,000 Salesian priests, brothers, sisters, and novices are working in more than 130 countries around the globe bringing education, workforce development, and social programs to poor youth and their families. They work in some of the most challenging circumstances and are among the first to respond during humanitarian crises or natural disasters.
“Salesian missionaries are providing education and social supports to help poor youth and their families improve their lives and have hope for a brighter future,” said Father Michael Conway, director of Salesian Missions. “While Salesian missionaries primarily focus on education, they also work to meet basic needs like shelter, food, medical care and clean water while also working to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches those who need it most. These supports ensure that youth have what they need while focusing on their education.”
In honor of the Catholic World Day of the Poor, Salesian Missions highlights educational and social programs that are helping poor and at-risk youth meet their basic needs, receive an education, and find a path out of poverty.
ARGENTINA
Students at Salesian elementary schools, high schools, and technical and vocational training centers in Argentina have new computer equipment thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions. More than 2,800 students will be positively impacted by this donation. The project started in 2023 and finished in July 2024.
With the funding, Salesians were able to purchase laptops, desktop computers, monitors, accessories and printers. Each institution obtained the equipment needed to ensure that students are able to learn and will be empowered in their digital education.
A Salesian noted, “Digital education is important for our students to be able to learn and compete in the job market. Learning these skills early will help to grow their digital abilities later in their education. Our technical and vocational students must have access to today’s technology so they are prepared when they enter the workforce. It’s skills they must have and Salesian educational institutions need the equipment to effectively teach.”
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
More than 9,700 Haitian refugees and their families, who fled their home country due to the ongoing political crises and settled in the community of Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic, have received meals to support their nutritional needs. The meals were provided through a partnership between Rise Against Hunger and Salesian Missions. Daughters of Mary Help of Christians distributed the meals to families in need during the first half of 2024.
Most of the recipients work in construction or engage in maintenance work at a Salesian school. Many workers are undocumented and live in isolated places with their families in small, rented houses. They are not always paid fairly and have few labor benefits due to their migration status.
Widenson Etinne, age 20, is one of the people who received the meals. He lives in a community with small homes built with recycled materials that are fragile, weak and unsafe. He fled Haiti for the safety of his family but faces other challenges in the Dominican Republic.
Etinne explained, “It is not easy for us to live in the Dominican Republic. We have had to leave our country running for fear of starving to death at the hands of the war that is going on. Here we have dealt with hunger and all kinds of necessities, and our families have suffered as well. When we finally managed to find a job doing construction work and working on the school, many things have improved, not only because we feel a little more secure and safe but also because we receive these meals that are so important to our nutrition.”
UGANDA
Students attending Don Bosco Primary School, part of Don Bosco Children and Life Mission (Don Bosco CALM), in Namugongo, northeast of Kampala, Uganda, received new school uniforms, sports uniforms and school supplies thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions.
The 200 children, ages 5-13, were from families most in need. They could not afford to buy their children new school uniforms or the school supplies to take part in educational activities.
Mbabazi Prosper, age 9, was one of the recipients. He lives with his grandmother who is unable to buy the things he needs for school. Prosper said, “I was not going to school before because my grandmother could not afford the school fees. Now I study at Don Bosco and I’m sure I will succeed in the future. Thanks to the donors we received new uniforms, books and pencils that allow us to participate in school. We are all grateful.”
ZAMBIA
Youth living at Don Bosco Makululu and students attending the Salesian primary and secondary school have access to clean water thanks to a project funded in Zambia by the Salesian Missions “Clean Water Initiative.”
More than 1,500 youth are benefiting from this project at Don Bosco Makululu, a home for street children from poor areas who have nowhere else to live. Salesians ensure youth have their basic needs met and are able to access education.
The project included drilling a new borehole and the steel needed for a new water stand. A new water tank is connected to the existing water system so that even when the power is out, which can be up to 16 hours a day, Salesians can utilize the water pump and the solar power to ensure clean water access.
The entire area where the Salesian center is located suffers from poor sanitary conditions, including an inadequate water supply, bad drainage and poor air quality. This area of Zambia has also been experiencing frequent droughts. The new water resource is enabling Salesians to ensure that youth in their programs and schools have the water they need.
