by Manuel Serrano
For many years the Salesians have taken up this challenge as part of their mission. Don Bosco, in fact, always showed his preference to work for the neediest of young people. This resulted in answering to the needs of young migrants and refugees, as well as their families.
Today, the Salesian Social Platforms of Spain serve over 25,000 migrants and refugees, through 40 projects and with the help of 60 professionals and 200 volunteers.
"We provide cultural and language learning projects, support for the regularization of personal documents and other legal and judicial aspects, work placement, shelters for unaccompanied foreign minors and families, psychological support, promotion of non-discrimination, promotion of participation of migrant women, promoting healthy habits and positive parenting projects," the Salesian Social Platforms explain. Furthermore, once again this year, several refugees will be welcomed in the Salesian houses of the Salesian Provinces of Madrid and Seville.
In many cities of Galicia, the "Teranga" program honors its name (which means "welcome, hospitality" in Wolof, one of the languages of Senegal). The project is aimed at immigrant people and families, in any administrative situation, in order to promote their integration into society and ensure them a better quality of life." In Cartagena, the Alraso program "seeks to facilitate the qualification of migrants, by ensuring they acquire professional skills, enable them to fit into the industrial and socio-cultural fabric of their environment and see an adequate quality of life provided and guaranteed."
Salesian schools in Spain welcome over 4,000 children and young people from foreign countries. The Salesians work to welcome, protect, promote and integrate young migrants and refugees, as well as their families.
