NEW ROCHELLE — Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, joins humanitarian organizations and countries around the globe in honoring the International Day of Charity celebrated each year on September 5. The United Nations General Assembly chose the date to commemorate the anniversary of Mother Teresa of Calcutta’s death. She received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 “for work undertaken in the struggle to overcome poverty and distress, which also constitute a threat to peace.”

As part of the United Nations 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development, adopted in September 2015, the U.N. has recognized the importance of eradicating poverty in all forms. Nearly 30,000 Salesian priests, brothers, sisters, and novices are working in more than 130 countries 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 or natural disasters.

“Salesian missionaries around the globe are working with youth and families living in poverty,” said Father Michael Conway, director of Salesian Missions. “While education is our primary focus, Salesians know youth cannot focus on school while their basic needs are unmet. Salesian missionaries work to meet basic needs like shelter, food, and medical care while also working to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches those who need it most.”

In honor of the International Day of Charity, Salesian Missions highlights unique aid programs helping poor youth and their families meet their basic needs.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

People who have been internally displaced and are 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 helped 2,780 people over three months in 2023.

The war between a rebel group and the loyalist FARDC army has been going on for nearly two years. 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 who were camped on the land were 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.

Namibia

Don Bosco Private School in Namibia received classroom furniture thanks to a donation from Furniture Reuse Solutions secured by Salesian Missions. The furniture is being used in the classrooms, computer lab, staff room, and small school hall. All of these locations lacked furniture before this donation arrived. The donation has impacted 230 students, 16 teaching staff, and indirectly more than 500 parents who are happy with the resources for their children.

Wooden tables have been added to the staff room, where meetings are held and teachers do their lesson preparations. Previously, some teachers did not have teacher tables in their classrooms, so this has improved the environment and made their work easier to accomplish.

The combination of desks and chairs for students is the first of its kind at Don Bosco Private School. Salesians report that the furniture has made the learning environment more relaxing for the students, who would have otherwise been disadvantaged because of the lack of desks and chairs. The new desks and chairs also create neatness in the class and provide more space for movement among the rows and for class activities. Both students and teachers appreciate the new classroom set-up. The school plans to add more classrooms to better serve the local population.

Syria*

Close to 220 people in Aleppo, Syria, were provided critical cardiovascular medical care thanks to support provided by Salesian Missions. These patients were impacted by the February 2023 earthquake in Syria and Turkey.

The patients who were supported needed life-saving surgeries and medical care. This project enabled 20 patients to access the surgery they needed. Other patients were able to access follow-up medical appointments, testing, and medications.

Edwar Nakouz, the father of two children, received surgery and necessary medical care. He was in desperate need of surgery and was dealing with pain and illness every day, which impacted his quality of life. The financial cost of those surgeries was prohibitive. He said, “Since the onset of the illness, I dealt with immense physical and psychological pain. I found myself trapped between the walls of the disease and a constant state of disability. I drew strength from within to face challenges and move forward steadfastly. I always lived in pain and hardship, but I never lost hope.”

Timor-Leste

Youth in Salesian programs in Timor-Leste have access to better nutrition through a new year-long project that launched thanks to 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 disadvantaged 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.

Salesian Missions is headquartered in New Rochelle, and is part of the Don Bosco Network—a worldwide federation of Salesian NGOs. The mission of the U.S.-based nonprofit Catholic organization is to raise funds for international programs that serve youth and families in poor communities around the globe. The Salesian missionaries are made up of priests, brothers, and sisters, as well as laypeople—all dedicated to caring for poor children throughout the world in more than 130 countries and helping young people become self-sufficient by learning a trade that will help them gain employment. To date, more than 3 million youth have received services funded by Salesian Missions. These services and programs are provided to children regardless of race or religion. For more information, go to SalesianMissions.org.

*Any goods, services, or funds provided by Salesian Missions to programs located in this country were administered in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including sanctions administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control.