Fall 2013
Prepared Exclusively for Special Friends of Salesian Missions
A Written Testimony Of How You Bring God-Saving Grace To A Troubled World
Salesians Respond To Children in Crisis
Sierra Leone is no stranger to despair. Fallout from a brutal 10year civil war has left the country ranked last among 179 countries for the well-being of its people. More than half a million people are displaced from their homes, and tens of thousands of children are orphaned and living on the street – or worse. On a regular basis, unscrupulous adults kidnap boys and girls from impoverished parents, promising school scholarships and a better life in the city. Instead, these innocent victims are forced into child trafficking, domestic servitude, or labor in the fields and mines. Most also end up on the street, where violence, hunger and abuse shape a cruel existence. From the outside, the situation could easily appear hopeless. Each day in Freetown, however,
Salesians are working tirelessly on behalf of the most vulnerable youth – providing immediate services to street kids as well as long-term advocacy and prevention programs. At Don Bosco Fambul, children find immediate respite from emotional trauma and physical threats. With a goal of reuniting with their families, youth participate in a 10-month program that includes counseling, medical care and education.
This Month’s Child
Reuters photographer Thomas Mukoya
Imani’s young life began in tragedy.
Just a few months old, his family were victims o f t h e o n g o i n g v i o lence of the Congolese civil war.
At such a vulnerable age, with no one to care for him, Imani faced certain death – from starvation or worse.
Name: Age: Home:
Imani 18 Months Old Democratic Republic of the Congo
Don Bosco Hotline 116, staffed with social workers, nurses and legal professionals, provides confidential support around the clock to youth in crisis – often d i s patching workers to meet personally with street children. And, a new Youth Center inside Pademba Prison ministers to more than 450 street children arrested and held without legal aid for petty crime. Through counseling, pastoral work and an apprenticeship program, Salesians help rehabilitate participants and reintegrate them into productive society. There is much more work to be done. With the help of the caring and generous support of our friends, we can continue providing the education and support at-risk youth need to overcome their c i r cumstances and build a brighter future.
Every day, abandoned and orphaned children in the region suffer horrible physical violence at the hands of rebel soldiers. Fortunately, Imani landed
at the Don Bosco Ngangi Community Center in Goma, where he joined more than 3,000 other child victims of the war.
Now 18 months old, he is thriving in this safe environment – where the Salesians provide warm meals, clothing, and the chance to just be a child. His easy smile captivates the hearts of all who know him. Thanks to many caring people, Imani – whose name translates to “Faith” – is experiencing the unconditional love and support he needs to grow and thrive.
For our online friends, please visit the link below for information about our work in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: www.salesianmissions.org/Congo
This Month’s Call For Prayer
This Thanksgiving, the children in our missions will be praying for you – and giving thanks for everything you do to provide comfort and opportunity in their struggling lives. Please continue to include these precious children in your prayers – which inspire their faith and hope.