This Month’s Child

Name: ImaniAge: 18 Months OldHome: Democratic Republic

of the Congo

Imani’s young life began intragedy.

Just a few months old, hisfamily were victims of theongoing violence of theCongolese civil war.

At such a vulnerable age,with no one to care for him,Imani faced certain death – fromstarvation or worse.

Every day, abandoned andorphaned children in the regionsuffer horrible physical violenceat the hands of rebel soldiers.

Fortunately, Imani landed

at the Don Bosco NgangiCommunity Center in Goma,where he joined more than 3,000other child victims of the war.

Now 18 months old, he isthriving in this safe environment –where the Salesians providewarm meals, clothing, and thechance to just be a child. His easysmile captivates the hearts of allwho know him.

Thanks to many caring people,Imani – whose name translates to“Faith” – is experiencing theunconditional love and support heneeds to grow and thrive.

Fall 2013

Prepared Exclusively for Special Friends of Salesian MissionsA Written Testimony Of How You Bring God-Saving Grace To A Troubled World

This Month’s Call For PrayerThis Thanksgiving, the children in our missions will be praying for you – and giving thanks foreverything you do to provide comfort and opportunity in their struggling lives. Please continueto include these precious children in your prayers – which inspire their faith and hope.

Don Bosco Hotline 116,staffed with social workers,nurses and legal profession-als, provides confidentialsupport around the clockto youth in crisis – oftendispatching workers tomeet personally with streetchildren.

And, a new Youth Centerinside Pademba Prison min-isters to more than 450 streetchildren arrested and held

without legal aid for petty crime.Through counseling, pastoral workand an apprenticeship program,Salesians help rehabilitate partici-pants and reintegrate them intoproductive society.

There is much more work tobe done. With the help of thecaring and generous support of ourfriends, we can continue providingthe education and support at-riskyouth need to overcome theirc i rcumstances and build abrighter future.

Salesians Respond To Children in CrisisSierra Leone is no stranger

to despair.Fallout from a brutal 10-

year civil war has left thecountry ranked last among179 countries for the well-beingof its people. More than half amillion people are displacedfrom their homes, and tens ofthousands of children areorphaned and living on thestreet – or worse.

On a regular basis,unscrupulous adults kidnap boysand girls from impoverishedparen t s , p romis ing schoo lscholarships and a better life inthe city. Instead, these innocentvict ims are forced into chi ldtrafficking, domestic servitude, orlabor in the fields and mines.Most also end up on the street,where violence, hunger and abuseshape a cruel existence.

From the outside, the situationcould easily appear hopeless.Each day in Freetown, however,

Salesians are working tirelesslyon behalf of the most vulnerableyouth – providing immediateservices to street kids as well aslong-term advocacy and preventionprograms.

At Don Bosco Fambul, childrenfind immediate respite fromemotional trauma and physicalthreats. With a goal of reunitingwith their families, youth participatein a 10-month program thatincludes counseling, medical careand education.

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For our online friends, please visit the link below for information about our work in theDemocratic Republic of the Congo: www.salesianmissions.org/Congo

Students at the Don BoscoTechnical Institute in Sunyani nowhave an even greater opportunity topractice what they are learning.

Two large agricultural manu-facturers, AGCO and Africatrack,have donated a tractor, large trailerand other farm equipment that willbe put to immediate use in theschool’s fields.

These fields serve as a hands-onlaboratory for agricultural students,where they gain practical experiencewith crops and livestock. Havingsuch advanced equipment, andlearning how to use it, will expandtheir knowledge and expertise.

After graduation, students willapply what they’ve learned to furtherdevelop agricultural productionin the area – which will not onlyadvance their own skills, but willgreatly benefit the communityas well.

In Argentina... In Ghana... In Guatemala...

Missionary of the Month: Fr. Luigi Laudato

A True Christmas Gift

Upon his arrival to the Amazonforty years ago, Fr. Luigi Laudatoimmediately knew he had discov-ered his lifetime vocation: to defendthe culture, resources and rights ofthe Yanomami people.

“There was no need to teach themhow to live,” recalls Fr. Laudato.Rather than force modern sensi-bilities onto this hunter-gatherersociety, Fr. Laudato sought to offerchoices.

Through education and voca-tional training, he prepared indige-nous youth to better understand the

outside world, to begin appreciatingthe value of work, and to becomemore aware of their rights.

Because the Yanomami inhabitrich agricultural land, knowing howto protect their rights is crucial forlong-term survival — as their liveli-hoods are constantly threatened byoutsiders wishing to exploit the landfor resources and profit.

Today, close to 2,000Yanomami participate in the mis-sion, where Fr. Laudato has morerecently begun working with indi-viduals who aspire to higher studies.

In the process, Fr. Laudato has notonly been teacher, but student.

“I have learned to listen insteadof telling them what to do,” he says.“I have learned in their midst to bea better priest.”

Dear Friend,As Christmas approaches, I

reflect and remember the countlesschildren and families around theworld who are struggling to survive.Fami l ies who have los t the i rhomes and livelihoods to naturaldisaster ... children who have beenorphaned by brutal civil wars ...young people with little opportuni-ty, turning to life on the streets.

Their stories are heartbreakingand they remind me that the truemeaning of Christmas lies not inwhat we get, but in what we give.

Therefore, among the manyblessings I can count this year, yoursupport tops the list … for it is yourcaring generosity that allows us tohelp those who need it most. Andit is your concern that provides

Faced with limited opportunityand little hope, youth often flee tourban areas – abandoning the villagesthey leave behind. Worse, they seldomfind work and end up homeless, caughtin a cycle of poverty and violence.At the Pascual Gentilini

Agricultural School in Argentina,village youth are building brighterfutures – learning valuable skillsthat will improve their own, andtheir neighbors’ lives.Lessons in community service,

farming, raising livestock, beekeeping,cooking, business management andmore prepare students to work in,and for, sustainable local food systems. Upon graduation, they will be

able to apply their new knowledge inways that increase access to food, aswell as improve economic opportu-nities in their villages.If the students’ enthusiasm is any

indication, many villages will soonbe thriving.

For our online friends, please visit thelink below to read more about the develop-ment of our mission work in Argentina:www.salesianmissions.org/Argentina

comfort and hope to those in despair.I hope you will find joy in the

stories of those who have been touchedby your kindness. You epitomize thetrue spirit of Christmas, and I am evergrateful for this gift. God bless You!

After severe f looding anddevastating mudslides ravaged fourmountain communities in LaTinta – completely isolating thevillagers – the Salesians were thefirst to respond.

Traveling four hours by car andan additional three hours on foot,Fr. Vittorio Castanga, of theSalesian mission in Altaverapaz,delivered enriched rice and otheremergency supplies to more than50 indigenous families affected bythe disaster.

“These people are forgottenby the international media,” Fr.Castanga says. “In so manyinstances, we are the first and onlyones to help in an emergency.”

With the ongoing support ofour many generous and caringfriends, the Salesians remaincommitted to meeting the needs ofthe suffering, in Guatemala andeverywhere we serve.

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Please consider remembering Salesian Missions in your will.