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

Summer 2012

This Month’s Child

detention center, the DonBosco children performedtheir own variation of thepopular musical “Grease.”Theater plays an importantrole in the ar t i s t ic-recreational activitiesoffered by the Salesiansbecause it’s an effectiveway to instill confidence,develop social skills andkeep kids engaged.

The entire experiencewas very emotional for everyoneand t he r e s pons e w asoverwhelmingly appreciative.

At the end of the show, as thechildren from Don Bosco weregetting ready to leave, one ofthe incarcerated youngstersapproached with tears in his eyesand said, “I feel even sadder thisevening because I could havecome here as an actor rather thanbeing a spectator!”

Juvenile Detention Center Shows At-Risk YouthThe Value Of Salesian Program

Name: Pyalo

Age: 7 Years Old

Home: Togo, West Africa

As youngsters fromthe Salesian Don BoscoCenter in Naples, Italy,toured a juvenile detentioncenter, they saw firsthandwhere they could haveended up if not for thededication of the Salesiansand the generos i ty ofcaring friends like you.

These visiting childrenhad managed to escapelives of drugs, crime,homelessness and hunger byfinding safe refuge at the Salesianfacility, which is home to 90 kidsranging in age from 11 to 18.

They had been placed in thecare of the Salesians by citysocial services, juvenile courtsand other organizations that assistchildren in need.

In stark contrast, the detentioncenter was filled with younginmates who ended up on a

At the tender age of justseven years old, a precious littlegirl named Pyalo had alreadybeen sold into domestic slaveryby her impoverished parentslooking for a few extra dollarsand one less mouth to feed.

Even more appalling, thepractice of selling poor childrento rich families is consideredacceptable in many West Africancultures. In fact, it’s even regardedas a s ta tus symbol for thewealthy to own a “bonne” –which is the upscale label givento these child slaves.

Against the overwhelmingforces of a society that toleratessuch human injustices, theSalesians in Togo are fighting forthe rights – and the freedom –of young girls like Pyalo.

They first attempt to convinceparents not to succumb to thetemptation of quick dollars at theexpense of the wellbeing of theirchild. If that doesn’t work, theSalesians then take the younggirls into their care at the DonBosco Center for Girls.

The lives of thousands of girlsare at stake in Togo alone. Untilevery one of them is rescued fromslavery, the Salesians will continuetheir efforts to save each one.

It’s a mission only madepossible with your continuedkindness and generosity.

Please visit the Youtube linkbelow to learn more about childslavery in Africa:http://youtu.be/dltX3QaZTRk

This Month’s Call For PrayerToo many children around the world are victims of abuse and exploitation.Please pray that our missionaries around the world have the resources andfunding to provide the love, protection, guidance and support these childrendesperately need.

different, more tragic path. Inmany ways, they were verymuch like their peers from DonBosco – they were of similarages, backgrounds and in somecases, even friends and familymembers.

But the primary differencebetween the two groups can beattributed to the impact of theDon Bosco Center.

As part of their visit to the

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

103 2 LEFEVRE LANE, PO BOX 30 • NEW ROCHELLE NY 10802-0030

TEL: (914) 633-8344 Visit our Website: www.salesianmissions.org

Students who have struggledin a traditional academic setting –and are thus at higher risk ofunemployment and poverty later inlife – have an alternative way togain marketable skills thanks toDon Bosco Boys Town.

Although the name impliesthat i t only serves boys , theprograms are also available togirls. In fact, one brave Kenyangirl is learning steel solderingalongside her 30 male peers.

U p o n g r a d u a t i o n , t h e s edetermined young men andwomen are given assistance toestablish their own small businessesin Nairobi.

What’s more, tuition for BoysTown is heavily subsidized by thegenerosity of caring friends likeyou – which means that manyyoung people struggling to breakfree from poverty have a muchbetter chance of doing so.

In Cambodia... In Kenya... In Costa Rica...

Missionary of the Month: Fr. Won Seon-o

You Create Small Miracles With Big Impact

At the age of 84, Father WonSeon-o knows that he has limitedtime to accomplish his latestmission: to build 100 smallschools for the poor children ofSouth Sudan.

Given his impressive record ofaccomplishment as a Salesianmissionary, he is destined to succeed.

As a young priest from Italy 50years ago – his birth name wasVincenzo Donati – he moved toKorea, immersed himself into theculture by adopting a new name,and dedicated himself to helping

the most needy victims of thewar-torn country.

As Korea transitioned into aprosperous country, Father Wonsought another place where hecould make a difference. Thatjourney led him to South Sudan in1982 where he has been ever since.

Of his latest venture, Father Wonsays he was moved to take actiondue to the suffering he saw amongso many children in South Sudan.

To gain support, he reached outto his old friends and students inKorea, citing in a letter, “I don’t

have much time left. Please holdout your hands to help me.”

And indeed they have. On arecent visit back to Korea, theSalesian alumni associationhonored him with a check for$43,200 – enough to build oneschool with four classrooms.Please visit the Youtube link belowto view a powerful, emotionalvideo about our work in Sudan:http://youtu.be/WaVSQ6p9FGI

Dear Friend:I hope you gain the same level

of satisfaction in reading about thesmall miracles made possible byyour kindness and generosity, as I doin sharing these stories with you.

We, as Salesian missionaries, aremotivated by seeing the horribletragedies so many children andfamilies around the world havesuffered. And we are inspired by theoutpouring of support we receivefrom caring and concerned friendslike you.

While you could turn a blindeye to these tragedies, as so manypeople do, you choose to stepforward and make a difference. AndI can assure you, that every giftyou send is having a direct andmeaningful impact far greater thanyou can imagine.

The articles in this issue of theWorld Bulletin are only a smallsampling. I invite you to visit ourwebsite at:www.salesianmissions.org where

Cambodia is one of the poorestcountries in the world due, in part,to decades of violence and civilwar. The devastating fallout hasresulted in an estimated 640,000orphans, countless street children,and numerous families living onless than $1 a day.

Young girls are particularlyvulnerable and often becomevictims of human trafficking, childprostitution and substance abuse.

The Don Bosco Vocational andEducational Training Center forGirls in Phnom Penh is a brightspot amidst all this tragedy. Inaddition to vocational training, thecenter also teaches vital life skillssuch as leadership and self-worth.

Empowered by an education,job training and loving supportfrom the Salesian Sisters, at-riskgirls are better able to provide forthemselves and their families.

you will be moved by many moreexamples of how you are a truesavior to needy children.

Thanks, as always, for caringas much as you do. God bless you!

As an extraordinary testamentto the value and impact of aSalesian education, seven studentsfrom the Don Bosco TechnicalInstitute were recently honored bythe President of the Republic, theHon. Laura Chinchilla.

The students were recognizedfor their creative and innovativeaccomplishments and will representCosta Rica at the InternationalScience and Technology Fair.

In a special ceremony, thepresident expressed her appreciationby stating, “Many thanks not onlyfor your important personalachievement but also for havingcontributed to the development ofCosta Rica. This country has onething that every country needs tohave if it wants to dream aboutfu tu r e p rog re s s , t ha t i s t heintelligence of its people.”