Project impacts more than 2,000 youth across Salesian centers and programs.
NEW ROCHELLE, NY (June 16, 2025) Salesian missionaries were able to renovate the Betania gymnasium to provide a safe place for the people in the Ludueña neighborhood in Rosario, Argentina, thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. The project, known as “A place for those who have no place” impacted more than 2,000 youth across several Salesian centers and programs in the Salesian community of the Vicarage of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
The gymnasium underwent extensive improvements, including a new granite tile floor, wall repairs, drainage fixes and a complete electrical system renewal. On the upper floor of the gymnasium, the entrance was improved and rooms were reorganized. A new room and two office spaces were added to serve as a safe space to support vulnerable youth and women. A general-use room was also established. On the ground floor, the restrooms for men, women, and individuals with disabilities were upgraded. A storage room for chairs and tables was built, along with access to the initial-level play area.
A Salesian explained, “These renovations enhanced the activities of the Salesian Youth Movement, oratories, and Saltimbanqui Day Center, facilitating cooperative games, creative activities, and group reflection in a safe space. The gym was also made available for different groups from the neighborhood.”
Salesians understand the importance of having a community space like the gymnasium so youth can engage in sports, connect with their peers and learn essential life skills through social interaction. The space is also available for other educational and social purposes while not being utilized by the students.
More than a quarter of the people in Argentina live in conditions of poverty with no formal employment and poor-quality education, according to the World Bank. The country’s high school dropout rate is close to 37% and youth account for a third of those unemployed. Almost 12% of children ages 5-17 are working instead of being in school and 20% need government assistance. Many face malnutrition, a lack of clean water and sewage, and inadequate housing.
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About Salesian Missions USA
Salesian Missions is headquartered in New Rochelle, NY, 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.