Project ensures continuity of community events.
NEW ROCHELLE, NY (July 14, 2026) Salesian missionaries renovated the electrical system and installed an air conditioning system in the auditorium of the Salesian Center in Porto Velho, Brazil, thanks to donor funding. Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, provided the funding that made the project possible.
A Salesian explained, “Through this project, we were able to ensure the continuity of community events at the auditorium, eliminating frequent interruptions and structural risks. The project not only resolved a critical safety liability, but also established an infrastructure capable of supporting future expansions of local activities.”
More than 300 people who use the auditorium for school and parish events benefited from the updates. Those attending the Salesian Center are from conditions of socioeconomic vulnerability who often lack food security and access to health services.
The Salesian Center is located in a region of the city considered to be highly dangerous. There are criminal factions, drug trafficking, and family disruption, and people generally have lower incomes. Salesians offer an alternative space for engagement and creating community connections.
Carlinhos de Souza Dias, aged 57, who is involved in the Salesian Mass and projects at the center, noted the modernization of the electrical system was essential for the activities of the parish to continue serving people with dignity.
Just over 15% of Brazilians live in poverty, with the majority living in the rural northeast of the country, according to the World Bank. While Brazil is making positive changes, there are still large gaps between the poor and the rich, and issues of income inequality and social exclusion remain at the root of poverty.
###
About Salesian Missions
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.
