Salesian missionaries around the globe work to ensure youth are safe, have basic needs met.
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. (June 4, 2025) Salesian Missons, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, joins humanitarian organizations and the international community in honoring International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression. Recognized on June 4 each year since its United Nations designation in 1982, the day acknowledges the pain suffered by children throughout the world who are the victims of physical, mental and emotional abuse.
The day also affirms the commitment by the U.N. and the international community to protect the rights of children. This work is guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the most rapidly and widely ratified international human rights treaty in history.
Salesian missionaries in more than 130 countries around the globe are working to ensure youth are safe, have their basic needs met and can access the education they need to succeed. Whether it’s providing social support, combating child labor or assisting youth without a place to live, Salesian missionaries are on the front lines ensuring access to programs and services.
“The support Salesians provide to youth goes beyond education,” explained Father Michael Conway, director of Salesian Missions. “They help support child abuse victims, help rehabilitate child soldiers, and provide education on child rights to ensure that youth have a sense of self-worth and hope for a better future.”
In honor of International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression, Salesian Missions highlights programs helping children who are facing trauma.
DR CONGO
People who have been internally displaced and are living at Camp Don Bosco, located at the Don Bosco Ngangi Youth Center in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo*, had access to healthy nutrition thanks to a partnership between Salesian Missions, and Feed My Starving Children, a nonprofit Christian organization committed to “feeding God’s children hungry in body and spirit.”
The donation, sent in partnership with Flexport.org, which managed the logistics and sponsored the shipping costs for two containers, helped 2,780 people over three months in 2023.
Conflict in the country continues. Camp Don Bosco was set up in the fall of 2022. Don Bosco Ngangi Youth Center welcomed displaced people and allowed them to use a plot of land that was once used for youth sports activities. Most of the now 21,000 people camped on the land have been displaced from Rutshuru and Nyiragongo.
Camps for displaced people, such as Camp Don Bosco, are overcrowded and lack adequate infrastructure. Living conditions are extremely precarious, with limited access to clean water, sanitation, food and health care. Disease, malnutrition and other health problems spread rapidly in such conditions.
HAITI
More than 3,000 youth in Haiti received nutritious food through a partnership between Salesian Missions, and Rise Against Hunger, an international humanitarian organization growing a global movement to end hunger. The shipments of meals were received by the Salesians of Don Bosco and then distributed to 11 Salesian centers and schools in the first half of 2024. Salesians facilitated school feeding programs, family meetings, professional training, primary and secondary education, apprenticeships, catechesis classes, and various other social activities.
Haiti faces ongoing political and social strife. Rodnel Ball, age 16, is one of the recipients and has been living at the Timkatec center in Port-au-Prince for five years. He said, “When I arrived at Timkatec, I started to eat Rise Against Hunger meals every day. The meals are important to me because they give me strength and they taste good. Not only did I gain weight by eating the meals, but I also found the motivation to study. I study better. I like to sit with my classmates when I eat.”
A Salesian noted, “We appreciate Rise Against Hunger and the solidarity from the United States for sending food for our youth. We can see the joy on the face of each child after eating and when they arrive home.”
MYANMAR
Salesian missionaries in Myanmar* were able to provide housing and nutrition to 350 boys who are boarding in Salesian communities thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions. These boys are mainly from war-afflicted zones where there is very little education and safety. The Salesian communities supported include Nazareth, Thibaw, Hlaing Thar Yar and Mandalay.
Donor funding helped youth during the six months of November 2023 to April 2024. During this time Salesians were able to provide the boarding for the students and meet nutrition needs, including the purchase of rice, beans, vegetables and cooking oils.
A Salesian said, “We are appreciative of Salesian Missions and the donor funding provided that has allowed us to aid 350 boys who are boarding in different Salesian communities. Education in Myanmar has been challenged given the ongoing war. We are supporting these youth with their education and basic needs like housing and nutrition.”
Myanmar was greatly impacted by a devastating earthquake on March 28. Previously, the military takeover of the democratically elected National League For Democracy Government had unleashed an unprecedented political, socioeconomic and humanitarian crisis on top of the continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, sending the country into a dangerous spiral of conflict and poverty, according to the United Nations.
NIGER
Salesian missionaries in Niamey, Niger, have funding to support 250 families displaced from the communities of Makalondi and Torodi thanks to funding from Salesian Missions. Salesians are feeding 350 children who are at risk of dying from starvation. They have also been able to establish an emergency fund for the immediate needs of displaced persons.
A Salesian explained, “Being displaced from their communities, parents found it difficult to provide food for their children over the weeks of terrorist displacement. This lack of food was already degenerating to starvation and death until the support was provided. Since the provision of the support, the children have been cared for and nourished.”
Salesians are also providing a range of other services for families including temporary shelter for 61 families; water and kitchen items for cooking; and medical tests and treatments, especially for malnourished children and elderly people. Salesians are also ensuring access to education with preschool activities for children, literacy training for out-of-school adolescents, and awareness programs around personal hygiene, safety, first aid and security. Those who need extra support are also able to access counseling.
Niger, which is hosting more than 900,000 displaced people, is the main country of asylum in West Africa, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
*Any goods, services, or funds provided by Salesian Missions to programs located in this country were administered in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including sanctions administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control.
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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.