Students have affordable accommodations in positive environment.
NEW ROCHELLE, NY (July 8, 2025) Salesian missionaries were able to renovate the Zefferino Namuncura Hostel in the St. John Bosco Community of Ondo, Nigeria, thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. Funding provided for structural repairs, and improvements to tiling, painting, plumbing, and the electrical system. The hostel was also able to install fire safety measures.
With this project completed, Salesians are able to provide affordable accommodations in a positive environment for students. This is enhancing their academic performance and providing a sense of social cohesion for the students.
Ogendengbe Gabriel, aged 24, is studying to be a computer programmer at the Don Bosco Institute and is one of the students living at the hotel. He explained, “Before this renovation, the drainage systems were very bad and severely polluting the environment. The building was looking unkept because it had not been painted for a very long time and some areas were never painted. The floor was rough and untiled.”
Gabriel was excited about the renovations. He added, “Now the hostel is better and habitable. Many of my friends were very happy with the renovation and more are willing to move into the hostel now.”
Salesian missionaries in Nigeria provide a range of social development and educational programs for youth who are poor and marginalized. The goal is always education, but Salesians know that youth often need extra support. Youth centers, feeding programs, health clinics and other programs help to ensure that youth are healthy and have their basic needs met so they can focus on school.
According to UNICEF, Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country and the ninth most populous country in the world. By United Nations estimates, Nigeria will be one of the countries responsible for most of the world’s total population increase by 2050. While Nigeria has the second strongest economy in Africa, it also has extreme rates of poverty with 100 million people living on less than $1 a day.
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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.