(ANS - Turin) - The Salesians of the Special Circumscription of Piedmont and Valle d'Aosta (ICP) are active in welcoming refugees as requested by the Pope and the Rector Major. At the invitation of the Provincial, Fr Enrico Stasi, the Salesians of the province have already been active on their behalf since 1 June when the issue of landings in Lampedusa and the arrival in Europe of refugees was becoming ever more urgent.

The first centre made available to refugees was the Don Bosco Institute in Alessandria. Since the end of July, at the beginning of the summer holidays, they have been hosting ten young African refugees. In the past few days the institute has signed an agreement with the Prefecture of Alessandria to provide accommodation for the refugees until almost the end of the year. Meanwhile other Salesian houses have also agreed to open their doors to refugees.

Fr Domenico Ricca, SDB, chaplain of the Ferrante Aporti juvenile prison in Turin, is the coordinator of the projects of the Province of Piedmont for disadvantaged and marginalized persons. He is also coordinating the work for refugees in the Salesian houses that are becoming available. He says, "Our goal is not to accommodate large numbers, but small groups of young people or families and to help them to be integrated, primarily by helping them to learn the Italian language and then to start work, even if it is only temporary, with training courses, so that they can become independent and care for their own future."

A project helping refugees to become independent will take place in collaboration with the City of Turin, through the Protection System for Asylum Seekers and Refugees, and in constant contact with the Migrantes Office of the Diocese of Turin. In early October the first refugees will be entrusted to the Salesian communities in Turin. Fr Ricca and the Salesians of the participating houses in Turin and Piedmont are in discussion with the relevant authorities about the way the migrants are to be hosted.

In collaboration with the parish community and the Oratory of the Sacred Heart, Harambee, the Residential Community for young people run by the Salesian Province at Casale Monferrato, is getting ready a group of apartments in the premises adjacent to the community to accommodate unaccompanied foreign minors.

Published 25/09/2015