The “Ciudad Don Bosco” celebration began with a Mass at which Fr  Esteban Ortiz, Councillor for the Interamerica Region presided together with Fr Filiberto González, Councillor for Social Communication, Fr Vidal Niebles, Provincial of Colombia Medellín, Fr Armando Alvarez, the Rector, and many Salesians who had come from other places for the occasion, as well as the Salesians of the Province and young people.

“Ciudad Don Bosco” is the result of an idea by Fr Carlos González, who tried to respond to the needs of the poorest children, who had no access to the school system. The first solution to this was to provide primary school facilities.

Slowly the the institute began to change as it responded to the needs of the young people: street children, former child soldiers, youngsters whose lives were at risk in the most violent parts of the city of Medellin. It provided vocational training for those on the fringes of society, for women with families to support, and ordinary school education.

Now “Ciudad Don Bosco” is a very large structure with ample space for vocational training, academic schooling, recreational facilities, education in human rights. The Staff work directly with local and national government bodies to look after and protect the young people who are in the greatest need. 

After 45 years “Ciudad Don Bosco” has teachers who themselves were once youngsters there, and who are an example for the younger ones and experts in the processes of accompanying them.

Published 26/02/2010