(ANS – Comayagüela) – On 23 February the Ambassador of the United States in Honduras, Dr Lisa Kubiske, accompanied by the Secretary for Human Rights visited the “Sagrado Corazon” Salesian Centre in Comayagüela, where the Salesians, in collaboration with the USAID (United States Agency for International Development) Association have set up a reception and development centre for children at risk.

In the day centre the youngsters can learn a trade – at present there are courses in hairdressing and beauty care, costume jewellery making, drawing, computing and telephone operating – take catching-up classes, or spend their free time in a positive way, playing football, videogames or learning to play a musical instrument.

Activities are run by a number of volunteers working together, giving of their time so as to provide in their own district a place of education as an alternative to the streets.

In meeting the Ambassador the Salesians explained what they were doing in a building the size of an apartment. Each day about 170 youngsters play with the equipment made available, about another 80 learn a trade and 50 children follow after school activities. The shortage of space does not prevent the Salesians and their helpers carrying out their work of education.

“What we showed her was the work we are doing with the youngsters,” explained the missionary Fr Giampiero de Nardi.  “Every value has a motivation behind it. Educating them not to drop paper on the ground helps them to respect the world created by God; defending a woman because she is a person, like a man created in the image and likeness of God and  complementary to man; not misusing drugs and alcohol because their body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit.”

Published 05/03/2012