(ANS – Munich) – Salesian projects for children and young people in Germany and abroad had been sponsored to the tune of more than € 1.3 million in 2012 by foundations related to the Don Bosco Foundation Centre of the German Salesian province. On 22 June, 120 guests, benefactors and donors came together for the annual Don Bosco Foundation Centre meeting.

Fr Herbert Bihlmayer, Director of the Don Bosco Foundation Centre, said in his welcome speech that the donors and supporters contrast the generosity of their hearts to the greed of those who already have everything they need and always want more. “The donors want young people to have a fulfilled life”, said Fr Bihlmayer.

Guest speaker Alexander Radwan, a former member of the European Parliament and member of the Bavarian Parliament, referred in his speech to the effects of Europe’s market crisis on youth unemployment. He underlined that young people suffer from a fatal lack of perspectives. “To offer equal chances means to enable people make the best out of their life”, said Alexander Radwan. “That’s Don Bosco's mission too.”

During the meeting a presentation was made of some Don Bosco projects supported by the foundations, for example the project called “Beckwheel” at Don Bosco Youths Home in Nürnberg, which is promoted by the “Beck Kinderfonds Stiftung”  (Beck Childrens Fund Foundation). In this project, children and young people take part in a bicycle-workshop. Here they can learn how to work in a team and use tools to fix bikes. They don’t get any money but they can collect points to get a bike.

Another project is funded by “School in nature”. Its pupils' development has been delayed because they skipped school for several months or years. At the “School in nature”, by the age of 14, the young people get used again to a regular daily routine. Due to the support given by the foundations the school has been able to expand and can now take younger pupils from the age of 10, as well.

Dr Nelson Penedo, director of the Don Bosco Mission in Germany and one of the donors, reported on projects abroad funded by the Don Bosco Foundation Centre. In Cuzco, Peru, the “Casa Don Bosco“ project offers a new home and school attendance to up to 40 children affected by poverty. In another project in the south of India, Salesians care for children who have been forced to work as miners.

The Don Bosco Foundation Centre was founded in 2001. Currently more than 190 donors from Germany support the Salesians of Don Bosco with their own foundation. So far they have supported Salesian projects investing about € 9.5 million.

Published on 11/07/2013