(ANS – Bonn) – On August 15, the Bonn Mission Office presented its annual report for 2013/14 highlighting its work with children and older youth in88countries around the world. Over the past year the foundation handled around 10.3 million euro in donations and fundsmade available, faithful to its motto: "no child should end up on the street. All children have talents and should have a chance to develop them to the full.” The donations were passed on to600 Salesian humanitarian aid projects. The manager responsible for this funding was again honoured by the German DZI certification for donations.

“Do you believe in a better world?“Dr. Nelson Penedo, who manages the Bonn Office, critically questions the path followed bydevelopment cooperationin its classic welfare form and asks for more effortand new approaches to international cooperation. As good examples he cites committed volunteers like Fabian Wüllhorst orPeter Friemel, who regularly take part in cycling competitions to gather funds for street children. Both describe their efforts andcooperation as enriching their personal lives.

A further element central to the Report is the current campaign: Red Card against Violence– is what the campaign asks for as it focuses onthe situation of young Brazilians.

The report is complemented by impressive lives of young street childrenas for instance in reporting on humanitarian aid for the emergency in the Philippines.

This coming year Salesians will be celebrating 200years since the birth of their founder, Saint John Bosco. As a prelude to this, this Mission Office is planning a “Don Bosco Forum 2015” which will take place on January 24 under the provocative title "Could you spare me a moment to save the world?200 years of responsibility for the young". Dr. Gerd Müller, Development Minister, and Jean Paul Muller, SDB, Economer General for the Salesian Congregation, will face up to 400 invitees and discuss the current role of international cooperation for developmentat Church level. 40 young people from around the world will also be invited to study and critically discuss the topic during a parallel international conference of young people.

The full reportin German is available here.

Published 26/08/2014