(ANS - Santa Cruz) - "Proyecto Don Bosco" is a project started by the Salesians of Santa Cruz to help children and young people who are on the streets. They run a variety of shelters, hostels and day centres where children are welcomed and listened to, where they receive care and affection and their needs are attended to.

Ruben was 10 years old when his mother became pregnant for the third time . His father abandoned them at that time. His mother was unable to work and so Ruben left school and ended up on the streets of Santa Cruz. Initially he went to work or to beg,  but gradually the streets got a grip on him. He started stealing, prostitution and drugs. His younger brother started to do the same. That was when Ruben asked for help and met Proyecto Don Bosco.

In Bolivia, there are over 4,000 children living on the streets. "It is a growing  problem, especially in Santa Cruz. The people were afraid and decided to hide them, to shut them up. There were no institutions to take care of them, nor were there any social policies aimed at children at risk. Following the example of Don Bosco in welcoming young people, we started this project.” So said one of the Salesians involved.

The project has several stages. Pinardi Techo (the Pinardi shed) is the first stage. It is a centre for children that can accommodate up to 70 young people overnight. Their motto is "No drugs. No stealing. No fighting.” The next stage is Patio Don Bosco, a day-care centre where the young people can play, and receive lessons in basic literacy, if they wish. The Moglia Farm is a transition centre for fifty young people.  There the young people live in contact with nature.  They begin to get reacquainted with the discipline and habits of civilized life to enable them to be reintegrated into society .

There are other centres like Don Bosco House, Mano Amiga and Barrio Juvenil which look after a total of about 340 street children. They also offer a good education and counselling for starting work. Don Bosco en los barrios is the other part of theProyecto Don Bosco, dedicated to the care of children and young people from dysfunctional families.

On YouTube there is a video on the experience of street children in Bolivia.

Published 03/04/2014