(ANS - Seville) - A planning meeting of the Council of the Salesian Cooperators of the Province of Spain-Mary Help of Christians was held on Saturday, 5 September. At this first meeting there was a motion to deal with the humanitarian emergency in Syria and to consider the position of the Salesian Cooperators. The Council started with two questions: "What can we do as an association? What role are we to take?"

Despite the complexity of the problem, the Provincial Council of the Salesian Cooperators has decided to launch a careful and well organized solidarity campaign, with immediate effect, together with the Council of the Salesian Family in Andalusia, Extremadura and the Canary Islands. This shows their sensitivity to the issue and their willingness to collaborate in joint initiatives. To this end, the Council of Salesian Cooperators unanimously approved a series of measures and instructed their spokesperson to launch a campaign on social networks under the hashtag #SCuentocontigo

One of the activities of the Association is the diffusion of the communique of the Rector Major and other communications from the Salesian Family, such as the testimony of the Salesian Provincial in the Middle East, Fr Munir El Rai. It also set up an open discussion group to continue its work in the local centres. It will follow the aspects which require practical involvement, such as going to meetings and joining demonstrations or other activities that may be organized by civil society.

Thirdly, the Council launched a special campaign to raise funds to be channelled to the NGOs "Solidaridad Don Bosco" and "Videssur". The collection at the Mass to be celebrated on 3 October, at the next meeting of the Local Councils, will be donated to the same cause.

Furtherinformation is available on the website salesianos.edu or by writing to solidaridad.pma@cooperadores.org

Published 18/09/2015