(ANS - Belo Horizonte)- On 28 November,  the Hall of the Municipality of Belo Horizonte was the scene of a public tribute by the city authorities to the Salesian Network for Social Action (RESAS). The ceremony for the awarding of the Certificate of Merit brought together the Salesians and the staff, as well as many educators and pupils of Salesian social units in the city.

The award is the result of a recommendation by the director Arnaldo Godoy in recognition of the 40 years of Cesam-MG, 25 years of Dom Bosco House and 25 years of Dom Bosco Youth Centre, all celebrated this year.

"Our presence here today shows that the city authorities value our work to ensure the rights and obligations of children and adolescents," said Salesian Brother Geraldo Aleixo, director of the Casa Dom Bosco.

The Director of Cesam-MG, Fr Jairo de Matos, thanked the City Council for this award, noting that "this honour is an incentive to continue our mission, which is not always easy," while the director of the Don Bosco Youth Centre, Fr Henriques Jésus de Melo, spoke about the history of the centre and the importance of the units in serving young people.

Representing the Province of Belo Horizonte, which is responsible for the units, Fr João Luiz Galvão, the Vice-Provincial, summed up the commitment of the Province for the youth by quoting a saying of Don Bosco: "I would give anything to win the hearts of young people so they can be presented to the Lord.” He went on to say. “This is the purpose of the work of our province, dedicated to St. John Bosco, through these units, winning the hearts of young people and so helping to make them good Christians and honest citizens."

The Salesian work of Cesam-MG, established in 1973, has welcomed and trained about 1,300 young people aged between 15 and 24 years, and then assisted them in the labour market. The Dom Bosco Youth Centre, founded in 1988, works at strengthening family ties. It organizes social, sporting, cultural and recreational activities, and offers digital access and psychological support. It caters for 320 young people aged 6 to 16 years. The Dom Bosco House consists of a welcome centre, and another centre (also founded in 1988) which hosts 30 young males between 12 and 18 years who have suffered violations of their rights or whose family ties are weak or broken.

Published 05/12/2013