(ANS - Kankan) - The Salesians of the French Speaking Province of West Africa have three works in the Republic of Guinea. One of these is located near Kankan. It has a Centre for Vocational Education and Training, the Dominic Savio Oratory and Youth Centre, the Association of Salesian Cooperators and the Mamma Margherita house. These activities are run by the local Salesian community together with many collaborators.

The area in which the work is located on the outskirts of Kankan is close to a Muslim cemetery. The road that leads to it is not paved.

For several years now, the oratory has been open every afternoon from Monday to Friday. It welcomes the young people of the neighbourhood, most of whom are Muslim and belong to large families.

In order to accommodate the young people and at the same time carry on the activities of the oratory, the Salesian community has reached an amicable agreement with the young people who come every afternoon to play football. Sport is used as a tool to provide education and formation for the young people. Some of them go to school but otherwise the rest would be left on the streets of the neighbourhood with nothing to do.

The work with the younger children starts each afternoon around 3.30. The children come with their coaches, already divided into teams and ready to begin playing. The coaches are just some of the older boys, students of the Salesian vocational training centre. They are committed to taking care of their younger friends and volunteer to pass on to the younger ones, free of charge, the training they have received. Almost all of these volunteer coaches are Muslims.

During the academic and pastoral year, the Coordinator of Pastoral Care gives a course of human-pedagogical training for all the coaches, so that they can better serve the children they work with every afternoon.

There is also a Day in the Family which is planned with all the coaches. The young people and their parents and families spend a day together at the Salesian House. This gives them an opportunity to learn about the Salesian environment at first hand and to see all the other activities that are carried out in addition to sports - dance workshops, music, theatre, craft courses ...

Published 03/04/2014