(ANS - Rome) - The latest tragedy of the boat that capsized in the Mediterranean Sea is giving rise to a natural wave of public statements and stances. But to endure that we do not stop at good intentions, we must move from words to deeds and action. This is what they are doing in several places where Salesians and Salesian Agencies are working to achieve a concrete project to combat trafficking in human beings.

"Don Bosco Missions and the International Volunteers for Development are two Salesian agencies engaged in the promotion of solidarity and international cooperation. They join the call of Pope Francis upon the international community to take action promptly and decisively to prevent the recurrence of such tragedies and to undertake to carry out a joint project with the aim of making migrants more aware of the risks of traveling and trafficking. Referring to the many victims in the desert and at sea, Giampietro Pettenon, SDB, President of Don Bosco Missions says, “They face ill treatment during the journey, enslavement, and 'a graveyard of sand and a cemetery of water'.”

"Getting angry or indignant is no longer of any help. What is needed is to make migrants welcome in Europe. But even that is not enough. It is necessary to intervene also in the countries of origin of migrants" adds Nico Lotta, President of the International Volunteers for Development.

Giampietro Pettenon and Nico Lotta also have this to say: "Thanks to the Salesian communities in the territories of departure we are able to reach thousands of boys and girls to inform young migrants and make them aware of the real and genuine chance of success of the migration project in Europe. We will give voice to the testimonies of young people living in shelters in Italy managed by the Federation of Salesians for Social Services. These are young people who were lucky enough to survive those trips. It is important to make every effort to ensure that young Africans have all the information they need to make an informed choice and to have a migration plan that is sustainable. At the same time, they should have the freedom to choose to stay without giving up on a life in which all human rights are guaranteed."

The Salesians are present in many countries in sub-Saharan Africa from which migrants come, particularly in Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan, South Sudan, Senegal, Guinea, Mali, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Benin, Togo, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, Congo, Central African Republic and Chad. This is a vast field for effective outreach.

Published 21/04/2015