Salesian Missionaries in Mali Offering “healthy educational entertainment” to Needy Youth

“Soccer and sport in general, as well as music and theater, are a way to bring joy even in times of confinement and social distance,” Fr.  Salami says, and adds, “Seeing the boys and girls so happy in this project is something that gives me joy.”

Apart from supporting the youth, the Salesian missionaries have been reaching out to vulnerable families amid COVID-19.  

With the support of Bosco Global, SDB members in Mali have been able to “provide essential food during the most difficult phases of the pandemic, carry out campaigns for raising awareness on COVID-19, promote proper hygiene and distribute materials to stem infections.”

Fr. Salami adds that courtesy of the collaboration, SDB members in the West African country “managed to comply with the safety measures required in most of our projects.”

“We distributed masks to every student and distributed disinfectants to the whole educational community,” he says, adding that last year, SDB missionaries in Mali availed hand-washing stations to Salesian vocational training centers across the West African nation. 

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“As in the whole world, here too COVID-19 has caused not only a health problem, but also a problem of reduced income or loss of jobs due to the confinement measures. And for the most vulnerable people, those who earn their living day to day, it’s a very tough situation,” Fr. Salami says in the June 28 reports. 

He adds, “Our goal is to stand by the side of the most vulnerable young people and their families in Mali.”

Magdalene Kahiu is a Kenyan journalist with passion in Church communication. She holds a Degree in Social Communications from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA). Currently, she works as a journalist for ACI Africa.