Salesisans in Madagascar Providing “full meals, social support” to Young Prisoners

They continue, “As the authorities are unable to provide regular and balanced meals, Salesians distribute full meals to the young prisoners through the Novices, who then eat with them.”

SDB members say that by providing for the nutritional and recreational needs of the imprisoned youths, they help the young prisoners “get through these tough prison sentences by showing them compassion, which will help with reintegration into society once they are released.”

Fr. Giovanni Corselli, a Salesian involved in the outreach to young prisoners says, “Music, theater, sports, as well as spiritual formation through the celebration of Mass, catechism, and the screening of religious and educational documentaries are some of the activities that we provide for youth.”

Fr. Corselli says that ministering among the boys aged between 9 and 17 years is “delicate and complex”. 

“It is delicate and complex to manage those who have committed a crime with those whose only fault is living on the streets without the support of their families or children whose families are unable to care for them,” the Salesian Priest who has been ministering in the Indian Ocean island nation for nearly 40 years says.

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He adds that while SDB members in the Indian Ocean Island nation have tried saving some of the boys, they have not succeeded in helping all of them “because they need constant care and it’s just not possible for us.”

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.