(ANS – Port-au-Prince) – More than 2,300 youth in Haiti received nutritious food through a partnership between Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, and Rise Against Hunger, an international humanitarian organization growing a global movement to end hunger. The shipments of meals were received by the Salesians of Don Bosco and then distributed to the three Salesian centers of Don Bosco Technique, Lakay Don Bosco and the Vincent Foundation in the second half of 2024.
Vincent Foundation, located south of the city of Cap-Haïtien in the suburbs of Vertières, is the only space in the neighborhood that opens its doors to youth in the area to allow them a safe place for play, leisure and a meeting point. The foundation was able to distribute the meals to youth in the center who do not receive regular meals at home. Salesians report that there was a peaceful climate among the youth because they knew that a hot meal would be provided by the center.
At Lakay Don Bosco, Jeannot, age 15, was one of the recipients. He had been living with his grandmother after his mother died when he was age 5. Because of their poverty, he left his grandmother to join the armed gangs to find money and food. After meeting the Salesians, Jeannot is now one of the Catholic Scouts and is in school learning motorcycle mechanics. He is becoming healthy thanks to Rise Against Hunger meals, which allow him to eat twice a day.
Lourdena Bien-Aime Pierre, an educator and food manager, said, “Since receiving the Rise Against Hunger meals, the change within the community is very palpable because we see that the youth develop physically and also improve academically. Before, it was difficult to teach them since ‘a hungry belly has no ears.’ We have seen improvements for all of our students, especially Jeannot. The meals help him study and learn better. We are proud of him because he is committed, very responsible and he has determination.”
Salesian missionaries began working in Haiti in 1935 in response to the Haitian government’s request for a professional school. Since then, Salesian missionaries have expanded their work to include 11 main educational centers and more than 200 schools across the country.
The 11 main centers each include several primary and secondary schools, vocational training centers, and other programs for street children and youth in need. Salesian programs are located throughout Haiti, including in the cities of Port-au-Prince, Fort-Liberté, Cap-Haïtien, Les Cayes and Gressier. Today, Salesian missionaries in Haiti provide the largest source of education outside of the Haitian government.
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