Faced with this reality, the Salesian Mission Office in Madrid, Misiones Salesianas, promotes quality education as an essential tool for curbing exclusion and breaking the cycle of poverty. Every day, Salesian missionaries support tens of thousands of children and young people on five continents through a wide network of educational and social projects, ranging from schools and centres for formation to youth centres, shelters, soup kitchens, and safe spaces for leisure and recreation.
In addition to access to education, ‘the projects we carry out offer protection, support, and a family environment to children living in situations of extreme vulnerability. Children rescued from the streets, girls and adolescents who are victims of exploitation and trafficking, and young people who are victims of violence or forced displacement find in these spaces a real opportunity to rebuild their present and plan their future,’ explains Luis Manuel Moral, director of Misiones Salesianas.
‘In this context marked by inequality, the lack of investment in education and child protection policies has direct consequences on human development and social cohesion. Investing in a comprehensive education based on values and concrete support means investing in more just, cohesive, and peaceful societies.
‘At Misiones Salesianas, we insist on the need to avoid normalising injustice and the exclusion of children. Therefore, we continue to work, together with Salesian missionaries, to combat child labor, sexual exploitation, early marriage, and human trafficking; to care for minors in conflict with the law; to protect indigenous populations; and to support refugees and displaced persons due to violence and natural disasters.
‘Investing in children and young people is not an option: it is a collective responsibility and an investment in the future.
‘At Misiones Salesianas, we warn against the increase in poverty, violence, and the violation of the rights of children and young people around the world.’
The Salesian Missionaries call for quality education and safe environments, which are essential for building a culture of peace.
