The volunteers are serving in different Salesian settings in Togo (Kara), Benin (Porto Novo and Cotonou – with the FMA), and Ghana (Sunyani). Coming together halfway through their service allowed them to pause, reflect on their experiences, and gain new strength and orientation for the second half of their mission.

The seminar was made possible through the warm hospitality and fraternal support of the Salesian community Artemide Zatti in the Provincial House in Accra. They created a space where the young volunteers could feel welcomed, listened to and spiritually accompanied. The Seminar was conducted by Ulla Fricke, head of Don Bosco Volunteers at the Mission Procure in Bonn and Gregor Dampf, a former Volunteer in Kara, Togo. This strong experience of Salesian family spirit became an essential part of the seminar itself.

Midterm seminars play a key role in strengthening Salesian volunteering. Many of the volunteers are very young and often arrive with little or no religious background. Through their daily service with children and young people, however, they gradually discover a deeper meaning in their mission and encounter the universal Church in a very concrete way. The seminar provided space to reflect on these experiences, to share challenges and hopes, and to reconnect with the values that guide their service.

Beyond personal growth, the program also strengthens international relationships within the Don Bosco network. The hosting Salesian communities make a significant contribution not only to the German Province but also to German society. After returning home, many former volunteers continue to engage in social or voluntary work and help raise awareness among their peers and communities for solidarity, global responsibility and sustainable lifestyles.

The voluntary service is partly funded by the German government through the weltwärts program of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). This support enables young people to dedicate a year of their lives to serving others and building bridges between cultures.

The midterm seminar in Ghana once again showed how international cooperation within the Salesian family helps young people grow – spiritually, socially and personally – while strengthening the mission of Don Bosco across borders.