Across the Africa Nigeria-Niger Province of the Salesians of Don Bosco, the needs of children and young people are diverse. Some need a safe place to grow. Others need access to education, practical skills, or opportunities to build sustainable livelihoods.
Responding to these needs requires more than one intervention. It requires committed partners who are willing to support the mission over time.
Missioni Don Bosco Turin is one of the partners whose support contributes to the work of the Salesians across the Province, helping to strengthen initiatives that respond to the needs of children, young people, and communities.
One area where this support has made a difference is in the Child Protection Centres (CPCs) in Ibadan and Lagos, which work to empower children at risk through a holistic approach to education, protection, and self-sustainability.
Through the support received from Missioni Don Bosco Turin, 80 boys living in the homes have been able to access education, giving them an opportunity to continue their studies and prepare for their future.
For children who have experienced difficult circumstances, access to education is an important part of rebuilding their lives. It provides not only knowledge, but also structure, confidence, and the opportunity to develop skills that can support their future.
The support of Missioni Don Bosco Turin is part of the wider effort to ensure that children in the Salesian homes receive care, education, professional support, family tracing, and outreach programmes, as well as opportunities to grow in a safe and supportive environment.
The Salesian mission also places strong emphasis on vocational and technical education as a pathway to employment and self-reliance.
Across the Province, investments in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) are helping to provide young people with practical skills that respond to the changing world of work.
Among the projects being developed is the TVET Centre in Ijebu Ode, which will expand opportunities for young people in Ijebu Ode and its environs to acquire market-relevant vocational skills.
With the support of Missioni Don Bosco Turin, the project includes the completion of the Construction Department and six classrooms for the training of vulnerable youth at the Don Bosco TVET Centre.
This investment in vocational education reflects the Salesian belief that young people should not only receive education but also have opportunities to develop practical skills that can help them access employment or create sustainable livelihoods.
Another initiative connected to the Province’s efforts to promote sustainable livelihoods is the fish farm project in Ijebu Ode.
The Missioni Don Bosco support for the now-completed fish farm project focused on the expansion of the Don Bosco Fish Farming Empowerment Initiative, aimed at training, production, and improving the livelihoods of poor and marginalised people and peasant farmers.
The project accomplished several key activities, including the construction of simple but functional facilities for fish processing, smoking, storage, and packaging; expansion of the fishponds through the development of 10 new fishponds; and the establishment of a feed mill.
The project provides an opportunity to explore how agricultural activities can contribute to skills development, food production, and economic sustainability.
Education remains another important area of intervention across the Province.
Through scholarship support, young people who may otherwise struggle to continue their education can receive assistance to remain in school and pursue their studies.
These scholarships provide practical support to young people and help reduce financial barriers that could otherwise interrupt their education.
Although these initiatives respond to different needs, they are connected by a common purpose: creating opportunities for children and young people to learn, develop their abilities, and build better futures.
A child in a Salesian home needs the opportunity to receive an education. A young person needs access to practical skills. Another may need financial support to remain in school. Communities may require infrastructure and resources that create better conditions for learning and development.
Each intervention addresses a particular need, but together they contribute to the broader Salesian mission of accompanying young people and helping them reach their potential.
The Salesians of Don Bosco Africa Nigeria-Niger Province appreciate the support of Missioni Don Bosco Turin and the confidence placed in the Province through the Project Development Office (PDO) to implement initiatives that respond to the needs of vulnerable children, young people, and communities.
The impact of a partnership is ultimately seen not only in buildings, equipment, or completed projects, but in the opportunities created for people.
For a child, it may mean being able to remain in school. For a young person, it may mean acquiring a skill that opens the door to employment. For a family or community, it may mean access to resources that build a more secure future.
We remain grateful to Missioni Don Bosco Turin and all our partners who continue to walk with us in this mission and help create opportunities for young people to learn, grow, and build a better future.