THE DON RUA COMMUNITY IN FIANARANTSOA – “BECAUSE EDUCATION IS A MATTER OF THE HEART” – ST JOHN BOSCO

WHO ARE WE?

We are Salesians – heirs to the work of St John Bosco, who always said that “love educates”. The Don Rua Community, named in honour of Blessed Michael Rua, was founded on 5 July 2022. It began its mission on 9 September 2022, continuing the work started in 1993 by the St John Bosco Community. We operate in the developing district of Ankofafa, situated on the northern outskirts of the city of Fianarantsoa in Madagascar. It is a dynamic place full of life, challenges and hope for a better tomorrow.

Our community comprises four priests and two Salesian assistants who, with heart and dedication, devote their time to helping children and young people. We provide young people with a space for learning, play and spiritual development. We also employ 58 people who support the day-to-day running of the work.

PROGRAMMES AND PROJECTS RUN BY COMMUNAUTÉ DON RUA

Our activities are diverse, but all our projects share a common goal: to support children and young people growing up in difficult circumstances, helping them to find stability, education and preparation for adult life. Here are some of the key initiatives we carry out on a daily basis (you can read a little more about them at the end of this post):

1. Salesian Oratory – Over 1,500 children and young people gather at the oratory every week. We run educational, sporting, artistic and religious education classes for over 1,000 young people. Our oratory is home to 14 groups and movements where children and young people can develop. Every year we also organise the “FY DON BOSCO” day camps for 1,000 children. In addition, 320 pupils take part in supplementary classes, and 90 children attend the FCB literacy school.

2. The TAIZA Project (Tetik’Asa Iarovana Zon’ny Ankizy) – A Project for the Protection of Children’s Rights – The project provides a daily meal for 235 children and young people, as well as educational support for 350 young people. The project also includes a child rights protection programme, including EDR, which provides shelter and support for 30 street boys. These boys undergo a reintegration programme, after which they can move into the Magone Home.

3. Magone House – Magone House provides shelter and education for 44 street boys. In a safe environment, they receive not only meals but also psychological support and the opportunity to take part in activities that develop their talents. The aim is to create a family atmosphere that helps the boys regain a sense of security and prepare for adult life.

4. Don Bosco Vocational Training Centre (CFT) – The CFT trains 210 young people in trades such as carpentry, mechanics, construction, agriculture and metalwork. The programme lasts three years, and upon completion we provide assistance in finding employment and work placements.

5. St John Bosco Parish – The parish carries out daily pastoral work, supporting the poorest families and the elderly. Every Wednesday and Friday, porridge is provided for malnourished children and food for the whole week for the poorest.

WHY ARE WE DOING THIS?

Because we believe that every young person deserves support, a chance at an education and a safe place where they can develop their talents. We want the children of Fianarantsoa to be able to smile, feel valued and know that their future has meaning.

OUR GOALS AND CHALLENGES

Our main goal is to support children and young people growing up in difficult circumstances, helping them find stability, education and preparation for adult life. To achieve this, we must maintain and develop our infrastructure and provide for basic needs such as meals, clothing and educational materials.

The key challenge is to ensure the long-term sustainability and development of our programmes. In order for our educational, care and pastoral programmes to grow and serve as many young people, families, and elderly and lonely individuals as possible, we must secure funding for their implementation. Collaboration with donors, organisations and institutions that support our mission is essential to maintaining the quality of our work.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

Each of us can make a difference! If you feel that our work is close to your heart, you can support our mission primarily through financial support, which is essential for us to carry out our projects and cover the running costs of the centre and parish, the TAIZA project, Dom Magone, and CFT and FCB. Your help means that more children can go to school, eat a hot meal, develop and dream, and finally feel that they really matter.

The Don Rua Community faces many challenges, but with the help of the big-hearted people who support us, we are able to overcome difficulties and continue to give hope to those who need it most.

MORE ABOUT OUR PROJECTS:

1. Salesian Oratory

Our oratory is the heart of the community – a place where over 1,500 young people and children gather every Sunday. It is a space full of joy, where they can play, take part in art, music and sports activities, learn languages and develop their talents. 

But the oratory is not just about fun. It is here that we teach values such as respect, cooperation and responsibility, offering educational and spiritual programmes. We can describe our oratory as one big family – a place where every young person can feel important, loved and valued. We want to share in their successes, but also support them through the problems and difficulties they face every day. 

The Don Rua Community organises activities for all young people, regardless of their background, faith or culture. It is worth noting that the activities are completely free of charge, so that all local children can take part. Every year during the summer holidays, ‘FY DON BOSCO’ day camps are also organised for over 1,000 children and young people. 

At the oratory , we run remedial classes for around 320 children and young people, enabling them to be reintegrated into local primary, lower secondary and upper secondary schools in the city. We also run a literacy school – FCB – on a daily basis, which is currently attended by 90 pupils who have never been to school or who, shortly after starting school, had to interrupt their education for a long period for various reasons. The Don Rua Community provides: educational support, school materials, medical care and a school canteen. 

Every Saturday we organise catechism classes for around 1,000 children and young people; furthermore, the oratory hosts 14 groups and movements where young people gather after catechism, including SCOUT (Scouts), TADB (Don Bosco Youth and Children), GAOF (Artistic Group), CHOIR, ORSAF (Sports Organisation), FET (Youth Eucharistic Association), TAMPIKRI (Young Christian Students), the CHARISMATIC group, the ENVIRONMENT group, etc.

2. The TAIZA Project (Tetik'Asa Iarovana Zon'ny Ankizy) – A Project for the Protection of Children’s Rights

The TAIZA Project is one of the Community’s key initiatives, aimed at protecting children’s rights and providing educational support to the most vulnerable children and young people. Every day, 235 young people use our school canteen, and 90 of them attend literacy courses, acquiring the basic skills that open the door to further education and a better future. Project staff monitor the children’s progress on an ongoing basis and support parents in their upbringing.

The project includes, amongst other things, EDR – a project where street children can find shelter and care. We currently take in 30 street boys every day, providing them with, amongst other things, hygiene products, a hot meal and reintegration activities. After a year of preparation, the boys can move into the MAGONE Home and return to school.

3. Dom Magone – A Safe Haven for Street Children

The MAGONE Home is a place that provides shelter for 44 boys who were previously forced to live on the streets. It is located just one kilometre from our community and is a place where the boys can feel at home – in a safe, supportive and caring atmosphere. We provide them with education, psychological support, hot meals and the opportunity to take part in activities that develop their skills. The aim is to create a family atmosphere that helps the boys regain a sense of security and prepare for adult life.

4. Don Bosco Vocational Training Centre (CFT)

Our vocational centre was established for young people who want to learn a trade and build a better future. The CFT accepts young people aged 16–19. Each year, we train 210 students in fields such as carpentry, mechanics, construction, agriculture and metalwork. The programme comprises a three-year course during which young people acquire practical skills and theoretical knowledge. Upon graduation, we help them find work placements and employment, enabling a smooth transition to adult life.

5. St John Bosco Parish

The Parish of St John Bosco in Fianarantsoa is a place where people of different generations meet daily to grow in faith, prayer and working together for the benefit of others. As part of the Salesian family, our parish is a place that reflects Don Bosco’s spiritual and educational message – education through love, understanding and respect.

As the Parish of St John Bosco, we strive not only to care for the spiritual lives of our parishioners, but also to assist with their daily material and social needs. Every Wednesday and Friday, a special nutritious porridge – koba – is prepared and distributed to malnourished children until they reach a healthy weight. In addition, every week the poorest families and elderly people receive a week’s worth of meals.

The parish undertakes many projects and initiatives for those in need. One of the latest projects is support for young women raising children on their own. Young mothers were able to take part in a series of classes and training sessions and receive support to reintegrate into society and ensure a better and more informed future for themselves and their children.  

LOCATION AND SOCIAL CONTEXT

Ankofafa is a northern district of Fianarantsoa, situated approximately 4 km from the city centre. It is an area that has been developing rapidly since the 1970s. Currently, according to the latest statistics, 19,835 people live in the district , of whom 9,070 are Catholics. The parish has around 2,800 practising members, and approximately 1,000 children and young people, including several dozen adults, attend catechism classes. Three times a week, the parish priest, in collaboration with neighbourhood committees, visits all the families in turn, striving to reach those most in need, regardless of their faith. The Don Rua Community works in this area to strengthen local structures and support the development of residents, especially the poorest, with a particular focus on children and young people.

OUR OBJECTIVES:

• Education and Social Integration

The main objective of the Don Rua Community is to provide children and young people with access to education and vocational skills. Our schools and training centres aim not only to teach young people a trade, but also to enable them to integrate fully into society. We want every young person to be able to find their place in working life, living with dignity and independence. Educational and training programmes are tailored to the diverse needs of young people and their stage of development.

• Protection of Children’s Rights

Our priority is to ensure the safety and care of children who find themselves in difficult life situations. Through the TAIZA project (Tetik'Asa Iarovana Zon'ny Ankizy), we strive to protect children from violence, exploitation and neglect, whilst providing them with education, food and healthcare. Furthermore, our home for street children, ‘Maison Magone’, offers young boys a safe haven and, with it, the chance of a fresh start in life.

• Education in the Spirit of Don Bosco

The Don Rua Community operates in accordance with Don Bosco’s educational method, which emphasises education through love rather than fear. Our aim is to educate young people to become “good Christians and honest citizens”. This means not only religious instruction, but also personal, spiritual and social development. Through catechesis, prayer groups and formation meetings, we strive to support young people in developing their spirituality, values and sense of responsibility.

• Development of Skills and Talents

We offer young people the opportunity to develop their talents and passions, both artistic and sporting. Through music, art, sport and technical classes, we aim to help young people discover their potential and give them the tools for further development. We want everyone to have the opportunity to realise their dreams and aspirations.

• Support for Families and the Community

The Don Rua Community is involved not only in the lives of young people, but also in supporting their families and the local community. Through pastoral work, the organisation of lay groups and social assistance, we strive to strengthen interpersonal and spiritual bonds among the residents of Ankofafa and the surrounding neighbourhoods. Our aim is to create a strong, supportive community that lives in a spirit of solidarity and mutual respect.

CHALLENGES IN OUR DAILY WORK:

• Access to Education and Resources

The challenge lies in providing adequate educational and infrastructural resources for all children and young people, particularly those from poor or neglected families. Many of the young people we support struggle with a lack of educational materials, difficult living conditions and a lack of family support. We must provide them not only with formal education, but also with access to extracurricular activities that aid their personal development.

• Combating Violence and Exploitation

Many of the children who come to our youth centre are street children who have experienced violence, abuse or neglect. Combating this phenomenon and providing children with a safe environment in which to live and develop is one of our key challenges. We must not only provide them with shelter, but also offer psychological and emotional support so that they can overcome their trauma and rebuild their self-esteem.

• Sustainable Community Development

As a community operating in a rapidly developing neighbourhood, we must face the challenges of infrastructure development, meeting ever-growing needs, and providing adequate support for young people. This means we must seek funding and develop partnerships with international organisations, local institutions and donors in order to meet these growing needs.

• Increase in the Number of Participants

Every year, our work attracts more and more young people. Whilst this is a positive development, it presents us with the challenge of straining existing resources – both in terms of staff and infrastructure. The Don Rua Community strives to manage the available resources as effectively as possible, but at times we lack the necessary resources to meet all needs.

• Reintegration of Young People into Society and the Local Community

Another challenge is the effective reintegration of young people who have grown up on the streets or in difficult circumstances. Many of those who come to us have not had the chance to receive an education, enjoy a normal family life or experience a sense of stability. The process of reintegrating them into society is a long-term one and requires significant resources – both in terms of psychological care and support for vocational training and job placement.

• Programme Maintenance and Development

Ensuring the long-term maintenance and development of our programmes is also a key challenge. In order for our educational, care and pastoral programmes to grow and serve as many young people, families, and elderly and lonely individuals as possible, we must secure funding for their implementation. Collaboration with donors, organisations and institutions that support our mission is essential to maintaining the quality of our work

WE THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS FOR EVERY DONATION!

THE DON RUA SALESIAN COMMUNITY, FIANARANTSOA, MADAGASCAR : emoji-1f1f20001f1ec: