austraLasia

ALA_5403

Bosco Youth Service Network, Macau, China, 18 June 2020 -- As is the case every year, this June 2020 too, the Bosco Youth Service Network has released its 2019 Annual Report (download: Boscolink). Almost one year after the memorable visit of the Rector Major in Macau (August 11-12, 2019), we are glad to share our dynamics of growth:

Last August 2019 the Bosco Youth Service Network joined the 'Don Bosco Green Alliance' with many concrete projects: e.g. the 'One Minute Project'. We are inspired by the fact that 1 minute of using a handkerchief extends 1 year of the Earth's life - so we are selling handkerchiefs to promote tissue usage reduction and to raise funds for other youth environmental projects. The 'Food recovery project' - in collaboration with Oxfam Macau we distribute the surplus food to families in need.

Growing numbers of our volunteers (most of them are past pupils from Salesian schools) who are involved in the daily Oratory (since 1993) and growing number of youth attending our programs (ISM - after school development project - 7532 young people and Sunday Youth center attended by 5663 young people from all corners of Macau; Basketball teams of boys and girls (60 members) with a 'Bosco Teen' championships), growing number of school counsellors (24 assigned in 9 schools).

Religious services are regularly offered through retreats, spiritual learning, Sunday Mass Choir from the Instituto Salesiano and also through the web 'Radio Maria' (www.voiceofmary.org.mo). And we are glad to share that two of our staff members were baptized this year. We welcome them to God's family.

Among the new programs of BYS in 2019 is a new government-sponsored service 'Soul Free Project - FreeLAND' to assist young people in preventing any form of addiction.

While the Instituto Salesiano school structures are under re-development (2020-2024), we would like to continue our almost 30 year long tradition of involvement of young people who serve other young people. Many of the Salesian school students give a hand and some of them continue as volunteers after graduation from secondary school. We are also happy to welcome some of them among the Young Past Pupils and Salesian Cooperators.