Mexico
Volunteers and Salesians at the service of immigrants

The volunteers 'rejuvenate us', they bring us vitality. Sharing with them the house, the food, the apostolate, moments of prayer and recreation they make us 'younger': they give us energy, vitality, they fill our house with joy.

And they are our guardian angels in our apostolate: they are with us, they support us, they are loving, respectful of the rules of the community and hard workers, people who are always available.

DON RAUL VALCAVA, PROJECT MANAGER DON BOSCO TIJUANA

Tijuana is considered the westernmost city in Latin America. It is located in the northwest of Mexico, on the border with the United States, and has about 2,212,233 inhabitants. Since 1950 there has been a growth in the population of over 500% due to its unique location on the border. Most of the inhabitants of Tijuana are immigrants. Many of them are just passing through on the way to the United States, and in many cases, unable to cross the border, they remain Tijuana, where it is relatively easy to find work due to the large number of small textile industries and commercial businesses that exist in the area.

This situation creates many social conflicts. In fact, there is widespread poverty among immigrants, and this marks a great dividing line between rich and poor. The minimum daily wage of $ 4.66 applies to 68.60% of the population. The average age of residents is 25. Other very common social issues in Tijuana are drug trafficking and corruption.

On March 19, 1987 the first Salesians arrived in Tijuana, and after a few months, on 24 October, the first volunteers from Mexico (Griselda, Rafa, and Paty Gelito). The following year the first foreign volunteers arrived from the Salesian Province of San Francisco. Thus, from the beginning, the Salesian work in Tijuana was born and has since developed through the collaboration of the Salesians and volunteers.

Today the Salesian mission in Tijuana has 6 oratories (St. Francis of Sales, La Lupita, St Dominic Savio, St. John Bosco, St. Joseph the Worker, and Mary Help of Christians) and a reception centre that provides meals for more than 700 beggars, 3 times week. The daily schedule of the volunteers and the Salesians is very challenging: at 6:30 they gather in the chapel for morning prayers, at 7:15 they take breakfast together and then they leave for their oratories where they work until 8 or 9 in the evening. Then at 10, they return to the Central House for a moment of prayer and the traditional "Good night".

The Salesian community is composed of 8 priests and 12 volunteers who come mainly from Austria, the United States and Mexico. The volunteers are responsible for the running of activities in different oratories. They organize football leagues, manage the school, direct choirs, lead youth groups and commit themselves to looking after the house. Without the volunteers it would be nearly impossible to keep a work like this going.

Thanks to the work of the volunteers you can notice the difference between the neighbourhood where the oratories are and other neighbourhoods. Thanks to them, it is easier to look after the young people in the work. And it shows, so that when there are no volunteers in the work, things do not go well! In the twenty-first century, this is certainly an example of how the love of Don Bosco is transmitted through the Salesians and the volunteers in particular.

Father Hugo explained that due to the presence of the Oratory and volunteers in Colonia Sanchez violence has decreased. It is said that many years ago gangs controlled the lives of those who lived in the area, but now, thanks to the Salesian presence in the neighborhood, the situation has calmed down a lot.

In conclusion, voluntary service is not only good for the community, but also for the individuals. Thanks to the presence of the Salesians who journey with them, the volunteers grow in maturity both as good Christians and honest citizens. For many this is an experience that changed their lives forever.

Don Bosco has touched their hearts and they will be agents of change in the places where they are, sharing the love of Christ with the people who live around them.
JUAN CARLOS MONTENEGRO