DON BOSCO INTERNATIONAL
Salesians of Don Bosco in European institutions
- The Salesians of Don Bosco and their organizations are recognized all over the world for their
engagement in sustaining the most vulnerable, for their effective work and their broad field
experience deriving from the many sectors in which they are engaged and in the front line.
- This rich heritage and knowledge should be trickled down into existing strategies and policies, to
contribute in transforming them to respond to structural weaknesses and deficits.
- One of Don Bosco’s aims for young people was “to become Good Christians and Honest Citizens”.
In the 21st century this is translated into promoting active and participatory citizenship among
children and young people, encouraging them to live their life in a meaningful way.
- Our educational system does not leave children and young people alone. They are comprised
into an educational community that accompanies them personally, therefore, also defending the
development of the local community as a key factor for young people’s social inclusion.
4. The advocacy tradition of the Salesian Family
- Don Bosco has indicated us the route. Some historical reference to Don Bosco shows us clearly
how he advocated for the rights of young people when children rights were not conceived and
made explicit (e.g. apprenticeship contract or contacts with public bodies for the “well-being” of
young people; etc.)
- Don Bosco’s vision anticipated the signs of the times. He was and, is even today, the “motor” of
a vision still alive and valid nowadays. This vision strongly believes in the potential good in each
young person and its capacity to transform him/herself and the surrounding society.
5. Salesian Advocacy guiding principles
- As we work towards changing policies for the promotion and protection of children rights, we
should bear in mind that we operate not as an activist NGO but as “partners” of local-regional-
national governments in harmonization with other actors.
- Messages are based on concrete experience from the field. Don Bosco’s movement invests its
resources mainly into actions, grounded on the practical experience built up in direct dialogue
with children and young people together with their families and communities.
- We work with the most vulnerable and marginalized youth and from this experience we draw
messages based on practice and not theoretical declarations;
- Partnerships with external stakeholders (institutions and other NGOs) are crucial, based on
dialogue and sharing of goals and targets;
- A soft and effective approach to change with institutions at all levels, to build up dialogue more
than confrontation, for a positive solution of the issues at stake
- Voice to the voiceless is our leading concept with a bottom up approach sustaining our action
putting young people at the centre, listening and accompanying them in the promotion and
protection of their rights;
- A tight cooperation and involvement also of the lay groups of the Salesian Family, following the
practice of Don Bosco, provides us with another view of the issues and contributes in building up
together a synergy more effective and with a stronger impact on the situation at stake.
6. Main fields of advocacy
Human Rights as universal, inalienable, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated with focus on:
a) Children rights (children and youth)
b) Education: including TVET, Formal, Non-Formal and Informal
