Nigeria – A Home for Street Children in Ibadan

26 May 2017

(ANS – Idadan) – In Ibadan, in South-Eastern Nigeria, since last January a new centre is operational: a reception home for street children. This, to Salesian Brother Paolo Vaschetto, an Italian missionary who for the past 16 years has been working in Nigeria, represents the realization of a dream.

The reality of Ibadan is very peculiar: it is not a city that is renowned abroad, yet it is a great metropolis of 8 million inhabitants and has a unique strategic significance, because it is located along the road between the administrative capital of the country, Abuja, and the financial one, Lagos. What is defined as the “African Los Angeles” because of its unending extension, is a place that really needs the presence and charism of Don Bosco: precisely because of its characteristics, it attracts many children and youth who for manifold reasons run away from home and live in the street.

Some of them may also find an honest job, but life in the street easily instils vices and bad habits for which a rapid intervention is of fundamental importance.

These children, these youngsters need to feel a family atmosphere, to live in a pleasant and safe environment where they can grow and prepare for an adult and responsible life. They need to find a good job and to create a family nucleus of their own.

Because of this, the new Salesian centre represents an oasis that has been entirely thought and planned for them and for their needs: from the spacious dormitories to the rooms of the assistants who are always close to them; from the refectories and the kitchens, for the alimentary support of the guests, to the classrooms for their education. 

For more information visit the website: "Missioni Don Bosco"

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ANS - “Agenzia iNfo Salesiana” is a on-line almost daily publication, the communication agency of the Salesian Congregation enrolled in the Press Register of the Tibunal of Rome as n 153/2007.

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