(ANS - Juba) - On 9 July 2011, South Sudan officially became an independent state. It was a day of celebration and its inhabitants hoped it would also be the beginning of a journey of prosperity and peace. More than 7 years later, it hurts see that the problems have even, alas, increased. For the spiritual Sons of Don Bosco all this represents a further stimulus to dedicate themselves to the population in a state of dire need.

(ANS - Rome) - When considering the death penalty, an infinite number of ideas, preconceptions and, above all, many questions arise. Does the image of the criminal in his grave really relieve the pain of someone who has lost a loved one, a victim of the worst atrocities? In the name of what may an institution, a man or a woman claim the right to pronounce and impose a death sentence?

(ANS - Bonn) - Dorothea Hahn, teacher of physics and religion at the "Liebfrauengymnasium" school in Bonn, now retired, will leave for Ghana this next fall for the 65th time. Ms. Hahn visited Ghana for the first time in 1996, and was struck by the conditions of poverty and social inequality of the population, especially the restrictions on girls and young women who are unlikely to receive adequate education.

(ANS - Alessandria) - As part of the collaboration projects between the Circumscription of Central Italy (ICC) and the Province of the Middle East (MOR), during the summer several young Italian volunteers took turns at the Salesian school of Alexandria, in Egypt, to teach Italian language to youngsters aiming to enter the Salesian Vocational Training Institute.

(ANS - Brasilia) - A long celebration with young people, in homage to Don Bosco, he who first dreamed of the city of Brasilia. In this way the Rector Major, Fr Á.F. Artime, spent the last days of visiting the Brazil-Belo Horizonte Province, spent entirely in the national capital, Brasilia.