Dungalpitiya, Sri Lanka – May 2024 - In the coastal community of Dungalpitiya, the local population, largely dependent on the sea for their livelihood, faces many challenges: the five state schools there, for example, do not have adequate infrastructure or sufficient staff, and are therefore attended only by the weakest and most deprived social groups. In this context, the Salesians of Don Bosco have decided to offer free after-school courses, vocational guidance sessions and programs for the development of leadership and overall skills. "Empowering children through education and the development of life skills is not enough unless the family context is also conducive to supporting and cultivating motivations for growth", say the local Salesians. That is why this project, supported by "Misiones Salesianas", the Salesian Mission Office in Madrid, also aims to raise awareness and involve students' parents and the elderly population, initiating paths of emancipation for women and the elderly through self-employment, the promotion of children's rights and community engagement.