Italy – Responding to COVID-19 emergency with solidarity and creativity

11 March 2020

(ANS - Rome) - The spread of COVID-19, which has been gripping Italy in recent weeks, has required exceptional prevention measures that are upsetting the normal habits and social life of citizens. With Don Bosco's own concreteness, the Salesians and young people permeated by his charism are, however, responding to these challenges with two weapons: solidarity and creativity.

By way of example only, we'd like to report a few good practices put in place in various Salesian contexts across the Peninsula, among those whose news has come to the editorial office (and confident that many others will be similarly underway).

In Trapani, Sicily, respecting all the special attentions that the situation requires (safety distance, hygiene ...), the young people of the Salesian oratory made themselves available to do the shopping on behalf of all the elderly over seventy years old with pathologies, to save them from leaving home.

The same is happening in Caserta, where the elderly can contact the number of the Salesian oratory and hand over a shopping list by telephone, along with their contact details. Later, an animator goes to collect money and bags/trolleys and then returns to deliver the goods.

With schools forcibly closed, the Salesians in Borgomanero, in the province of Novara, ensure didactic continuity through digital opportunities.

Through tutorials, e-learning platforms, audio files, shared apps, emails and video conferences, all the teachers are continuing the lessons; thanks to tools such as Skype and Meet, students can intervene and interact with teachers; and there is no lack of individual counters and study method tutoring, for those who need to share lesson plans and notes. And to ensure physical activity too, the teachers of Motoria, always through a specific app, guide home training sessions.

In the same vein we have news that other institutes have also implemented various initiatives, such as the "Bearzi" of Udine, or the Salesian Vocational Centers of Mestre and Sesto San Giovanni; starting this week, the latter offers its students the “digital good day” of the catechists of the various sectors.

Also, the "La Festa dei Giovani" - the traditional celebration of the Salesian Youth Movement of the Triveneto area - has changed its form this year, but not its spirit: in the day and at the times when there would normally have been the Youth Festival in Jesolo, that is from 8:15 in the morning until 16:15 on Sunday 8 March, videos and proposals followed one another on all Donboscoland channels, so as to experience at least a little - and in a digital manner - the joy of staying together!

The theme of the year “LÌ DOVE SEI - There where you are” - the slogan has never turned out to be more appropriate! - is the proposal that was launched to everyone: to live in your own homes, with your families, where one may enjoy the joy of becoming saints.

InfoANS

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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