The pandemic clearly worries the whole world of schools and associations and the Salesian Congregation has not been standing still. The Salesians, working in France in over 100 structures, are organizing themselves to give support, through several Foundations, including the Don Bosco Foundation and the Pastré Foundation.
Thanks to the close collaboration with school directors and the directors of the associations, the Don Bosco Foundation is working on the creation of an Emergency Educational Fund, which has two objectives: to create awareness that education is one of the first sectors to suffer the crisis and anticipate the consequences that schools will suffer, thanks to a fundraiser of 500,000 euros.
The Don Bosco Foundation wants to be above all the voice of the educational cause in France because "the educational sector is one of the essential vectors for success and to start the transformation we want for tomorrow," says Fr Daniel Federspiel, SDB, Provincial of the Salesian Province of France-South Belgium (FRB) and President of the Don Bosco Foundation. The education of young people thus remains one of the central pillars to be protected.
"We find ourselves in paradoxical situations: being present at a distance, developing digital practices that are not necessarily easy to implement, working from home while dealing with contacts and relationships. These are paradoxes that, although they often create tension, at the same time open new paths," explains François Le Clère, director of Le Valdocco, an association for education, prevention and social integration.
All the structures of the Don Bosco network, concerned about the future of young people, foresee economic consequences for their structures: "The longer the period of isolation, the greater the difficulties and the economic impacts. Young people are the future of society and they must not suffer the consequences of this crisis," adds Xavier de Verchère, Economer of the Don Bosco Foundation.
Unfortunately, however, many families are already facing serious financial problems. For this, the Salesians are trying to respond to the financial emergency. The Don Bosco Foundation has set itself, as mentioned, a fundraising target of € 500,000. The sum will then be redistributed through a tender, favoring the structures and families most in difficulty. To succeed in this goal, the Foundation asks for the support of private institutions and financiers, to remain all united for education.
