In Ukraine, in the country battered by war for more than eight months, an estimated 15.7 million people are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. Some 6.28 million people - almost 14 percent of the population - are internally displaced in Ukraine, while the number of refugees who have fled the country has exceeded 7.8 million.
In addition to power plants, public offices, hospitals, orphanages, and thousands of homes, more and more educational facilities have been damaged by Russian shelling, 212 of them completely destroyed. An estimated 5.7 million school children are directly or indirectly affected by the effects of the war.
"Our Emergency is Peace" is the motto of the solidarity concert, which will be held on Dec. 17 at the Auditorium della Conciliazione in Rome and will be broadcast in prime time on Channel 5 on Jan. 1, on World Peace Day.
The musical event will serve to promote two projects in support of Salesian works in Kyiv and Lviv.
The Salesians need a new air raid shelter for their home in the capital of Kyiv, as, without a shelter, new regulations issued by the government prohibit the use of a facility as a place to promote social activities. The Sons of Don Bosco's project involves the construction of a fully equipped underground shelter and above the construction of a multi-sport field and playground, spaces that, once the war is over, can be enhanced by converting them into a small theater.
As for the work in Lviv, the Salesians want to purchase musical and sports equipment for a year-long support program that includes various youth activities at the oratories and during summer camps.
The XXX edition of the Vatican Christmas Concert will have a long list of artists: Fiorella Mannoia, Riccardo Cocciante, Orietta Berti, Neri Marcorè, Gigi D'Alessio, Cristina D'Avena, Amy Lee (singer of the group Evanescence), Hevia, Josè Carreras, Jimmy Sax, Kayma, Aka 7even, the Little Choir "Le dolci note," the "Vincent Bohanan & Sound of Victory Gospel Choir" and other singers and performers to be revealed in the coming days. There will also be the extraordinary participation of Fiona May, testimonial of "Missioni Don Bosco," the Salesian Mission Office of Turin, Marcell Jacobs, Olympic and world champion in track and field, Chiara Vingione world champion with the Italian Fisdir National Basketball Team, Elena Sofia Ricci, Leo Gullotta and Bianca Guaccero.
To support the solidarity project promoted by "Missioni Don Bosco" for the Christmas Concert for Peace at the Vatican, from Dec. 17 to Jan. 6 one can donate €2 by sending a text message to 45594, or €5 or €10 from a landline.
More information is available at www.missionidonbosco.org.
