WEST AFRICA: Donor funding from Salesian Missions provides scholarships for 325 students

Youth came from 18 communities in 6 countries

(MissionNewswire) Salesians were able to provide scholarships to 325 youth thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. The youth came from 18 communities in six countries in West Africa, including Benin, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Guinea Conakry, Mali* and Gambia. The Antonio César scholarships covered schooling, supplies and support for transportation.

Salesians also held awareness days to promote the importance of education for these youth, to encourage them in their studies and to prepare them for the future. These activities supported parents and Salesian confreres as well as helped schools address challenges in getting these youth to remain in school.

One of the youth supported through the program was 16-year-old Nathan. He is a student at St. Jean Bosco in Cotonou, Benin. Nathan lost his father when he was young and lives with his mother who has few resources.

Nathan said, “For a long time, I thought that my school journey would stop due to a lack of resources. I didn’t believe I’d be able to continue my studies, let alone be able to attend professional training. But everything changed thanks to the scholarship that I received. I was able to complete my secondary education and obtain my baccalaureate. I am now pursuing professional training with the firm desire to succeed and learn a profession and one day be able to support my family like they have supported me.”

He added, “This scholarship transformed my life. It gave me hope, confidence and a real direction to follow. I would like to express my deep gratitude the school and to all partners and benefactors who make this project possible. Thanks to you, young people like me can dream again and especially believe in a better future.”

According to the UNESCO Statistical Institute, sub-Saharan Africa has the highest rates of exclusion from education. More than a fifth of children aged about 6-11 are out of school, a third of children aged about 12-14 and nearly 60% of young people aged about 15-17. The region faces a growing demand for education due to its steadily increasing school-age population. Girls face greater exclusion from school than boys of the same age.

This article originally appeared on Mission Newswire.