Salesian Work in Aleppo

Salesian Work in Aleppo, Syria

(ANS – Rome – January 30, 2025) – The young people most at risk, those poorest and with the fewest resources, were Don Bosco’s always favorites. And who is more in need than so many boys and girls who in their young lives have known practically nothing but war, tried by hardship of all kinds, inflation, extreme social conditions, and even natural disasters? This is why the Don Bosco house in Aleppo is rightly one of those Salesian centers that most pays homage to the founder of the Salesians and his charism, and which ANS presents to its readers ahead of Don Bosco feastday.

The Salesian center – which has always remained a point of reference for the city’s young people, even in the harshest moments of the war – offers a series of different activities depending on the time of year.

The main winter activities include:

Christian Education: Christian education for all age groups from 7 to 18 years old takes place every Friday. Children come to the center to play, learn, have fun together, meet new friends and educators, and spend a special time with special activities for them.

Groups: there are 10 groups per class, each group including about 15 people, and there is a special club for each age group. Every Saturday, they take different subjects (religious, social, Salesian, cultural, and others. The members participate in many volunteer and service activities at the center and help effectively.

Sports: sports activities (basketball, soccer, and volleyball) for different groups include 2 days a week, thru which the children spend a great time playing sports and entertaining exercises.

EPC meetings: educational family meetings are held (Christian educators, club officials, sports coaches, Salesian assistants, et al.). Special meetings for the entire educational family, including upbringing, training, entertainment, as well as special meetings for each category separately for evaluation and organization of each category.

Meetings for the undergraduate class: meetings that take place every Thursday for the undergraduate class include many important topics for their working and university life on various topics: religious, social, cultural, self-development, skills.

After school: After-school projects are offered to children from the 2d to 9th grade; they are taught and supervised by university youths who are prepared to teach, so children who need help are supported academically.

Salesian Cooperators have their own meetings, which are also formative and entertaining, with the implementation of initiatives inside and outside the center, those initiatives related to their mission as Cooperators.

Music and choir: There is a group of children and youth musicians and singers who train periodically for Mass and also for the evenings held on the occasion of the holidays.

Winter camps and sleepovers that are held for secondary school and university students sometimes in the winter, as well as activities and sleepovers that are held for fraternities.

The main summer activities include:

The period of preparation for summer activities and the formation of animators: a group of high school youths is selected and prepared to become animators and prepared thru many diverse meetings, and then meetings for old animators for formation as well, programming meetings, and the distribution of tasks for summer activities.

Summer activities: which are for every day of the week and are programmed activities for each primary, middle, and secondary grade, with a special day for the activists to evaluate the previous week and nurture and program for the next week.

There will be a special story for each year that has an important meaning and carries values that benefit children and teach them many things

With special times for playing, playing, learning crafts, trips, activities, and special days for swimming pools.

After completing the summer activities, preparation begins for the closing party of the activities in which all age groups participate and present distinctive dances and theatrical performances, with an atmosphere of joy.

Summer camps that are organized in a coordinated manner and are designated for age groups. The camp includes different topics with games, times for prayer, exchanging experiences, and times to go on walks and just have fun.

With all its rich and varied offerings, the Salesian work has been and remains an oasis of education, peace, reconciliation, and development for thousands of young people from Syria and beyond.