EDUCATION– DEVELOPMENT – LOVE!
Social Work Institutions are one part of the service offered by the Salesians of Don Bosco. In the Salesian Province of Porto Alegre, these institutions are spread throughout the three States in southern Brasil. In the State of Rio Grande South we have social works in the cities of Bagé, Porto Alegre, Santa Rosa e Viamão. In the State of Santa Catarian they are in Itajaí and Joinville. In the State of Paraná they are in Guarapuava and Curitiba.

These are all free places helping people who are extremely poor, at risk, needing to be valued and helped in their own personal growth and to fit into society, starting out from Don Bosco’s Preventive System and using policies and directions offered by the Statutes of Childhood and Youth (ECA) and other public policies, and educational and social work activities which develop them as human beings. These are all philanthropic works, not-for-profit, run by the Salesians of Don Bosco.

SOCIAL WORK MISSION
Welcome, education, evangelisation, preferably for adolescents and older youths in socially vulnerable circumstances, and through application of Don Bosco’s Preventive System.

The Salesian Social Works of the Province look after 5,331 people, in schools, food programmes, courses, youth centres and oratories, ministry to children... There are 227 educators between coordinators, social workers and psychologists, commited to these works.

POLICIES GUIDING EFFORTS IN THESE WORKS.
Giving stability to society with the support of the public, through organisations and people who work in the area of social development.
Carrying out a responsible social activity, taking care to build a social conscience and personal dignity.
Networking with different interested agencies involved in social work, especially with local Councils and their various bodies.
Offering services and opportunities in agreement with public policies and according to the Salesian spirit of education, development and love.

Salesian provincial of Porto Alegre: Fr José Valmor Cesar Teixeira