Sensitive to the cries of the young from the marketplaces and squares, in city streets and in rural villages the Salesians have not ceased giving hope and building up the rich country that Angola is. Already after 25 healthy years of presence at this particular moment of history it is possible to see much achieved and the graces of Providence at work.

Solely with a view to building God's Kingdom, the principle focus of Salesian action has been: education - formal and informal - of young people living in unfavourable socio-economic conditions. Evangelisation and promotion of human dignity reflects a global vision of education, which ranges from literacy to technical education, involves leisure time and sport, and aims at all phases and aspects of the youngster's life This objective takes the shape of forming good Christians and honest citizens.

In the northern and central district Salesian work involves an integrated project of social development:
in partnership with the local authorities of Cambambe and Cazengo,
in the province of northern Kuanza.

A- CITIZENSHIP
civil register of children and juveniles up to 18 years, creating a nucleus of human rights

B- SANITATION AND BASIC HEALTH
awareness of prevention of endemic diseases
(cholera, HIV/AIDS, malaria)
childcare (maternal childcare, natural alternative nutrition)
health centre
wells

C- EDUCATION
construction of classrooms and respective equipment
study bursaries for teachers
literacy for all ages
special attention to:
basics
creation of libraries

D- WORK AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION
insertion into working life (courses for immediate work)
basic technical education (2 year courses)
small business preparation
micro credits
credits for personal and family development
career guidance
production and self-sustainable activities

E- HOUSING SECTOR AND OTHER CONSTRUCTION
courses in civil construction
assistance with housing for those affected by floods in 2005
other constructions of a social nature

F- CULTURE SPORT AND FREE TIME
Theatre and sport
The issue is an integral formation which helps people to co-exist in democracy, dialogue and with spiritual values. There is also activity with a view to adult education for those who have not had the chance for education when they were young.
At present the Salesian work in Angola reaches a total of 31,125 students and around 100,000 people generally in the nation, a number that reflects the energy and pro-activity of Salesian presence in the country.

YOUTH CENTRES:
Youth Centres bring to mind a circumstance which encourages the greatest degree of participation and youthful responsibility accompanied by their educators.
Characteristics of the Youth Centre: An educative and pastoral community for the young
Flexible: adapted to the youthful diversity and spontaneity, creative
Attentive to the individual
Concerned for integral formation
Involvement and responsibility of the young
Presence and the preventive system

EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITY
Free time activities
Educational activities: Library,
Theatre, Dance, Conversation

FORMAL EDUCATION
Dom Bosco Sambizanga School with 3800 pupils
Dom Bosco Trilhos School with 1500 pupils
Cassoalala - Dondo 800 pupils
Lwena 500 pupils
Viana 250 pupils

INFORMAL EDUCATION (LITERACY)
Dondo 40 centres, 6,000 beneficiaries (including 70% young and adult women)
400 instructors (most young people)
Born out of necessity
Ongoing formation
Formation of local and itinerant leaders (rural and semi-urban zones)

TECHNICAL EDUCATION - DOM BOSCO CENTRES,
DOM BOSCO CENTRE, DONDO:
Basic technical education
- Courses; Computer science, Metal work, Cabinet-making, Mechanics, Electricity, Cake shop and Decoration, Plumbing, Masonry, Craftwork, Beekeeping.
- Education to self-employment
- Education for work
- Small business
- Micro-credit project.

PREVENTIVE HEALTH
Nursing
HIV/AIDS counselling
Education about HIV
Childcare

YOUTH GROUPS – character formation and social involvement
Characteristics: Group activity, Spiritual formation, Education to love and responsible parenthood, Education to citizenship.
Salesians work on the basis of values such as: brotherly love, primacy of the individual, family as a value, young people sharing responsibility for other young people, confidence in spiritual values which complement the education they have received, youthful inititaive, networking.

LOCAL MISSIONARY ACTIVITY:
Every effort is made to help those far from the urban centres with their spiritual and social growth.
Lay people have developed a movement which involves adults and young people in catechesis, literacy, health, community management activity. In Dondo there are 55 villages and in Calulo (South Kwanza) 120 villages who are visited in this way

SOME OF THE DIFFICULTIES
Reduced numbers of leaders; slow assimilation, by many, of the educational principles behind the work; constant haemorrhage of leaders because of social instability, constant movement of peoples;
lack of space for sport, leisure, which results in aggressive behaviour and unhealthy activity; lack of financial support from the state, which still does not tackle the administration and the salary needs of teachers, educators, nurses, technical education; dependence on external assistance and international organisations for almost all our works.