The Salesian Mission and development Office

supports hundreds of missionaries and their helpers to undertake development projects in places where they work. It is a tough task. In order to carry it out, in 1970 the Rector major set up the Madrid Mission and Development Office. It is a work of mission animation and support for Salesians sent to mission countries, as well as being a reception centre for Spanish missionaries coming back to Spain for a short period, either to rest or visit family or to undergo some sort of medical treatment.

The office is located at 81 Ferraz St, near Rosales Park, Madrid. It is in charge of relationships with benefactors and the financial management of donations which help overcome many of the financial problems in supporting the missions and development projects managed by the Salesian Family.

Some of the mission animation tools used are magazines: Gioventù Missionaria, for younger readers, and Salesian Missions, with reports, interviews and news from missionaries; such as sensitisation campaigns and the www.misionessalesianas.org website.

There is also a wandering mission exhibition which visits Colleges and parishes through the country. It contains lots of interesting items coming from all over the world which missionaries have collected her and there across the five continents. There is also a permanent display at the Office itself; this is currently being revised and improved.

Young people and development

As part of the Madrid Mission and development Office there is a Young People and development Foundation (JyD), a not-for-profit NGO which came into existence in 1988 and is tied to the Salesian youth movement.

Its chief purpose is to cooperate in sustainable human, social and economic development, contributing to the eradication of poverty in the world through projects in Salesian works in developing countries.

JyD gives special attention to children and older youth by seeing education as its most effective tool. Thanks to this in 2006 it was given recognition by the Spanish Cooperation Agency as a Specialised Organisation in the education field.

In the area of cooperation some 80 projects a year in more than 20 countries are under way, constituting an important effort over recent years for technical and job education.

The main activity in Spain itself is focused in consciousness-raising for the population, especially youth, fostering values of justice, peace, equality, democracy, participation, solidarity and respect for the environment. It also fosters an international volunteer movement where solidarity can be exercised.