UK Ambassador to Angola, Pat Phillips, joined other EU ambassadors in a visit to show how the funds invested in the project are helping to change the lives of the people in the Sambizanga municipality.

The Centre is funded by the EU and administered by Salesianos priests from the Catholic Church and since 2002 has been having a huge impact in offering services which are inaccessible to most Angolans.

The EU has contributed 3 million euros towards supporting this effort that offers basic social services and secures the sustainable development to thousands of Angolans living in an area ravaged by unemployment, crime and lack of sanitation.

Encrusted in one of the poorest municipalities in Luanda the Centre Don Bosco provides health services, vocational training, formal education and is helping nearly 10 thousand Angolans out of illiteracy every year.

The Don Bosco Salesianos is a congregation of catholic priests committed to integral development of young people mainly through education and social integration. They are present in Angola since 1981 and run various projects in several provinces.

The Centre is particularly important for providing development possibilities to youth involved with crime. As soon as they are released they are given a way out of violence through the centre activities. Most of the beneficiaries depend directly or indirectly form the one of the biggest open sky markets in Africa.

The project runs 36 centres comprising:
12 - illiteracy schools currently opening new perspectives to more than 9 thousand students
7 - childcare centres
1 - centre for street children offering food and shelter
5 - vocational training centres with 490 trainees
1 - centre for self-employment small business incubator
3 - health centres offering medical services, HIV/AIDS assistance and laboratories to 15 thousand people
6 - sports centres as preventive action against crime and violence are benefiting 7 thousand youth with cultural and sports activities.