(ANS – Rome) – From April 7–22, 2026, the Pontifical Salesian University is hosting the second edition of a course titled “Accompanying When Trauma Hits.” The program is promoted by the Salesian University in collaboration with the DON BOSCO NEL MONDO Foundation and the Don Bosco Network, bringing together participants from various countries who serve in particularly complex and fragile contexts.

The 25 participants come primarily from countries in Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia—regions often marked by armed conflict, political instability, or severe social vulnerability. Countries represented include South Sudan, Nigeria, Syria, Lebanon, Tanzania, Zambia, Ukraine, and other areas where trauma is not theoretical, but part of daily life.

The group consists largely of educators already serving in leadership roles, including directors of educational institutions, youth program coordinators, teacher formators, pastoral leaders, and professionals engaged in psychosocial support. Some are Salesian religious or members of the Salesian Family, while others are laypeople deeply involved in their communities.

One common thread stands out clearly: many participants work directly with young people affected by war, forced migration, loss, or violence. This makes the training program highly practical, as each topic is immediately connected to lived experience.

At the same time, there is a strong emphasis on multiplication. Participants are not only receiving tools but are also called to become formators in their own contexts. In many cases, they already accompany educational teams, youth leaders, catechists, or teachers, and see this program as an opportunity to strengthen and better structure their service.

The group’s intercultural richness is also striking. Different languages, histories, and perspectives come together in an atmosphere of mutual listening. In this sense, the formation itself becomes an experience of communion, where each person is not only a bearer of need, but also of resources and hope for others.

At its foundation is a reality deeply rooted in the Salesian tradition and the contemporary vision of the Church: a Church that grows through relationships, dialogue, and shared responsibility. These participants, coming from often wounded contexts, thus become a concrete sign of a humanity that—despite being marked by trauma—continues to seek and build paths toward new life.

Source: Unisal