(Buenos Aires, Argentina) – As the 2026 FIFA World Cup gets underway and winter brings the coldest temperatures of the year to the Southern Hemisphere, Don Bosco Por Los Jóvenes, the Salesian Mission Office in Argentina, has launched an awareness and fundraising campaign to support the Salesian presence in Argentine Patagonia.

“When the Selección (Argentina’s national soccer team) plays, something special happens. Distances fade away. It doesn’t matter whether we’re in Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Salta, or Tierra del Fuego—millions of people share the same excitement and hope,” representatives of Don Bosco Por Los Jóvenes explained.

Those distances also disappear when people choose to help one another. This reality is especially meaningful for families living in the remote rural areas of Patagonia. Salesians in Argentina travel hundreds of miles to reach homes and communities wherever they are needed. They accompany families in their daily lives, proclaim the Gospel, support pastoral initiatives, and help provide essential resources.

Through this campaign, Don Bosco Por Los Jóvenes aims to bridge those distances so that everyone can be close to these families through their support.

“If the World Cup unites us, so does solidarity. And if we celebrate every goal with our loved ones, let us also embrace the lives of those facing vulnerable circumstances,” the Argentine Mission Office stated.

This message is particularly relevant at this time of year, when winter in the southernmost regions of the country presents additional challenges. Temperatures in many parts of Patagonia drop well below freezing, often damaging pipes and other infrastructure. Heavy snowfall can also harm crops and livestock—the primary source of income for many families—while blocking roads and isolating communities far from urban centers.

For this reason, Don Bosco Por Los Jóvenes invites supporters to share the warmth of fraternal care and help sustain the work of the Salesians. Contributions make it possible to provide shelter and firewood and to reach isolated families with comfort, assistance, and hope despite harsh weather conditions.

Source: Salesians of Southern Argentina