By Lalash Segooa
Salesian Missions is a faith-based international fundraising office that supports the work of the
Salesian of Don Bosco in over 130 countries. Salesian priests and religious brothers and sisters are
committed to providing technical vocational training, basic education, youth empowerment, and
other social services to marginalized youth and families. Although motivated by Catholic social
teaching, the Salesians serve all people regardless of religious, ethnic, gender, or other background.
The Salesian Missions Office for International Programs provides development and humanitarian
assistance to Salesian missions overseas through its Development and Gifts In-Kind Divisions.
Through funding from the U.S. government (USG) and private foundations, development projects
focus on a range of sectors including education, livelihoods, gender equity, capacity-building,
health, food security, and refugee protection.
I provide support to the Development and Gifts In-Kind divisions, and I report directly to the
SMOIP Director and assigned International Development Associate. Since beginning my
internship in October 2022, I have improved and assisted with In-kind food assistance donor
reporting as well as following up with consignees. I have served as a liaison between international
development associate and project development officers. I have worked alongside associates
seeking out funding opportunities. I am currently about to start putting together and submitting a
proposal for funding. This involves setting up regular meetings with project development officers
in respective provinces and working alongside the International Program Associate assigned point.
I oversee updating the Don Bosco Network Website where we update and inform our social
network of projects that we have successfully concluded within the past year. I am currently
compiling the Audit Binder for 2022 detailing all the Gifts In-kind shipments that came into our
warehouse and containers that were shipped out. In-kind shipments include food donations,
bicycles, books, medicine supplies, tools from various donor partnerships. I provide support to
the Development and Gifts In-Kind divisions.
Since starting my internship program with the Salesian Missions Office for International Programs.
I have had the pleasure of meeting The Rector Major of the Salesians during his visit to the United
States. I also had the opportunity of visiting a Salesian Center in the Philippines while there taking
the IPED Study abroad Project Assessment Course. The Director had organized for me to visit a
Salesian setting in the Northern Province where I was given a tour and shown the housing centers
and TVET classrooms. It has been a privileged to work here and I have learnt a great deal about
the development work, both its rewards and challenges. However, I feel mostly blessed and
humbled to work with such a supportive team and one committed to making a change in the lives
of many.
