By Agenzia Fides
Apr 12 2021
ALGIERS – “The goal of our missionary project in Algeria is to create a psychological and social assistance program for young Algerians, structured in listening centers managed by professionals, associations and volunteers, with the aim of countering the worrying increase in cases of suicide, as a definitive response to difficulties and uncertainty and to recover a look of hope towards the future”.
This is what Maurizio Mistiano, in charge of international projects and fundraising of the Agostiniani nel Mondo Foundation, a non-profit organization for the missionaries of Saint Augustine that operates in more than fifty countries in support of the poor and most needy, reports to Agenzia Fides.
“The Augustinians have been present in Algeria practically since their birth – says Misitano – as Saint Augustine was born in Tagaste in 354 AD. During the terrible years of terrorism in the nineties, the friars decided not to leave the country, despite the danger of being killed, and kept their presence alive thanks to a program of intercultural dialogue promoted within the Basilica of Hippo.
Today – he continues – thanks also to the constant search for dialogue with Muslim religion representatives, other small social programs have been able to start, in favor of young people, the elderly and migrants”.
In recent years Algeria has been the protagonist of significant economic growth and a clear improvement in human development indices but, although the situation is improving, a quarter of the population is still below the poverty line: “There is social insecurity and injustice and the unemployment rate of young people remains high (one in three young people does not have a job), especially for those with higher levels of education.
This generates a sense of frustration, alienation and a loss of confidence in the future that lead many young people to choose to take their own lives”. In fact, in the North African country, the suicide rate is constantly increasing and is reaching alarming dimensions: “Every day at least three people take their own lives and the phenomenon mainly affects young people between the ages of 15 and 24 – reports Mistiano –
This problem, moreover, is treated as a taboo by the institutions and therefore it is difficult to deal with it in a scientific way. For this reason – he underlines – our project intends to constitute itself as a methodological model that can also be replicated by other humanitarian organizations”.
“We have developed an assistance program that aims to guarantee support and prevention through the creation of 5 listening centers in the cities of Algiers, Boumerdes and Annaba and the establishment of a telephone line from which qualified operators can answer people who cannot physically go to the centers. It is not excluded – he concludes – that in the future this project may be transformed into something more structured”. (ES) (Agenzia Fides, 10/4/2021)
