Our long and proud history began on August 16, 1815 with the birth of our founder, St. John “Don” Bosco, who influenced his peers even as a child. In 1841 he was ordained a priest and in 1859 he established the Society of St. Francis of Sales – popularly known as the Salesians. Since its humble beginnings, the Salesians have always focused on the education of the poor and most vulnerable young people. The pupils felt themselves loved by Don Bosco, not merely as pupils, but as sons, and consequently felt the need to return to their father’s house. In Turin the alumni, Reviglio and Gastini, the latter to become the first President, organized a demonstration expressing affection and gratitude towards Don Bosco in the occasion of his feast day on June 24th 1870.

The Association of Alumni Students of Saint François de Sales High School in the Republic of Zaire marked its first steps towards the 1970s with the preparations for the sixtieth anniversary of the School, anniversary celebrated in 1972. At that time, the Union had created a bar at the school where the members met every Saturday evening. This momentum was slowed down towards the year 1985 to disappear almost completely. In the year 2000, under the impetus of a Committee composed mainly of young people, the Union resurrected and continues to this day.

Salesians in Democratic Republic of Congo is a century of response to youth in need… And today’s Association “AEDB – Imara” have been inspiring young alumni leaders to commit to a life of social change, promoting a vision of Salesian life rooted in education and service, and engaging the broader AEDB community in some of the most pressing issues facing our country at a local and national level.