27/2/2007 -
Cambodia - Salesian lay mission partners meet in Phnom Penh
(ANS – Phnom Penh: 27th February 2007) - The Don Bosco Foundation Children Fund programme is now 15 years old and still expanding. It was established in 1992. From 21-23 February 2007, thirty lay mission partners from five centres: Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville, Kep, Battambang and Poipet, met in Phnom Penh to explore new ideas, new ways and means to make the programme effective and efficient. The secretariat in Phnom Penh explained why they cared about the children and their formation, giving them the opportunities to go to school and receive education. They explained why they cared about their commitment and mission to equip children with the basic literacy skills and to better their understanding of the world they live in. The key theme of the meeting was 'a return to Don Bosco's spirit' of love for children and the young. Study sessions were organised to reflect on Don Bosco's early years, his dream at age 9 and his first meeting with Mickey Magone - and the application of such events to the current Don Bosco Children Fund Programme. The Don Bosco Children Fund currently operates in 14 provinces and 3 cities of Cambodia, with its resources coming from donations from the Salesian world; it caters for around 5,000 orphaned and poor children, street children and rural children. Most mission partners agreed that accompaniment is the best way to deal with students who do not fully commit to their studies. To know more about Don Bosco Children Fund and its activities, visit them at www.donboscokhmer.org.