Salesians focus on ensuring poor youth have a chance at education
THAILAND
(Mission Newswire) The Salesian-run St. Dominic Savio School in Bangkok, Thailand, recently celebrated its 60th anniversary. On this occasion, Cardinal Francis Xavier Kriengsak Kovithavanij, Archbishop of Bangkok, presided, together with Mons. Joseph Prathan Sridarunsil, Bishop of Surat Thani, and Mons. Silvio Siripong Charatsri, Bishop of Chanthaburi. Salesian missionaries and representatives of Salesian groups in Thailand also attended.
As part of the celebrations, a theatrical performance of “A Moment to Remember: Once Upon a Time in the Heart” was held to promote the values of St. John Bosco and Salesian education. Other activities included a short performance of school history, tributes to supporters and benefactors of the education center and an afternoon basketball tournament.
“The Salesians are primarily focused on making sure poor youth have a chance at education,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the US development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Education together with social programs in Thailand give poor and disadvantaged youth a chance for a better future.”
One of the best-known programs is the Don Bosco Technological College in Bangkok, which has been ensuring that poor youth have access to higher education since 1949. Its educational programs enable youth to acquire the skills they need to find and keep stable employment. To do this successfully, the College has developed partnerships that help train youth in employment sectors that require skilled labor and have jobs available to hire youth immediately upon graduation.
Thailand has shown remarkable economic growth over the past 20 years, reducing its poverty rate from 21 percent in 2000 to 10.9 percent in 2018, according to the World Bank. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a sharp increase in the country’s “poor target group” (those who hold government-issued social cards), as noted by the Thai People Map and Analytics Platform. Almost 43,000 more people are considered poor in the country, according to the latest report. There are a total of 1.03 million people in this target group.
Although the country made strides in reducing poverty, improving nutrition and meeting the basic needs of its residents prior to the pandemic, inequality is still pervasive.
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Sources:
ANS Photo (permission to use and guidelines must be requested from ANS)
ANS – Thailand – “St. Dominic Savio School in Bangkok celebrates its 60th anniversary
Salesian Missions – Thailand
Salesian Thailand
St Dominic Savio School
The Nation Thailand – Poverty Rates
World Bank – Thailand
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