austraLasia #1333
Crossing over: preview a WYD initiative from Phnom Penh
PHNOM PENH: 20th November 2005 -- The group from Cambodia that went to the World Youth Day in Cologne was relatively small as groups go - the entire group was about a dozen but included some from Thailand - however they have been very active since their return. austraLasia has received some advance copies of an initiative that is likely to finds its way around the globe some time in December. It is called 'Crossing Over' and is a missionary news sheet, some text and a number of coloured photos illustrating the text. The two copies we have here are short descriptive pieces about youngsters who have benefited from the presence of Don Bosco in some way or another.
Because austraLasia goes to places where it is difficult to download even small photographs, the photos are not attached here. The complete item, however, can be found for the moment on the Bosconet home page. Herewith the article, just to give you the flavour. And congratulations to the editors for their simple but effective communications initiative. The English in the version below has been tidied up a little.
He is a special boy. He is dumb and cannot express himself in talking but he can hear everything. That is the reason he wants to study.
The Don Bosco Children Fund took him as a 'case study' for a year. We had looked for a centre for special children of this category. We had him registered as a student - a boarding student at the Centre. We had contacted a teacher to follow and monitor his studies regularly. To our astonishment and great pride, he does well in his studies.
Tith Phearum comes from a very poor family. His parents work as construction workers. His parents can hardly meet their living means. But the parents encourage him to go and receive education. They discourage him from becoming a child worker.
Such a boy deserves to be helped not only because he is interested in going to school and receiving education but because he is so helpful in the family. He does his house chores and works regularly. Only when all is finished does he go to play at Don Bosco. It is there that he meets friends and receives the opportunities to augment his knowledge.
With education as our DBCF goal, we cannot but continue to support him. He will need a monthly budget of USD 75 to cover his board, lodging, educational materials, health services and school uniforms".
The story is simple and effective. In this case it suggests a little help at the end, but the second trial edition of Crossing Over is simply a story, similar, about a young girl, with no implied request at the end. Once this series goes into full (monthly?) production it may be of interest to Salesian Bulletin Editors.
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AustraLasia is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific. It also functions as an agency for ANS based in Rome. For RSS feeds, subscribe to www.bosconet.aust.com/rssala.xml. If you subscribe, email this information and your name will come off the regular email list. RSS eliminates problems such as multiple mailings, viruses, email bloat. Think about it!
Crossing over: preview a WYD initiative from Phnom Penh
PHNOM PENH: 20th November 2005 -- The group from Cambodia that went to the World Youth Day in Cologne was relatively small as groups go - the entire group was about a dozen but included some from Thailand - however they have been very active since their return. austraLasia has received some advance copies of an initiative that is likely to finds its way around the globe some time in December. It is called 'Crossing Over' and is a missionary news sheet, some text and a number of coloured photos illustrating the text. The two copies we have here are short descriptive pieces about youngsters who have benefited from the presence of Don Bosco in some way or another.
Because austraLasia goes to places where it is difficult to download even small photographs, the photos are not attached here. The complete item, however, can be found for the moment on the Bosconet home page. Herewith the article, just to give you the flavour. And congratulations to the editors for their simple but effective communications initiative. The English in the version below has been tidied up a little.
The Situation of Tith Phearum:
"Tith Phearum is a 16 year old boy, small for his age. He used to come to the Don Bosco Youth Centre to play with the other children and to watch them studying every Sunday. Sometimes he would drop by every afternoon for some games.He is a special boy. He is dumb and cannot express himself in talking but he can hear everything. That is the reason he wants to study.
The Don Bosco Children Fund took him as a 'case study' for a year. We had looked for a centre for special children of this category. We had him registered as a student - a boarding student at the Centre. We had contacted a teacher to follow and monitor his studies regularly. To our astonishment and great pride, he does well in his studies.
Tith Phearum comes from a very poor family. His parents work as construction workers. His parents can hardly meet their living means. But the parents encourage him to go and receive education. They discourage him from becoming a child worker.
Such a boy deserves to be helped not only because he is interested in going to school and receiving education but because he is so helpful in the family. He does his house chores and works regularly. Only when all is finished does he go to play at Don Bosco. It is there that he meets friends and receives the opportunities to augment his knowledge.
With education as our DBCF goal, we cannot but continue to support him. He will need a monthly budget of USD 75 to cover his board, lodging, educational materials, health services and school uniforms".
The story is simple and effective. In this case it suggests a little help at the end, but the second trial edition of Crossing Over is simply a story, similar, about a young girl, with no implied request at the end. Once this series goes into full (monthly?) production it may be of interest to Salesian Bulletin Editors.
____________________
AustraLasia is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific. It also functions as an agency for ANS based in Rome. For RSS feeds, subscribe to www.bosconet.aust.com/rssala.xml. If you subscribe, email this information and your name will come off the regular email list. RSS eliminates problems such as multiple mailings, viruses, email bloat. Think about it!
