By John Bosco Thanya

Ratchaburi, Thailand, 1 February 2020 -- On 29 January 2020, the Salesian Cooperators of Narivooth House, Banpong, Ratchaburi Province, joined forces to do a merciful act on the Feast of St. John Bosco. They visited and organized activities to encourage the youth who were in conflict with the law. They were in the rehabilitation and training center for children and youth of District 2, Ratchaburi. They also contributed five thousand baht [5,000.- Baht only] to jointly arrange lunch for 120 boys and girls, members of the Center. They were welcomed by Ms. Nalinnat Krainara, the Director.

This Center received the young after their cases had gone through the legal process. Instead of sending them for incarceration, these were sent for rehabilitation and training so that they will have a meaningful change of life, acquire knowledge and skills to fit them better for their families and society, and hopefully would not come back to what they had done.

Sr Rattana Radomkij, the Directress of Narivooth School and Coordinator of the Salesian Family for the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, and Sr Suphawan Chotiphol, the spiritual directress of the Salesian Cooperators of the FMA, led the members of the Salesian Cooperators of Narivooth to organize activities to encourage the members of the rehabilitation and training Center. They showed the video-clip of the life of Don Bosco - the Father and Teacher of Youth, who spent his life to help the poor, the abandoned and disadvantaged and those being taken advantage of by various forces in society, to free them from the moral evils of society, and to let them experience love, education, skills training, practice good morals, have a safe place to stay, after the model of the 'oratory'... in all these, Don Bosco used the 'preventive system' based on reason, religion and loving-kindness to reach out to these youth.

The cooperators also organized other entertainments for the youngsters. They showed another video clip entitled "Teacher Chao" - a person who did not give way to his being handicapped; he volunteered to help others and not be a burden to them, to be an example to the young and motivate them to live a good life in the future, to be aware of one's value, to perform his duties and responsibilities well, to use his time to learn more for his personal development, with patience and joy, sharing always his love generously. Fr. Phuwanat Kitsawat, the administrator of Don Bosco Technological College - Banpong, honored the group with his presence. He also gave some encouraging words to the participants.

After the series of activities and video clips, representatives of the groups from 8 provinces expressed their feelings and thoughts from the experience. They deeply admired the lives of St. John Bosco and Teacher Chao. They promised to apply into their daily lives what they learned from the video clips; when they will be back to their families and the society where they came from, they commit to do good and be back to them and become their hope, because they can still turn a good leaf. There were others more problematic than they were, but were still able to overcome their life obstacles, and could help other people as well.

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