DON BOSCO SIHANOUKVILLE --- The Technical School and Children Fund Centre of Don Bosco in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, made a simple but meaningful event during the Solemnity of Mary Help of Christians: The blessing of the Gelato Italiano & Pizza that was destroyed during the flood of August 2019. It belongs to the self sustainability campaign for the empowerment of the Salesian mission in this coastal region of the country. 

In the occasion, Fr. Un Son, the Sihanoukville parish priest,  came for the blessings of the place, together with the Dominican sisters. "The former ice cream and pizza shop was completely destroyed by the devastating floor on August 8th, 2019,” said Br. Roberto Panetto, the first Salesian in Cambodia and now the administrator of the Delegation.   

“The Salesian community has worked hard to prepare the new place," he continues explaining. "On the ground floor the wooden pizza oven with restaurant and bakery and fresh pastry corner, on the upper floor, ice cream parlour and bakery shop open on main road in front of the school."

The pizza shop has been designed by young architect Edoardo Ceresa, who volunteers several times at the Salesian Cambodian mission to build houses for poor families.

The Salesian Community of Sihanoukville is also following the situation of Covid19 in the country. Although the global pandemic seems to stay away from Cambodia with very few cases so far, the Salesians are committed to stay at the side of the Cambodian families, especially children and youth, to make whatever is necessary for their well-being. "We are ready to provide with what it is necessary such as food for those most in need," says Fr. Roel Soto, Cambodia Salesian Delegate. "For the time being, we are supporting the efforts of the Cambodian Ministry of Health to prevent the contamination," he concludes.