4335(II)_Salesian journey with the ethnic minorities - K'Long
K'Long Don Bosco
March 23, 2017
K'Long, Vietnam, 21 March 2017 -- Many of EAO confreres already visited this beautiful place of K'Long, located some 20 km from Dalat in Southern part of Vietnam. Salesian confreres journey in this mainly ethnic minority region (tribe of K'Ho) since 1975. Over the years with a close presence among the local people the sons of Don Bosco developed integral Salesian presence made of social and agricultural work (flower garden, vegetables and fruits).
Nine Salesians strong community (one Salesian Brother and eight Salesian Priests, Rector Fr. Augustin Chan) are entrusted with three parishes - K'Long, K'Ren and Dinh An, with the only Salesian Retreat House (capacity 70+ individual rooms, up to 300 for groups), Workshop for the ethnic group handicraft (production and marketing).
Close to the local people for past 42 years, the Salesians learn a lot from the simple, nature centered life style of K'Ho people, celebrate the liturgy in their language, welcome the youth in few boarding houses and empower them to be future servant leaders of their people.
The K'Ho ethnic minority people are among the 54 indigenous groups present in Vietnam, especially in the Central Highland region. Majority of the 170.000 people strong ethnic group are animist or Christians. Salesians of Don Bosco work among K'Ho people already from 1975 with works of social development, promotion of their culture, education and evangelization. At present there are 3 professed K'Ho Salesians of Don Bosco.
