4836_How is the Valdocco of Thailand today?
Don Bosco Technological College shines after 70 years
August 31, 2018
Bangkok, Thailand, 30 August 2018 -- Since 1949 the Don Bosco Technical School in Bangkok (http://55.donboscobkk.ac.th) does journey with the youth in need, working and less privileged youth of Thailand and other neighbourhood countries. Indeed also our work in Cambodia and Laos has the roots in this school. A complete Oratorian setting can be found in this 3 hectar compound - Public Church of St. John Bosco, Don Bosco Technological College (1333 students - 3 years course and 2 year diploma course) with six departments of mechanics, electricity, automotive, printing and computer graphic; Boarding house for 130 boys and large playgrounds - encounter place for the Salesians, teachers and students during the whole day.
Six confreres strong SDB community (Rector Fr. Joseph Manachai) of 4 Salesian priests and 2 brothers, together with 255 lay mission partners (most of them Don Bosco Alumni, including also 25 Salesian Coooperators) are the heart of this work. At the center of attention are always the poor and less privileged young people and the school is not able to accomodate all, who are knocking the door before the beginning of every school year.
Over the years the infrastructures and vocation training of Don Bosco developed a lot, but the focus remains - to accompany the poor young people in their preparation for life with a down-to-earth philosophy: technical education is intertwinned with production (30% of the running cost is cover by the hard work of the teachers and students), always aiming at quality (since 2015 is offered also dual curriculum of German & Thai standards, MOU with Mercedes Benz and BMW), since 1986 the school is offering inclusive education to some 190 hearing impaired youth (deaf) and the starting project of One TVET Don Bosco ASEAN (7 countries with 34 TVET centers) would consider Don Bosco Bangkok as one important model. Also the Thai ministry of education does visit often this model technical school a recommend others to learn from our experience.
What makes this school another Valdocco is the constant presence of the Salesians and lay mission partners among the youth, during prayer time, workshop and classroom time as well in the playground in a variety of recreation. So it's not by accident, that the Thai Salesian Family does look at the Salesian Cooperators and Don Bosco Alumni Center of Don Bosco Bangkok as the model for the others. The total absence of cellphone in the hands of our students during the whole working week at the campus does contribute to a good quality education environment.
As every human enterprise, Don Bosco Bangkok is not perfect. Although in the past many Salesian vocation to religious life were born here, at present the SDB community recognize the lack of vocation culture and is trying everything possible to wake up among the students vocation dream of Don Bosco, especially regarding Salesian Brother vocation.
We pray, that the 70 years long charismatic history of Don Bosco Bangkok will bring many fruits also tomorrrow!
