austraLasia 1337
North Korea: interpreter gains firsthand
knowledge of youth situation
KHARTOUM: 24th November 2005 -- 'Khartoum' you
ask? Have we got our geography wrong? No. The facts
are that a Salesian Brother stationed in Khartoum has been an important
go-between in relations with Pyong Yang. In fact, over a ten year
period Bro. James Comini sdb, who worked previously in South Korea, has
completed six visits to the Democratic Peoples Republic of North Korea,
the most recent just at the end of October. His chief role has
been that of interpreter for Misereor.
The recent effort was a three-week long visit
involving four schools, three training centres and a hospital, with two
Misereor staff. They were assessing needs in three places: Pyong
Yang, Mun Snag, Sari Won. This gave Bro James ample opportunity
to see young people in an educational setting - and he noted that even
by Sudanese standards, equipment was poor; they need educational
materials, textbooks especially, but he also noted students' keenness
to learn. Week two brought him to another fourteen schools, all
helped over the past decade by Misereor, especially with technical
equipment. This time he noted the excellent maintenance of the
materials provided by Misereor. It was a chance, too, for
personal contact with principals, teachers, even representatives from
the Ministry of Education.
Week three saw the arrival of the president of
Misereor and the Archbishop of Frankfurt, president of the German
bishops' conference. Here they were accompanied closely by
Ministry of Education officials, did their duty in offering flowers to
the Great Leader's statue (he died in 1994). Permission was given
on Sunday for the archbishop to celebrate Eucharist in Pyong Yang's
only Catholic church, built in 1988 by the Government. Some 80 or
so Catholics were in attendance. Brother James translated the
homily into Korean for them.
Amongst issues of mutual concern discussed during
this week was a project for Misereor to build a new vocational training
centre in North Korea. Misereor has expressed the view that such
would be possible - if a reliable agency were available, like the
Salesians of Don Bosco, to provide a smooth administration and
educational services.
The visit appears to have been one of mutual
understanding. Needless to say, some medals of MHC have been
planted along the way!
___________________________
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