austraLasia #2054

Wa mission, Myanmar, a convincing Salesian work of education and evangelisation

YANGON: 8th February 2008 -- The Wa mission in North East Myanmar, bordering with China, was entrusted to the Salesians by the Lashio Diocese.  It is one of the poorest areas of the country.  As a local Salesian has described it: "In this age of information technology, Wa State stands out like a page from The Lost Horizon. In the barren landscape people cling to the little the land has to offer, and the age old beliefs of their fathers and forefathers before them. Their rank and file have been decimated by tribal rivalry, which culminated in the practice of headhunting. Each colony lay barricaded and aloof - ever on the lookout for potential human sacrifice or trouble".  Quite poetic, if it were not so tragic.
    It is into this kind of context that the Salesians have brought education and the Gospel. The Salesian mission has already opened eleven primary schools; everything there is run by the Salesians. They have no regular support from any agency. The first decision the Salesians made was to provide education. With limited resources, the mission does its best to provide a good education for 700 students.  They have 20 volunteers helping them.  Due to long distances many children have to board at the mission. Of course, they have to be able to pay for teachers' salaries, and take care of food, stationery, health for those they minister to.
    It is also a case of human development programmes: the Salesians have helped the local farmers substitute opium crops with other crops. They have planted hundreds of pine trees to help provide timber in 10-15 years time.
    Many in the Salesian world and beyond have shown great interest in the work of the Salesians in Myanmar in this far from developed area. Their fraternal solidarity is indeed a great encouragement to those 'out there'.
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 AustraLasia is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific.  It also functions as an agency for ANS based in Rome.  For queries please contact admin@bosconet.aust.com . Use Bosconet-wiki to be interactive. RSS feeds - just go to Bosconet, click on austraLasia 2008 in the sidebar. You will see the RSS orange icon in your browser address bar - add it from there.  Avail yourself of the Salesian Digital Library at at http://sdl.sdb.org

Title: australasia 2054
Subject and key words: S. Asia MYM Wa mission
Date (year): 2008
ID: 2000-2099|2054