austraLasia #2235



Working for tribal peoples in South East Asia

HCM/BANGKOK: 22nd August 2008 --  Salesians are working for tribal peoples in a number of parts of Asia and Oceania (the definition of 'tribal' usually implies people in primitive states of development, not simply 'indigenous' people in general). Two prime examples come from the Vietnam and Thai Provinces.  In both places these people, who may indeed sometimes be referred to as 'indigenous' or 'ethnic' groups, but always in the sense of 'tribal' as explained above, come from the highlands of both countries, are materially poor and educationally way behind others in those countries.
    In Vietnam, the Government tends not to take care of these people. In Thailand the King and the Royal Family are in the front line in terms of care. In both instances the Salesians are right there in the midst of them.
    Oftentimes, young people in these groups are very much at risk: they 'feed' such ills as criminal gangs, prostitution, human trafficking, early marriage, and this often occurs when they are forced for various reasons to head for the cities. The young are easily lured and manipulated and it is not unknown for parents to connive in the hope of financial reward.
    Salesians have opened youth centres and training centres in both countries, for boys and girls, in order to educate and evangelise. The courses in the training centres are often crafts like weaving, handicrafts generally, but also automotive, mechanics, electricity, computers, agriculture. In the youth centres catechesis, sacraments, basic nutrition by way of meals are offered. In some cases youngsters walk many kilometres in order to attend a youth centre or training centre because their villages are far away even if the Salesian community is in the tribal area.
    Vocations to Salesian life are emerging from these experiences. There are already aspirants and young confrères from amongst them.
    These peoples usually have their own languages.  Salesians have learned these languages and in a number of cases, as has been typical over 130 plus years of Salesian missionary presence now around the world, have helped transform these languages, e.g. by assisting in the formation of an appropriate script, often romanised, for oral languages. Many of the liturgies are celebrated in these local languages thanks to Salesian effort, and bishops have profited much from it.
    Since the young are very open, they appreciate Salesian efforts in their regard, and the older ones appreciate especially the effort to preserve culture. Kids and clans are happy! It is also worth noting that benefactors at home and abroad, and an increasing involvement of volunteers, NGOs with Salesian interests at heart are in evidence.
    The specifics, you ask? When-where-who?  Why not go to SDL (see reference below) and the austraLasia collection, now fully indexed over its ten years of existence, and simply type in 'tribal'.  Your very first 'hit' will offer one of those specifics,and there are many more!
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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 2235
Subject and key words: EAO Provinces THA,VIE Work for tribal peoples
Date (year): 2008
ID: 2000-2099|2235