Don Bosco's Dream for Laos Takes Shape

Don Bosco’s Dream for Laos Takes Shape

Collaboration between Lao Youth Union and the Salesians

(ANS – Vientiane, Laos – June 13, 2022) - On Thursday, June 9, at the headquarters of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Youth Union, the Phase IV Agreement between the Salesian Society of Thailand Foundation and the Youth Development Department of the Lao Youth Union was officially signed. Signing the agreement were Piya Yathotoo, on behalf of the Lao Youth Union, and, on the Salesian side, Fr. John Bosco Dheparat Pitisant, SDB provincial of Thailand. The Salesian presences in Laos and Cambodia depend on the Thai Province. The signing ceremony was also attended by Fr. Patrizio Maccioni, director of the Don Bosco Vocational Training Center, and Fr. John Paul Vu Van Trung, treasurer, as Salesian representatives.

The ceremony was introduced by a speech by Fr. Dheparat, followed by that of the secretary general of the Lao Youth Union, Monchai Laomuasong.

“We hope that this signing ceremony of the Phase IV Agreement will continue to make Don Bosco’s dream for Laos a reality,” say the Thai Salesians.

The Salesian province of Thailand first signed a cooperation agreement with the Lao People’s Revolutionary Youth Union in 2008. Subsequently, the agreement was renewed three times for the periods 2008-2009, 2010-2014 and 2016-2021.

The work of the Salesians in Laos began under the good auspices of Mary Help of Christians on May 24, 2004, under the leadership of Italian missionary Fr. Tito Pedron. Don Bosco’s spiritual sons began their work simply by repairing small vehicles: an activity that was carried out by 5 young Laotian men who had studied at the Don Bosco Technological College in Bangkok, Thailand.

Later, this work expanded and became the Don Bosco Vocational Training Center at its present location. The house was canonically erected on January 17, 2019, and now forms a community of Fr. Maccioni as director, Fr. Vu Van Trung as treasurer, and Fr. John Baptist Huy Huang.

The center offers courses in electricity, automotive mechanics, motorcycle repair, and welding. In this first semester of 2022, 56 boys attended, 38 of whom boarding students. Eight are Catholics.