Don Bosco Children Fund Newsletter April 2020

Dear all, greetings from our Don Bosco Technical School and Children Fund of Kep Province, Kingdom of Cambodia. It has been a very challenging time for everybody around the world. I don’t need to mention what it is about the Covid19, because at this moment, almost all humanity has to see with it.

I only can offer our prayers, meditation, sacraments, blessings for every one of you from this humble corner of Cambodia, Don Bosco Kep. Following official instructions, we closed the school on March 13.

All our 320 technical students and 40 children of the Don Bosco Brother Sun Program, went home, as every student in Cambodia. However, loyal to our Salesian spirit, we did not close our hearts. We remember that we are children of a heroic man and saint: Don Bosco. We keep in direct contact with all our students through the Internet. All Don Bosco Kep teachers, many of them from their homes, continued sending their lessons to every student in the three main provinces of Kep, Kampot and Takeo. In 2011 Cambodia lived its own golden time of telephones boom. It is now very much useful, since almost every Cambodian, even the poorer, has one cell phone able to connect to the Internet. We do not lose out time and love. We keep in touch with all technical students and the children affiliated to our DBCF in Kep. Our social workers, led by Sister Juanita Navel, have called every one of our children to make sure that they are okay, following norms such as social distance, avoiding overcrowding of people, washing hands and getting enough food plus studying. Everyone is now under our direct following thanks to the Internet and the commitment of our teachers and social workers.

Thanks for all your attention and worries. Many of you have come in touched with us, asking for our situation and the conditions of our children. We still needing much attention in this moment, but we are okay, praying and working to hold our kids on their dreams for a better future.

Now all humanity is dreaming the same. We will remain here.

Fr. Albeiro Rodas, SDB Don Bosco Kep 1|Page

The first case of Coronavirus infection in Cambodia was on 27 January 2020. Following the development of the pandemic in other countries, we decided to apply our own rules to keep our students safe from contamination. Washing hands was one of those rules we dedicate to teach to our children. At the same time, we created a special commission to analyze the situation and to follow the official recommendation.

The Don Bosco Kep staff (teachers, social workers), got training since January 2020 on how to act if the pandemic would affect the Cambodian society. We were already recommending social distance, but also working in the prevention of panic. At the moment, most of the staff is at home, working to hold our online courses and services and attentive to the needs of our children and youth. Every family knows that they have to contact Don Bosco in any emergency..

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It seems a dream: few years ago it would be impossible. The pandemic has shown to us the real value of the Internet and the digital media and how it is meant for poor communities. Laptops and cellphones are now more affordable in Cambodia and thus it became a wonderful took for education.

At this moment, all our students (children and youth), are following the tasks that our teachers send to them every morning. Also the Cambodian government is using the Internet to keep children at home, busy on their academic duties.

We have to thanks our dear teachers and social workers who are attentive to the situation of our children and youth using the online resources. They have called every family and establish channels of contact to follow any situation. Communication has proven of great value to stand against the pandemic. Our children and youth come from rural areas, where education is low, being vulnerable to misinformation and panic. Our mission is to keep all our people in the best mood possible and ready to defend their lives.

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According to our academic calendar, the traditional Thanksgiving Day at the school was for April 8, before going to vacations for the Khmer New Year. However, the government suspended celebrations in the country to prevent contamination. We invited all our students to perform the tradition to give thanks for their elders and teachers at home and sending a photo.

The tradition is to bath their own elders as a prove of love and thanks. We are preparing a beautiful video with all photos that we will send to you very soon.

Home Visits At the moment our calendar of Home Visits is suspended. We analyze the possibility to visit their families and state the situation, but it could be risky. Social distance is also a show of love and care. However, during the dates of home visits, we will make a call to every family.

Sister Juanita Navel, who is the manager of Don Bosco Kep Children Fund, has put a lot of attention to the home visits, because it guarantees that we are in a real and direct contact with our children. Here in her last home visit before the pandemic.

Although the Cambodian situation on Covid19 has been rather positive, we are preparing our school to face any worsening of the situation. For any possible support, please get in touch: management@donboscokep.org 4|Page