austraLasia 813
PAKISTAN: A MISSION TO REFUGEES
Salesians a sign of hope in difficult border zone
ROME: 20th March, '04 -- In a brief visit to Rome en route to his home community in Quetta, Fr. Peter Zago, now 44 years a missionary in India, Philippines, PNG and now Pakistan, speaks words of hope. This is the hope he personally feels and others, including the Ministry of Education in Islamabad, recognise in the kind of education offered in Don Bosco's name.
There are six Salesians in Pakistan, three in Quetta and three in Lahore. The latter deserves comment in its own right, but for the moment, the focus is on Quetta. Just 100 or so kilometres from a difficult border, the world knows that thousands of refugees are to be found there. For the past two years the Salesians have run the parish in Quetta, where some 1,200 Catholic families are to be found. But the work extends far beyond these religious confines. There is a youth centre open to all youngsters, and especially the young Uzbek refugees to be found in the immediate vicinity. With financial assistance from the Rector Major and the Bonn Mission Office, the Salesians run a school for 120 Uzbek youngsters, and a further Learning Centre for some 650 Afghani refugees.
In the meantime, an approach was made to the Salesians to manage three separate learning centres for the Pashtun, Azari and Tajid refugee camps. With the help of Misereor, the Salesians manage these three centres and reach out to 1,800 other young people. They provide educational materials, one meal a day and other facilities such as toilets, water. The staff are local people but receive updating and guidance from the Salesians. The Salesians also provide a teacher to teach English for an hour a day. Altogether, between the Uzbek Learning Centre and the other refugee camp centres, the Salesians are responsible for around 50 teachers.
The relatively new Salesian presence in Pakistan has made a favourable impression on educationally-minded Government officials who welcome assistance from the private sector in areas and circumstances that are difficult for them to provide for. And the local Bishops have been likewise impressed. There is already a potential presence in Rawalpindi, with buildings on offer, if only the Salesians can provide the men to staff the enterprise. Fr. Zago was never one to allow difficulties and challenges to hinder Don Bosco's contribution to the poorest of young people. He radiates warmth and hope for the future.
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