'austraLasia' # 99

JAPAN: A TSUNAMI OF GOODWILL IN PNG

Achille Loro Piana

TOKYO: 8^th September -- Don Bosco Technical High School Vanimo, just 35 miles from the lagoon where a terrible Tsunami swept thousands to their death, including two Bosconians, has experienced a new wave of goodwill: from Aug 6^th to 30 a group of 7 young Japanese volunteers worked under the scorching sun to build a new dormitory. Presently the boarders are sleeping in the classrooms. The young volunteers brought with them some 100 kg of medicines and clothes for the survivors living in Vanimo. They also helped to animate the feast of Don Bosco (his birthday) by organising a 'bon odori' traditional Japanese summer dance that over one thousand people seemed to enjoy very much. But what the Japanese received is much more than they gave. The attention of the confreres, the love of the people and the boys they made friends with are like seeds that in due time will bear the fruit of mutual understanding and Christian solidarity.