An ordinary lunch break in Salesian School, Kwangju KOR
Gwangju, Korea, 17 September 2017 -- As in every Don Bosco School, the break or lunch time is the most precious time for the assistance - being present among the students as father, older brother and friend. Also in our Salesian Junior & Senior High School in Gwangju (Korea) that celebrated just recently the 60th anniversary, this 'golden time' for our educative presence among the youth is vibrant and very interesting.
On the large campus immersed in the Il Gog Dong Valley there are every day from Monday to Friday almost 1400 students (grade 6-12) who experience the heart of Don Bosco in their daily life. In spite of the strong competitive educative system of South Korea (main focus is the university exam every November) the 9 Salesians (Rector Fr. Mike Chang and 6 Salesian priests, 1 Salesian Brother and two practical trainees) with more than 100 Lay Mission partners (among them are 15 Don Bosco Alumni and few Salesian Cooperators) are trying their best to help also the human growth of our youngster.
Do you know the K-Pop (Korea Pop)? Here in Salesian High School we have every Friday during the lunch time very meaningful stage of the S-Pop Star (Salesian-Pop) with an improvised or well prepared songs, dances or other games. Everybody among the 1400 students is welcome to contribute. Not only the Spiritual coordinator (in Korean version: Catechist) and the young Salesians - Assistants - in practical training, but also few teachers are at the center of this meaningful time.
The family spirit is expressed on the campus in hundreds different ways - folding papers (origami) in the Junior High School Catechist room, teachers are talking to their class just next to the Grotto of Our Lady, walking around the green hills (school campus is extremely clean and tidy), playing different table games or just simply busy in the football or basketball playground.
Yes - for us Salesians in the break time, to waste the time with the young people, to listen to their heart - is the best way to the heart of the young. In these moments our students can feel they are really loved and thus our education is really going on in the Salesian way.
We are grateful to many generations of Salesians, teachers and other lay mission partners, Bosconians (Past Pupils) who contribute during past 61 years to this wonderful Salesian environment at the outskirts of Gwangju!
