By A. Maung Maung, SDB

Mandalay, Myanmar, 4 October 2024 -- There is a Salesian community in Mandalay city of upper Myanmar that warmly welcomes the young, and now, is taking care of 52 street kids with fatherly love. Needless to say, all these kids came to the center for different reasons; probably negative ones. In other words, there is always truly a sad story behind each one of them. Some of them have lost one of their parents already, while a few are missing both.

The Salesians, under the leadership of the rector Fr. Raphael Thu Rein Oo, SDB, provide them shelter to stay, food to survive, a school to study, and most of all, a home/family to belong to. For their integral development, the community sends them to a nearby public school run by Buddhist monks on weekdays and takes classes such as manners, general knowledge, traditional prayers, catechetical lessons, music, and basic English on weekends as well. Furthermore, they also have daily Mass, Rosary, and a goodnight talk on a regular basis.

The young boys are very happy and feel at home at the center. Some openly and sincerely express themselves that they do not want to go away anymore. What pride for us, Salesians, when our center is a festive oratory for the boys.

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