Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Lahore (Fides Service) - In Pakistan pupils at Don Bosco in Lahore were quick to forget their own troubles and turn to helping children victims of the December 26 tsunami, organising charity raffles to collect money to send to the affected areas. “Besides the value of the actual collection, there is the great value of their commitment. For these children and their families day to day survival is a struggle and their ready commitment is a lesson in solidarity”, said Antonio Raimondi, president International Voluntary work for Development (VIS), NGO connected with the Salesians.
Similar initiatives have been undertaken by school children in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to help tsunami victims in nearby Somalia.
In the meantime VIS, which is collecting donations on behalf of the Salesians, has already sent a sum of 737,000 Euro to Salesian communities present in the affected countries.
The 600 Salesians present in Sri Lanka, India (Madras and Tirichy and Tamil Nadu), Indonesia and Thailand are busy assisting survivors. In Sri Lanka 10 Salesian communities are assisting 9,000 homeless people. In agreement with the civil authorities the Salesians are giving special attention to children. In India, Tamil Nadu, 12 communities are sheltering 10,000 refugees and planning ways to help the local society and economy resume activity. In Thailand “the reopening of the schools was one way of returning to normality but many pupils need psychological care to deal with the new family and social situations”, said Salesian Father John Lissandrin.
For more information see www.volint.it or telephone in Italy 800 123456. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 12/1/2005 righe 31 parole 326)
