Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Phnom Penh (Fides Service) - The Catholic Church in Cambodia is committed to promoting human, cultural and spiritual growth of young Cambodians. According to the Salesian bulletin ANS recently the Daughters of Mary Axiliatrix FMA opened a new Catholic primary school in Phum Chreh village on the outskirts Phnom Penh. Civil authorities, benefactors, friends and families were present for the inauguration ceremony.
The sisters hope the new school will express the FMA vision of education which should serve to build a nation of peace and progress where children receive high quality education. The local authorities recognise the importance of the Don Bosco Foundation in the field of education and professional training and praise the Don Bosco family for the centres where young people learn to take their place in society and be active and honest citizens.
The year 2005 marks the 14th anniversary of the arrival of Salesians in Cambodia. Their mission is to assist and teach young people and children, especially the poorest and the orphans, aware that education is a key means of fighting poverty. Today they are present in Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville and Poipet, where they run schools for about 1,000 children. They give special attention to street children and homeless children, offering them shelter, education and a community life.
In Cambodia there are 30,000 Catholics gathered in three ecclesiastical circumscriptions: Apostolic Vicariates of Phnom Penh and Kompong Cham, the Apostolic prefecture of Battambang. The Church runs 14 kindergartens with 992 children; 3 primary schools with 1,570 pupils, 4 middle schools with 659 pupils. Catholic education is highly appreciated by the people of Cambodia and many of the pupils are non Catholics. The civil authorities recognise the quality of the school curriculum and the moral and social education offered by Catholic schools.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 6/7/2005 righe 26 parole 269)
