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The Don Bosco
mission began in 1992 when the Salesians of Don Bosco arrived with a
mission to assist orphans and poor youth.
Following the
example of their Father and Founder, the Salesians identified
EDUCATION as the practical tool to
fight poverty.
In order to
guarantee a better future for youth, the Salesians established
five
schools in Russey Keo District (Phnom Penh),
Sihanoukville
and Battambang for
boys and, with the Salesian sisters, in Toul Kork and Tuk Thla
(Phnom Penh) for girls. All those schools are identified as “Don Bosco
Technical School”. They offer 16-19 year old orphans an intensive
technical training. In order to enrol at the schools these young people passed the 9th grade.
It became
apparent that as a direct result of poverty many children were denied
access to Primary or Secondary level education. As a result these
children would never reach 9th degree and would be unable to
benefit from Don Bosco education programme. In order to begin to address
this issue the Don Bosco Children Fund was set up. The purpose of the
fund was to offer scholarships in the form of financial assistance to
enable these children to go to school and receive an education. The fund
now supports the education of over 4000 children in many provinces in
Cambodia.
To meet the
need of the children living and working in the brick factories in
Battambang two literacy centres were set up. These centres educate
nearly 200 children from impoverished backgrounds through an intensive
two-year programme after which the children are reintegrated into
government schools.
In response
to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Cambodia, AIDS orphans or children living in
AIDS affected families are offered support through the Children fund in
order to access education.
In November
2001 was acquired 28.721 Square Meters in Poipet and the
raising of the land started in March 2002.
In January
2003 the Don Bosco statue arrived and the first street boy, Pao, arrived
followed days after by a girl, Saline.
On January 31,
2003, Don Bosco Centre Poipet was inaugurated in the
presence of the Governor of Banteay Manchey Province, the authorities of
Education, Mgr Enrique, Bishop of Battambang Prefecture, Salesians from Phnom Penh and Bangkok, Salesian sisters and many
children.
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Don
Bosco Children Home
Poipet Cambodia