Cambodia. On 18 June 2021, an online formation seminar was held with teachers and educators of the FMA Schools in Cambodia, Mary Our Help Province (CMY), on the formation course and to share the contents of the CIAO School Congress, held on March 26-27 2021, on the theme: “Salesian Educators: Supporters of the Global Educational Pact”.
At the seminar, organized by Sr. Ophriini Lohrii, Coordinator of Youth Ministry of the CMY Province, there were about 90 participants from the FMA Houses in Cambodia: St. Mary Mazzarello of Battambang, Mary Help of Christians of Tuol Kork (Phnom Penh), St. John Bosco of Teuk Thla (Phnom Penh), Blessed Laura Vicuña of Phum Chreh (Phnom Penh).
The Provincial, Sr. Jessica Salvana, introduced the meeting by encouraging Cambodia’s teachers and educators to be agents of change.
The contents of the CIAO School Congress of March 2021 were translated into the Khmer language and presented to the participants of the seminar: the introductory speech by Sister Runita Borja, General Councilor for Youth Ministry and by Sister Tang Sovathanak Mary, FMA, while the topics – Dignity and Human Rights, Integral Ecology, Peace and Citizenship, Development and Solidarity – were presented by some teachers of the FMA Schools.
Participation was active in sharing insights and resonances on the contents. The evaluation questionnaires of the event expressed appreciation for the initiative, interest in relevant and innovative topics, and the desire to concretize ideas into actions to respond to current needs especially in this time of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Formative moments strengthen networking in the spirit of the Salesian family, fostering shared planning and a renewed commitment to inclusive education.
One of the steps for a common journey is: “Another step is to find the courage to capitalize on our best energies, creatively and responsibly. To be proactive and confident in opening education to a long-term vision unfettered by the status quo. This will result in men and women who are open, responsible, prepared to listen, dialogue, and reflect with others, and capable of weaving relationships with families, between generations, and with civil society, and thus to create a new humanism..” (Pope Francis – Message for launching the Educational Pact )
