Thailand Province’s response to the Covid-19 emergency

Thailand. Faced with the difficult situation created by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians and the Educating Communities of the Thailand Province of St. Maria Mazzarello (THA) implemented various initiatives to bring aid, hope, and comfort to the population.

Prevention and sanitation

In all the Communities, the FMA kept up to date with the news and communications from the Government regarding the prevention and control of the virus, paying attention, together with the staff of the Houses and Schools, to all the safety measures provided. Daily life has been reorganized with a sense of responsibility, according to the necessary practices, such as wearing a mask, washing hands with alcoholic gel, sanitizing surfaces. (FOTO)

Aid to the population

In collaboration with the members of the Salesian Family, the FMA, the Past Pupils, the teachers, the pupils of the Schools, and Volunteers, went out to visit the people of the villages and the territory, to distribute food and basic necessities to all people and families in need. (FOTO)

Furthermore, the FMA communities provided with arable land increased the production of vegetables to reduce expenses and distribute vegetables to the families of employees. In some communities, ‘the closet of happiness’ has been set up in front of the house, equipped with basic necessities made available to neighbors and the needy. In other communities, face masks have been sewn for distribution to people. (FOTO)

Online education

In all the Schools, FMA and teachers have reorganized the programs providing, during the lockdown of almost two months, online teaching for the students. Even with the schools closed, the FMA tried to provide work for the employees to ensure them an economic income and helped the parents by distributing the books for the entire year free of charge and with other concessions for school expenses and accommodation for the residents. (FOTO)

Spiritual support

In the Communities, together with the Associations and Groups present in the house, prayer, Eucharistic Adoration, the Marian prayer proposed by the Holy Father, and offering in union with the whole Church to ask for the healing of those affected by Covid-19 and for the end of the epidemic was intensified.

In the month of May, which in previous years marked the opening of schools and saw the celebrations of Mary Help of Christians on the day of the solemnity, the celebrations were able to take place in a restricted form and through the internet, according to the prevention rules required by the Health Office. (FOTO)

Through the means of communication, the FMA have never ceased to make their closeness felt to the families of the pupils and to the teachers with words of encouragement and hope.