Church youth group prepared parcels for distribution

(MissionNewswire) The Salesian Thailand Planning and Development Office provided bags of food to 120 poor working families from Burma, Laos and Cambodia, as well as people with disabilities. This distribution was part of the “Share Love at Christmas” project at the end of 2023.

A Salesian noted, “The families live in the area of the parish of Mary Help of Christians, mostly comprising of Muslims and Buddhists. The food parcels were prepared by the church youth group and were received with appreciation and gratitude. This was a wonderful way to give back to our community and ensure people have the nutrition they need.”

Salesian missionaries provide education and social programs in Thailand to give poor and disadvantaged youth an opportunity for a brighter future. One of the best-known programs is Don Bosco Technological College in Bangkok, which has been ensuring poor youth have access to advanced education since 1949. Its education programs allow youth to gain the skills needed to find and retain stable employment. To do that successfully, the college has developed partnerships that help train youth in employment sectors that need a skilled workforce and have the jobs available to hire youth right after graduating.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a sharp rise in the country’s “targeted poor” (those who hold state-issued welfare cards) as noted by the Thai People Map and Analytics Platform. There are 8.1 million people in Thailand who are poor and 4.4 million people below the poverty line.

Although the country had made strides in reducing poverty before the pandemic, improving nutrition and meeting the basic needs of its residents, inequality is still pervasive. More children are also dropping out of school, especially those who are not living with their parents.

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Sources:

ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS) 

ANS – Thailand – Food baskets delivered to more than 120 needy families

Salesian Missions – Thailand

Salesian Thailand