MACAU: 7th November 2008(austraLasia
#2285)
-- There is an entire
Don Bosco Youth Village tucked away in Macau, and one
part of this village, completed only in 1999, is known as 'Jardins Dom
Versiglia', a boarding place for boys already very much at risk for lack of
family support.
The wider entity of Don Bosco Village was begun in 1996 with help from
the Macau Government. It is located in Coloane, Macau where Fr Caetano
Nicosia SDB had already founded the Escola D. Luigi Versiglia to meet the
social needs of the 1980's. The school had a boarding house for the children
of Hanson's Disease sufferers. Fr Nicosia also opened the school to children
of farmers in Coloane and the Salesians continue to manage the school. The
boarding house had closed in 1999 and its function was replaced for a new
need, thus Jardins Dom Versiglia came into existence. Fr Peter Pong is now
the Rector of both the Escola D. Luigi Versiglia and Jardins Dom Versiglia,
while Fr Savio Yeung is Director of Don Bosco Youth Village.
Everyone is aware of the not-so-gradual transformation of Macau into a
slick, super-modern city and tourist haven boasting high class accomodation,
casinos and the like. The social downside of this development is the
pressure on resident families, and the lure of riches for young people. Some
young people in Macau encounter difficulties in their pursuit of education
and there other other problems arising from difficult family situations.
The family background of current boarders features single parent
families, insufficient parental care since both parents are working
full-time, personal conduct problems on the part of some of the youngsters
themselves. The Government Social Welfare Department sends some to 'Jardins'
because they are orphaned or abandoned by their families.
Jardins Dom Versiglia features the full range of Salesian educative
activity, including a warm personal environment, many wholesome activities
including an outward-bound programme and self-challenge workshops designed
to enhance personal development. Linking the boys back to family where
possible is also seen as crucial to their development and this is partly
achieved through Volunteer programmes and Parents' Days.