Tam Ha (Vietnam). From 10 to 20 December 2023, at the invitation of the Province of Mary Help of Christians (VTN), Sister Cristina Camia, collaborator for the Administration Sector of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, went to Vietnam and Laos to visit some of the works and to hold a formation course on project management, to promote the educational and evangelizing mission.
From 10 to 14 December, she visited the Don Bosco Professional Center managed by the FMA of Mary Help of Christians Community in Vientiane, Laos. This professional center was built and developed thanks to the support of the Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI), the German Episcopal Conference (MISEREOR), the FMA Institute, the VTN Province, and some organizations and benefactors, in order to promote poor girls and women in Laos through education and Professional Formation.
In the Vientiane Community, Sister Christina shared daily life with the sisters and students in simplicity and the family spirit. She met the students of the three courses of sewing, cooking, and beautician, visited the workers of the sewing workshop, and viewed the orders of clothing received by the Sisters to create work for young women. She expressed joy and satisfaction at seeing the good results achieved thanks to the educational presence of the FMA, while still noting many difficulties and challenges due to the local reality.
On 13 December 2023, 53 students from the Professional Formation Center attended the graduation ceremony. As representative of the State, Monxay Laomuaxong, Secretary of the Committee of the Central Union of the Revolutionary Youth of Laos, was present. Sister Cristina was impressed to see the growth of the students, learning that they studied hard to obtain the certificate and the necessary skills to work. She was pleased with the work that Don Bosco – Main Center is carrying out for the benefit of Laotian girls and women.
From 15 to 17 December 2023, at the Provincial House of Mary Help of Christians Province, city of Thu Duc, the Province organized a seminar on management held by Sister Christina.
The study days were attended by the Provincial, Sister Maria Hoang Thi Thu Ha; the Provincial Treasurer, Sister Maria Vu Minh Phuong; and the Provincial Councilors, the Provincial Project Team, the Animators, Treasurers, and the FMA responsible for the Community Works.
The Sisters listened attentively to Sister Cristina who spoke about the functions and responsibilities of the Planning Office and the Development Office; the qualities and skills needed by the people working in this field; the logic of the plans, projects, programs; project process and management; sustainable development according to the guidelines of the Church and the Institute, and more.
Through her guidance, the Sisters worked in groups to identify the urgent needs that the Province must give priority in order to meet the requirements of the mission of education and evangelization in the current social context.
At the end of the presentations, she encouraged the Sisters to practice drawing up proposals for concrete projects. At the same time, she invited them to continue to promote the ability to work together and with collaborators on behalf of the young people entrusted to them by God. The FMA thanked her for her constant willingness to guide and share valuable and practical experiences in the field in which she is engaged.
Sister Cristina then stopped in the VTN Province for two more days and visited a School and an FMA Community in the territory of Kien Giang.
The Province is forever grateful to the Institute for its accompaniment, guidance, and support in the educational and evangelizing mission, especially in places where there are still many difficulties and great need for support.
