Myanmar: Missionary Childhood Association holds training for IDP children

Myanmar’s Missionary Childhood Association organized a training program for children from IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) camps to encourage them from May 13 to 16.
 
The fellowship program was held at Santa Maria parish, Pekhon Diocese. As many as 471 children aged 10 to 14 participated in the program.
 
Along with Father John Bosco, the director of Pontifical Mission Society (PMS), and Father Thomas Chit Thar, priests, nuns, catechists and guardians from the Missionary Childhood Association organized the event.
 
“As the numbers of IDP children from the western Pehkon region is increasing, we would like them to feel relief and pray, eat and play together with the children from the local area. So, with that intention, we organized this program,” said Father Thomas.
 
There were a lot of activities such as choir and dance competitions according to village groups, catechism teaching, and tests.
 
The purpose was that children would not forget the catechism that they learned, the priest explained.
 
“It is hard to teach catechism amid the ongoing difficulties the people in Myanmar face,” he added. 

The organizers faced a lot of hardships to hold these programs for children. It was difficult to feed them and arrange prizes for them. It was impossible to ask for money from the participants.
 
“We could not go around the villages to collect donations, because there were battles everywhere. At last, we approached the bishop to donate rice. We solicited donations from people overseas,” Father Thomas said.
 
It was great to see children from rural and urban areas live together amid the ongoing difficulties and exchange their living styles.
 
“We speak and celebrate the Mass in the Kayan language in our villages, but during the course, we sometimes speak and read the bible in the Myanmar language. We also recited the Rosary in English,” Father Thomas explained.
 
Children were enthusiastic to do all the activities and the organizers felt satisfied seeing them,” he added. 

Children had prepared well to participate in the choir contest. They learned about 40 catechism lesions to compete in individual quizzes. They had practiced cultural dancing well to perform during the program.

The youth from some parishes go to Decamps (Internally Displaced Persons) whenever they have a chance. They encourage refugees, give courses, organize the Mass, serve lunch and distribute donations there.
 
Nowadays, the youth cannot do that much because it has been a little bit difficult to get donations amid the crises.
 
“We have intended to do those things again starting from next month. The main reason is to encourage the refugees. Staying and doing activities together with them, they feel happy and invite the youths to come frequently there. More and more people are leaving and running away from their villages and coming and staying in the safe villages,” Father Thomas told RVA News.
 
“Even if people living in cities cannot donate things or meals, they can pray for the refugees as much as they can. Whatever religion we are, we are Myanmar citizens, so one has to suffer for every citizen. Just praying for us can console us. Thus, pray for us,” he added.
 
There used to be courses according to the Diocesan level. But, now the courses can be held at the parish level only due to political situations.
 
“It has been three years since we organized courses for the Diocese Missionary Childhood Association. We intend to organize courses at the parish level," Father Thomas said. - Pinky Thiri Kyaw and Marcus Nyi Nyi Htun/RVA Myanmar