ASIA/LAOS - New Center for the Deaf in Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang (Agenzia Fides) – The Catholic Church continues to offer a significant contribution to the good of society in Laos, especially for the poor and marginalized. One example of this is the Luang Prabang Educational School for Disabled Children,” a center for deaf children that will open its doors to children from all over Laos. The inauguration ceremony took place on May 3 and was attended by civil and religious authorities, including the Vice Governor of Luang Prabang and the Apostolic Delegate of Laos, Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio, and other local representatives from the Catholic Church, in addition to two delegates from the Committee for Charitable Intervention for Third World Countries (an entity of the Italian Bishops' Conference - CEI).
The project is part of a cooperation plan with Laos in the area of education, social assistance, and health care, which has been promoted for some years by the Apostolic Delegation, especially through funding from the CEI's Committee for Third World Countries.
In their welcoming addresses, the civil authorities highlighted the considerable contribution made by the Italian Bishops' Conference in carrying out various projects in the area of education, health, and social assistance. On the part of the Laos Government, the authorities expressed their gratitude to Italian benefactors and the Holy See, praising the coooperation that has long been established throughout the country. The Vice-Governor praised the school that offers “light for the children,” as it is already showing positive results.
Archbishop Pennacchio expressed his satisfaction for the realization of the project for deaf children, thanks to the collaboration from provincial authorities in Luang Prabang, which made the land for the Center available, as well as the collaboration of Italian donors (represented in two CEI delegates). The Center will be run by the Sisters of Charity of Saint Joan A. Thouret.
The Center is already up and running and currently attends some 40 boys and girls. The Apostolic Delegate mentioned that part of the Catholic Church's mission is to express solidarity and closeness to people in need, without exclusion of race or religion, according to the words of Pope Benedict XVI in the Encyclical Deus Caritas Est. At the close of the ceremony, the deaf children wearing traditional dress performed several of the local traditional dances. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 6/5/2009)