RSSDeaf graduates from the Don Bosco Technical School in Bangkok have nothing but praise for their former school in the year that the Salesian congregation worldwide celebrates its 150th anniversary.
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Picture of Saint John |
“I can earn enough for my family and myself. I am not a burden on others anymore,” says Suthasini Sinchai, who was among the first group of deaf students to recently graduate from the institution.
She now works in the art department of a publishing firm. “I´m so proud that I can look after myself. Also, at my workplace I earn the same salary as everyone else,” she told UCA News.
The technical school, established in 1946, started classes for deaf students in 2006. Its first batch of 18 students graduated in April.
“We are the first technical school in Asia to provide education for deaf students,” claims Father Pornjit Poowittayakit, the school´s director. “They join the same classes in publishing with the other students, but we provide a sign language interpreter for them.”
“Thai society doesn´t offer many opportunities to disabled people, even if they have the capacity and are able to do many things like normal people,” Father Pornjit said.
He added that most deaf people in Thailand get an inadequate education which results in poor literacy skills. Many end up as unskilled labor, earning wages too low to meet living expenses. Many employers are also reluctant to hire deaf people because they fear possible communication problems.
Jindaporn Vichitpho, another recent deaf graduate, also works in a publishing house. “I´m so glad that the Salesians gave me this opportunity. I have a new life. I value myself and I can contribute to my family´s wellbeing and society,” said the former student.
At present, Don Bosco Technical School has 60 disabled students, Father Poowittayakit said. The school “provides three years of free education for them,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Salesians marked another milestone with the opening of a hostel in Doi Saket, in Chiang Mai province, northern Thailand.
The new Don Bosco House caters to hill tribe youngsters who come to look for work in the plains, and will serve as a Salesian seminary in the future.
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Salesian seminarians at the newly opened |
Bishops Francis Xavier Vira Arpondratana and Joseph Sangval Surasarang, the current and former bishops of Chiang Mai, opened the facility on June 20.
The Salesians are also looking to open a similar hostel in Bangkok.
“In the future, we would like to open a hostel for rural students who want to study in Bangkok,” said Father Thepparat Pitisan, the Salesian superior in Thailand, who was also at the ceremony.
“The mission of our congregation in providing education is to produce young people with morals and good qualities,” he said.
According to the Salesians´ website, the congregation arrived in Thailand in 1927.
The Don Bosco Salesian Society was founded in 1859 in Turin, Italy, by Saint John Bosco with the purpose of aiding children who are poor, abandoned or at risk. In its 150-year history the society has grown from 18 young men to over 40,000 priests, brothers, sisters and lay people in 120 countries all over the world.
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