Fondacio program bears fruit among youth leaders

The international Catholic association Fondacio is giving young people´s lives new meaning through training programs that help them serve various sectors of society.

Martin Ye Lin Htun with school children he teaches in a village in Mandalay archdiocese

Martin Ye Lin Htun, 23, a university student, said that attending a 10-month Fondacio  program in the Philippines in 2008 and 2009 gave him the skills he needed to educate village children.

In his spare time, he also leads youth activities and praise-and-worship sessions, teaches catechism and even helps out in the rice fields in Tegyi, Mandalay archdiocese. 

Established in 1974 in France, Fondacio counts just over 3,000 members, many of them young people, in 20 countries.

It works with people from different sectors of society — youths, students, professionals, the poor, elderly, married couples and families — and is involved in works of evangelization, formation and development.

In Asia there are Fondacio communities present in Malaysia, Myanmar and the Philippines.

Carolina Daria from the Philippines, who is in charge of the Fondacio youth program in Myanmar, says the group tries to reach out to youths by helping them to connect their faith with their life.

Ye Lin, who joined the local Fondacio community before attending the training program in Quezon City in the Philippines, said he is delighted to be able to better serve villagers, although he acknowledges it is a challenge.

Most village students are unable to buy stationery and textbooks, he noted. “Although some children are interested in learning, they are asked to work to support their hand-to-mouth existence, especially orphans living with their grandparents.”

A Fondacio community meeting in progress in Myanmar

Ye Lin´s involvement in Church work replaced his earlier reliance on alcohol. He said he used to drink every evening after working in his uncle´s shop.

“One day, I got the opportunity to attend the Fondacio formation program and my life was completely changed. I´m really eager to work for the development of the villagers.”

Youth activities also attracted him, “and from that time onward I´ve decided to work for the good of the Church.”

Another youth who completed the formation course in the Philippines is Charles Kyaw Zin Hteik, 25, a youth leader of Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Yangon.

Organizing the youth in the parish is a challenge, he admits: “Youths are always busy. They have no time for God and only have time for fun.” So he uses sports and music to attract them to parish activities.

Fondacio launched its youth formation program in Yangon in 2005. The organization also collaborates with the National Catholic Youth Commission in organizing training programs and retreats.