Yangon, humanitarian worker: Christmas, hope and desire for a 'beautiful life'
The country manager of the NGO New Humanity: "It's worth living to make others happy". The redemption of young prisoners, the battle of drug addicts for their own redemption, daily encounters: "The Lord, even in the midst of a thousand difficulties, makes me see so many beautiful things".
Yangon (AsiaNews) - Here are some excerpts from the letter that Livio Maggi, country director of New Humanity Myanmar (Nhm), wanted to address to all our friends at Christmas, to tell of his experience in the Southeast Asian country. Non-profit organization, Nhm collaborates with the authorities in the largest juvenille prison in the nation: education and training are at the center of the initiative, involving six young teachers, 120 young people and work-related activities with professional courses. Another front on which the organization is committed is the fight against addictions to alcohol and drugs. Recently, the NGO started construction of a new kindergarten in the village of Ho Nar, in the province of Taunggyi, to guarantee the education of 130 children between the ages of 3 and 5 years.
Dear friends,
Christmas has come quickly upon us this year, almost unexpected and without realizing it. But I realize that the years pass and your ability to react, from a physical and spiritual point of view, changes. Everything is affected by the rush of the years.
But I can not really complain. It would be a pity. I realize that the Almighty puts me in such special situations that I wish many to make the same experiences of mine, at my age. Of course, it's not heaven, mind you; but the Lord, even in the midst of a thousand difficulties, makes me see so many beautiful things.
The work with the children of the center "for minors" with their many problems, experiences of abuse and violence; but also the beauty of young people who go to work after years of "reformatory", the result of the work of our teachers - happy with their new school - and professional courses.
Or young people who want to free themselves from the burden of amphetamines and alcohol and have started a journey towards the "reconquest of themselves" in one of our centers in Taunggyi. Again, the beauty of seeing families of children with difficulties and disabilities, coming together and helping each other, even in poverty, and in the inability to face problems that are sometimes incomprehensible to them. And much more…
It's nice to share everyday life with people. Take the bus and spend an hour and a half in the middle of the crowd, or stop to eat in those shops where there isn't even a shadow of a foreigner; with such care and consideration your seat is cleaned by a boy, it is almost fit for the Pope if only he knew who he were...
There's a kid I meet every morning on the street. He sells corn to those who want to gain "merit" by feeding the myriads of pigeons that roam every corner of Yangon. This 13-year-old boy is there every morning from 5.30 to 9.00. Then he runs to school, always serious. We began to make friends because one day I left him some kind of local bread for breakfast.
From that morning every day his dazzling smile greets me a moment before arriving at the office. A movie star's smile: beautiful. Last week he dared to say a word to ask me to give him shoes, a uniform and, of course, a soccer ball. "Even the gloves - he told me - because I play in goal". I do not know if there ever was a happier boy, the day after I brought him what was required ...
As I write these lines, a group of young people from the Catholic Kachin community came to sing Christmas carols and wish a Merry Christmas. They do this for Catholic families and religious in the area. Two or three intense days to sing until two or three at night, without anyone getting angry: this is the Christmas of the Christians here, but it is a Christmas that belongs to everyone. So do so many groups of young people, Catholics and Protestants, during these days: to wish joy.
This joy is what I would like to wish each of us: to me and to you. To everyone and to each one. The joy of little things, of mutual trust, of simple relationships, of enjoying the beauty of what Our Lord has given and taught us. And if ever we had forgotten it ... it's never too late to take it back!
This is Christmas for this year: rekindling hope and the desire for a beautiful life. This is the beauty of Jesus. He is the strength of hope: even the most difficult life can change ...
Livio
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07/02/2019 17:28
27/12/2022 16:01
