The education department of the Salesian Congregation in Thailand hosted two formation gatherings aimed at grounding educators in the charism of St. John Bosco while addressing the demands of modern schooling.
From July 17 to 19, the Salesian House for Spiritual Renewal in Hua Hin, southern Thailand, hosted a specialized training workshop for 45 new educators.
Led by Father Samit Dang-amphan, SDB, chairman of the Salesian Education Committee and director of Don Bosco School Bangkok, the three-day seminar welcomed new teachers preparing for the 2026 academic year.
Guided by keynote speaker Father Anusit Chanphen, the workshop centered on the theme, “Carità Educativa: The Heart of the Preventive System in the AI Era.”
The program addressed the critical intersection of digital advancements, student protection, and pastoral care.
Participants explored how Don Bosco’s signature Preventive System — built on the pillars of reason, religion, and loving-kindness — remains vital in a technology-driven world.
The sessions reinforced the premise that true education extends beyond the transfer of academic knowledge.
It requires educators to walk alongside young people with empathy, understanding, and authentic care.
Through this lens, participants re-examined the traditional Salesian “Oratory Model,” which seeks to transform every educational institution into a fourfold sanctuary:
- A Home: A welcoming environment where young people experience safety, dignity, and respect.
- A School: A rigorous academic setting that equips students with lifelong skills.
- A Playground: A vibrant space for recreation, camaraderie, and character formation.
- A Church: A spiritual foundation that imparts Gospel values and personal guidance.
In a parallel initiative in Bangkok, Father Phuwanat Kijsawat, SDB, addressed the faculty and administrative staff of St. Dominic School.
The priest is the school’s director and founder of the Salesian SME Project.
Drawing on an everyday example, Father Phuwanat offered a reflection on the nature of generosity. He invited listeners to imagine buying a kilogram of oranges and discovering upon returning home that the vendor had included an additional 200 grams.
“The greatest giving is not merely delivering what is expected but offering more than the recipient anticipates. In education, a dedicated teacher does not simply deliver a curriculum — they teach from the heart. When we choose to give beyond expectations, we transform suspicion into trust and duty into genuine inspiration,” Father Phuwanat said.
To put this ethos into practice across all levels of school life, Father Phuwanat highlighted the 5G Framework:
- Good Student: Cultivating character, curiosity, and moral integrity.
- Good Teacher: Mentoring with passion, patience, and professional excellence.
- Good Curriculum: Designing relevant, future-focused educational pathways.
- Good Management: Leading with transparent and supportive stewardship.
- Good Cooperation: Building active, trust-based partnerships with families and the wider community.
The two formation programs focused on Salesian pedagogy, student safeguarding, school management and cooperation among educators, families, and communities in Thailand.
