(17 Sept 09 - RV) The second Van Thuan Prize and Van Thuan - Solidarity and Development
Prizes were awarded on Thursday evening.
Named in honour of the late Vietnamese
cardinal Francis Xavier Nguyn van Thuan, who spent years in a Vietnamese prison on
account of his faithfulness to the Gospel, the prizes are awarded to people who have
distinguished themselves in the promotion and defence of human rights.
Among
the four organisations receiving the Van Thuan Solidarity and Development award for
2009 was the Skills Development Centre for the Blind in Pakkred, Thailand.
The
director of the centre, Salesian Fr Carlo Velardo spoke with us about their training
programme for young blind men…