1st Day
The Asia Pacific Lasallian Educators Congress (APLEC) 2000 was recently held in Madurai, India from December 1-6. It was attended by 190 participants from 10 countries in the PARC region and by representatives from the Center of the Institute. This was the first time that there was an international gathering of Lasallians in India. Mr. Veerendra Dyal, a member of the Human Rights Commission, Delhi delivered the keynote address. The inaugural function was concluded with a cultural program presented by the students of our institutions in India, followed by a festive Dinner at the Conference venue.

2nd Day
Mr. Vidya Sagar, a member of the UNICEF, Nepal, spoke to the Congress, beinning his speech with an impressive quotation from the Tamil language which says "those who teach are equal to God." The main theme of his presentation, and the Congress itself, was THE PROMOTION OF CHILD RIGHTS IN ASIA PACIFIC. The child labor situation today symbolizes violations of human rights around the world. He told the group that educators have to play a vital role in restoring the rights of children. He also made available to the delegates statistics on drop outs at different levels of education. At the end of his talk he suggested that the delegates make their children aware and conscious of their rights. The voices of the children should be heard.

(Editor's note: The 43rd General Chapter, in Proposition 14, indicated that the rights of the child is to "be considered a major focus of concern for the Lasallian mission of education during the next seven years." Because the United Nations "Convention on the Rights of the Child" is a significant document in this area, I have put the Convention on our web site in the Online Publications section. The Convention was opened for signature by the United Nations on 20 November 1989. It has since been ratified, in some form, by 191 countries.)

The second presenter of the day, Mr. Henry, is an advocate by profession and has participated in many international meetings. He is the Director of a forum called "People's Watch" which fights for human rights. The theme of his talk was: "UN Mechanisms for the Protection of Human Rights". He explained to the delegates the functioning of the Human Rights commissions in different Nations. He also highlighted the function of this commission at the UN level. He also emphasized the important role of educators in restoring the rights of children.

In the evening there was a cultural night: "Variety Delights". Everyone was awestruck and dumbfounded at the variety of skills exhibited by the representatives of different Lasallian Institutions of India.

3rd Day
As the first activity of the day, participants attended the specially arranged Eucharistic Liturgy, Indian style. Br. Henry Dissanayake the visitor of Sri Lanka, was the moderator for the day. Mr. Henry continued his presentation on the rights of the child. He indicated that, according to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, every person below the age of 18 is considered to be a child. Children should not be discriminated against because of factors relating to their parents such as caste, creed, color and carrier. We educators, and especially administrators, have to keep this in mind in admitting children to our institutions. The best interests of the child have to be given utmost importance when protecting their rights. Parents are primarily responsible to protect the rights of their children: existence, birth, life, proper education, standard of living, leisure, play, recreation, and to profess and practice a religion. Next only comes the states' responsibility in protecting the rights of child. The presenter elaborately dealt with various articles of the Convention i.e. Articles 15,24,25,27,28,30. We, educators have to respect the rights of children in administering discipline in our institutions.

The 2nd presenter for the day was Fr. Aloy Irudhayam S.J. He has vast experience in the field of the rights of the child. He felt proud to be a Lasallian from Myanmar. He spoke on the theme: "The Practical Aspects of Human Rights Education". He explained how children in institutions run by the Jesuits are made aware of their rights through a well defined curriculum. At the end of his talk he posed five questions to the participants for group discussion in their sector groups.

The participants divided into groups, discussing how they were going to put into practice various aspects relating to the rights of children. All the groups returned with concrete proposals as to how they will impart human rights education in their respective countries. When the groups finished their presentations, the two presenters gave their final remarks.

During the cultural evening that followed, Provincial Visitors of the countries represented were honored by Br. John Fernando, FSC, the President of the Delegation of India.

4th Day
On the fourth day, visits to various Lasallian Institutions in Tamil Nadu were organized. The Delegates were divided into groups for the various visitation programs. Many of the establishments visited by the Brothers are featured on our web site, and you can read about them by clicking on the underlined name. The delegates visited: St. Pius X Boys' Town, Madurai, St. Joseph's Boys' Village, Lasalle Higher Secondary School in Tuticorin, St. Joseph's Juniorate in Mangalagiri, St. Miguel Arul Thentral in Madurai, St. James Higher Secondary School in Suranam, St. Joseph's Development Trust (SJDT) in Genguvarpatty , "Reaching the Unreached" in Kallupatty, and BJT Junior College & Lasalle School in Keesara A.P.State.

5th Day
The APLEC 2000 participants, after visiting the Lasallian Mission stations in the Indian Delegation the previous day, returned with renewed vigor. The first session of the day started at 9.00 am. Br. Bill Mann, the Vicar General of the Institute, presented his address: OUR LASALLIAN MISSION. He started with an incident from the gospel of Mark 9:30-37. He also dwelt on the Founder's life experiences in his early days of starting schools for poor children. By his probing questions and concrete examples from the events of the life of St. La Salle, as well as from the realities of today, Br. Bill explained how life events could transform a child. He also explained the importance of the commitment the Lasallian educators must have to touch hearts and to transform the children entrusted to their care.

He was appreciative of the initiatives of the Asia-Pacific Region in holding this major congress after the 43rd General Chapter and assured the group of the support of Br. Superior General and the General Council. He also encouraged the Region to keep moving in the same direction. He felt that holding this congress in INDIA is apt and auspicious, citing Mahatma Gandhi's pursuit for justice, his principle of non-violence, and Mother Theresa's selfless service to the abandoned. He emphasized the United Nations' point that education is the key to a better future.

During his second session, which was titled: "THE LASALLIAN MISSION AND THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN", he brought out the similarities and differences between the children of De La Salle's first school and the children in our institutions. He highlighted the type of relationship that must exist in our institutions between teachers and students as well as among the students. For this, the educators have to follow our Founder's recommendations. Namely:

1. Belief that they are involved in God's plan for children.
2. To see oneself as brother or sister to children and not as master;
3. And above all to touch the hearts of the children, not just their minds.

While giving his final remarks, Br. Bill Mann reminded the participants that we don't have to take extraordinary efforts to serve exploited children. We can make use of already, available resources to serve them, and he cited examples from Thailand, Pakistan and San Francisco. He also urged them to channel their resources through Rome in helping other needy sectors, so that all get helped. He also assured our lay partners of the Center's help in their efforts to fight for the rights of exploited children.

Final Day
The Delegates were in a gala mood to get back to their homes and share the treasures of this Congress with their colleagues. The writing committee and Br. Mark Murphy, the Delegate to the Indian Delegation, presented the "APLEC 2000 Message" to everyone. Br. Mark called this APLEC a powerful experience of international community pursued together and by association. The message highlights some of the significant happenings of APLEC and recalls the 43rd General Chapter.

Following this, the closing ceremony took place in which the participants were welcomed in a traditional Indian way. Br. Victor Gill, a missionary from Spain to Thailand, presided over the ceremony. In his address, he shared his experience of formulating a resolution on child rights at the 43rd Chapter. It is his ardent hope that the spirit of La Salle which began 320 years ago, will continue to flourish for another 350 years.

In his closing address, Br. David Hawke, Chairman of PARC said that for the past few days the Indian Delegation was the classroom and the participants were the students. He thanked everyone for their contribution. He closed the ceremony anticipating the next time we gather in 2002. With a hymn to honor St. La Salle, the ceremony and the APLEC came to a close.