Meaningful Experience from Ma Danh - K'Tip

Meaningful Experience from Ma Danh - K'Tip.

From the bustling city, we, a group of interns, have the opportunity to experience and live with "strange yet familiar" people. From the inner city of Dalat, we carried our luggage, necessary personal items, and traveled together more than 50 kilometers to reach K'Tip Production Area. Traveling on a circular route, we arrived later than expected.

The first time we arrived in a remote village, the road was bumpy and difficult to travel on. However, when we arrived, the aunts, uncles, and siblings welcomed us very enthusiastically and happily. Life here is peaceful and simple, not noisy or crowded; can hear birds singing and cicadas chirping. They decorated the gathering place with simple regional plants. I found everyone there to be so sociable and so hospitable! They had to get up early to cook rice for us while the weather was very cold. Because we were unfamiliar with the terrain, we fell countless times. In particular, the children in the area are very simple and cheerful, we feel the innocence on their faces. We even slept right in their own house. They give us the best things.

A characteristic of this farming area is to minimize the use of chemical fertilizers. We learned from people's experience in making weed coffee, everyone shared their experiences very enthusiastically. This model is so effective. My family also grows coffee, but they use a lot of chemical fertilizers. I find Caritas' programs full of meaning, which motivates me as a future social worker to strive to become useful people for society.

Besides, Caritas also organizes a prayer journey, in harmony with nature. I really feel the joy of the people, including us, knowing how to love nature and learn how to protect the environment.

This experience helped me understand many valuable things. I understand the hard life of the people, their way of eating, living and traditional culture here; understand the courage of the people when crossing forests, crossing streams, dangerous and craggy roads; respect the way they live with nature. They have almost no means of transportation, that's why they are easily pressured into product prices and have no clue to exchange goods. Besides, their living situation still lacks necessary needs. The children work alongside their parents, without clean water for living.That has motivated me to be more sympathetic to the suffering of farmers and especially to see the good work Caritas has done. Thank you for God's immense grace for loving humanity.

Group of students practicing Community Development - College. Economy