The Dhamma Sanchorn Monk Network engages Buddhism for promoting ethics and education of the heart.

The Dhamma Sanchorn Monk Network engages Buddhism for promoting ethics and education of the heart.

Development Monk Network

The Development Monk Network started in 2006 when PADETC approached a group of Buddhist monks to help educate young people to stay away from drugs. The Network is jointly led by the monks and PADETC and continues to expand each year.

The monks teach children from Grade 3 to Grade 5 by telling stories of Buddha, sharing Lao ceremonies and traditions and demonstrating how to apply Buddhist life skills. The Network contributes to PADETC’s idea of Education for Sustainable Development, where spiritual and cultural development of young people is equally important as learning the ABC.

Dhamma Sanchorn monks play an important role in environmental preservation.

Dhamma Sanchorn monk network plays an important role in environmental preservation. They organize tree planting activities for schools as well as tree and water ordination ceremonies for communities.

Training modules have been developed for both monks and students and these are revised and improved regularly. The national monastic school at Wat Ong Teu is in the process of incorporating these modules into its formal program.

Beyond the teaching of life skills, the role of  Dhamma Sanchorn has expanded to encompass:

  1. building relationships among temples, schools, communities and families through school fair activities
  2. conserving natural resources through tree and water ordination ceremonies and green campaigns at schools
  3. working with marginalized people such as people with disabilities and former drug users
  4. bringing drug and alcohol prevention in two schools of Vientiane Municipality
  5. providing capacity building training for monk volunteers in terms of education and agriculture
  6. support young people to improve their personal and social skills and to play role in social work.
Training modules

Training modules assist monks to gain facilitation skills, which enable them to raise social consciousness issues with students and communities through creative and meaningful activities.

Achievements and Impacts

  • In terms of outreach, the actual number of people reached by the direct services of the monk network is very high. Many monks conduct their own services using the modules produced by the network.
  • It is estimated that each of the trained monks reach out to at least 20 to 30 students and laypeople each week.
  • With over fifty schools reached by the monks, it is estimated between 200 to 700 students are taught by the monks each week.

2012

  • Conducted Buddhism monk training for 32 monks on Buddhism life skills and leadership
  • Ordained” another two sites of community forests sized around 40ha.
  • Trained 35 monks on integrated organic vegetables growing and bio-fertilizer production.
  • Organised a Buddhism festival attended by 747 people

2011

  • 32 monks became trainers to other monks.
  • One forest consecration ceremony in Sekong Province.

2010

  • 224 monks trained.
  • Three forest consecration ceremonies attended by more than 1000 people to protect forest and sustainable forest use.

2009

  • 233 monks – including 7 nuns  – trained.
  • School campaigns on drug use prevention and green school promotion in 56 schools reached more than 5000 students, parents and teachers.

Further information

Development Monks Network is part of the Buddhism for Development Project

 

 

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