A training seminar for new board members and the regular meeting of the Asian Kolping associations took place from July 19 to 23, 2024. Once again, the venue was Ho Chi Minh City.
Kolping Vietnam used this opportunity as the host to present itself to three delegates each from India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, the Philippines, Indonesia and Timor-Leste. The entire national executive board attended both meetings and the Kolping Family in Saigon assisted by its close cooperation partner, the Francis Hoi School for Gastronomy and Hotel Management, made the event a special experience with their great hospitality.
Intensive training and discussion
General Secretary Dr. Markus Demele provided the newly elected board members from Asia with three days of intensive training on the history, constitution, structure and working methods of Kolping worldwide and on the life of the association’s founder Adolph Kolping. The participants also discussed their roles and responsibilities as chairpersons, treasurers and board members in the national associations. The mutual expectations of the General Secretariat and the national associations were also addressed. A small conflict resolution exercise turned out to be particularly lively and the participants found it helpful and instructive, not only for intercultural communication, but also for working together in their own team.
Asian Continental Meeting
The family-like atmosphere continued at the AsiKA (Asian Kolping Associations) meeting, where the seven associations revealed their active and forward-looking side and shared experiences and ideas with General Secretary Dr. Markus Demele and desk officer Gregor Federhen. Other key topics included member recruitment and attractive youth work. Challenges such as climate change and local fundraising were addressed by Vietnamese experts and specialists working in Vietnam. All in all, it was a great event that gave all participants momentum and energy for their work in their own associations, which is not always easy. As one participant put it, there are always ups and downs in the life of associations, and yet the example of Adolph Kolping, who never gave up even after many setbacks, inspires people to persevere and hope.
There was another reason for the Vietnamese association to celebrate this event. The chalice of the Vietnamese honorary president, Father Robert Henrich, who passed away this year, was brought to Vietnam in accordance with his wishes. It will now be treasured as a sign of the friendly partnership with the Kolping Associaton of the Archdiocese of Freiburg for central mass celebrations of the association.
Dr. Hildegard Hagemann, AsiKA coordinator
Photos: Kolping Vietnam
