I along with 28 members from 23 countries were chosen to participate the Talitha Kum Leadership Training Course which began in January 2026. First, we had 8 online sessions (2 hours each) from Jan – June. Then, from June 24-30 there was a residential phase of the course in Bangkok, Thailand. The project group work continues till October, then progress report /Dissertation in Nov -Dec and finally the conclusion will be in December. This training is organized by Talitha Kum International, in collaboration with Tangaza University, Nairobi and the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, Rome.
Talitha Kum Thailand hosted the residence portion of the 6th Leadership Training Course. It took place from June 24-29 at the Baan Phu Wan pastoral training center near Bangkok. 28 participants include Sisters and one lay woman and 4 youth ambassadors active with Talitha Kum in Thailand, Indonesia, Bangladesh, India, Timor-Leste, the Philippines, Myanmar, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Fiji, Cameroon, Togo, South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, Lebanon, Canada, Peru.
The residency program in Thailand further developed this content and focused on Talitha Kum’s spirituality, synodality, specific aspects of leadership development, communication skills, and integrative leadership. Participants expanded their knowledge of the human trafficking context in Asia through the interventions of the Director of the Thai Division of Anti-Trafficking in Persons, representatives of ASEAN-Australian Counter Trafficking Program, and the UN International Organization for Migration, Jesuit Refugee Service, Stella Maris, and Caritas Thailand. All emphasized the dramatic changes taking place in human trafficking, with the growing impact of digital technology and artificial intelligence, and Southeast Asia becoming a major hub for online scam centers — necessitating the need to change traditional response strategies.
Talitha Kum Thailand presented an innovative educational model they have developed in the Catholic school system with the help of Youth Ambassadors. This methodology was developed under the guidance of Sr. Marie-Agnes Suwanna Buasap, SPC, who participated in the 1st Leadership Training course in Rome in 2018. Rather than being a stand-alone course, this curriculum is designed to be integrated into every subject in an age-appropriate way. The initiatives the sisters are leading here in Thailand – where students and educators identify as ‘Talitha Kum kids’ and ‘Talitha Kum teachers’.
It was a great experience for me to meet other members of the Talitha kum training and learn how they are working on Fighting against Human Trafficking in their contexts. To combat Human Trafficking, Networking was emphasized throughout our course and it was an opportunity to network/meet with other Talitha kum members. Though inputs, group work, sharing/discussion I am inspired more to work for this urgent need of today- fight against the worse crime on humanity as Pope Francis said. It was an eye opening for me that how easily the young people are falling into trap into online human trafficking especially in Asia and I recognized the negative impact of it here in Bangladesh. Our young people are so vulnerable and being trafficked in India, Thailand, Cambodia, Middle East and other places and loosing land, property, money and even loosing life (being killed). Since 2024 here in Bangladesh, I work with the Talitha kum Bangladesh as a secretary and I am very much inspired to work with the young people for awareness and prevention for Human trafficking.
I sincerely thank Sr. Abby Avelino, International Coordinator of Talitha Kum, and the team for organizing this training and helping us to have leadership skills to combat human trafficking. I am also thankful to Sr Cristina Giustozzi smsm and her Council, and Sr Koelti Uvea smsm and her Council for allowing me to participate this training and to support me by their prayers. Let’s continue to fight against human trafficking whatever ways we can in our own contexts and pray for the victims and those who work directly in this area. God bless us all.
Sr Suporna Bernadette ROZARIO
