Currently, Kien Giang province is home to over 200,000 Khmer people. It has 75 Theravadan pagodas with more than 1,000 Buddhist monk and nuns.  Kien Giang provincial Association for Solidarity of Patriotic Buddhist Bonzes was established in August 1968 at Xeo Can pagoda in An Bien district of Rach Gia province by the time (U Minh Thuong district of Kien Giang province nowadays). The Association set up eight subordinate associations at district and inter-district levels.

During the fifth term between 2009 and 20014, the Association has made practical contributions to Buddhist affairs and actively participated in social activities, helping improve people’s living standards and consolidate the great national unity bloc.

Currently, 75 Theravada pagodas have been provided with Tripitaka in Khmer language. With supports and coordination from the Association for Solidarity of Patriotic Bonzes, there have been over 33,000 Buddhists attending Pali schools, over 4,000 pupils attending 168 Khmer-teaching classes. Khmer Theravada pagodas have also organized 269 teaching classes for about 7,000 Khmer pupils. The Association has nominated six Buddhists (three monks and three lay Buddhists) for taking post graduate courses in Tra Vinh province, introduced 38 Buddhists who are now taking courses in the Southern Pali Continuation High School in province of Soc Trang and five monks who are studying at the Khmer Theravada Buddhist Institute in Can Tho city …

The Association mobilized supports and donations for building 16 charity houses and 142 bridges, constructing 5,326 m of rural roads, presenting 20,200 notebooks and 10,000 pens to pupils attending summer Khmer language classes, 2,960 gift boxes to poor and excellent pupils, and 71,780 parcels of traditional medicines to the sick. The Association also coordinated with the provincial Red Cross and the Charity of Loving Hands in organizing health checks and distribution of medicines to about 7,600 peoples, donating 607 unit of blood. The total value of these social and charitable activities was estimated at over 24 billion VND.

During the fifth tenure, there have been 27 main worshipping halls, 32 dormitories for monks, eight pagoda gates and 10 Buddhist towers built or upgraded. Traditional festivals, such as Chôl Chnăm Thmây, Sene Đôl Ta, Ok Om Bok, have been solemnly and successfully held, contributing to preserve and promote cultural values.

In the sixth tenure, the association will continue its informational campaign to help Buddhists in general and Khmer Buddhist followers in particular understand the Party and State’s policies, provide further guidance to enhance Buddhist ethics and ensure Buddhist practices conducted in compliance with Buddhist tenets and religious laws, implement the campaign to “Study and follow President Ho Chi Minh’s moral example”, as well as preserve fine customs and  traditional cultural values of the nation.

Congress’s delegates unanimously nominated a provincial committee consisting of 37 members who are outstanding Buddhist dignitaries and followers in the province. This committee also selected an executive board consisting of 13 members and a standing board comprising of nine members. Most Venerable Danh Nhưỡng was re-elected as the Association’s President.

At the congress, the provincial People’s Committee presented a certificate of merit to 19 organizations and 17 individuals, and the provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee awarded its merit certificate to seven organizations and 5 individuals, for timely recognition of their outstanding achievements in social charities

Văn Xem