austraLasia #2953
An open letter to all who’ve supported Salesian
volunteers around the world
(Well worth sharing this letter with everyone in our
Region).
27-11-11
1st Sunday Advent 2011
Dear friends,
Thank you!
In a perfect world, this letter would be read by every
Salesian, Salesian Sister, Co-operator, member of staff,
local animator, young person and anyone else who has had an
impact on a volunteer’s experience. These people will
probably never know how much good they’ve done – but this is
just a small gesture to share something of the impact
they’ve had upon volunteers, and, through them, on the wider
world. I hope these words will serve to show our gratitude,
offer encouragement (especially on those rare days when
volunteers are less than perfect!) and let the wider
Salesian world know about their good work.
I work for BOVA (www.boscovolunteeraction.co.uk), sending
volunteers from the Province of Great Britain to communities
around the world. While these volunteers are useful to the
young people they work with during their time overseas, I’m
under no illusion about who gets the greatest benefit from
these experiences - the volunteers themselves. Therefore we
put particular emphasis on volunteers’ learning while they
are away and on continued involvement in the Salesian
family, faith in action and poverty issues after their
return. In this way, the time overseas provides a chance to
learn through action; serving the young in another culture
while learning lessons about the difference between “want”
and “need”, the importance of community, growing in empathy
and solidarity, and in passion for justice and peace issues.
At a recent meeting in Rome, I was one of seven
co-ordinators of Salesian volunteer organisations from
Europe, the USA and Australia who met with Fr. Vaclav
Klement SDB, the Councillor for the Missions, to reflect
upon volunteer formation. We noted the impact returned
volunteers have had in our Provinces and all agreed on the
importance of formation offered by hosting communities. We
shared the desire to thank and encourage them.
Our model of “learning through action” relies on busy
people, often already working more than full time with young
people, as well as giving time to their communities,
provinces, families, prayer lives and so on, somehow finding
time to support our volunteers. And yet, somehow, they do!
It would be impossible to give a complete list, but the
following examples give a taste of Salesians and co-workers
going the extra mile:
• Fr Joseph and BREADS (the development
office of the Salesian Province of Bangalore) provide
volunteers with an orientation and training programme
centrally before moving them to their host community
• Various communities invite volunteers to
join them on days of retreat and recollection
• Br Carlo and the Salesian Lay Volunteer
Organisation (SALVO) in the Philippines South Province
gather volunteers (including local volunteers) together for
formation and reflection
• Fr Martin in Manzini, Swaziland, takes
volunteers out for a coffee and a chat
• Fr.Thamburaj sdb, Director of Cauveri
Development Office, Tiruchy Province in India, welcomed a
volunteer then invited her to join him at a wedding – an
experience she will never forget
• Dahlia, the social worker in Don Bosco
Pasil, arranged home-stay experiences for volunteers
• Seemingly the entire Central America
Province, Salesians and staff, offered the most incredible
support when one of our volunteers was in a coma following a
bus crash in Guatemala.
I could go on and on. By being present to our volunteers,
these people have a huge impact – inviting them to think
deeply about different cultures, poverty, faith and
vocation. And it does not stop there; the results can be
seen following the volunteers returning to their home
provinces:
• A number of volunteers have come back to
faith or to the Church as a direct result of their time with
Salesian communities overseas
• Volunteers come home with a passion to
work with the young and the poor in their own context – a
great example is the returned volunteers who have set up an
oratory in Vienna or those who have taken part in summer
projects here in the UK
• Jane, who spent 6 months living and
working with 40 ex-child labourers in a Salesian community
in Karnataka, India, has returned to Ireland and assisted
the Irish Salesians in setting up SAVIO (Salesian Volunteers
Ireland & Overseas), a new Salesian volunteer
organisation
• Returned volunteers have produced
education resources for use in their home contexts (see, for
example, http://boscovolunteeraction.co.uk/Resources.aspx)
• The Australia-Pacific Province was
recently proud to share the story of a young man who has
entered formation as a result of his time as a volunteer in
their Cagliero volunteer programme. He is by no means the
only one – both the Salesian Lay Missioners (New Rochelle
Province, USA) and Jugend Eine Welt (Austria) can tell
similar stories, and at least one of BOVA's returned
volunteers is currently discerning a Religious vocation
• Numerous returned volunteers have
involvement with justice and peace issues, including
corruption, injustices around mining, child prostitution and
climate change
Fr Petrus, from the Austrian Salesian volunteer
organisation, captured the importance of those who support
of these volunteers when he noted that although they may not
be coming here as “Project Europe” missionaries, this work
puts them in complete solidarity with its aims. We must
continue to build on the good work they have done; the
Rector Major challenged us to provide “institutional
responses” to returned volunteers, and to invite them to
consider their vocation to the Salesian Co-operators.
I would like to end this letter by once again thanking
everyone who supports our volunteers and inviting all who
read this to keep them in their prayers,
With thanks,
James Trewby
Bosco Volunteer Action
bova@salesianyouthministry.com
Quotes from returned volunteers
“The evening before I left I was invited to give a short
‘goodnight’ to the boys. Sensing the opportunity for pulling
off a coup de langue, I decided to do it in
KiSwahili. Partly due to the limitations on what I could
actually say in that language, I chose to explain to them
the reason I came: kwa sababu nilitaka kusoma –
because I wanted to learn. I had worked as a mwalimu,
I said, lakini ninyi ni walimu zangu – but you are
my teachers.”
“To understand the magnitude that the relic’s visitation has
had on the people of the Philippines, you really have to
know how much of an impact Don Bosco has had here. The word
Salesian is engrained in their vocabulary. Just saying ‘Don
Bosco’ will gain you an element of respect other tourists
will not be granted. This is because so many are touched by
the work of the Salesians. In the South Province alone,
there are so many different Salesian houses, serving
thousands of young and vulnerable people. Entire families
have grown up in the presence Don Bosco’s teachings and his
pictures is far easier to find on walls than that of the
Pope.”
“God provided me with this experience. It was not about
changing the world or making a difference - it was an
experience that has brought change in my life, helping me
grow and deepen my faith.”
“I had never come face to face with poverty and my
preconceptions were quickly put aside as I learnt about how
the community lives and copes with daily struggles,
bolstered up by faith”
“I experienced, albeit for a short time, what it was like to
share all parts of daily life, what it was to live in a
Christian community, what it was to live in a Christian
community in a non-Christian environment.”
“I witnessed people dedicating their lives to help young
people, by teaching them, supporting them and most
importantly by being friends with them.”
“It was friendship and being together that alone seemed to
transcend whatever differences there may have been between
the rich and poor in their own country, between Europe and
Asia and between the young and old.”
“The experience was short and there is still much to learn
about, but I now understand it was a just a step on this
journey, not the destination. The longest part is still
ahead but since getting involved with BOVA and the
Salesians, having seen others who are on this same journey,
it is so much easier to continue with it with renewed and
increased understanding, inspiration and determination.
Volunteering was just the beginning.”
“There is a religious ethos to all that I am doing here, and
I am no saint and sometimes am even uncertain of any
existence of a God, so have at times felt uneasy about the
religious element of BOVA. However, I think the Salesians
are fab and the projects that they have going on out here
alone are just admirable, and priests are actually pretty
fun to be around.”
“Volunteering was a fantastic experience; I grew very
attached to the boys and it made me re-evaluate a whole of
lot of things in my life. For instance, I came back home to
a pile of Christmas presents and told my parents it was too
much – that was a first!”
“One of the greatest things about volunteering with Bosco
Volunteer Action is the training that you undertake before
commencing your volunteer experience. I feel that I learned
more in these weekends than in years of education. The
training was enjoyable, informative, and stimulating. It
encouraged you to think deeply and critically about issues
of poverty, religion, culture, and of your motives for
wanting to volunteer abroad.”
“Whatever good I did and whatever happiness or expertise I
brought to people’s lives there, I have benefited far more”
“I had so much fun in my three months there. I laughed every
day. And that was because of the people and their sparkling
eyes and joyful spirit. They had small dirty houses, lack of
a good diet, and few possessions, but they were so rich in
other ways: They say ‘Salamat’ – thank you - for
everything.”
“And every day I remember the smiles of my friends in Pasil.
Thank you. I am humbled by your love”
“All I know is that my year as a volunteer with the
Salesians gave me the chance to live.”
“The biggest thing that struck me when I returned was how
much I could learn from working with others, and how much
even a very small act could have on those around us.”
“Being able to travel alone to another country has been good
for my confidence.”
“The best feature of my experience? Being the witness to the
love people showed each other in the pockets of everyday
life.”
“I have come to a much deeper and richer understanding of
faith and have been witness to the value of humility,
modesty and sacrifice. I have also learned much about how
hard teaching is!”
“I think I will always consider the Salesians as ‘family’ in
some way. My faith has been strengthened beyond words.”
“The best feature of my experience? Figuring out what’s
important and not. Making friends. Love. Laughter.”
