Salesian summer volunteering initiative provides life-changing experiences

(MissionNewswire) The Salesian summer volunteering initiative was held in Calais and Guines, France, in July with a focus on learning about the challenges faced by refugees and migrants. Volunteers with the International Volunteer Women in Education and Development (VIDES) brought together youth and members of the Salesian Family with the Secours Catholique organization to spend time with local refugees and migrants.

Marie, one of the volunteers, said, “This experience gave us the opportunity to meet people exiled from their countries, to know the reality of their lives, listen to them, help them, and feel empathy and compassion toward them.”

The inter-generational team consisted of members of the VIDES steering committee, three Salesian cooperators and a member of the educational team from Saint-Jean-Bosco School complex in Guines. Volunteers included Sister Nathalie, a Congolese missionary who came with a young Syrian woman from the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians community in Bruges, Belgium.

Following Catholic Mass on the first Sunday, volunteers participated in a role-playing game called “The Migrant’s Journey”, led by Pierre-Jean Allard, who introduced participants to the reality of migration.

Days were spent in prayer followed by an educational session and an eco-spiritual walks. Volunteers then worked directly with refugees. To support the volunteers, Father Daniel Federspiel, superior of the Salesians of Don Bosco in France and Southern Belgium, joined them to show his magic tricks and puppet shows, which they then shared with the refugees.

Cendre, a volunteer, explained, “Meeting those at Secours Catholique and being immersed in their work, feeling the sometimes terrible situations they face and at the same time seeing the joy on people’s faces when we staged a puppet show, or admiring the children who danced and played with us holding our hands, was touching, beautiful, and gave us a renewed confidence in humanity. We hope for the best for them, despite the tragedies they risk and we hope that by spending time with them, offering them some joy, we could help them overcome difficult moments for a while.”

Salesians know that a volunteer experience like this can be life-changing for youth. Hélène, another volunteer, noted, “The young people involved can get to know migrants closely and develop greater compassion, solidarity and fraternal spirit. In this way, they can change the mindset and help open, or reopen, hearts. In direct contact with the possibilities and difficulties on the ground, they can grow in their vision and propose initiatives that can help. The number of migrants is very high and will continue to be given the current context. It is urgent to join forces, so that everyone feels involved and can contribute to improving the lives of others.”

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Sources:

ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS) 

ANS – France – Salesian Volunteering in Calais: to “cross borders” and “awaken humanity within”

Salesian Missions