Hearing from our Volunteers who worked in a Salesian Mission during 2009
They are:
Carole O'Doherty, from Limerick and now living in London.
Daragh Casey, from Killarney and currently studying in UL.
Michelle Brennan, from Tubercurry, Co. Sligo.
Rosemary Ahern, Kilteely, Co. Limerick.
At our September meeting we listened to Darragh, Michelle, Catherine, and Rosemary share their experiences of working in a third world country.
Carole has just returned home for Christmas and we look forward to hearing all about her time in City of Hope.
Below are the reflections from Darragh, Michelle and Rosemary.
Our next VIDES meeting will be on Saturday February 13th in De la Salle Monastery, Castletown, Co. Laoise.
Should YOU or someone you know be thinking of giving some time to volunteering in a Salesian mission please contact us:
dymclan@eircom.net
Daragh Casey:
10 weeks based at City of Hope, Lusaka, Zambia
My ten weeks of voluntary work based at City of Hope, Lusaka was an amazing cultural experience. I was given the opportunity specifically to contribute as best I could to the good work that is being done by Salesian Sisters and international volunteers at City of Hope and in turn avail of the many benefits to oneself from offering service to those in need.
My work while in Lusaka entailed tutoring the girls at City of Hope, English and Math, before and after school, and helping with the organisation of sport at City of Hope with other contributions being made as they were needed.
Many of the students that I taught in class, trained to play rugby, and interacted with daily would have come from very troubled backgrounds and thus it was a demanding setting to acknowledge external factors that may have played hazard in their lives.
It then became apparent that the lack of education and awareness of their emotions would further add to a complex environment. However, what was such innocence on the behalf of the children, teenagers and young adults, became reciprocal on my part as I saw to my responsibilities - while often unaware as to anything that was occurring in the outside world – and submerged myself in the culture and mindset, helping me to educate and learn a thing or two myself.
Having come back from Zambia, I now know that, there are peoples' lives I can help for the better, be it through teaching or giving a hand in other simple ways. For what are taken for granted as small and easy endeavours by me and by many, can have a great benefit on the person you come into contact with. That is the most honest way I can put it, for I will not say I have learnt this value and that value when I may go out and contradict myself tomorrow.
I will keep in contact with the family that is City of Hope and will be back there again for one thing or another.
While the days started early and finished early, my responsibilities were a twenty four hour commitment. It is a testament to the other volunteers and the Salesian Sisters that one can arrive and want to contribute, offer help, learn, and return home with an experience of a lifetime.
My work in Lusaka was a fulfilling experience. I wanted a constructive and busy summer and that is certainly what I got. If anyone can offer the time to help others, you should get on it. It will not just help those around you, but also yourself, and you achieve a reward greater than any commodity or prestige that is typically bestowed on someone in a differing workplace.
Be it home or away, give something.
Michelle Brennan:
Michelle, worked in a township outside Johannesburg and shares the following
I have always had an ambition to do voluntary work on a foreign mission and on the 2nd July 2009 this ambition became a reality. After much deliberation and apprehension I finally made up my mind to spend 4 weeks helping out at the Don Bosco Educational Project in Finetown, Johannesburg. I travelled with 2 wonderful companions and from the moment we set out from Dublin airport I knew I was about to embark on an experience of a lifetime. None of us knew what exactly was in store for us but I was confident that we could handle whatever awaited us.
On arrival in Johannesburg we were greeted by warm hugs and smiling faces. The sisters had gone out of their way to make us feel welcome and after our long trip it was much appreciated. To our surprise our living conditions were more than adequate and the food was very similar to what we were used to – the tea even tasted like Barry’s!
After our warm welcome and initiation to Finetown, it was time for the work to begin. The children were on school holidays for the first 2 weeks of our stay, but were invited to come to Sancta Maria School for a meal every day. A government funded crèche is present in the school grounds and the staff very generously gave their time and energy to cooking and serving food for the 80+ children who turned up daily for a meal. Our job was to entertain the children who otherwise hung around the school grounds playing with stones and anything else they could find lying around. Numbers were never definite so we were never sure how many children we would have to cater for each day. Once we got into our stride, we taught the children songs, played games, made jig-saws, drew pictures and did as many activities that we could think of that children here at home enjoy. The amazing thing, in my view, was that despite all the hardships these children faced; a lack of food, inadequate clothing, harsh living conditions, to name but a few, the children had an amazing ability to have fun and hopefully forget their troubles if even for a short time.
Meal times were a sight to behold - from the youngest to the oldest queues were encouraged but, were sometimes difficult to maintain, as the children found it difficult to contain their enthusiasm. On saying this, once the children received their food, it was amazing to see such large groups of children, sit anywhere they could find a spot and enjoy basic food as much as they did. There was never as much as a grain of rice left over and regardless of numbers the staff always made sure no one went without. The whole operation was run like clock work and even the tiniest tot knew where to stack their plate and put their spoon when finished.
After 2 weeks of fun and games school resumed and we took on roles of learning-support teachers. The neediest children, with regard to reading and writing, were identified and we were each assigned small groups of children to work with. This was a wonderful opportunity to get to know individual children well but unfortunately our time was all too short (2 weeks). The eagerness with which the children were willing to work and learn was amazing and the satisfaction they got from achieving and succeeding, in even the smallest task, made our job a joy and so worthwhile.
I also took a group of older boys and taught them some simple tunes on the tin whistle. One of my favourite memories is of walking through Finetown one afternoon and hearing ‘Mary had a Little Lamb’ echoing through the street. I looked but I could not find the source of the music but I grin to myself every time I think of it.
Our last day in Finetown was a day that will stay with me forever. Despite our very short time working with very small groups of children, each class prepared a party piece as a farewell to us. The time and effort that was secretly put into the performance must have been unbelievable and it represented so beautifully the whole spirit of the Finetown people; all singing, all dancing. I was so touched I was literally speechless and tears streamed down my face. Leaving, as you can imagine, after a send off like that was so difficult but it left me with a huge desire to return.
I will never forget the wonderful experience I had in Finetown or the fantastic people I met and worked with.
Rosemary Ahern:
On July 2nd, we set off to Finetown squatter camp to work as volunteers for a month. We had researched well in advance what we thought was facing us and we had attended the volunteer meetings in order to get an insight into the hops and fears of what we would be confronted with.
What I had perceived would be an emotional transition in moving to South Africa was quickly forgotten about on arrival as we quickly settled into our new surroundings.
The children were on holidays for the first two weeks of our visit. Sr. Margaret had invited many in for a summer camp, which we helped to plan and organise. By the end of the first week work had spread all over Finetown and the numbers attending increased dramatically by the Friday of our first week. The affection shown to us by the locals was overwhelming and they were very appreciative of our efforts. On visiting different homes after school the living conditions of the locals became a lot clearer. Every home had a running rap outside their shack and an outside toilet. On visiting a Zozo (local name for shack), the living conditions were t5o be pitied and we realised what a privileged life we have here in Ireland by comparison. It made me ask myself the question: how did these people get up each morning and face the challenges that confronted them in their daily lives.
In the final two weeks, the children were back at school where we took them for learning support. This proved to be a very positive and enriching experience for us. Their enthusiasm for learning was something that we had never experienced before and just to see the smile on their faces made everything worthwhile. Overall the time spent there was a huge learning experience and it showed me that with a little bit of effort so much can be achieved in a short space of time. The sense of lonesomeness of departing Finetown was something we would not have imagined but it summed up the emotion and feelings of compassions that this experience brought home to me.
