Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Agenzia Fides) – Every year, the Catholic Delegation for Cooperation (CDC) sends out some 200 youth who have decided to carry out volunteer service in a local parish, religious institute, or non-profit organization. The Franciscan Missionaries of Mary (FMM) have been leading the CDC program for years, helping youth to enter into progress programs in Vietnam and the Philippines. In these two provinces, the youth are of special importance in establishing more open relationships with inhabitants, especially with the new generations. The volunteer service lasts two years and is open to all youth who have recently graduated with a degree. The young women offer services as nurses, baby-sitters, and teachers. The young men, often with degrees in technical material, help out in the various workshops of local artisans.
The situations they face are not easy ones: the impact of a different culture, precarious sanitary conditions, and often territorial conflicts. “What is amazing,” says Sr. Anne-Marie Cunin FMM, who collaborates in directing the CDC, “is the competence and motivation of the volunteers. Some of them even leave their jobs so they can participate in our activities, which shows great courage. The volunteer experience is a form of apostolate in missionary lands, in which the Franciscan Missionaries provide all the necessary training before and after the service. The Sister continues commenting, in the news bulletin “Meeting Space”: “After two years, the youth return to their countries deeply changed and often start ecclesial associations for progress and solidarity or for intercultural dialogue. Even the failures of the projects, due to political crises, in time bear fruit.” There are now eight French young people offering their services in Vietnam and the Philippines as technicians, doctors, and teachers. They mainly work with the children living on the streets. (AM) (Agenzia Fides 14/1/2009)
