Volunteering with JMV

Are you at a crossroads? Looking for a different way to live your life? Longing to understand and engage in issues of justice and poverty? Perhaps you would consider volunteering overseas with JMV for six months or longer.
Together with our partner organisations we run a number of different programmes including teaching at schools, working at health centres, orphanages and even a radio station which is used both for educational and agricultural purposes.
The Jesuits have been based in a number of communities around the world for decades.They have lived with the people side by side, through thick and thin, through all the political turmoils, wars and economic difficulties. They have a knowledge and love of their communities which is reciprocated..
So, if you volunteer with the Jesuits you will be living at the heart of the community you are sent to. It will be a real experience, away from tourism and hotels. In fact part of our ethos is that volunteers live their lives simply and engage with the local people and culture.
The volunteering experience challenges people and often ,when they return, they decide to live their lives differently, maybe change their careers or dedicate their free time to charity.
However, it is not an experience for the faint-hearted! People have to live in very basic conditions and need to be quite flexible and open to other cultures and faiths. And we are particularly looking for people who are willing to reflect on their experience.
If you are interested in joining our programme for a minimum of six months, please have a look at our website www.jesuitmissions.org.uk ( see volunteering)

Here is an account of the experience of volunteering in Argentina from an Oxford graduate: http://www.jesuitmissions.org/volunteering/volunteeringhome/argentinareport/argentinareport.php

CAFOD annual campaigns energiser

CAFOD annual campaigns energiser day at Harborne Hall in Birmingham, Sat 5th Nov 10am for a 10.30am start, ending by 4pm with lunch provided. Do let nicholas.chan@sant.ox.ac.uk if you’d like to come -for anyone who wants to be informed or learn about CAFOD’s campaigning work.

Report from Tanzania

When I heard that the Catholic Chaplaincy at Oxford University was offering students the opportunity to spend a month teaching in a primary school in Mwanza, Tanzania, my initial reaction was one of great excitement. As a person who already had lots of experience of working with children, and who felt called already to become a teacher after graduating, the prospect of involvement in the project was too enticing to resist, despite the fears that inevitably came along with commitment to such an adventure.

Before July I’d never travelled beyond Europe, and the prospect of spending four weeks in Africa was as daunting as it was inspiring. I knew that, whatever else it might end up being, the trip was never going to be easy or straightforward. I was very aware of how far I would be sending myself from the familiarity of home, and I struggled to reconcile myself with the idea of pushing myself beyond my comfort zone when so many other, less challenging options were available to me.

The rewards of challenging myself in this way, however, were great. It would be impossible to describe all of the wonderful experiences that the rest of the group and I enjoyed at Nyakahoja Primary School during our short stay, but I know that I will never forget the evenings and weekends that we spent talking, playing, running, dancing and just hanging out with the children who lived in the boarding house at the school. I feel truly blessed to have been able to get to know so many of those brilliant children so well, and to see how much they appreciated the love and attention that we were able to show to them was fantastic. For people from a country like our own to make the long journey to their school for the privilege of living, working and simply getting to know them clearly meant a great deal to the people in Mwanza, and after a month in which friendships were constantly blossoming and flourishing, all of our goodbyes at the end of our stay were very difficult and emotional.

My actual teaching experience in Tanzania was similarly inspirational and positive. The children’s brilliant attitudes were always carried with them into their classrooms, and I’ll always particularly remember the atmosphere in my very first lesson, when I could hardly believe how intent, attentive and engaged my Year Five class consistently proved themselves to be, despite the fact that there were fifty of them in the relatively small room in which we were working. Their respectfulness and maturity meant that it was always easy to combine learning with laughter and fun.

Perhaps the most surprising thing about our experience in Africa was the almost unbelievable welcome that we received on arrival at the school, and the love and kindness with which we continued to be treated throughout our stay. The Sisters who run the school, as well as all of the other staff and the pupils, were always friendly, positive and caring throughout the month, and we were made to feel very comfortable and relaxed in our unfamiliar environment. The atmosphere in and around the school was always fantastic in a way which defies description.

It was really uplifting to become a part, even for a brief time, of a community that was so tightly-knit, so happy, and so profoundly committed to its Christian, Catholic faith as that at Nyakahoja. Prayer and prayerfulness are a central element of the lives of staff and students alike at the school, and I remember how moved I was when a boy whose birthday occurred while we were there asked if he could lead us and his friends in a prayer before we all started eating the cakes that we had made for him. A similar demonstration of the depth of the faith of the people at the school took place when, on being asked how the huge boulders around Mwanza ended up being stacked on top of each other in the way that they are, Sister Winy replied, as if in disbelief that anyone could ask such a silly question, “God put them there!”

I can never thank the people at Nyakahoja enough for all of their love and kindness over the course of the month that we spent with them, and I’m also hugely grateful to the group from the Chaplaincy with whom I travelled. Particular thanks are owed to Father Simon, who was the unshakeable mastermind and focal point at the heart of the whole adventure. Of course, all of our thanks also go out to all of those who have been so generous in funding and supporting us in preparation for the trip. If anyone is interested in supporting next year’s trip, or even more excitingly in being one of those to go on it, then please do get in touch with Father Simon. He would love to hear from you!

3 Month Gap Experience with OYO Namibia

3 Month Gap Experience with OYO Namibia June, July and August 2011 (max 89 days)

Would you like to work with an NGO that harnesses the arts to engage, inform and empower young people to tackle HIV and related social issues? We are seeking self-motivated and energetic young people to volunteer with OYO, the Ombetja Yehinga Organisation (meaning Red Ribbon in the Otjiherero language) in Windhoek. You will be working for Namibian youth through OYO’s innovative, participatory magazine. Developed by youth, for youth, it covers a broad range of issues of importance to young people and provides young people in Namibia with accurate information on HIV, sexual and reproductive health, gender / human rights, and multiple social issues.

We are seeking individuals who have the skills to work on all aspects of this project. So, that means going to schools and working in partnership with OYO’s magazine assistants to facilitate discussions with learners about the topics, and to bring back contributions for future issues. Plus, selecting and editing contributions to the magazine (you’ll need excellent written English and a keen eye for detail). Depending on OYO’s needs and your skills, there will also be opportunities to attract media coverage, generate donor interest, sell advertising space, and develop art work. Aside from the magazine project, OYO has youth groups and a Dance Troupe, so again, depending on your time, your skills and the needs of OYO, it may be possible for you to contribute to these projects also. The majority of your work would take place in and around our head office in Windhoek, the capital city. You will also have the opportunity to accompany Alfa, our Regional Coordinator, on two of his regional visits, one to the Erongo region where our office is by the coast in Swakopmund, and one to the unique Kunene region, home to the Ovahimba. We will also ensure that you are able to take two weeks off from busy OYO life so that you can enjoy Namibia at your own pace, and explore other parts of the country should you wish (at your own expense).

How much does it cost? £2400, which includes your accommodation, your in-country travel for OYO and contributes to OYO’s costs for hosting you in Head Office. We will also ask you to fundraise using justgiving.com, with a target of £500, which you are of course welcome to exceed! You could do a sponsored run, singathon, speed-dating or wine-tasting…. To raise awareness of what you’re doing and of OYO’s work, as well as to provide OYO with much-needed core funding to enable us to reach more young people with life-changing projects. You need to book and pay for your own international flight to Windhoek airport (please agree dates and times with us before booking). You will also want to bring money to cover your day-to-day living costs, ie transport, meals and socialising. N$100 per day should be about right, which is around £10 per day, though check the current exchange rate as it does vary. How do I apply? Please send us your CV and your statement of interest, explaining why you’d like to spend 3 months with OYO. Include what you think you could offer to OYO‘s projects in terms of your skills, experience and interests, and also what you think you would gain personally from your time with us. Please confirm in your letter that you are available for the entire three months of June, July and August and that you are able to cover the costs of the international flight and to organise any necessary travel documentation, insurance and health care, eg passport, holiday visa, immunisations, etc. Email your application to claire@ombetja.org before 20 April 2011. Following your emailed application, you may be invited for a skype or telephone interview. You are also welcome to email any queries.

Oxford Marriage Preparation Team

The Oxford Marriage Preparation Team is seeking new Team members. The Team provides practical insight to engaged couples in preparation for the life-long commitment of Marriage. Married couples of 5 to 20 years standing would be ideal. Training is provided. Please contact Fr John SJ

Assumption Volunteer Programme

Assumption Volunteer programme—The Religious of the Assumption are an international Catholic congregation of Sisters. They are looking for volunteers to take up the challenge of living for one year in a culture that is very different to their own and share their lives and skills with poor, young and marginalized people They offer opportunities in the UK, the Philippines, Tanzania, Rwanda, Brazil, USA. Find out more @ www.alvp.co.uk

Ukrainian English Summer School

Here at the Ukrainian Catholic University we are preparing to host our 17th Annual English Summer School, where East meets West in the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains in Western Ukraine.

We would like to invite you and your students to consider dedicating the month of July 2011 to help rebuild the Church in Eastern Europe by teaching English in Ukraine. Each year we welcome college students, campus ministers and other volunteers from the United States and Western Europe to teach at the school, which provides a summer immersion experience to supplement our students’ language study during the academic term.

Our school provides a unique opportunity for cross-cultural exchange. Volunteers experience the Eastern Christian spirituality of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, including participation in Divine Liturgy and other prayer services, meeting and talking with Eastern Catholic priests and seminarians, religious, and laity, and learning about the witness of the Underground Church during the Communist oppression. (I promise you will agree with Pope Benedict XVI that “The Ukrainian Catholic Church is a cause of joy and hope.”) An initial teacher-orientation program helps prepare volunteers for their work, as well as provides an opportunity to experience life in the city of Lviv, the historic and cultural center of Western Ukraine.

There is no charge for the program. Volunteers are responsible for travel costs and then the university covers all the costs of meals and lodging in Ukraine.

As students (and campus ministers!) return to campus, they begin to seriously consider their summer plans. We invite you to support our ministry by helping to get the word out about this wonderful opportunity. And it’s never too soon to plan for next year. More information at:
www.ucu.edu.ua/ess. And see fact sheet:UCEF Camp 2010 Fact Sht

Tanzania Video

Here is the YouTube video of the August trip to Tanzania!
Trip to Tanzania

Oxford-Tanzania Link

Oxford-Tanzania Link The Chaplaincy is linked to the Nyakahoja Primary School in Mwanza, Tanzania. Those interested in fund-raising for a new secondary school and summer teaching opportunities please contact Fr Simon SJ

CAFOD Group

CAFOD Group Contact imogen.suttong@merton.ox.ac.uk
Working to raise awareness of global issues of justice through the international Catholic charity. Soup lunch every Friday after Mass.

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