MEX Programa de Voluntariado Internacional 2020 (IVP)

Background

The Mexican Province of the Society of the Sacred Heart, seeking to influence the transformation of reality, from the practice of justice, peace, and integrity of creation, has chosen to promote a volunteer program that encourages and facilitates the participation of lay people, especially young people who freely and responsibly wish to collaborate to this end.

Within this framework, the province of Mexico links up with other provinces, regionally and internationally, as well as with other volunteer groups and institutions and organisations with the dream of widening our spaces of intervention and collaboration, both in the transformation of reality and in the search for meaning for these young people.

Objectif

To offer, for a certain period of time, young volunteers concrete experiences of service and solidarity with people who are marginalised, acting in reciprocity and in collaboration with the educational programs where the Society of the Sacred Heart is present, so that by being part of the construction of a dignified and fraternal life for all, volunteers develop and strengthen their spiritual dimension and give meaning to their lives. 

Activities

• Promotion and dissemination of the MEX volunteer programme on digital media, for example, through testimonials of former volunteers.
• Communication and liaison with those in charge of the volunteer programme in other provinces.
• Training and accompaniment of the volunteers before, during and after the experience
• Evaluation and closing of the experience of the volunteer

Results

The MEX Volunteer Programme has sent volunteers to Chile and Cuba. 

In 2019 a Mexican volunteer was hosted in Cuba. In Cuba, she joined the youth group of the Sancti Spiritus Sacred Heart School and gave support to run summer camps throughout the month of July. Summer camps fostered the cultural, leisure and educational skills of children from 12 communities; care of the environment and of the community are key issues. During her volunteer experience, she was also given time for retreat.   

How the programme transformed the volunteer:

• The volunteer experience has given an orientation to the decisions volunteers have afterwards taken in their lives.
• It has strengthened their spirituality.
• They gained conviction that committed work is the only way to develop other realities.
• They have matured a sense of community that gives them life and strength.
• They have lived their volunteer experience as an opportunity to love and be loved.
• They have committed to open their eyes to the world they belong to. 

The MEX Volunteer Programme has been in liaison with the ESP and BFN volunteer programmes to host their volunteers in local MEX projects. French volunteers have offered their services in the MEX province in:

• its Cuidando el Tejido de la Vida León projects: Construyendo comunidad. Hacia la paz por caminos de participación, convivencia y ciudadanía and Iyolosiwa.
• its Jornadas Comunitarias en Centros Educativos Oblatos, Guadalajara. (2015 and 2017 one French volunteer during one summer month)

One ESP volunteer was hosted in Jornadas Comunitarias en Centros Educativos Oblatos, Guadalajara. (2015 and 2017).

 

 

Extra comments : 

Volunteers have been directed to Cuba and Chile (Colonias Urbanas en Michaihue)

The MEX province has received volunteers from the BFN and ESP province volunteer programmes.

 

People being served : Agents of transformation (Educators)

Age group : Young people 15-25

Number of participants : mai-50

Project status : Ongoing

Society presence : Mexico

Focus of the project : People

JPIC Imperative : Transforming and Being Transformed

UN Sustainable Development Goals : 17 Partnerships for the Goals