austraLasia

?

Shortcut

PrevPrev Article

NextNext Article

Larger Font Smaller Font Up Down Go comment Print Attachment
FIS
2018.07.21 05:12

4793(II)_Short but worthwhile

Views 1162 Comment 0

20180721_FIS.jpg


SMV Experience in Cambodia


By Zenaida Ann Miranda


Cebu, the Philippines, 20 July 2018 -- We are sharing the experiences and learning of our young volunteers Marga, Karen and Christine who went for a one-month volunteering in Cambodia. Surely, their valuable contributions will help enrich the Salesian missions.


By Margarita Rio V. Diongzon


My journey started last February 13, 2018 as one of the four volunteers sent by the FIS Province to Don Bosco Technical School, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.


"It feels like home", I whispered to myself as soon as I stooped down my feet in Cambodia. I effortlessly adapted some of their values, beautiful culture and the unique taste of their food. I wouldn't have made it without the help of the Salesians, boarders, teachers, Besucco boys and my fellow volunteers who had been with me and made me feel that I am not totally a stranger. Hence, they all treated me as a family member.


For a month being with them, I genuinely felt the sincerity and eagerness of each individual inside the community to learn. It was very fulfilling for me to help the teachers, boarders and other people there who were very interested to learn English. The local people were very warm and the children were very respectful.


It was a bumpy ride during the first days of my volunteer work. I encountered many obstacles, expectations, a lot of pressure, anxieties and self-doubts that sometimes overshadowed me and lessened my self-esteem but through my faith, tough determination and a very good support system I managed to get through it. Every time I look at the children, boarders and teachers, I was reminded again of the reason why I am in Cambodia and why I volunteered.


The simple way of living in Cambodia made me appreciate all the smallest things that life has to offer and be grateful for what I have. The spontaneous saying of "Thank you so much, Teacher" from the children, boarders and teachers and the brightest smile they gave made me feel at ease and fulfilled. Those little things occupied the biggest part of my heart.


Even though I stayed for a very short amount of time, I've learned that some lessons can't be taught and not all classrooms have four walls.


By Karen J. Castigador


The summer of 2018 in the Philippines has been my most anticipated summer for I know I would be doing something I have not done in my life yet. Upon hearing the invitation of volunteering in Cambodia, I was unsure of whether I felt fear or excitement.


I have heard people talk about the benefits of volunteering - a way to touch the lives of others. But I didn't fully grasp the impact of the idea until I started volunteering myself. And this decision changed my life forever.


In my short stay as a volunteer , I met people whom I never thought would become very important to me. Most of them were the boys whom we tutored in the Besucco house. They came from low-income families whose could not afford to send them to school. I had the chance to help them with their homework, talk to them and develop a bond with them.


The more I worked with them the more I realized I have learned to love them. Many of them didn't have the chance to learn English. Because I knew that I and other volunteer were licensed in the field, we decided to accept the privilege of helping them.


Little did I know that while I was teaching them the basics of English, they too, are teaching me things. Every time a child got scared of failing, every time a child got frustrated, it taught me patience. Every time they share a part of their stories and hold on to me, it taught me that they somehow depended on me, that I have somehow become a part of their lives. And in every single time they accomplish even the simplest tasks, it gave me a sense of accomplishment for myself. But among all these, they taught me one most important thing: to give.


I would always remember what Fr. MC George once told us, "When you volunteer, whether it be for a year, six months or even a month, you give a part of your life to people. You'll be amazed at how much you'll gain from them than how much they'll gain from you.", and I have been a witness to that.


I can say that volunteering my time to teach English was one of the best things I have done in my existence. My experience taught me that money shouldn't be my motivation for working, and that motivation for me is knowing that I have reached out and touched the lives of people in a positive way.


Furthermore, I learned to be part of the community life from the Salesians and that they have schedules to follow each day and ensure that their presence through the brother assistants among the youth are constantly felt and seen. Culturally, I was able to observe Cambodians’ great love for their families. They always put their families as their top priority.


This month long experience widened my view of the world and of people. I may not be able to point it out, but I know something in me changed. And I may not know when, but this definitely won't be my last. I am looking forward to more of these life-changing experiences in the future.


By Christine L. Umpad


My month-long volunteering experience in Don Bosco Technical School in Phnom Penh, Cambodia is quite short, but very worthwhile for I learned a lot. The Salesian priests and brothers have taught me the value of an individual’s presence to others.


That, the best gift you can offer others is your time – be with them! Despite the hectic schedule brought by their work, they see to it that they could still sit, play or talk with the students, which is the essence of being a Salesian. Also, during our chitchats I was able to learn and understand the culture and a little of Cambodia’s history, which to me are very helpful in knowing the Cambodians especially the students. Being with the students was indeed a grateful experience! They are very warm with us. I’ll never forget the endless times when they were very patient in teaching me the basic steps in dancing. To add, are the moments when they taught me Khmer words and expressions that I hardly could speak and remember. I couldn’t thank them enough for the friendship and the time spent together. In a month, I never thought of meeting such a number of people with good hearts, and that includes the Besucco boys. Sokhen, Pheak, Chetra, Borey and Sophanara are the boys that were assigned to be our tutee. It was honestly a bit challenging task but it was fulfilling. They genuinely showed me the happiness in living simply. Listening to their life dreams is really inspiring – for they believed that difficulties couldn’t hinder them in reaching their goals.


Volunteering, in a foreign land, required me to be flexible in different situations. The Khmer food taste and the language barrier were some of the challenges I was exposed to. For me, it was easier to adapt with their food taste than to memorize basic words and expressions. But if given a chance to stay longer, maybe I will be more familiar with of Khmer words and expressions. But these challenges had taught be to be more adaptable, sensitive and understanding with the other people’s culture.


The whole is experience is something I will truly treasure! Growing up in a Salesian center, particularly in Don Bosco-Pasil, Cebu City, I received a lot of formations back then. I was glad that I was given this opportunity to share what I have learned to others especially to the youth. With this, is my promise to continue being a Salesian Lay Volunteer. If given another chance, I still am willing to do another volunteering works, but for a longer duration. In volunteering you don’t just share, you gain priceless things such as experience, knowledge and friends. For the more you give yourself to others, the more you will learn and value yourself.




20180721_FIS1.jpg


20180721_FIS2.jpg


20180721_FIS3.jpg


20180721_FIS4.jpg


20180721_FIS5.jpg


Attach

Drag and drop your files here, or Click attach files button.

Maximum File Size : 0MB (Allowed extentsions : *.*)

0 file(s) attached ( / )

  1. 6315_Spiritual Recollection, THA Salesian Cooperators of the Northeast

    By THA SC Udonthani, Thailand, 2 March 2024 -- On 24 February 2024, the Advisory Council of the Association of the Salesians Cooperators of Thailand, led by Mrs. Navaporn Kitsawat, the Coordinator, went to visit and join in the Spiritual Re...
    Date2024.03.03 CategoryTHA Reply0 Views192 file
    Read More
  2. 6314_Regional Councillor on Extraordinary Visitation to Timor-Leste

    By TLS SocCom Team Comoro, Dili, Timor-Leste, 1 March 2024 -- From 24 to 26 February 2024, the Regional Councillor, Father Joseph Nguyen Phuoc SDB, carried out the Extraordinary Visitation in the community of St. John Bosco CENTEC in Dili. ...
    Date2024.03.01 CategoryTLS Reply0 Views106 file
    Read More
  3. 6313_FIN Holds Vocation Camp

    By CSCom News Service Manila, the Philippines, 1 March 2024 -- The Zepherin Camp commenced last February 28, 2024. With 42 campers, courageously seeking out God's will for them, the participants were exposed to the different apostolates...
    Date2024.03.01 CategoryFIN Reply0 Views54 file
    Read More
  4. 6312_FIN Holds Webinar on Content Creation

    By CSCom News Service 24 February, via Google Meet --To understand the use and impact of short-form content (TikTok, Reels, Shorts) vs traditional social media (YouTube, Twitter), the Commission on Social Communication (CSCom) of the FIN Pr...
    Date2024.03.01 CategoryFIN Reply0 Views52 file
    Read More
  5. 6311_Empowering Animators: Transforming Perspectives and Practices

    By Lucy Napitalai Port Moresby, PNG, 26 February 2024 -- The Media Education Seminar program commenced on Saturday, 24 February 2024, after a break from the previous year. Seventeen animators and teachers from catholic institutions particip...
    Date2024.02.26 CategoryPGS Reply0 Views90 file
    Read More
  6. 6310_The sharing of the Strenna 2024

    By A. Maung Maung, SDB Anisakan, Myanmar, 25 February 2024 -- On 24 February 2024, the sharing of the Strenna 2024 was organized by Salesian Family Commission at Don Bosco Provincialate, Anisakan, Pyin Oo Lwin, Myanmar. The event began with...
    Date2024.02.25 CategoryMYM Reply0 Views176 file
    Read More
  7. 6309_SYM invited to be Good Shepherds

    By Fr. Ambrose Pereira, SDB Boroko, PNG, 24 February 2024 -- 16 Animators were part of a day-long SYM meeting at the Emmaus Conference Centre, Boroko, on 23 February 2024. Fr. Moise Palaku, Coordinator for the Youth Ministry Commission, ani...
    Date2024.02.24 CategoryPGS Reply0 Views106 file
    Read More
  8. 6308_INA: One step before the final

    By P. Servrin, SDB Blitar, Indonesia, 22 February 2024 -- 19 February – 9 March 2024 is a very important time for the final year students of vocational high school St. Joseph, Blitar, East Java. This time period is the time allocated ...
    Date2024.02.23 CategoryINA Reply0 Views97 file
    Read More
  9. 6307_The 4th meeting day of the EAO Regional Team Visit program in 2024

    By SC Vietnam K'Long, Vietnam, 18 February 2024 -- On the morning of 17 February 2024, the Rector Major celebrated Mass on the last day of Team Visit 2024. During the Mass, he shared his experience visiting provinces around the world an...
    Date2024.02.19 CategoryVIE Reply0 Views186 file
    Read More
  10. 6306_Gratitude to VIE and the Road Map ahead

    By Fr Ambrose Pereira, SDB K’Long, Vietnam, 18 February 2024 -- The East Asia Oceania (EAO) Team visit concluded on 17 February 2024. At the end of four intensive days of presentations by the councillors, sharing and discussions, the ...
    Date2024.02.19 CategoryVIE Reply0 Views213 file
    Read More
List
Board Pagination Prev 1 ... 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 ... 537 Next
/ 537