The Korea Salesians dispatch the Young Volunteers 

with Medical service team to Cebu, Philippines.

By Bro. Hilario Seo, SDB

Seoul, Korea - On the 18th of July, 50 volunteers have departed in Incheon International Airport at 8:30pm to help the people of Medellin, Cebu, Philippines affected by Typhoon Haiyan, last November 2013. This large team, consists of 33 medical specialists, 15 young volunteers and 2 SDB (Bro. Bosco Park and Fr. John Jeon) is the 28th batch of KOR to dispatch which started in 2003. They will give medical treatment and cultural exchanging activities in the said region from the 19th until 27th July.

“We considered this project as an exemplary realisation of the collaboration between the provinces in the EAO Region. Actually it would be the highest dimension of the practice of our youth ministry as well as international solidarity to give such experience to the youth volunteers, while supporting to suffering neighbours in collaboration with medical specialists. Specially it’s a kind of witness that we are in coherence with what was said by Pope Francis in his message to the Rector Major, Fr. Ángel Fernández Artime on the Bicentenary of the birth of St. John Bosco ‘promoting forms of social volunteering’.” Fr. Stefano Yang, the provincial of KOR expressing his deep gratitude to the generous help given by many supporters who directly joined in this project and defined the meaning of dispatching this medical mission and youth volunteer program.

Through the cooperation of two provincials (KOR and FIS), this launching of the volunteers project has a symbolic meaning considering the actual condition of the EAO Region. The Korean Province is deeply taking caution to the emerging phenomenon related to cultural sharing within the society after the diffusing of Fr. John Lee’s story. Particularly the eager awareness of uncountable number of benefactors and volunteers to share their time and fortune for those people in need. We are also looking for the forms to realise their ardent desire to be with the suffering neighbours.

We hope that this youth volunteer project with the medical service team continue, obtaining good results through the cooperation and appropriate management between provinces in the dimension of the Regione EAO.