Rome (Italy). From 8 to 19 July 2024, the Generalate (RCG) in Rome of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians hosted the Formation course in preparation for an international volunteer experience organized by the FVGS Foundation of VIDES International Onlus accredited to the “Department for Youth Policy and Universal Civil Service”.
The course was attended by 14 young people from different parts of Italy, who are preparing for a year of service in Mexico and Madagascar. Here is how they lived the formation experience:
The areas hosting the formation course and the comforting and gentle presence of the many Sisters resident in the house – absolute protagonists, together with us 14, of this experience – have guaranteed an ideal climate to lull the set of emotions that anticipate the departure. As Francesca says, in preparation for the mission in Mexico, in Tuxtla: “Living this experience of formation in a Salesian and multicultural environment was certainly valuable. The kindness of the Sisters and their silent smiles accompanied us all along, and these are memories that I will always carry with me.”
Days full of doubts, questions, fears and concerns, but also of much euphoria, desire to do, to experiment, and participate in the varied proposals of the formation. “I came to Rome for formation full of emotion, but at the same time with many questions. These two weeks were crucial to clarify the doubts and to make me fully understand the importance of an experience like the Civil Service. Meeting the other girls was a great help; having lived this formative moment with them made these days special,” says Angela, volunteer leaving for Ocotepec in Mexico.
Pieranna, who is going to Madagascar, says the same, “I was looking forward to meeting the group of volunteers and starting this new adventure. They were very intense days, full of contrasting emotions, at the same time enriching and stimulating. I will leave with greater awareness, a lot of energy, and the desire to put myself into play.”
The two-week formation proposal was interesting and not unimportant. The topics covered were varied, some with a more academic-theoretical focus, for example: historical path on conscientious objection, human rights, international cooperation, etc., others of a practical and informative type, such as Child Protection Policy, design and evaluation of a journey for Civil Service, regulation of relations between voluntary organizations and voluntary ministries, contractual and insurance constraints, etc.
For Sara, a 23-year-old volunteer leaving for Mexico, Ocotepec, it was extremely interesting to know the historical path of struggles and positions taken by Italian non-violent movements, of which she had never heard. Without them, today we would not have this fundamental opportunity for personal growth by collecting the inheritance of those who before us and like us believe in Peace among peoples and put their hopes in the community.
Many other meetings were focused on educative and relational dynamics, Positive comparison and dialogue through analysis/debate exercises on the management of conflict situations and communication styles; an attentive focus on knowledge and divergent thinking, useful in situations that “go out” from our schemes of understanding the surrounding reality and of the situation-problem and, in addition, moments of inner search through manipulation and artistic-creative expression, with realization of artifacts, theatricalization, dance, and body expression, creative writing, etc.
In first place was the team of people working and collaborating with FVGS and VIDES International to coordinate them. Their presence and words allowed us to understand the importance of having a “structure” behind us, a network of people ready to intervene and attentive to the needs of the individual volunteer, together with a team of professional educators, different in approach and personality. They have given us a very important alternative outlook, as well as concrete operational tools for our mission on educative techniques and strategies.
The formation period also included a meeting with the Italian Red Cross, where we were better prepared on pediatric First Aid and a comparison, very full of questions, stories, and sharing of emotions, with former volunteers of the Foundation, who left before us for the missions that await us.
“Meeting Francesca, the volunteer who preceded me in Manazary, was very helpful as it allowed me to confront another person who has already had this experience. Thanks to her testimony, I now feel more confident and serene”, says Martina who will leave for Manazary in Madagascar.
These days have been, therefore, a “preventive journey” that has lightened our thoughts and consolidated our will to leave as united volunteers, all 14 in an unusual but very powerful ‘feminine’ composition from a single emotional thread, which, thanks to these days of sharing and intimate reciprocity, we’ll know we can rely on if necessary. Special thanks go, once again, to the Sisters, who welcomed us in these weeks, without judgment and with spontaneous generosity. (Video)
On 18 July, at the end of the experience, the young women, accompanied by Sister Annecie Audate, Director General of VIDES International, lived an evening of fraternity expressing gratitude to Sister Carla Castellino, Animator of Mary Help of Christians Community, and to the Sisters who made them feel at home.
