austraLasia #3343
KOR, 25th SIYV (Salesian International Young Volunteers) Program at Poipet
SEOUL: 5 January 2013 -- 40 young volunteers and Salesian leaders left Seoul on 4 January for Poipet, Cambodia, for the 2014 winter volunteer team activity. The departure followed a Mass celebrated at the Provincial House in Seoul by Fr Vaclav Klement, General Councillor for Missions. The team will receive hospitality at Don Bosco Technical School at Poipet until 17 January. This has been the location also on earlier occasions for the volunteers programs being managed by Fr Gabriel Kang, a missionary from Korea.
This time around, participants have been lucky enough to receive their mission cross directly from the General Councillor, Fr Klement, who has been in Korea preaching the Salesians' annual retreat. "Even though this is quite a short program (for two weeks), you are very lucky to have a such special experience at the begining of the new year. Over these two weeks, I hope that all of you will find the young Jesus amongst your peers in a different culture and life style. May this experience be an opportunity for your faith to mature, and be an inspiration for some of you to chose a longer-term volunteer experience and indeed a life fully dedicated to following the Lord's call to be amongst and help the poor", Fr Klement urged the young volunteers in his homily.
This 25th SIYV team involves 40 people, 36 young volunteers (27 male and 9 female), 3 SDBs (Overall Director: Fr Michael Chang, Director: Fr Paul Choi, Assistant: Bro Stephen Kim) and a lay collaborator Ms Eusebia Kim, who works in the mission office in Seoul.
One female participant, Elizabeth Lee (16 years old, in 2nd Year High School, Gyeongju city), from the east-south part of the country, doesn't hide her expectations of the different experience ahead and telling us why she wants to join this two week program of living with local young people in Cambodia. "Four years ago, my elder sister was part of this program. My mum was very satisfied because after that, a significant change took place in my sister's life; she became much more positive. Both of them strongly advised me to take it up but I myself was interested in joining this program despite having to accept the lack of comforts and leaving home."
Most of the participants, as is the case for young Elizabeth, have been recommended by someone who has already had an experience of SIYV, a venture now in place for more than 10 years, and proving a success in contribute to both human maturity and growth in the faith of the young participants. "We might give very little help to local needs in two weeks with a small effort, but the real purpose and goal of this program is encountering other people sincerely, as we are brothers and sisters together despite our different background, language, culture, everything," says Bro. Kim who has several SIYV experiences already, under his belt.
We trust that the 25th SIYV program will be achieved safely and well, and that its members grow in global citizenship according to the program's intentions.
KOR, 25th SIYV (Salesian International Young Volunteers) Program at Poipet
SEOUL: 5 January 2013 -- 40 young volunteers and Salesian leaders left Seoul on 4 January for Poipet, Cambodia, for the 2014 winter volunteer team activity. The departure followed a Mass celebrated at the Provincial House in Seoul by Fr Vaclav Klement, General Councillor for Missions. The team will receive hospitality at Don Bosco Technical School at Poipet until 17 January. This has been the location also on earlier occasions for the volunteers programs being managed by Fr Gabriel Kang, a missionary from Korea.
This time around, participants have been lucky enough to receive their mission cross directly from the General Councillor, Fr Klement, who has been in Korea preaching the Salesians' annual retreat. "Even though this is quite a short program (for two weeks), you are very lucky to have a such special experience at the begining of the new year. Over these two weeks, I hope that all of you will find the young Jesus amongst your peers in a different culture and life style. May this experience be an opportunity for your faith to mature, and be an inspiration for some of you to chose a longer-term volunteer experience and indeed a life fully dedicated to following the Lord's call to be amongst and help the poor", Fr Klement urged the young volunteers in his homily.
This 25th SIYV team involves 40 people, 36 young volunteers (27 male and 9 female), 3 SDBs (Overall Director: Fr Michael Chang, Director: Fr Paul Choi, Assistant: Bro Stephen Kim) and a lay collaborator Ms Eusebia Kim, who works in the mission office in Seoul.
One female participant, Elizabeth Lee (16 years old, in 2nd Year High School, Gyeongju city), from the east-south part of the country, doesn't hide her expectations of the different experience ahead and telling us why she wants to join this two week program of living with local young people in Cambodia. "Four years ago, my elder sister was part of this program. My mum was very satisfied because after that, a significant change took place in my sister's life; she became much more positive. Both of them strongly advised me to take it up but I myself was interested in joining this program despite having to accept the lack of comforts and leaving home."
Most of the participants, as is the case for young Elizabeth, have been recommended by someone who has already had an experience of SIYV, a venture now in place for more than 10 years, and proving a success in contribute to both human maturity and growth in the faith of the young participants. "We might give very little help to local needs in two weeks with a small effort, but the real purpose and goal of this program is encountering other people sincerely, as we are brothers and sisters together despite our different background, language, culture, everything," says Bro. Kim who has several SIYV experiences already, under his belt.
We trust that the 25th SIYV program will be achieved safely and well, and that its members grow in global citizenship according to the program's intentions.
