(Pictured: BOVA volunteer Kazzi on her placement in India)

Helen Granger, Coordinator of the Assumption Volunteers and our own Anita Motha, Animator of Bosco Volunteer Action (BOVA) are part of the Lay Missionary and Volunteer Network, a partnership of Catholic organisations sending volunteers overseas. Here, they outline their collaborative work and share their own experiences and the insights of the volunteers in training, highlighting the value of the international volunteering experience, and of working in authentic collaboration with other groups

The Lay Missionary and Volunteer Network (LMVN) orientation course has been going since 1998. Several religious orders and groups which sent volunteers abroad decided to collaborate in an annual joint training course using expertise from all their organisations. Founder members included the Columbans, the Assumption, the Volunteer Missionary Movement, Mill Hill, the Xaverians and the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Today our member organisations include: Assumption Volunteers, Bosco Volunteer Action, Canonesses of the Holy Sepulchre, Columban Lay Missionaries, Jesuit Missions Volunteers, Lasallian Developing World Projects, Mill Hill Associates, Step into the Gap with CAFOD, Ursuline Links, Vides UK, VolunteeringCP and Volunteer Missionary Movement.

Over the years the course has evolved and improved and has become an excellent preparation for cross-cultural volunteering. The team leaders, venue and many of the speakers are provided by the participating organisations which keeps the costs very low for a week of this kind. The team and volunteers from last year's orientation week share their thoughts on this experience:

Some of the LMVN volunteers working together at the last orientation week

Based on your experiences, why is the orientation week a unique training opportunity?

Helen Granger, Co-ordinator of the Assumption Volunteers :

As part of my role, I have been involved in the LMVN for 11 years. Lately the courses have been held in Milleret House, Kensington, the mission house of the Assumption Sisters. Volunteer numbers have ranged from 5 to 18.
This week 15 – 22 July has been an excellent course, and 8 participants (from the Assumption Sisters, Jesuits and Salesians of Don Bosco volunteering projects) have moved from being apprehensive individuals to a more confident, caring, open, learning and high-performing group in just 8 days. They have not just been passive recipients of information but active learners and taken responsibility for the success of the course.

All training tries to provide the participants with knowledge and preparation for what may lie ahead. The joint orientation is much more than this. The different charisms of the organisations, different countries and lengths of service, different roles, ages and experiences help to make this week a first step into the unknown and participants can test their reactions and motivations with each other in a safe environment and help each other to move from an individual-based culture to a community-based one. They can also form a strong bond which will support them overseas.

Emma Greenfield, Volunteer Co-ordinator Jesuit Missions:
It is an extremely enriching week for our volunteers, and the chance to spend so much time with other volunteers was a real blessing them. Irrespective of where in the world the volunteers will be sent to, they soon realise that many of the doubts and anxieties (as well as the joys) are shared by everyone. The quality of speakers is consistently high and as well as excellent practical preparation for our volunteers it always challenges pre-conceived ideas and beliefs.

Anita Motha, Bosco Volunteer Action (BOVA) Animator:
Over the last 4 years of coordinating BOVA, the international volunteering project for the Salesians of Don Bosco, I have found the LMVN to be a particularly valuable network to belong to. The orientation week is one of our regular opportunities to collaborate and share the expertise of our member organisations with volunteers from across our organisations.

Normally BOVA volunteers would attend two residential training weekends as part of their pre-departure training, and these run throughout the year at our Salesian communities in the UK. However, if volunteers can give a full week to training in the summer, I do highly recommend the LMVN orientation week. It is an opportunity to practice living as a community with fellow volunteers, of different ages, experiences and backgrounds. The quality of the training sessions is of excellent and delivered by contributors from across faith-based organisations with expertise in volunteering, missions, communications, safeguarding, intercultural learning, justice and peace, spirituality and the charisms of the volunteering organisation and much more.

We also have a resident host team with staff from our member organisations, who are there to support volunteers throughout the training week and an intercultural day out to immerse the group to experience a new culture. Detailed planning goes into giving volunteers a range of input that is informative, fun and helps to build community.

Kevin Germaine, Assumption Volunteers Board Member:
It was uplifting, revitalising and very encouraging to see the group give generously of their time and commitment. They gelled together as a group very quickly and easily.

The programme provided an excellent range of thoughtful and practical sessions which will be an very useful toolkit for the volunteers throughout their time abroad. The programme covered many essential elements to prepare volunteers for their overseas experience – “things to know” and strategies to adapt and deal with situations they may encounter.

It also provides and experience of community living with like-minded people. It reinforced a shared understanding of what Christian generosity is in an atmosphere of faith. It was a learning experience which developed during the week and highlighted putting faith into action.

What would you say to anyone thinking about volunteering overseas (with a faith based organisation)?

Helen Granger:
Anyone who wants to volunteer overseas needs some training in order to prepare for living in a very different culture, both to avoid cultural misunderstanding and offence and to get the most out of (and put the most into) the experience. If the organisation you are going with doesn't offer any, tell them about the training offered by the LMVN and apply to be included. You will not regret it.

Emma Greenfield:
Go for it! In my experience, volunteering overseas isn't something it's ever possible to regret.

Anita Motha:
If you, or anyone you know, has even a small inclination to volunteer overseas do come and talk to any of the member organisations of the LMVN. I would recommend doing a bit of background research before picking the organisation you wish to volunteer with and the best way to do that is to have a conversation. Ask all the practical questions (about cost, duration, where you can go, what can you do), but also take some time to consider the bigger picture – why do these organisations work in the way that they do? Does this resonate with my own motivations for wanting a volunteer or missionary experience?

Before choosing a volunteer programme, ask the organisation:
- What will it cost? Where does the money go?
- Do I have to fundraise? Are there any grants available?
- What type of work will I be doing? Is it area specific?
- Will I be able to use my own skills when I'm there?
- What impact does volunteering have on the host community?
- Is there information on past volunteers' experiences?
- What happens after the placement? How am I supported?

Questions to ask yourself:
- Am I prepared to throw myself into the experience and be open minded, flexible, adaptable?
- What are my expectations of sending organisation, host community? What are their expectations of me?
- Can I speak to anyone I know who has volunteered overseas previously?
- What impact does volunteering have on the host community?

Some of these questions will have straightforward answers, and for those that don't, an orientation week like this will help to answer them!

Kevin Germaine:
Be prepared to receive more than you give. Keep an open mind about the context you're going to be living in and be adaptable. Keep communicating with trusted friends and advisors.

What our volunteers have to say¦

LMVN volunteers take a break - with a pet

What are your motivations for volunteering?

Hazel: With university finishing, I had to think about what I wanted to do next and when I came across this opportunity to volunteer abroad it just felt right. It's totally out of my comfort zone but I know it's what God wants me to do.

Alice: I guess in a way my motivations for volunteering are quite selfish. I love learning new things and immersing myself in another culture. However I really like the Assumption's ethos of different is great and I think that will be something that drives my work as well.

Rebecca: I have just graduated University and want to take some time to live in another culture and in a Catholic community. Furthermore, I am considering a career in teaching and was looking for an opportunity to get some teaching experience. I have several friends who have volunteered with the Salesians and who all strongly recommended me to also do so, when they heard about the kind of experience I was looking for.

Cecilia: I would like to experience life in a different part of the world, experience being welcomed into another culture, and offer help as far as I can to people who have had a very different experience of life to mine. I'd like to learn more about faith in action, and witness first hand the wonderful things that people do when motivated by their faith.

How has the orientation helped you to reflect and prepare for your upcoming volunteering?

Hazel: We got important advice about how to take care of yourself but also about being aware of the culture we are going to be living in. Volunteering abroad is a huge experience and can easily get overwhelming but the orientation helped me to feel prepared and ready to take on the challenges I might face.

Alice: Orientation has helped me prepare both spiritually and practically, although perhaps leaning more towards the spiritual. Our day spent going around other places of worship really got me thinking about my role as a catholic and how important to me a denomination or faith difference really was... There was lots of time for praying but the safeguarding, culture preparation, health and story sharing amongst others were all really helpful too.

Rebecca: The orientation helped me to prepare far more than I had anticipated. It particularly helped me to reflect on my role abroad as an inexperienced Westerner, and to challenge ingrained assumptions about the purpose of volunteering. It challenged me to explore how the social problems I might see close-up are connected to global and structural injustices. It provided me with helpful ways of understanding 'culture shock', as well as to deal with difficult situations which may arise regarding children's' safeguarding. I found the orientation particularly personally encouraging because it allowed me to meet and get to know others also embarking on a volunteering experience, or who had just returned from one. This was very inspirational, particularly because they were all so enthusiastic about their placements. Activities such as the teaching workshop also gave me some much-needed confidence in my ability to create improvised lessons.

Cecilia: The orientation week was such a rich experience, filled with opportunities for reflection, and the fact that the group got on so well and felt so comfortable in each other's presence made the whole experience so fulfilling. The varied sessions prepared us for the more practical aspects of volunteering, highlighting a few things I hadn't yet considered, but the focus on preparing mentally for what we are to experience was also really invaluable. One of the main things I'll take away is to be very aware of how certain cultures are perceived; as a 'Westerner', people will undoubtedly hold certain stereotypes about you, just as we hold stereotypes about others, no matter how much we try to not take them into account!

What would you say to anyone thinking about volunteering overseas (with a faith based organisation)?

Hazel: I would say if it feels right, just go for it. Read other people's volunteer stories and gather as much information from websites or talk to the coordinators to get a feel of what to expect. Even if it sounds scary, you'll be in good hands and you'll have loads help preparing for it. God has a plan for each of us and sometimes to know what it is we have to stretch outside our comfort zone. I feel volunteering abroad is an excellent way to experience faith in other cultures.

Alice: First of all pray about it and go for it!

Rebecca: I would definitely encourage anyone who is considering a volunteering placement with a faith-based organisation. It seems like such an amazing opportunity, I can't believe everyone isn't applying to do it! It's a chance to learn more about yourself, about other cultures, and to do so in a safe and life-giving environment.

Cecilia: Go for it! I cannot yet speak from experience but I am sure it will be very enlightening.

To find out more about volunteering abroad with the Salesians, visit our BOVA area