Bosco Volunteer Action (BOVA)sends volunteers to serve with Salesian projects around the world. Volunteers have the oportunity to use their exisiting skills and talents, and to learn about other cultures while developing new skills and helping the young in a variety of projects. Hiowever, when making a commitment to live in a totally new environment and culture, good preparation is essential, and BOVA has a great dela iof expertise in valuable new skills and and good preparation is essential.

In early April, two volunteers met with BOVA's animator Anita and Fr Martin Poulsom SDB to spend the weekend discerning discerning long term placements in Salesian communities overseas starting summer of 2017. The team is looking forward to welcoming them back for Round 2 of training!

In addition to the specific training given by BOVA, volunteers who will serve overseas are also offered a week-long Orientation conducted by the Lay Missionary and Volunteer Network (LMVN), in which BOVA has been a major partner for many years. Current LMVN member organisations also include the Assumption Volunteers, 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 the 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.

BOVA’s Anitha Motha said: ‘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. The LMVN orientation week then offers an opportunity to practice living as a community with fellow volunteers, of different ages, experiences and backgrounds. The quality of the training sessions is 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 different volunteering organisations.

‘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.’

BOVA is still accepting applications for short and long-tern volunteering with Salesian communities overseas, to begin this summer.

For more information, contact BOVA