(ANS – Bonn) – Within the next few weeks, 55 young men and women will leave Germany as volunteers to spend one year serving disadvantaged young people. They will help in various projects run by the Salesians or the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians in South America, Africa, Asia and Europe.

The German Salesian Province has been active for several years in the field of international voluntary service. Every year, tens of young people apply to the offices in Bonn and Benediktbeuern, seeking information on the activities of the Salesians in different countries of the world. These two offices are responsible for the selection, accompaniment and training of the volunteers from the northern and southern parts of the province resepctively.

Voluntary service is a key element of Youth Ministry in the province and it is of great interest to the young people. Under the aegis of the “Don Bosco Volunteers”, the German province gives a concrete example of social commitment according to the mind of Don Bosco.  The experience gained in Voluntary Service contributes to the growth of the young people and plays an important role in the dialogue between cultures. The young volunteers carry this experience with them for the rest of their lives. Even after their time of volunteering, they continue to be committed in the area of human rights of young people, and they make an important contribution to the work of the Salesians in the province.

On 27 June and 14 July the Salesian Mission Office in Bonn and the Aktionszentrum Youth Centre in Benediktbeuern celebrated the sending of 55 Don Bosco Volunteers – 28 from Bonn and 27 from Benediktbeuern. The families of the volunteers took part in the celebrations, as well as other collaborators who are actively involved. The Masses in both places were marked by great emotion, and moments of reflection. Fr Stefan Stöhr SDB, Provincial Delegate for Youth Ministry, presided at both, and on each occasion he emphasized the importance of Voluntary Service in modern society.

The 55 young people will leave Germany at the beginning of September and will return after a year to reflect on their experience serving disadvantaged young people. This experience of human and spiritual formation will open new doors in life for all of them.

Published 17/07/2013