SHARE THE MISSION volunteer
program, invites Lasallian young adults to share with
Brothers and Partners in critical ministries and community
living. Volunteers in partnership will deepen the impact
of the District Mission especially to very disadvantaged
young people. They broaden Lasallian community lifestyle.
They challenge all to renew themselves in their Lasallian
vocation.
Program Aims
Our Placements offer unique opportunities to:
• Participate in exciting ministries in one of
three countries
•Explore further personal values, spirituality
and direction in life
•Experience faith-based community living
•Develop and deepen being a Lasallian
Placement Essentials
Openings are in education in mission and trade schools,
in social welfare / training work, or in youth ministry.
Share the Mission Volunteers (SMV's), usually in pairs,
live for the nine months (late February till mid November)
in a community with Brothers. Possibilities exist for
half-year Placements. Each has an experienced Mentor.
There is an orientation program and a transition-home
program, with most expenses paid.
Some possible ministry placements are:
Luurnpa Catholic School, Balgo
Hills, in the Western Desert of the Kimberley
in Western Australia offers experience of a poor, remote
indigenous mission community of the Kukatja people.
Work can be teaching, assisting local Teacher Aides,
helping with computers, sports supervision and coaching,
or library resource production. Adaptable, resilient,
open people, working outside city life are needed.
BoysTown Employment Access
in outer Brisbane, Queensland or Adelaide, South Australia,
is an agency of BoysTown, a company owned by the Brothers.
It offers a broad, professional range of welfare programs,
for very disadvantaged youth- teenage to young adult-
struggling with personal, family and employment issues.
Involvement can be assisting youth work teams, trades
and enterprises learning help, teaching social skills,
work in induction processes, emergency help or case
planning
Hohola Youth Development Centre
is an unfunded Permitted School in the capital Port
Moresby, Papua New Guinea. It serves teenage/ older
students mainly from Settlement Areas without access
to normal high school. Placement involves assisting
in sports, trades, leadership and campus ministry.
Mainohana Catholic High School,
Boroko is open to school or youth involvement.
It offers a simple lifestyle and outreach to disadvantaged
youth in a developing Melanesian country which values
education. Both above places have restricted social
activity and are in tropical climates.
De La Salle College Mangere
is a boys secondary school in South Auckland, New Zealand,
which is a low socio-economic area. The largely Polynesian
environment provides opportunities for broad cross-cultural
work in teacher assistance / teaching in special needs
learning, youth ministry / leadership animation, sports
coaching.
Lasallian metropolitan schools need assistance in youth
ministry and special needs education.
Personal Requirements:
Anyone who is 18 years and over, in good health, with
a current Christian commitment to marginalized people
can apply. One needs demonstrated social skills, initiative
& independence, openness to leadership growth and
to new cultures. Usually male and female applicants
come from Lasallian schools, but selection does not
preclude others.
Currently employed Lasallian Partners are invited also
to apply for possible vacant positions in selected Placements.
Applying and Selection
The first step is to make contact (see names below),
and find out, face-to-face, the dimension of the Program.
This involves an information session and careful thought
and advice before applying. The candidate has a certain
measure of choice in their preferred Placement, with
final decision for selection resting with program organisers.
Interviews are in late September.
Expenses / Legalities
The Brothers pay for your travel to and from Placement,
costs of accommodation, meals and insurance. Participants
receive an Allowance, but provide also their own spending
money. As one works with young people, a compulsory
police clearance is required.
Induction
A week-long induction program in February will help
you to explore and understand the experience, its commitments
and what you could reasonably expect to benefit from
it.
What are my hopes and motivations? What are the expectations
of those I’ll be working and living with? What
particular skills and potential do I have to offer that
fits the Placement? How is this a Christian program?
What legal and safety aspects do I need to know?
Mentoring Support and Accompaniment
Once in your Placement, a" Mentor" helps you
to be at home, and induct you to the work-place and
your living in a faith community. You have a skilled
"Service Supervisor" as well. They "walk
with you" as you take initiatives, set yourself
goals & achieve in your service work. The Brothers
also support you.
Transition, Home and Acknowledgement
In mid November there is a group de-briefing and evaluation
time and a time to reflect with other Volunteers on
experiences and the future. Formal recognition of your
service as a SMV is given publicly. You are encouraged
to share your Placement experience with others and keep
up association with the Lasallian District.
Personal Rewards
These can be many. Some are~
• Living and learning in a different culture and
community;
• Up-skilling and discovering personal strengths
and abilities previously unidentified;
• Associating more deeply as a Lasallian &
energising others;
• Experiencing close-up commitment to disadvantaged
young people.
More Information:
Br Gary Wilson, Program Manager
+ 61 (02) 9795 6422
garywilson@delasalle.org.au
Br Mark McKeon, Youth Ministry Director
+ 61 (02) 9795 6412
markmckeon@delasalle.org.au
Br Anthony Cummins (New Zealand)
+ 64 (09) 276 4319
brtony@delasalle.net.nz
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