Jesuit European Volunteers
Reports
Update: 25.06.2006
Jesuit European Volunteers Meeting
Dublin, Ireland, 8-11 May 2006
Jesuit European Volunteers from France, Germany, Poland, England and Ireland gathered in Manresa House, Dublin, 8-11 May 2006. The focus was time to share, and understand the experience of JVC form each of the European perspectives. This year was the 16th annual meeting. It was hosted by the JVC group where the meeting is held.
JVE, JEV, JVC…Many names and many ways to reach one single aim: following Christ from wherever we are, according to four pillars: social justice, community life, simple lifestyle, spiritual and human experience.
In September, we all started, here in Saint-Etienne, with different expectations, backgrounds and cultures. It was with a mixture of enthusiasm, curiosity and unanswered questions tickling our minds that the four of us started building up a community, knitting together our personality and views concerning life, God, social justice…..As time went on, we discovered little by little what the four pillars really meant and how the importance given to them differed. We realized straight away, though, the opportunity it would be to know ourselves and the others better.
In Dublin, meeting with the volunteers of Germany, England, Poland and
Ireland was another chance to question our experiences. Thanks to games,
panels we created, debates we had, we realized on the one hand that each
country, each community and even each person has its own point of view and
freedom to build up what his JVC year “should be”; on the other hand, in
spite of around ten different nationalities and more than twenty different
fields of social engagements, that praying together and dedicating a year of
our life to the JVC project required strong faith and courage provided by
God as long as we agreed to live the experience to the full and to be
“moved” by Him every day.
Four days in Dublin to discover a country that struck us as well, not only
by the wonderful landscapes, sea shores and cultural heritage, but also by
the dedication of Jesuits and laics giving time and even their lives to be
witnesses of God’s presence among the poorest and the most rejected.
Many of us don’t know what tomorrow will be made of, but it is with renewed confidence and joy that the meeting was closed and that we went back home!
...Reported byVéronique, a French volunteer
Contact: Ronan
Barry, Coordinator Jesuit Volunteer Communities and
Slí Eile Community Experience, Ireland
International JV Staff Meeting
Wroclaw, Poland, 30 January - 1 February 2004
The regular annual meeting of those responsible for the Jesuit European volunteers (JEV-JVC-JVE) took place during the weekend of 30 January – 1 February 2004 in Wroclaw, Poland. There were delegates from Britain, Germany, France, Slovakia and Poland. Those from Ireland and Switzerland apologized.
Beside usual exchange of information on the actual status of our volunteers and staff, we dedicated most of our time to the main topic: what is the legal status of non-governmental organisations which are sending and receiving volunteers in various countries? New legislation is recently introduced in some "entering" countries? We discussed also our relation and collaboration with the European Volunteer Services (EVS).
Although we don't see any easy way of cooperation with EVS now and in the
future, we took the decision to study more closely the legal development in
participating countries through sharing all accessible information.
As we did not get the necessary financing from our office in Munich for
organizing a meeting of all volunteers, which was originally planned in
Talhausen, Germany, during the last week of April, we looked for opportunities
and options to organize it anyway in changed conditions. We also have to
search for alternative financing possibilities.
...Reported by Bernard Misowic, JEV Slovakia,
bernard@nextra.sk
1. Representatives from the following countries attended the meeting, which lasted over two days in Wroclaw, Poland: Britain, France, Germany, Poland and Slovakia. A variety of topics were discussed and points for action agreed, and these are summarised below.
2. Each representative updated the others on their volunteer programme including the numbers involved, new developments, the formation programme and plans for the future. In total there are 88 volunteers across Europe for the year 2003 - 2004.
3. In April 2004 a five-day meeting for many of these volunteers will take place in Thalhausen, near Munich, hosted by JEV Germany. The theme of the meeting will be 'Breaking Down the Barriers', in the light of greater European integration this year. The group discussed the proposed programme and reached agreement over some the financial aspects of funding the event.
4. Looking at the wider financial situation of the 'Common Fund' between the various countries, each organisation present agreed to pay a contribution into the fund. In addition ideas to raise further funds were generated.
5. The differing legal status of volunteers in the various countries was discussed. In Poland the status of 'volunteer' has recently been recognised and it is hoped that this will soon be the case in Slovakia. In the other countries there are no particular problems associated with being a volunteer.
6. JEV Germany updated the group on plans for World Youth Day in Cologne in 2005. There will be a strong Jesuit presence at the event and opportunities for volunteers past and present to be involved.
7. There was discussion on how to involve Jesuits at a European level and it was agreed to invite the European Provincial to a future meeting to update him in person with developments.
The next meeting will take place between January 28th and 30th 2005, in
either Munich or Lyon.
...Reported by Josef Singer, Jesuit European Volunteers
Kaulbachstraße 31 a, 80539 München
team@jev-online.de -
http://www.jev-online.de
International Volunteers Meeting
Wroclaw, Poland, 22-29 April 2001
The 2001 international volunteers meeting takes place in Wroclaw, Poland
from April 22-29th. This is an annual tradition of JEV, to enable a number of
volunteers from each country's JV-program to meet, exchange and compare their
experiences and reflections about the social, cultural and political
structures in existence in their own countries. This also allows the
opportunity for the volunteers to compare the varying degrees inhow they
practice the four tenets of JEV.
Participants for the International Volunteer's Meeting this year include
32 volunteers and 5 leaders:
- Ireland: 6 & no leader
- UK: 4 & Chris Hogg
- Slovakia: 5 & Jan Revak SJ
- Poland: 4 & Andrzej Sarnacki SJ
- France: 5 & Marie Boissier
- Switzerland: 1 & no leader
- Germany: 5 & Shannon Pfohman
This is week long seminar and the theme is “Different Cultures, Similar Challenges".
Report: International Meeting in Wroclaw, Poland, 22-29 April 2001
For an entire week in April, thirty-two Jesuit Volunteers and their leaders from Poland, Slovakia, France, England, Switzerland, Ireland, Austria and Germany gathered for an international exchange in Angelusa Silesiusa house in Wroclaw, Poland. The theme for the week was “Different Cultures, Similar Challenges".
The aim for the meeting was to offer an atmosphere in which JEVs could meet
in order to develop a better understanding between thevolunteers from
different European countries. The participants were asked to review typical
judgments and stereotypes they had about one another or about people from the
various countries represented. Throughout the week, they were then challenged
to break down these existing stereotypes and
preconditioned notions.
Individuals were also encouraged to share their personal experiences as Jesuit Volunteers and to compare the values of social justice, spirituality, simple lifestyle and community living as they are practiced in the different countries. By communicating with one another, obvious differences and similarities were seen and discussed in regard to the political, cultural and social views of the volunteers. By the end of the seminar, all felt they had grown in understanding not only the other countries, but in understanding their own as well.
One participant writes: “I came, I saw and I didn't want to leave! With these words, I can summarize my experience at the international volunteers meeting in Poland in which I was able to participate. I have been back in Berlin for just over a week and I am still thinking about this seminar in Wroclaw. It was a very lovely experience for me, incomparable to the other reflection seminars I have attended since the start of the year. It is simply enriching when young adults from so many countries join together in one place, where they can speak about the four values of JEV, which are uniquely practiced in the various countries, and share their ideas and experiences with one another. I really enjoyed the week and am thankful for the chance to have participated."
...Reported by Shannon Pfohman