Three young people from ARY Chihuahua are volunteering in the Boys’ Town in Costa Rica between September 27 and December 12 and are seeing how their lives are changing, filled with positive experiences and learning to be happier, more aware and more committed.
The post-pandemic world and the new global social, economic, strategic and political cycles have significantly modified in recent years the way young people live their faith and participate in social and community initiatives.
To respond to this new challenge, the last Synod of the Augustinian-Recollect Youth (Salamanca, Spain, 2023) has placed special emphasis on missionary discipleship and the active and creative exercise of the vocation of service to the Church and local society.
For this reason, ARY Mexico promotes volunteering and the mission as spaces for revitalization and personal and community renewal. Volunteering is an impressive opportunity for personal and spiritual growth that not only affects the volunteer individually, but also their immediate environment (family, friends, youth group), the society that usually surrounds them and the people in the place where the voluntary service takes place.
The ARY movement themselve are renewed and revitalized in a palpable way: the more of their members have this experience of encounter, empathy and service with others, especially with the most disadvantaged, the more the group unites, the feeling of identity grows, mutual knowledge, affection intensifies and ties are strengthened.
ARY Mexico has around 150 members divided into three large geographic areas: Chihuahua (60 members), Mexico City (30 members) and Querétaro (132 members at Colegio Fray Luis de León and 20 at Lomas de Casa Blanca). During their volunteer work, Mexican ARYs have the opportunity to meet with the 140 members of ARY Boys’ Town.
Bryan Ricardo, Carlos Humberto and Diana are between 24 and 27 years old. They are Mexicans, members of the Augustinian Recollect Youth (ARY) and are in Costa Rica collaborating with the Boys’ Town, the socio-educational project of the Augustinian Recollects that offers comprehensive, school and technical education to young people from disadvantaged communities so that they can break the cycle of inequality and have the tools to have a dignified and collaborative life project.
This is their testimony.
Brayan Ricardo Romero • 24 years old
This volunteering is a transformative journey, both personal and community-based. I was motivated by the need to share my experiences and learnings with the beneficiaries and the team that cares for them, to help them find a path to personal satisfaction and emotional well-being.
One of the biggest challenges has been adapting to this culturally different environment, as in the case of meals, which was especially difficult for me, but which reminded me that volunteering is not only about what we give, but also about what we learn and receive.
I have been deeply impressed by seeing the courage of the beneficiaries. Far from their families, of their own free will, they follow the path of their education in an admirable way; without shortcuts, they have opted for effort and personal improvement: it is a powerful lesson.
I was also marked by the “United for a Dinner” campaign, a moment of meeting of the young people of the Boys’ Town with excluded people, who not only suffer from economic deprivation, but also from love, health and faith. It taught me to see beyond the material, to value empathy, the ability to put oneself in the place of another.
It has significantly changed my way of seeing volunteering. The impact is not always immediate, nor is it measured in large actions, but in small gestures of support, listening and presence. It has made me more empathetic and aware of the importance of generating fair and sustainable solutions. I have understood that being a volunteer not only transforms the community you serve, but it also transforms you.
It is important to be passionate about the cause, the love of serving is essential to maintain enthusiasm. It is an opportunity not only to help, but to grow as a person and discover new ways to connect with others.
Every day I feel grateful for contributing, knowing that, although my actions may seem small, they are helping to build a more resilient and empathetic community.
Carlos Humberto Estrada • 24 years old
This has been a unique opportunity to plant a seed with what I have learned and shared. Living with the kids in their daily lives, knowing how they think, where they come from, how they have overcome, has helped me, above all, to learn from them.
One of the biggest challenges is being away from my family: at times I have felt alone, homesick and sad. However, I managed to focus more on my spirituality and my ability to cope with negative thoughts with the same voluntary service.
At the “United for a Dinner” activity, I loved leading the young people to help those in need. Seeing how the spark of solidarity was lit in them filled me with joy. It is a memory that will always stay with me, because it made me feel part of something bigger.
At first, I had many doubts and fears; I thought that the young people would not approach us, that they would treat us as strangers. As the days went by, these fears disappeared and we began to live together in a closer way. Today I feel like their friend, part of their life.
This volunteering has also helped me to work more as a team, to commit more to my faith and to be a better listener. I have learned to share teachings and advice, and that has had a profound impact on me. It has made me value my family even more and has given me clarity about my ability to organize, create and integrate ideas in any community.
My advice for volunteering is to trust in yourself, not to be afraid to face fears and to throw yourself into the experience. It is a challenge, but also an opportunity for growth that is not so easy to find in any other activity.
Personally, volunteering has been a commitment for me, a constant learning process, and an opportunity for personal improvement. I hope I can motivate more young people to join volunteering, train and prepare others to live an experience as satisfying as mine.
I feel that my contribution to Boys’ Town has been positive. I have accompanied and motivated young people, I have encouraged them through music and, more importantly, I have left a mark on their faith and their motivation to continue forward.
Diana Laura Mendoza • 27 years old
From the beginning, my motivation as a volunteer was clear: I want to serve, learn from this community, and grow spiritually, following God’s will. I had no idea how much this experience would change my perspective or its profound impact on my life.
The biggest challenge I faced was leaving my comfort zone. It is easy to stay in what we know, but being here has required me to open up, both to get to know others and to let them get to know me. This process has been transformative, it has allowed me to genuinely connect with young people and collaborators, and I have discovered that every action, no matter how small it may seem, can have a huge impact on someone’s life.
At first, I thought that Boys’ Town was a place that simply provided education and support, but I soon realized that it is much more than that: values are sown here, psychological and spiritual support is offered, a home is provided. Every aspect of their life in community gives them tools to change their lives and become agents of change in society.
I have learned a lot during this time. I have realized the importance of listening and being truly present in what I do. Service, although it may seem simple, transforms what it touches when it is done with love and dedication.
Personally, I have grown by learning to let go, to value each daily effort and to find purpose in the everyday. I have discovered that we are not only here to help, but to learn and be better versions of ourselves.
Volunteering has deeply impacted my life. Now I see more clearly the value of each person and I realize the importance of being an example for young people. Everything we do leaves a mark, and being of service to others has changed the way I see myself and relate to the world.
If someone is thinking about volunteering, I would tell them to get to know themselves and give themselves without reservation. This type of service transforms you and allows you to find a deeper purpose. You don’t have to be afraid of change, because when you fall in love with what you do, everything makes sense.
I know that after this experience I won’t be the same person. This volunteering has shown me what it means to live with purpose, and I’m sure that, from now on, I will always look for opportunities to continue serving others.
What fills me most about this experience is knowing that the impact we leave is not always tangible, but young people see and learn from our example, and that is what really leaves a mark on their lives.
