Ernest in Sierra Leone

Ernest Vidal met the Augustinian Recollects through his Parish in Benigànim, Valencia, Spain, where there is an important spirituality centre of the Discalced Augustinian Nuns. In the magazine “Blessed Inés” he has written this article promoting volunteering with ARCORES, which he had experience of in Sierra Leone.

The Augustinian Recollects are the religious Order that has been responsible for the Parish of Benigànim until the end of 2019. In addition to religious and pastoral activities, the Order has an international solidarity aid network called ARCORES, which is responsible for organising and channelling all solidarity actions in the countries where the Order is present, currently more than 20 around the world.

ARCORES is constituted as an NGO in Spain and in other countries; and ARCORES Spain is present in the solidarity actions that are carried out in other places of the Network, such as the Philippines, Costa Rica, Peru, Venezuela, Argentina, Brazil, Sierra Leone

ARCORES is in contact with the most needy and vulnerable and for this reason its lines of action are very diverse; for example, there is a sponsorship program for girls and boys who do not have guaranteed education in their countries, giving them an opportunity that life has denied them.

ARCORES, aware of the problems and needs of each place, maintains programs related to migrants on the southern border of the United States, in New Mexico; another for the protection of girls who have suffered sexual violence in Fortaleza, Brazil; another to break the cycle of poverty with vulnerable minors in Boys’ Town, Costa Rica; another for environmental protection and integral ecology on the island of Apo (Philippines)…

One of the most notable activities, with great success, is its international volunteer program. ARCORES organizes summer volunteering programs in which it sends young people and adults between the countries where it is present. Volunteers from places like Spain have been to Bacolod (Philippines), Kamalo and Kamabai (Sierra Leone), Chota (Peru), Tononicapán (Guatemala), Guamote (Ecuador), Fortaleza (Brazil), David (Panama)…

In this program, the personal and human experience of connecting and relating with people from cultures and social realities so different from one’s own is tremendously enriching.

Volunteering begins with training sessions in which groups of three to five people are organized to go to the different destinations. Activities are planned, specific information is provided about the situation and conditions of the host community and basic notions of health, first aid, etc. are provided.

A trip like this generates many unknowns, but with this preparation and the knowledge acquired, everything is much easier. It is also reassuring to know that in all destinations there is a community of Augustinian Recollects waiting to take care of the volunteers and look after them.

No two volunteer projects are the same, or even similar, because in each country the social situation and cultural reality is completely different. A volunteer project in Ecuador is not the same as one in Brazil or the Philippines. The problems are unique and volunteers must know how to adapt to them, be in contact with the people, get to know them, learn from them, their culture and traditions, empathize with their problems…

In each volunteering experience, you learn a lot from the people and the host communities, from the Augustinian Recollects who are completely dedicated to their activities with the most needy and vulnerable.

Last August, a group of volunteers were in Kamalo and Kamabai, two extremely poor rural communities in Sierra Leone, where there are two communities of the Augustinian Recollects.

During that month we painted schools, gave tutoring classes and, as they have just built some water wells in villages that during the dry season are left without a single drop of water, we spoke to their inhabitants about water use and basic hygiene.

We also trained a soccer team and played a lot with the little ones. We were almost non-stop to make the most of the experience.

Volunteering experiences mixed feelings. On the one hand, it is very sad to perceive the great injustices, hunger and inequalities of the world in which we live. On the other hand, it is very comforting to meet those who dedicate their lives to eliminating these inequalities and helping the most needy and helpless.

Missionaries and volunteers are people with an unimaginable heart and energy, with a charisma capable of changing lives and giving hope and excitement to those who have nothing at all.

At ARCORES they often say that in volunteering, you get much more than you contribute. Although it may seem strange, it is a great truth, because in each volunteering you receive so much love, so much appreciation and so many smiles from people that it cannot be compared with anything you can give them.

It really is very difficult to change the world, but volunteers always want to leave their small contribution, because in reality, lying on the sofa at home, the world will surely not change, nor will it get better.

I hope you can be interested in volunteering and get encouraged. In this link you have more information.