Collaboration for Mission, International
Some time ago Brother Chris Wills was commissioned by the General Council of the Marist Brothers in Rome to build a global network for a Marist volunteer service. In the province of West Central Europe, the brothers embraced this idea in Germany and have participated since August 2012, in sending former pupils of Marist schools.
For voluntary service abroad, in Germany, there exists a program sponsored by the government. The province has already received authorization as a supporting association. As part of this certification (International Youth Voluntary Service – IJFD), Cmi-Germany plans to offer former students of the four Marist schools in Germany the opportunity to spend a voluntary service year abroad in different Marist projects.
To realize this in a professional way with formation and preparation of the young people for their responsible roles, Brother Michael Schmalzl from Mindelheim, Germany is now supported by Mrs Renate Hacker and Mrs Brigitte Riedmaier. Mrs. Hacker has been connected through her family with the Marist school for twenty years. Mrs. Riedmaier has had many years of experience in international student exchanges. Both women are glad to be involved in the structure of the Cmi project.
At the end of 2013 Miss Laura Sattelmair was sponsored by friends, relatives and the Marists to go for three months to Johannesburg, South Africa. At the local Sacred Heart Marist College she has begun her volunteer service as an assistant in a project called three2six. In the afternoon, between 3pm and 6pm, Marists teachers educate the children who are refugees from other African countries living in Johannesburg. Laura, together with other volunteers cares for the academic education of these children and also participates in the organization of extra-curricular leisure facilities. This program creates a bridge for these children and young people to enter the South African education system.
After a church service Laura, who graduated from high school at Maristenkolleg, Mindelheim in 2013, was commissioned by Brother Michael with a personal blessing and many good wishes.
Currently Jasmine Nimar the former pupil of the Marists is working in a project for children and young people in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. She is there for twelve months. Hannah Mair works in a nursery school of the Marists together with the German Brother Hans Seubert in Kenya on the island Mfangano in Lake Victoria. You can find the personal impressions (in German) from Laura and Jasmin in their blogs: www.Jassi-Bolivien.blogspot.com and www.laurafrika.wordpress.com
At the end of December Anna Hastreiter returned from a four-month international placement in the Phillipines. She worked with street children resident at the Marcellin Foundation (General Santos City). Previously. In 2012, Michael Wilhelm completed a placement in Esopus, USA
We thank the four host communities and the respective Cmi contact persons (Ricardo Miño, Bolivia; Agnes Reyes und Bro. Crispin, Philippines; Bro. Teo Grageda, and Bro. Hans Seubert, Kenya; Colin Northmore, South Africa and Bro. Own, USA who look after our young volunteers during their time abroad.
Already this summer other interested young people have registered for voluntary service at Marists projects around the world. They share the dream of Marcellin to help young people to find their way into a better future.
If you would like to contact the cmi-team of Germany e-mail HYPERLINK [email protected]