Every summer, many young people decide to dedicate one month of their holidays to do voluntary work in Malta or abroad. Others, because of leave or other restrictions, take up a commitment once or twice a week and keep it throughout the year.
As the saying goes: better light a candle than curse the dark. There is much truth in this expression and its spirit is the guiding force that leads these young people to make the leap and leave their comfort zone to reach out to people in need.
When I ask young people why they opt for such an experience their answers are varied and worth pondering: “I would like to make good use of my time”, “I have received a lot so I would like to give something back to society”, “I would like to meet God through the poor”, “I want to take up the Pope’s invitation to reach out to others”.
These and many more answers make us realise how life-changing a voluntary work experience can be. People not only make a difference in the lives of the people they serve but they end up receiving much more than they actually give.
It is a great pity that many students prefer to work all summer to earn some extra pocket money rather than take the opportunity to embark on such an experience.
Obviously, a summer job has its positive aspects, like learning to take up a commitment and relating to authority, apart from earning money.
At the same time, many choose to work to the detriment of spending some time doing voluntary work, without realising how important such an experience can be not only for their personal formation but also for their choice of career. I know various students who really found out what they want to do in life and what will make them truly happy after going through such an experience, which changed their life and helped them truly discern their vocation.
[Volunteers] end up receiving much more than they actually give
Pope Francis is a great insipiration in this aspect. He continually encourages young people to be brave by thinking outside the box, by having the courage to be different.
In his address to young people during World Youth Day 2013 he strongly condemned self-centeredness and challenged young people to open their eyes and see poor people around them, and to find the courage to do something for them.
Some people think young people are the ones who should do voluntary work because they have a lot of time on their hands. In actual fact, this is not correct, because today many adults are taking up a voluntary work commitment regularly, either on an individual basis or with their friends or work colleagues. What one really needs to be in a position to take up such a voluntary work commitment is a conscious decision based on the awareness that one can make a difference.
Sometimes people ask me what voluntary work has to do with faith and whether one has to believe in God to reach out to others? This and similar questions make one reflect on the link that exists between voluntary work and believing in God.
I feel there is a two-way relationship. On the one hand, many times, faith in Jesus is what gets a young person to be less self-centered and to start considering concrete possibilities how to help others. On the other hand, a voluntary work experience which puts a person in direct contact with different situations of need can be the best invitation to better that person’s relationship with God, because it helps him or her see in the other not only a needy person but a son or daughter of God, a brother, a sister.
To conclude, I would suggest that whoever you are, whatever your age, that you consider reaching out to others by giving a helping hand in some way or another to someone who needs your help, no matter how small a commitment you can take up. If you have any difficulty deciding where you can help out, I would be more than willing to help.
Remember, it is better to light a candle than to curse the dark.
mal-prov@jesuit.org.mt
Fr Patrick Magro is the provincial of the Society of Jesus.