The Missionary Youth for Peace, a movement supported by the Fraternidade-International Humanitarian Federation (FIHF), carried out its first Event for Peace in the city of Campinas, state of São Paulo, on February 15, bringing the proposal of an experience of humanitarian service as an exercise of giving of the self to help meet the neighbor’s need.
The objective was to unite youths to live the proposal of selfless service together with the local Light-Network, which is active with more experience in the region. The volunteers served in the Non-Governmental Organization Resgatando Valores, a charitable organization that works with 71 children in a situation of social risk.
The group of 15 people carried out a volunteer group service in an area near the organization, where, months ago, they had planted native seedlings in an area of hills on the banks of a local creek.
Part of the group devoted itself to the maintenance of this area, weeding and rescuing the seedlings that had been overtaken by grass. The children participated in an activity of gathering and cleaning recyclable material.
At the end of the activity, the group returned to the place dedicated to the organization’s work and, together with the children, had a snack and shared a moment of prayer and thanks for the food, the result of the work of dedicated volunteers.
Vinicius, age 19, participated for the first time in the movement and expressed how much the work surprised him and determined his career in life.
Marina, who was with her husband and two children, said that the activity ignited a seed in her heart to continue helping.
A Bazaar for the Good
The group activity included organizing the place and the donated products for a bazaar that takes place monthly with the objective of raising funds to pay the water and electric bills of the organization.
A Pleasant Surprise
On the 17th, upon returning to the NGO Resgatando Valores to bring donations, the group was surprised to find a youth who had participated in the Event for Peace, who was there, offering to volunteer to work for the institution.
“All this surprises us and gives us an impulse for the continuity of this work. The meetings of service shows us that in simplicity altruism and compassion can be built,” concluded Mother María Cleonice, who accompanies the formation of the youth groups and the Light-Network groups in service and prayer.
The Events of the Missionary Youth for Peace take place monthly in different cities in the interior of the state of São Paulo. The meetings are free and open to the public and ecumenical, the dates are announced in our social networks and here in this News Portal.
Learn more about the Works of the Youth for Peace by clicking here.
