Αποστολή στη Νότια Αφρική [Α']

Ήθελα από καιρό να γράψω αυτό το κείμενο. Αλλά σήμερα κατάφερα επιτέλους να το συντάξω.

Πριν από 17 χρόνια βάπτισα στην εκκλησία μας ένα παιδάκι, τον Lewis - Μάρκο, που ήταν τότε δύο χρονών. Οι γονείς του ήταν Άγγλοι και Ρ/Καθολικοί. Όμως εγγυήθηκε για την πνευματική ανατροφή του παιδιού ο ανάδοχος, που ήταν Ελληνορθόδοξος Ομογενής. Από τότε έχασα τα ίχνη του παιδιού και της οικογενείας του, όπως συμβαίνει συχνά.

Πέρσι, γύρω στο Πάσχα, έλαβα ένα μήνυμα, μέσω ηλεκτρονικού ταχυδρομείου, από το παιδί αυτό, που ήταν εκείνη την εποχή τελειόφοιτος της Αγγλικής Μέσης Εκπαίδευσης εδώ στο Λονδίνο. Mε πληροφορούσε για την σκέψη και επιθυμία του να μεταβεί στη Νότια Αφρική και να παραμείνει εκεί για ένα χρόνο, εργαζόμενος εθελοντικά και βοηθώντας τους νέους σε κάποιες περιοχές με μεγάλα κοινωνικά και άλλα προβλήματα. Όντως τολμηρή σκέψη και απόφαση.

Ανέφερα το θέμα στις ευγενικές Κυρίες της Βοηθ. Αδελφότητας της Κοινότητάς μας και προσφέραμε κι εμείς κάποια μικρή οικονομική βοήθεια στον ελπιδοφόρο αυτό νέο. Από το φθινόπωρο αρχίσαμε να λαμβάνουμε εξαιρετικά ενδιαφέροντα ηλεκτρονικά μηνύματα, τα οποία μας έκαναν να τον θαυμάσουμε πολύ και να προσευχόμαστε για την επιτυχία του.

Παρακάτω παραθέτω κάποια από τα αρχικά του μηνύματα:

I received a phone call from Project Trust this morning to inform me that Boys’ Town in Tongaat had changed their mind about accommodating 3 volunteers this year. This put Project Trust in a very difficult position as I was then without a project with just 8 days to go. They considered all the possible options and decided the best scenario was to put me at the other Boys’ Town project in Magaliesburg, alone.  This decision wasn’t taken lightly as it does present a new set of challenges for myself and for the charity. One of the greatest challenges is the fact that it is a new project for Project Trust and I am the first volunteer to be placed at this particular Boys’ Town. The Project has of course been visited and vetted by the overseas director and has been deemed safe.  Project Trust doesn’t place volunteers alone; however they feel I am up to the challenge and have assured me extra support during the 12 months. They are going to monitor my progress and attempt to place another volunteer with me in January (but this isn’t a guarantee).

Not having a partner means I will have to be a lot more vigilant and safety conscious, but it also means it will ensure I make an active effort to form friendships with locals. I will just throw myself into work and begin making roots as soon as I arrive. These circumstances also present an opportunity to find myself and have more of a personal journey. Not having a partner makes me pretty unique within the organisation and being on a completely new project is going to be an absolute privilege as it will be up to me to make an impression and start making an active difference. The other advantage is I cannot be compared to previous volunteers as there hasn’t been any…

My Role Here:

Most of my work is in youth mentoring; I bring up conversations with the boys about issues such as HIV / AIDS, drugs, alcohol, sex, anger management and making responsible choices. I allow the boys to ask questions about pretty much anything and I help them to see what is a good choice and what is a bad choice, as well as the possible consequences of these choices. Some of the boys here have also been the victims of abuse and neglect & so it is important I am also a source of support when they need it; some boys are also themselves fathers. Being part of their everyday lives is a blast and in the evenings I teach swimming and sometimes play soccer. My work also includes education and I spend time helping the boys with school work during our education time. 

Το μόνο σίγουρο είναι ότι διαβάζοντας κανείς αυτά τα κείμενά του απορεί και δεν μπορεί εύκολα να πιστέψει ότι τα γράφει ένας νεαρός 18 ετών. Η ωριμότητα, ο ενθουσιασμός, αλλά και η καθαρή σκέψη διακρίνουν την ψυχή και τη διάνοια του εν λόγω νέου και τον ξεχωρίζουν πολύ από τα άλλα παιδιά της ηλικίας του.

Λίγο πριν τα Χριστούγεννα 2013 έλαβα μαζί με τις εόρτιες ευχές του και το εξής μήνυμα:

We are close approaching Christmas here at Boys' Town and tonight we depart Magaliesburg for Durban to spend the Christmas season at the Boys' Town annual Munster Camp, the boys are very excited however this is also mixed with some sadness at the passing of Nelson Mandela.

I would like to thank you for your support in making my journey possible and allowing me to become a part of these young lives. In the 3 months I have been here I have seen each of these young men grow and I see an improvement in many of their lives. My work with the boys has gone from strength to strength and the real sense of family here is amazing. You can look forward to my next progress report which will be issued in late January. You can also continue to follow my journey at www.lewissouthafrica.wordpress.com

Merry Christmas from myself and all the Boys here at Boys Town.

Θα ήθελα να ολοκληρώσω το παρόν αφιέρωμα στον υπέροχο αυτό Ορθόδοξο νέο και στο έργο που επιτελεί στη Νότια Αφρική, με λίγες δικές του λέξεις:

One of the best things about an experience like this is you get a chance to discover the person within you. This experience was always supposed to be my new start and the beginning of how I want to live the rest of my life. Since I have been here I have felt a change within me, I have found a new sense of responsibility and I am starting to find out the kind of person I want to be. Part of that responsibility is realising I have made mistakes in my youth and how it is important to learn and move on from them.