This Program gives a meaning my Gap Year Volunteer, CARAVAN 2010 Project Description Order of Malta CARAVAN
Order of Malta CARAVAN Project Description INTRODUCTION Many young Catholics strive to do social work abroad. Until now, there have only been a handful of opportunities to do this under the patronage of the Order of Malta. The Order of Malta CARAVAN offers young people the opportunity to do ten months of voluntary work in Lebanon, learning and practising the spirit of the Order of Malta. This spirit of the Order is twofold: Tuitio Fidei (strengthening the faith), and Obsequium Pauperum (service for the sick and needy). Both parts feature strongly in CARAVAN. The participants are sent to homes for the disabled where they perform day-to-day care. They will also attend academic and spiritual activities, which follow various specifically organised courses. These include seminars on Middle Eastern history and culture; and Christianity and Islam. Frequent outings and field trips also give participants a well-deserved break. The experience will broaden every participant s mind and enable him/her to play an effective part in the process of peace and reconciliation between the different religions. Furthermore, CARAVAN will help each volunteer learn more about themself, and will provide clarity to their thoughts and decisions regarding their future. It will also help participants develop soft and hard skills. In addition, being able to mention something as extra-ordinary as CARAVAN on a CV helps with university and job applications. Main objectives of CARAVAN Vision Create happiness and a sentiment of fulfillment to disabled individuals in Lebanon and mutual trust and understanding between the different religions. Mission + Serve the sick and the poor and make their life more colorful. + Show young western Christians the charisma of the Order of Malta and enable them to become future ambassadors of the Order s cause of peace and reconciliation in the Middle East when coming back to their home country. + Strengthen faith and hope of the Christians in the Middle East by creating mutual trust and understanding between young people of different denominations and religions. Why call it CARAVAN This name has a long tradition in the Order of Malta. The word originates from the time when young men who wanted to join the Order of Malta spent two preparation years, called Caravans, on Malta. It was a time of training in The Order s most important duties, which were caring for the sick and the military defence of Malta. The young men were required to serve in the Order s hospitals on the island and join the knights on their voyages through the Mediterranean. Today s CARAVAN project relates back to this tradition. However, the military defence is now replaced by witnessing the love of God in serving the poor and establishing friendships with our fellow Christians in need. Ten social, voluntary months in homes for mental retarded and physically disabled people; studies about the intercultural dialogue in one of Beirut s best universities; living together in a flat in the exciting city of Beirut; praying and experiencing faith together!!
HOLIDAY CAMPS IN CHABROUH Order of Malta CARAVAN Project Description Since 1998, the Community of Young Maltese (the Youth of the Order of Malta in Germany) has sent a team of 70 young European volunteers to Lebanon, to conduct two month-long summer camps in the Al Fadi Center in Chabrouh, a house that belongs to the Lebanese Association of the Order of Malta. It is located in the mountains 60 km northeast of Beirut and accommodates 80 to 100 people. A big terrace, playing room, dining room and a chapel offer the ideal location for the daily program. During the camp, every volunteer is assigned one guest, for whom he/she must care. This one-to-one relationship is the main principle of the camps since the one thing our guests lack all year long is total attention and absolute acceptance. The Caravanists will start their project in Lebanon by attending a full month-long camp in Chabrouh. Additionally, over the course of their 10-month program they will organise and conduct several smaller and shorter camps together with the youth of the Lebanese Order of Malta. PREPARATION IN GERMANY Two preparatory weeks in Germany aim to deepen basic understanding of the Catholic faith; to give insight into the history, religion and culture of Lebanon; and to help Caravanists prepare for the service with the disabled in Lebanon. This camp allows participants to get to know each other and helps establish a team spirit. Aside from the academic program, there will therefore be a well-developed practical program (e.g. team-sports, communication workshops ). We learned a lot about during the Prep Camp. But we also got to know each other well and developed a good team spirit. Marie, Volunteer CARAVAN 2013
SERVICE OF THE SICK The Caravan s service takes place in three homes: St. Dominique (a home for younger boys), Antelias (a home for older men) and Deir el Qamar (a home for females). Participants will spend most of their time in St. Dominique, which is part of the great complex Deir el Salib in Beirut the biggest institute for disabled and mentally sick people in Lebanon. It is run by Christian nuns of the Catholic order Sisters of the Cross and is the home that Project Lebanon has been working with for the past 15 years. The disabled people living in these three homes are also those who join the German teams in the summer camps in Chabrouh. All of them are severely mentally and/or physically disabled. FORMATION Order of Malta CARAVAN Project Description CARAVAN is an international project. The project language is English. It is necessary that applicants practice their English beforehand so that they are able to follow the courses and lectures. The course in Lebanon commences with a month of Arabic tuition, followed by seven months of morning lectures and seminars. These lectures provide an understanding of the cultures and religions in the Middle East, especially Christianity, Islam and Judaism with an emphasis on cultural religion s difference. The course, which is worth 16 ECTS points, is taught by professors from diverse backgrounds at the Jesuit University (Université Saint Joseph). During the time in Lebanon many religious and spiritual questions will arise. The team will have the chance to attend weekly spiritual meetings which will provide some answers and an opportunity to discuss their Christian faith so as to gain a better understanding of it. In Lebanon, as is still in many other countries, having a disabled child is seen by many people as an infamy and a punishment from God. The homes for the disabled are only minimally supported by the state so almost all the funds the Sisters require for the care of the disabled need to be raised. Resources are especially scarce and the Sisters are unable to provide for more than the basic necessities: feeding, nursing and lodging of the disabled. Due to a serious lack of staff, the guests do not receive sufficient treatment and love. As a result, most of the residents develop abnormal behaviors such as stereotypic movements, aggressiveness, and self-harming. The deprivation of personal relations leads to mental sadness, withdrawal and apathy. The duty of the Caravanists is to set up a program of activities, conduct basic simple physiotherapie and give time and love to those who need it. In contrast to camps in the Centre al Fadi in Chabrouh, the team does help with the everyday care in the homes. Their main task is to reduce the loneliness and unhappiness of the disabled in their normal course of life. A questioning, challenging and beautiful adventure. Marie-Liane Volunteer, CARAVAN 2010
REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTICIPANTS Order of Malta CARAVAN Project Description The CARAVAN project is hugely challenging. It therefore requires young, reliable and confident men and women. It is a unique program and is not comparable to the wide range of voluntary social work. Applicants should ask themselves four questions in order to find out whether the program is suitable: Am I prepared to work diligently in the service for the sick? The work is demanding and often exhausting. Participants will be confronted daily with the agony and distress of very poor and sick people. Although the work is a joyful one, it requires a high degree of self-discipline and self-motivation for the moments when it becomes routine and cumbersome. The project management certainly tries to structure the program in a way that limits the burden of the engagements. But it should be stressed that at least half of every participant s time in Lebanon is for the care of the disabled. Your own wishes will often have to come second to the needs of the sick. Am I really interested in studying Christianity and Islam in the Middle East? Your time in Lebanon will be a constant formation. Half of the daily schedule will be spent at seminars, speeches, and on excursions. You will learn more about Christianity, Islam and other religions related to the region. Parts of the academic content will be extremely interesting - others less so. The extent to which you benefit from CARAVAN largely depends on your input and involvement. It is therefore essential that team members participate in the academic formation to the best of their ability. If you are not interested in any kind of study, you should reconsider your application. Am I prepared to spend ten months with other young people? CARAVAN participants will share an apartment and bedrooms in one of Beirut s secure suburbs. The program is very intense and does not allow a lot of time for people to be alone. It is advisable to enjoy being around others a lot. If you know that you may need a lot of time for yourself to grow in confidence, and you prefer staying alone rather than being in a big group, you should think about CARAVAN carefully. Is it clear for me that the program is a Christian one and that it demands my openness and involvement? CARAVAN is a project of the Order of Malta and, therefore, a Catholic project. It will offer many opportunities for team members to live and deepen their faith, to pose questions and find answers. CARAVAN is a project in which you can practice your faith in a group of like-minded young people. Participants grow closer to Christ, learning about Him in academically demanding courses and feeling his presence in the hearts of our guests. Participating in daily prayer, Holy Mass and everyday life as a team can help you to improve your understanding of your own faith. Participants do not need to be able to recite the Catechism. Beginners are also very welcome! However, the CARAVAN requires your willingness to participate in the spiritual part of the program just as much as in any other part of it. If you think that taking part in this aspect of the program will be a problem, then maybe CARAVAN is not quite suitable for you.
Order of Malta CARAVAN Project Description USEFUL INFORMATION TIME TEAM The CARAVAN project starts in August every year and lasts approximately 10 months. It starts with a 2-week preparation camp in Germany, followed by a month-long summer camp with the German Youth of the Order in Lebanon. For the remaining 9 months, the team lives in its apartment in Beirut. The team of Caravanists is limited to 12 participants. It is meant to be international. Every Applicant must be able to understand and speak English. CARAVAN 2015/ 2016 Introduction in Germany 16.08.2015-30.8.2015 Departure to Lebanon 30.08.2015 Participation in Camp 30.08.2015-27.09.2014 Service and Formation 05.10.2014-10.06.2015 Departure from Lebanon 15.06.2015 The dates are not 100 % sure yet and may vary a bit. PRICE ACCOMODATION Every Caravanist must pay a monthly sum for accommodation, transport, the formation, field trips, food, and internet (Wi-Fi) in the apartment. The actual cost per person is 1,400 per month. The Caravanists/their parents are requested to cover as much of these costs as possible, at least 690 per month. Further deductions, if needed, can be requested, and will be decided according to the current financial situation of the project. Flight costs are not included (Approx. 400 ). The Caravanists will live in an apartment in a secure area of Beirut, called Antelias. Each bedroom accomodates between 2 and 4 people. The apartment includes a dining area, living room, kitchen, terrace and a little chapel. It is fully furnished, so participants will only need to bring their personal belongings. The apartment is like a normal student s flat-sharing community. Therefore, Caravanists will need to look after themselves and take on all housekeeping responsibility for the apartment. TRANSPORT Since public transport in Beirut is very bad, the project provides the team a bus with a driver as well as a car. 2-3 volunteers of the team with an international driving licence will get the permission to drive the car. The CARAVAN management makes sure that they will be prepared and trained for driving in Beirut. For the official scheduled trips to and from University courses and to the service in the homes every day the team will be driven by the CARAVAN driver in the bus. For private trips in Beirut there are taxis available. HEALTH INSURANCE Lebanon has very different viruses from those we have in Europe. Do not drink the tap water! It is most likely that Europeans will struggle with diarrhoea and the like. It is helpful to take preventive measures and to discuss this with a doctor. If an applicant has any serious chronic illness, e.g. diabetes etc., it is highly recommended that you discuss this with a specialist. The summer camps have shown that the change in food and atmosphere can cause problems for some people. Some of the disabled people the Caravanists work with have severe infections. The following vaccinations are mandatory: Tetanus; Hepatitis A and B; Diphtheria; Polio. These vaccinations normally need to be done quite some time before the departure to Lebanon. It is therefore, highly recommended to have them done as soon as possible. The participants need international health insurance, third party liability and accident insurance.
Order of Malta CARAVAN Project Description SECURITY Contrary to many preconceptions, being a Christian or having western origins is not a problem in Lebanon. There have not been any political kidnappings of western Christians in Lebanon. The escalations seen in the media have mostly taken place between Shiite and Sunni Muslims. Nevertheless, just as it is not entirely safe to travel in regions such as South America or Africa, it cannot be guaranteed that there will be no confrontation during the time of CARAVAN. What can be guaranteed, however, is that the Lebanese situation is constantly monitored in close cooperation with the Lebanese Association of the Order of Malta and the local embassies. Furthermore, the Caravanists will only visit places considered to be safe. If there are any issues, the local Association of the Order of Malta will immediately take all necessary measures for the protection and eventual evacuation of the volunteers. STEP 1 In case of riots in the streets, CARAVAN will be informed right away and will be brought to their apartment or ordered to stay there. This situation has only ever happened for two days in the history of CARAVAN. STEP 2 In the case of bigger and/or prolonged political riots with a possibility of violence against civilians and danger for Caravanists, the team will be transferred into the mountains, either to Chabrouh (where summer camps take place) or to Sourat (also a village in the mountains) into the house of Dr. Issa Farkh, who is responsible for CARAVAN in the Lebanese Association of the Order of Malta (LAOM). Those mountainsides have been secure even during former wartimes. CARAVAN have never been in this situation. Even though we cannot give final statements on the political situation, we do everything necessary to avoid any danger and to keep the CARAVAN team safe. The various social actions of the Order of Malta throughout Lebanon (alone and in cooperation with many different Christian as well as Muslim groups,) have proven that the Order of Malta is accepted and trusted across all political and religious borders. They are very well networked and most competent to assess the security situation. Still, no guarantee can be given. Therefore, CARAVAN will only take participants to Lebanon who are aware of the political and security situation, and who will sign a document stating that they participate at their own risk. CONTACT Project Management: Theresa Premauer Humboldtstr. 1 81543 München Germany Mobile: +49 176 2924 9199 Email: theresa.premauer@libanonprojekt.de www.libanonprojekt.de STEP 3 In the very worst case, which is either a war or very bad riots, the project will be stopped or interrupted and the CARAVAN team will be evacuated out of the country. The CARAVAN management and the German embassy in Beirut work together closely. The German embassy has a list of all Caravanists, regardless of their nationality, for the entire time of their stay. In the case of evacuation, the embassy will get the entire team out of the country. The plan and routes of evacuations change depending on the situation.