Passionist Volunteers International (Jamaica)

Passionist Volunteers International (PVI) has a volunteer mission in Jamaica, West Indies. This year and in the past the volunteers who come here have lived and served in an area known as Stony Hill, located on the very northern edge of Kingston. The volunteers serve in four area missions, each with their own church that is part of Immaculate Conception, a central Passionist directed parish. Each of the four communities has a primary (elementary) school. Through these schools the Volunteers have engaged many different projects including teaching computer classes, tutoring remedial readers, coaching “football” and netball, forming various clubs, organizing trash pick-ups, creating mobile libraries at each of the schools. These volunteers have become an integral part of the school community.

Next year the volunteer program will be serving another area of Jamaica called Mandeville where the Passionist have a larger presence including a retreat center. We will post further information regarding these volunteer mission opportunities in Mandeville as they develop.

This past year Mr. Matt Messing was at the Stony Hill community and serving in their schools. Below is an account of his own experience that was shared to me by the PVI program director, Ms. Tricia Lothshutz. Please visit this link to know more about the PVI program. If you would like to apply to this program visit this other link.

A Contrast in Education: By Matt Messing

Jamaica’s state of education, particularly in terms of funding and resources, is quite dismal. The severity of such a condition becomes clearly disturbing as you witness children fighting over a seemingly simple pencil. The fight is not over something trivial, like design or color; it’s a response to the reality of scarcity.

In the midst of such realities there exist low literacy rates, understaffed schools, large class sizes, limited use of technology, high drop-out rates and low percentage of educators who hold advanced degrees in their field.

However, in contrast to all the disheartening challenges that such a system brings to its people, Jamaica does educate her children in a way that reaches far beyond any amount of funding. There is a connection, almost a sort of bond between the child and his/her environment. They do not act apart from the world, but rather within the world.

Amidst this relationship comes an awakening of the senses which can often times become clouded by artificial toys and trinkets and theories of how a 21^st century child should play, learn and grow. This child learns through imaginative play. He feels the ground between his toes as he runs down the mountains, balancing a simple stick and wheel. He is in awe of a friend who climbs for a juicy, ripe mango high up in the tree.

Two school girls learn rhyme and rhythm as they sing, “…down by the banks with the hanky panky where the bullfrog jumps from bank to banky with a hip hop hip hop hop skiddle diddle turtle pop!”, while playing a popular hand game. A child learns of mathematics as he designs and builds a car made from twigs and string and bottle caps. And as she runs, the young girl understands the world around her. She is connected to the trees that bring her food and the streams that give her water and the mountain breeze that gives her reprieve from the Caribbean heat.

This education of the world and the connectedness we have with it is free. Not even a system of scarcity in school funding and resources can take that away. Yes, there must be increased support for schools in less-developed countries and this is not to make light of very harsh realities. But, Jamaica can teach us a lesson, not only of education, but, of life. Take your shoes off, be within the world, awaken your senses.

One Response to “Passionist Volunteers International (Jamaica)”

1. Mellona coombs AKA Melly says:

   June 29, 2011 at 6:18 pm

   Just wish to extend my sincere gratitude for the services done in Jamaica by Mr Messing, i must say well done!…….Looking forward to seeing you again some day. I know that for my self as well as so many other Jamaican really did appreciate your service.

   Wishing you all the best in your endeavors.
   Warm Regards,
   Melly