Caritas India launches forum for volunteers

July 30, 2013: Caritas India, the social service wing of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India, has launched a forum for volunteers, creating a platform for those willing to help in times of need.

“This is the first time that such a formal forum has been instituted in the organization,” said Fr. Frederick D'Souza, executive director of Caritas India, during the launching of the forum on July 25.

"Our intensive involvement in the recent Uttarakhand flash floods has categorically pushed this idea. Nearly 300 young volunteers who came forward in various relief works during the first few tragic days of the disaster have immensely encouraged us to create space for willing people to join us in times of such national need," he added.

Although innumerable volunteers have worked during various interventions of Caritas India in the last fifty years, this move has marked a formal opening of a platform for people from various walks of life to join the organization in its developmental programs all over the country, a press release issued by Caritas India said.

Interested candidates can enroll as volunteers by visiting Caritas India website and associate in various developmental works in over 200 partner outlets all over India, including Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Fr. Paul Moonjely, asst. executive director of the organization, called upon students, individuals in private and public offices, entrepreneurs, political leaders and all interested citizens to take this as an opportunity to join Caritas India in the service of mankind.

He said that volunteering with Caritas India will have a transformative effect on those who volunteer and whom they will serve.

The volunteers will get opportunity to serve others, space for spiritual growth, an opportunity to live in community with other volunteers in a culturally different set up than their own, to work for social justice and overall professional and educational experience, the release said.

The occasion also had a 24-member team from Artists at Work, a young group of artists who exhibited their work of art created to support the victims of Uttarakhand disaster.

They marked the occasion by submitting a cash donation to Caritas India collected during week-long fund raising events at Delhi Haat last month.

The staff of the Canadian high commission in India also made a donation to Caritas India for the Uttarakhand victims.
(Source: UCAN NEWS)