Volunteering is a concrete expression of love for others, a generous donation with no other reward than the joy of doing good, a commitment to social justice, the development of empathy, and building a better world for all.
Every day at Saint Monica’s Home, everything possible is done and thought out to care for and protect the beneficiaries, referred by the competent authority because they are minors who have suffered some type of violence, abuse, exploitation, or neglect. To this end, it relies on a team of professionals from all areas (educators, social workers, and therapists), as well as many volunteers.
Volunteering is duly regulated by the Juvenile Court ‘s rules; it’s not improvised and is organized with integrity. Some volunteers are by themselves, while others come from teams organized by institutions or companies.
The Ceará Water and Sewage Company (CAGECE) is one of the companies with a social responsibility department and encourages employees to participate in social actions. And on Volunteers Day, it organizes a “thank you party” for all of them.
Júlio da Silva donates his time and skills at Saint Monica’s Home in a field unusual for the beneficiaries: karate. With great success, Júlio uses this ancient art of discipline and respect to instill values, shape character, instill confidence, and promote self-improvement. He also offers self-defense techniques that will be useful for future dangerous situations.
On the mat, learning is beneficial for everything: the strength of balance, respect for others, the discipline to achieve successes… The result is empowerment and personal transformation, strengthening of physical and social skills.
In a short time, shyness turned into confidence, fear into courage, and fragility into strength. Júlio’s young students learn to believe in themselves, to not shy away from challenges, and to envision horizons that seemed impossible. For this reason, the sensei also receives the tributes and affection of his students.
Volunteer Day coincides with the feast of Saint Augustine. Throughout his life and writings, the saint determined that love only becomes true when it translates into service and materializes in the transformation of reality. The Augustinian Recollect Family brings this teaching to life today.
During the festive day of the saint, considered the spiritual father of Saint Monica’s Home, the Lar‘s karate students performed a technical demonstration for the CAGECE volunteers as a thank you. The students wanted to share what they had received by demonstrating the skills they had learned, as a sign of affection and appreciation.
When a person donates, when a company or institution believes in the power of solidarity, when communities come together for the good, society transforms, improves and eliminates injustices.
The volunteers, through their work, allow the beneficiaries of Saint Monica’s Home to believe again in a society that previously failed them, but is now rebuilding itself with the example of good, dedicated and exemplary people.
