My volunteer organization, the Katholische Jungschar, offers numerous workshops and activities for their volunteers, in particular younger ones. The events are organized for Jungschar group leaders and people in charge of youth-related activities within the different parishes. At those workshops the participants can get to know other group leaders, get new ideas for games and discussions, discuss issues such as children with disabilities, get help with problems and questions and simply have fun.
In 2009/10 the Katholische Jungschar offers numerous workshops, educational seminars and courses in Vienna, which can be summed up as the following: (Katholische Jungschar, n.a.)
Educational seminars:
- Basic Course: This course takes place every summer. For one week potential and actual Jungschar leaders and altar servers can get all the necessary information and tricks for leading such a group.
- Opening Events: Events such as Boarding Now help the group leaders with new ideas for the upcoming year. I will tell you more about this event next week.
- Parish Visits: Staff and volunteers of the Katholische Jungschar offer their help and advice by visiting the parish.
- Jungschar Forum: Everyone who is responsible for the Jungschar activities within a parish is invited to join this discussion event.
Educational seminars focusing on specific areas:
- Weekend on Leading a Camp: Information, help and advice is provided to those who are leaders of the annual summer camps.
- Children Bible Masses: Questions such as “how to create an ideal mass for children” or “how to talk about the bible with children” are covered in this event.
- Let’s talk about it: Three evenings are dedicated to information and discussions about sexual abuses.
Events for Children:
- DKA Workshop afternoon: Group leaders can come to this workshop with their group (= the children). This year, the afternoon was dedicated to India and the Sternsinger project (please refer to my blog article from 11 January).
- DKA Movies: Children and group leaders who are involved with the Sternsinger (Christmas carol singers) are invited for a movie night.
As already mentioned above, next week I will tell you a little bit more about my personal favorite out of those Jungschar events: the semester opening event Boarding Now. If you have any questions regarding the workshops, feel free to ask.
See you next week,
Bettina
Reference:
Katholische Jungschar (n.a.). Weiterbildungen. Available from: http://wien.jungschar.at/index.php?id=411 [Accessed 9 March, 2010]
