Project Description Order of Malta CARAVAN - "This Program gives a meaning my Gap Year"
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„This Program gives a
meaning my Gap Year“
Volunteer, CARAVAN 2010
Project Description
Order of Malta CARAVAN
Order of Malta CARAVAN Project Description
INTRODUCTION Main objectives of „CARAVAN“
Many young Catholics strive to do social work ab-
road. Until now, there have only been a handful of Vision
opportunities to do this under the patronage of the Create happiness and a sentiment of fulfillment to disabled individuals in
Order of Malta. Lebanon and mutual trust and understanding between the different religions.
The Order of Malta CARAVAN offers young peo-
ple 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 Mission
twofold: Tuitio Fidei (strengthening the faith), + Serve the sick and the poor and make their life more colorful.
and Obsequium Pauperum (service for the sick and + Show young western Christians the charisma of the Order of Malta
needy). Both parts feature strongly in CARAVAN.
and enable them to become future ambassadors of the Order’s cause of
The participants are sent to homes for the disabled peace and reconciliation in the Middle East when coming back to their
where they perform day-to-day care. They will also
home country.
attend academic and spiritual activities, which fol-
low various specifically organised courses. These + Strengthen faith and hope of the Christians in the Middle East by
include seminars on Middle Eastern history and cul- creating mutual trust and understanding between young people of
ture; and Christianity and Islam. Frequent outings different denominations and religions.
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 religi-
ons. Why call it „CARAVAN“
Furthermore, CARAVAN will help each volunteer learn more about themself, and will This name has a long tradition in the Order of Malta. The word originates from the
provide clarity to their thoughts and decisions regarding their future. It will also help time when young men who wanted to join the Order of Malta spent two preparation
participants develop soft and hard skills. In addition, being able to mention something years, called Caravans, on Malta. It was a time of training in The Order’s most im-
as extra-ordinary as CARAVAN on a CV helps with university and job applications. portant 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 esta-
blishing 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!!
Order of Malta CARAVAN Project Description
HOLIDAY CAMPS IN CHABROUH
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 con-
duct 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
Order of Malta CARAVAN Project Description
SERVICE OF THE SICK FORMATION
The Caravan’s service takes place in three homes: St. Dominique (a home for youn- CARAVAN is an international project. The project language is English. It is neces-
ger boys), Antelias (a home for older men) and Deir el Qamar (a home for females). sary that applicants practice their English beforehand so that they are able to follow
Participants will spend most of their time in St. Dominique, which is part of the the courses and lectures.
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 course in Lebanon commences with a month of Arabic tuition, followed by
the Cross” and is the home that Project Lebanon has been working with for the past seven months of morning lectures and seminars. These lectures provide an under-
15 years. The disabled people living in these three homes are also those who join the standing of the cultures and religions in the Middle East, especially Christianity,
German teams in the summer camps in Chabrouh. All of them are severely mentally Islam and Judaism with an emphasis on cultural religion’s difference.
and/or physically disabled. 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 de-
privation 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
Order of Malta CARAVAN Project Description
REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTICIPANTS
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? Am I prepared to spend ten months with other young people?
The work is demanding and often exhausting. Participants will be confron- CARAVAN participants will share an apartment and bedrooms in one of
ted daily with the agony and distress of very poor and sick people. Beirut’s secure suburbs.
Although the work is a joyful one, it requires a high degree of self-discipline The program is very intense and does not allow a lot of time for people to
and self-motivation for the moments when it becomes routine and cumber- be alone. It is advisable to enjoy being around others a lot.
some. If you know that you may need a lot of time for yourself to grow in confi-
The project management certainly tries to structure the program in a way dence, and you prefer staying alone rather than being in a big group, you
that limits the burden of the engagements. But it should be stressed that should think about CARAVAN carefully.
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. 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 pro-
Am I really interested in studying Christianity and Islam in the Middle
ject in which you can practice your faith in a group of like-minded young
East?
people. Participants grow closer to Christ, learning about Him in academi-
Your time in Lebanon will be a constant formation. Half of the daily sche- cally demanding courses and feeling his presence in the hearts of our guests.
dule will be spent at seminars, speeches, and on excursions. You will learn Participating in daily prayer, Holy Mass and everyday life as a team can help
more about Christianity, Islam and other religions related to the region. you to improve your understanding of your own faith. Participants do not
Parts of the academic content will be extremely interesting - others less so. need to be able to recite the Catechism. Beginners are also very welcome!
The extent to which you benefit from CARAVAN largely depends on your However, the CARAVAN requires your willingness to participate in the
input and involvement. It is therefore essential that team members partici- spiritual part of the program just as much as in any other part of it. If
pate in the academic formation to the best of their ability. you think that taking part in this aspect of the program will be a pro-
If you are not interested in any kind of study, you should reconsider blem, then maybe CARAVAN is not quite suitable for you.
your application.
Order of Malta CARAVAN Project Description
USEFUL INFORMATION
CARAVAN 2015/ 2016
The CARAVAN project starts in August every year and lasts approxima- Introduction in Germany 16.08.2015 -30.8.2015
TIME tely 10 months. It starts with a 2-week preparation camp in Germany, Departure to Lebanon 30.08.2015
followed by a month-long summer camp with the German Youth of the
Participation in Camp 30.08.2015 - 27.09.2014
Order in Lebanon. For the remaining 9 months, the team lives in its
apartment in Beirut. Service and Formation 05.10.2014 - 10.06.2015
Departure from Lebanon 15.06.2015
The team of Caravanists is limited to 12 participants. It is meant to be
TEAM international. Every Applicant must be able to understand and speak En- The dates are not 100 % sure yet and may vary a bit.
glish.
Every Caravanist must pay a monthly sum for accommodation, transport, the formation, field trips, food, and internet (Wi-Fi) in the
PRICE 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.
ACCOMODATION 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.
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
TRANSPORT 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 .
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
HEALTH 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.
INSURANCEOrder of Malta CARAVAN Project Description
SECURITY
Contrary to many preconceptions, being a Christian or having western origins is Even though we cannot give final statements on the political situation, we do every-
not a problem in Lebanon. There have not been any political kidnappings of we- thing necessary to avoid any danger and to keep the CARAVAN team safe.
stern Christians in Lebanon. The escalations seen in the media have mostly taken The various social actions of the Order of Malta throughout Lebanon (alone and in
place between Shiite and Sunni Muslims. cooperation with many different Christian as well as Muslim groups,) have proven
Nevertheless, just as it is not entirely safe to travel in regions such as South America that the Order of Malta is accepted and trusted across all political and religious
or Africa, it cannot be guaranteed that there will be no confrontation during the borders. They are very well networked and most competent to assess the security
time of CARAVAN. What can be guaranteed, however, is that the Lebanese situa- situation.
tion is constantly monitored in close cooperation with the Lebanese Association of Still, no guarantee can be given. Therefore, CARAVAN will only take partici-
the Order of Malta and the local embassies. pants 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.
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.
CONTACT
STEP 1 Project Management:
In case of riots in the streets, CARAVAN will be informed right away and will be
Theresa Premauer
brought to their apartment or ordered to stay there. This situation has only ever
Humboldtstr. 1
happened for two days in the history of CARAVAN.
81543 München
Germany
STEP 2
Mobile: +49 176 2924 9199
In the case of bigger and/or prolonged political riots with a possibility of violence
Email: theresa.premauer@libanonprojekt.de
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 www.libanonprojekt.de
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.
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 coun-
try. The CARAVAN management and the German embassy in Beirut work together
closely. The German embassy has a list of all Caravanists, regardless of their natio-
nality, 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.You can also read
