Sharing experiences, sparking curiosity, and encouraging younger generations to engage with other realities were the goals of a workshop held at the Crámer and Ayacucho schools.
On Monday, October 19, high school seniors from the Vedruna schools in Buenos Aires —Nuestra Señora del Sagrado Corazón (Crámer) and Corazón de Jesús (Ayacucho)—were visited by Ezequiel Lucero, Francisco Jáuregui, Natalia Farelo, and Sebastián Larrañaga Diehl. All four have participated in Vedruna volunteer programs over the past fifteen years, and at the initiative of Ezequiel Lucero and Sister María José Gimeno—who are in charge of this program in the VedrunAmérica Province— they shared their experiences with the students and encouraged them to discover this path of commitment, solidarity, and encounter with other realities.
During the event, Francisco Jáuregui recounted his experience in the Dominican Republic and Haiti in 2013; Natalia Farelo and Sebastián Larrañaga Diehl shared their experiences volunteering in Haiti in 2018, and Ezequiel Lucero spoke about his experience in Peru in 2024.
Through their testimonies, they showed how encounters with other communities can open new horizons, transform one’s perspective, and leave a deep impression on those who dare to take the leap. The initiative invited young people to reach out to others, learn about different contexts, and discover that each person can contribute something valuable to building a more just and fraternal world.
In light of the charism of Saint Joaquina de Vedruna, this invitation takes on special meaning. Her desire to “embrace the needs of all peoples” continues to inspire the Vedruna Family to build bridges, accompany those most in need, and commit themselves to life in all its dimensions.
The event also served to highlight the growth of the Vedruna Volunteer Program in the Province. In addition to welcoming volunteers from Europe, the program aims to help young people from our continent prepare to embark on their own service experiences, both in the Americas and, later on, in other parts of the world, such as Europe, Asia, or Africa.
The invitation stands: You, too, can be part of the Vedruna Volunteer Program! To take the plunge and live this experience is to learn to see the world in a different way, discover new forms of commitment, and allow yourself to be transformed by the encounter. Once again, the Vedruna Family is committed to accompanying the younger generations as they discover a solidarity that comes to life and that, through small gestures, opens up great paths of hope.
Three Experiences That Leave a Lasting Impression
Francisco “Pancho” Jáuregui (2013, Dominican Republic and Haiti)
“I completed all my schooling at the Congregation’s school in Suipacha. I joined the Missionary Group, founded by Sister Anita Rodríguez in 2001, and little by little we began to have our first mission experiences. Years later, I learned about the Vedruna Volunteer Program thanks to Sister Tere Ruben, who put me in touch with the coordinators in Europe. They assigned me to the Dominican Republic and Haiti as my destinations for 2013.”
“At age 28, I took my first trip abroad. From the very beginning, the sisters made me feel at home, like part of the family. I took part in summer camps in Santiago de los Caballeros and Santo Domingo, and I also got to know the reality of life in Haiti. It was a wonderful experience that allowed me to experience firsthand the spirit of the Vedruna Family and discover how beautiful it is to experience the strength and greatness of our charism.”
Natalia Farelo and Sebastián “Larry” Larrañaga Diehl (2018, Haiti)
“The experience of Pancho, with whom we were part of the Missionary Group for many years, inspired us to want to participate in the Volunteer Program. In mid-2018, we got married and combined our marriage leave with our paid vacation, since we’re physical education teachers. That’s how we were able to spend a month living out our experience in Haiti.”
“We shared the experience with two volunteers from Spain and organized fun and recreational activities related to sports with the children at the Fonds Parisien school. Despite the country’s harsh reality, we were struck by the joy with which the people live their lives, which taught us to value and appreciate what we have even more.”
Ezequiel Lucero (2024, Peru)
“I think it was a chain of events, because I was also part of the Missionary Group with Pancho, Naty, and Larry. Just as I was starting to look into volunteering, the 2020 pandemic hit. In 2024, I was told that the opportunity had been reinstated, and I was assigned to Peru. It was my first solo trip abroad. The sisters welcomed me very warmly.”
“I am an art teacher, and during my time there, we created a mural of Saint Joaquina with the children of Ucayali, expressing our gratitude for her living presence among us. She reminds us, with strength and tenderness, that ‘children are the center of our lives and actions.’”
Ezequiel also highlights the personal lessons he learned from this experience:
“This experience has been very enriching in my life, as it has allowed me to explore new horizons and adapt to unfamiliar contexts. Serving in this environment helped me learn, among many other things, about resilience, teamwork, and gratitude.”
To learn more about his experience in Peru, please visit the following link:
Volunteering in Vedrunamérica
More information about volunteering in the Province of Vedrunamérica can be found in the following PDF:
Francisco Jáuregui, a Vedruna volunteer from Argentina
