Building a united world often seems like an unreachable goal. Each day, divisions of every kind become more violent and profound. The poor are forgotten, and the marginalized, forced to live in the most deplorable of conditions. Walls rise and bridges collapse.
This has become our reality today, a world seemingly without even the possibility of unity. Yet every single day, all around the world, thousands of young people refuse to accept this! Amid conflict, division and hate, they ignore any doubts about a united world, and instead choose to build one through their actions. And although the need for action increases each day, so does the desire of the youth to meet this need with service.
One organization that enables these individuals to put this desire into practice where it is most needed is Milonga. Born from the desire of young people to be active citizens, to be at the service of those in need, and to respond to the social issues they are facing, Milonga is an international volunteer program that builds bonds of intercultural brotherhood through service. Here are some reflections from participants after completing the program:
“I discovered more about myself and my leadership potential, made friends for life and, best of all, had the opportunity to give to others,” wrote Michael, who is from the U.S. and went to serve in Brazil.
“Overall, my volunteer work experience gave clarity to my call to serve, and it made a lasting impact on the life-changing decisions I made after that,” wrote Jane Jacel, who is from the Philippines and served in Kenya.
Working with non-profit organizations from countries around the globe, Milonga offers young people a chance to serve directly in the communities where their talents are most needed. Whether in a school, community center, refugee camp, or wherever it may be, this program helps young people give the best of themselves. And in return, they gain an abundance of personal and cultural enrichment.
According to the philosophy behind Milonga, a volunteer does not go somewhere to be a hero or save a country – they go to live and grow along with the community they are serving. To foster this exchange, volunteers are hosted by families within these communities and receive mentoring before, during and after their experience, promoting the growth of volunteers as global persons and socially active citizens.
Translated from Spanish, the word milonga signifies “thousands of non-governmental organizations in action.” It is also the name of a traditional dance from Latin America, a blend of styles from the Caribbean, indigenous cultures, and Europe. In this name lies its true beauty, as well as a path toward international brotherhood.
Milonga partners with local organizations from around the world to provide service where it is most needed. And like the Milonga dance, it is truly a practice in interculturality, an exchange of diverse cultures and generations of shared cultural expressions through dialogue. The program strives to create unity wherever it operates, sharing time, food, stories, laughter, music, dances, faith, and so much more with the communities they serve.
Andy and Charly from Argentina put it this way: “We understood that the key to this shared experience was building deep relationships where cultural differences were not obstacles, but precious resources – opportunities to learn and enrich one another.”
For more information about the Milonga program, visit milongaproject.org/en/milonga/
Patrick Rusher (Living City, USA)
