Comer, Georgia, USA
Living in Christian Community
Sharing with Refugees
Working for Peace
Sharing with Refugees
Working for Peace
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Comer, Georgia, USA |
Living in Christian Community Sharing with Refugees Working for Peace |
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Serving God and people from around the world
Jubilee has a staff of about 25 adults and several children. About half of the adults are "resident partners," for whom this is a year-round home. The rest are seasonal "volunteers," who may live and work at Jubilee anywhere from three months to a year. In addition, there may be up to 20 or 25 refugees from Sudan, Afghanistan, or other war-torn countries. And finally, there is a steady stream of visitors from near and far, several hundred a year. A major part of the staff's time and energy goes into welcoming and hosting refugees, who have come to us from over 30 countries. Jubilee becomes a safe place for them where they can study English, get acquainted with their new country, rest, play, regain their health, and begin their new lives in an environment of love and support. Volunteers are an essential part of this exciting process. Giving freely to others while here, most leave richer than when they came. Requirements
VOLUNTEERS SHOULD:
INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEERS: We cannot help you get a visa. You must get a B (visitor) visa. Officials at the port of entry in the U.S. determine how long you can stay, regardless of how long the visa is good for. It is not possible to get a J-1 (Exchange) nor a R (religious) visa to come to Jubilee Partners. Volunteer Terms with Openings Available
FALL 2008: August 24 - December 20, 2008 SPRING 2009: January 4 - May 23, 2009 SUMMER 2009: May 31 - August 15, 2009 FALL 2009: August 23 - December 23, 2009 Detailed description of volunteer program
At Jubilee Partners we are seeking to understand and live by the radical implications of following Jesus Christ. We are deeply concerned about how to be effective peacemakers and how to promote justice and understanding among our neighbors and around the world. We look to the life and teachings of Jesus as our own starting place, but we work to build bridges to people from every kind of background. Living a compassionate lifestyle is a major commitment for us. In a country where consumerism is almost a religion, we try to scale down our level of consumption, to share our resources, to eat food from our own garden when possible, and to be kinder to the environment. One result is a cost of living far below the U.S. level, closer to that of people from the rest of the world. We expect our volunteers to join us in that effort. Volunteers work in almost every activity at Jubilee - in cooking, cleaning, teaching ESL, child care, maintenance, office work, gardening, etc. The summers can be quite hot and humid. (Instead of air-conditioning we have a swimming hole.) The work can be strenuous and/or monotonous. We try to some extent to match jobs with experience and interests, but all of us expect to share in lots of work that is less than glamorous. It is important that volunteers be flexible and willing to learn new skills. It is equally important that they be able to live and work in an environment that is often socially intense and culturally diverse. This is a very busy place filled with people from all over the globe. For people with the right expectations, it can be a tremendously exciting experience, one that can open your eyes to a whole new world. We work hard, but we also play and celebrate a lot, preferring "home grown" entertainment like swimming, soccer, and volleyball over the commercial variety. Food and living quarters are simple.. Most volunteers live in one large central building, sharing rooms and household chores. We worship together every Sunday evening, have a brief time of devotions daily at lunch, and encourage each person to take time for prayer and spiritual growth. We come from a variety of Christian backgrounds. We do not require that volunteers express their faith in any particular way. Nevertheless, we do expect that all volunteers come to Jubilee aware that Christian discipleship is at the heart of our life together - and that they be prepared to affirm that fact and participate in the full life of the community. There are study sessions each week for volunteers, and occasional trips to connect with other groups. Study sessions focus on Christian discipleship issues facing us in our complex world: peacemaking, hospitality, the death penalty, creation care, and more. There is also a sharing meeting each week, for volunteers to process their experiences. Volunteers receive room and board and a grand total of $15 a week, the standard Jubilee paycheck. (No one comes to Jubilee to make money!) Since we carry no insurance at all beyond that required on our vehicles, volunteers must arrange for themselves any such coverage that they desire. They must also provide for their own transportation to and from Jubilee. They should be in good health and at least 19 years old. Volunteer terms run approximately January - May, June - August, and September - December. Each session begins with a week of orientation and training in teaching English as a Second Language. We expect volunteers to be able to be here for the whole term. Those who are thinking of volunteering might want to read With Our Own Eyes, a book about Jubilee's work - available from your local bookstore, or from Jubilee.
To Apply
To receive more information or begin the application process, please call or write! You can reach Robbie Buller, Volunteer Coordinator, at 706.783.5131 x104 or PO Box 68, Comer, GA, 30629. (Yes, we realize this is old-fashioned!)
FAQs
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