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St. John Bosco Boys' Orphanage is home to more than forty boys between the ages of 4 and 16. Many of them are home-schooled at Bosco Academy. Volunteers are needed to serve as teachers and tutors as well as to lead sports and artistic activities, and to aid in the day-to-day activities of the home. Social work and counseling skills are also useful in the holistic development of the boys. Teaching and/or social work background is helpful but not required.

While serving full-time for 2 years at this site, volunteers also have the opportunity to commit to living a simple and spiritual lifestyle in community with other volunteers. A member of Mercy Volunteer Corps must be 21 years of age or older, a high school graduate, able to work 40 hours per week at the assigned service site, able to live in an intentional community where there are persons of faith, and able to commit to living on a small stipend provided for personal and communal expenses. Volunteers should also be flexible and adaptable, gifted with a sense of humor, and comfortable with the Catholic church.

Volunteers are provided with:

• housing

• transportation

• food stipend

• medical insurance

• personal stipend

• orientations and retreats

• support from the Sisters in the local community as well as the main office in the US

No foreign language skills required as volunteers serve in the only English speaking country in South America.

The service commitment begins each year in July with Cross-cultural Orientation and finishes two years later.

To apply, visit http://www.mercyvolunteers.org/apply or e-mail ContactUs@mercyvolunteers.org