One of Australia’s oldest Catholic international development agencies, Palms International Volunteering, is launching a new initiative to challenge people to examine their lives and live more simply. Source: Melbourne Catholic.
The Simplicity September campaign is “a distillation of the wisdom of the last 65 years of our operation”, Palms executive director Soraya Kassim said.
“We have five major themes for the campaign: food, exercise and mental and physical health; reconnecting with nature and spirit; sustainability, self-sufficiency and living within our means; strengthening family and community building; and rediscovering creativity,” Ms Kassim said.
“Each of these themes is inspired by the experience of our long-term volunteers in the field.”
Palms International Volunteering sends skilled volunteers for placements of 1–2 years in response to requests from partner communities in the Asia-Pacific.
The skills requested are varied, with teachers, health personnel, tradies, agricultural specialists, accountants and business advisers all needed, but participants invariably return after placement indicating that they learned as much (or more) than they went to teach.
“One of the main things we hear from our Palms ‘returnees’ is that after a period of initial adjustment, they are struck by the beauty of simple living,” Ms Kassim said.
Simplicity September is a fundraiser for Palms.
Participants choose their own simplicity challenge for the month, undertaking it as an experiment in habit formation for their own lives. They seek sponsorship from friends and relatives, who act as their accountability partners as they navigate the month, introducing new routines or removing elements they can do without, and reflecting on the difference it makes.
The Simplicity September campaign is a new avenue for Catholics around Australia to engage with the work of Palms while simultaneously re-engaging with what matters in their own lives.
“September is the Season of Creation,” Ms Kassim said. “What better time of the year to develop a new habit consistent with our ‘reconnecting with nature and spirit’ theme – perhaps committing to a weekly bushwalk, however short, or teaching your kids how to fish, or home-grow vegetables?”
Proceeds will support the work of Palms to recruit, train and support volunteers working in our region. Palms receives no government funding and exists entirely through the generosity of donations.
Details: www.simplicityseptember.org.au.
FULL STORY
New Campaign invites Australian Catholics to embrace simplicity in September (Melbourne Catholic)
