The Lasallian Volunteer Program (LSVP) provides opportunities to Lasallian volunteers to directly engage in educational ministry and community organizing, particularly in the impoverished areas in the Philippines. LSVP volunteers have different backgrounds, expectations, skills, and training while working in stressful situations that affect not only their ministry but the different aspects of their personal lives and well-being. Thus, this phenomenological study provided a description of the experiences of nine LSVP Volunteers assigned in Bataan, Iligan, and Samar communities and identified the possible implications of their experiences to their personal well-being. Following Moustakas’ suggestions of doing phenomenological study, five themes were identified: namely, challenges, community life, sense of purpose, happiness, and transformation. Among these themes, sense of purpose was central in their experiences. It is the source of the volunteers’ commitment to their mission and pushed them forward despite all the challenges and difficulties and provides meaning and joy to what they are doing that eventually led them towards a process of transformation as Lasallian volunteers. Spirituality and community life were also highlighted in their experiences. Finally, this study recommends revisiting the existing program and provide a permanent leader who can focus on the program and look after the welfare of the volunteers.
Keywords: Lasallian volunteer, volunteerism, phenomenology, community life, missionBlount, A.; Dillman T., Dalena L.; and Lambie, G. (2020) Wellness in the Helping Professions: Historical Overview, Wellness Models, and Current Trends. Journal of Wellness: 2 (2), Retrieved from https://ir.library.louisville.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1024&context=jwellness
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