Did you know that hospitaller voluntary work is distinguished by its style of selfless and caring hospitality towards the people most vulnerable and in need?
Discover how this area of activity is developing in the Delegation of the Philippines.
My name is Cristina Arriaran and I have been a volunteer for three months at the Sisters Hospitallers’ ‘Maria Josefa Recio Therapeutic Centre’ in Cebu, Philippines. This centre provides a complete programme of services and comprehensive care for people with mental illness. Living three months in this place has probably been one of the best experiences of my life.
As I imagined before arriving, the time flew. During the months that I was in Cebu (May, June and July of 2017), I experienced very special moments with the residents. The aim of the centre is to achieve stability of the users’ illness, as well as their social reintegration after treatment and therapy suited to their needs.
The welfare activity is mainly focused on three areas: outpatient consultations, hospitalisation or inpatient services and the day centre. My job as a volunteer was to prepare and coordinate sports, educational and also leisure activities for the users.
All of the activities carried out were part of the psychosocial rehabilitation and occupational therapy programmes and services of the centre, whose sessions were coordinated with the medical team.
