The 21st Century presents this paradox: while the Internet has made access to information instantaneous, and with means to distribute goods and services better now than at any time in history, the United Nations reports that 25,000 people die every day of hunger or hunger-related causes. It is issues like this that motivate many of the Scientology Volunteer Ministers to do the work they do.
 | By providing effective technology through seminars to those who are actively working to improve conditions, Scientology Volunteer Ministers are impacting society. |
And while it is hoped that this week's appeal by the UN Secretary-General to G8 leaders to tackle poverty will result in meaningful changes, individual action, initiative, and skill are vital components to a permanent resolution of these problems.
In October 2004, at the anniversary of the founding of the International Association of Scientologists, the first Scientology Volunteer Ministers Goodwill Tours were launched. Announced by David Miscavige, Chairman of the Board of Religious Technology Center, to the thousands of Scientologists who attended, these Tours bring help to people, largely in developing countries where no Scientology churches, missions or groups exist, and give them tools to improve conditions in their own lives, help their families and tackle the most important social issues of our time.
As stated by L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of the Scientology religion, the Aims of Scientology are "a civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war, where the able can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and where man is free to rise to greater heights." The Goodwill Tours are making headway toward accomplishing these aims.
Sponsored by the International Association of Scientologists, these tours include massive pavilions, 3,400 square feet in all, set up as full delivery centers, where courses, workshops and seminars can be conducted and hundreds of people can be helped at the same time.
Scientology Volunteer Ministers Goodwill Tours remain in a given city for a full month or longer, where they train and establish groups of new local Scientology Volunteer Ministers who carry on their work after the Tour moves on.
Scientology Volunteer Ministers Goodwill Tours provide one-on-one help to anyone who visits their tents. But perhaps their most important service is the seminars and workshops they provide to civil servants, health care professionals, NGOs and community leaders. By providing these people with know-how in in such subjects as the basics of organization, communicationand conflict resolution they arm those most committed to improving their communities with the skills they need to upgrade their service and really make a difference.
Education and literacy are vital components to raising the standard of living in developing countries. And Scientology Volunteer Ministers tackle this with study technology seminars to educators and volunteers. As one teacher put it, "I am giving these personal sentiments as a professional teacher. After all the experiences as a teacher at the primary, secondary and university level for over 16 years, the Scientology Volunteer Ministers have reminded me of the same high expectation of education (teaching skills) that I had... .I recommend the research of the barriers and practical solutions in order to ensure the success of education so that the society will see the actual fruits of a successful education."
 | Scientology Volunteer Ministers work with community leaders, civil servants and other volunteers, providing them with the know-how they need to maximize the help they give their communities. |
In an essay in which he first announced the Scientology Volunteer Ministers program, L. Ron Hubbard wrote: "If one is going to find fault with something, it implies that he wishes to do something about it and would if he could. If one does not like the crime, cruelty, injustice and violence of this society, he can do something about it. He can be a Volunteer Minister and help civilize it."
The volunteers, manning the Scientology Goodwill Tours, are living examples of this kind of help.
Spread the News:
|
Vote for or comment on this story:
|
|
