Staying in Touch
We know that many of our JVs choose to join JVC as a direct result of the values passed on to them by you, their family and close friends. To that end, we strongly encourage them to share their experiences with you throughout their JV experience.
Contacting Your JV
JVC's primary relationship is with each Jesuit Volunteer directly. In order to respect a JV's privacy, it is not policy to give out personal information without prior permision from the JV. You may want to ask your JV for the following information before his or her departure:
- Home phone number and home address
- Names of other community members
- Name of the workplace
- Contact information for the regional JVC program office managing your JV's city
- Name of your JV's program coordinator at JVC
JVs, Community, and Visitors
In JVC, community serves as a valuable means of support. This intentional community requires good communication, a sharing of resources with each member, and group decision-making. JV communities are structured to be the main body of support, as each JV is experiencing similar relationships, challenges, and successes.
The first year in the international program and the first months of the domestic program are crucial for bonding and community development. JVs need to settle into their new surroundings, schedules, and rhythms. As such, we ask that friends and family refrain from visiting during this crucial formative period.
If you have an opportunity to visit your JV, be sure to spend some time with the JV community, visit his or her the placement site and meet coworkers, and experience your JV's favorite sites and spots in the placement city. This will give you a much richer sense of the context in which the JV has been living, working, and growing throughout the program.
Ways to Support Your JV
Jesuit Volunteers may be seeing and processing a wide range of new experiences. You can be a source of encouragement to them by being a listening ear, showing interest in their work and community life, and helping them understand and find meaning in their new relationships, interactions, and emotions.
Ask your JV about a typical day, what interactions are memorable or meaningful, what brings joy and satisfaction, what is challenging or frustrating, and what lessons have been learned. It's normal for JVs to experience highs and lows over the course of time. Supportive friends and family can encourage them to speak with community members, local support people, and JVC staff when concerns arise.
