Congratulations on the space. you devoted last week to the needs of developing countries of leachers and other qualified personnel Will you give a little more space so as to clear up any confusion between the several schemes mentioned.
Catholic Overseas Appointments was jointly sponsored by the Sword of the Spirit and the Newman Association as a central office for salaried appointments. It handles posts in all countries and deals with all categories of staff. In the six months since its establishment earlier this year, C.O.A. has filled 31 salaried vacancies, nearly all graduate teaching posts from Africa -and been partially responsible for several postings elsewhere.
Voluntary Service Overseas (nondenominational) sends mainly school leavers for a year's voluntary service in newly-developing countries, on a board, lodging and Pocket-money basis. This year seven Catholic were among the 250 sent out.
Graduate Voluntary Service Overseas is a new section of V.S.O. which scnds overseas new graduates under much the same conditions. G.V.S.O. handled a pilot scheme sponsored by the Department of Technical Co operation under which 36 graduates went overseas this summer-two Catholics among them.
The Interchurch Campaign for Teachers for Africa aims to make people in this country aware of the needs. It does not recruit. but directs volunteers through existing agencies. including C.O.A.
The opportunities for voluntary service (board, lodging, pocketmoney or modest salary) are expanding rapidly. There are many requests from overseas for Catholics with the necessary qualifications, and a number of volunteers have come forward. But matching vacancies with volunteers and dealing with mounting correspondence is a task on its own. To ensure adequate Catholic participation in national schemes, administrative expenses will have to be subsidized. Any offers?
Margaret M. Feeny. Sword of the Spirit.