Sharing a Meal, Sharing Experience

By Honora Johannesen, Coordinator of Volunteers, Victoria Parole

The clink of cutlery on china, the smell of food from several cultures and the hum of animated conversation. A dinner party? An evening in a good restaurant? You might be surprised to learn that this is actually part of a training session at The Church of St John the Divine for a group of Victoria Parole CAMS (Community Adult Mentoring and Support) volunteers.

An important component of the CAMS training is a session called "Making the Change from Prison to the Community". In this session, two men on Conditional Release volunteer to talk to the trainees about the expectations and realities of living in the community after a long period of incarceration. Volunteers hear first-hand from people who have struggled to succeed in the community and who continue to live safe, accountable and rewarding lives. There are no 'hard luck stories' here - just the plain, unvarnished and unglamorous truth. The men who take part in this training are proud of the role that they play in putting a face on the challenge of reintegration. One of the men, a lifer, has helped with training every CAMS volunteer. Another man, who has served over 30 years, has participated in training four of the six groups of volunteers since 2001.

So, where do the china, tablecloths and good food fit into the training package? Since the first CAMS course, the volunteers have acknowledged the effort these men make to be open and candid in telling their personal stories. Sharing a good meal (and potluck is the best kind of meal!) is the volunteers' way of saying 'thank you'. There is no doubt that eating together helps break barriers and eases the conversation, providing a great opportunity for learning. At the most recent session, one man invited his employer, his spouse and his Parole Officer - a great testament to his belief in the value of his contribution.

You all know the saying 'It takes a village to raise a child" - well at Victoria Parole we apply that to volunteer training. Everyone has a role to play - Parole Officers, offenders, partner agencies, psychologist and many others. Practical, appropriate, and relevant training is crucial to the success of any volunteer program - and a good meal is a great addition to the mix!