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Winnipeg, Man.
MCC volunteers find work fulfilling


For Jennifer deGroot, a Canadian examining issues of gender and development with a group of young women in a Calcutta, India slum, it was a defining moment. DeGroot was on a short-term assignment with Mennonite Central Committee Canada.

Jennifer DeGroot (second from left) with friends in India. Photo courtesy of Jennifer DeGroot

She described the moment: “The social worker asks me if I have any questions for these women. She knows I’m interested in gender issues. I see only poverty, garbage and hopelessness. I don’t see people . . . And then I see their smiles, their eagerness. These are women too, more than objects of pity, victims of despair.”

In moments like these, when confronted by the low status and struggles of so many women, deGroot was struck by their humanity, strength and shared concerns with women everywhere.

“That concern for gender equality is not necessarily a North American concept,” she said. “Everybody needs to be part of the discussion, and we all have different answers.”

When deGroot, who grew up in Sarnia, Ont. and has a background in philosophy, first came to MCC, she had three requests of the organization: no overseas assignment, no volunteering and no development work.

She served with the Youth Internship Program, a one-year young adult career internship program, funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). From January to July 2000, she travelled overseas in order to examine how MCC can make gender a more conscious part of its development work, visiting India, Chad, Niger, Senegal, South Africa, Lesotho and Uganda, and the voluntary service program in Manitoba.

In India, MCC projects are seen as a positive model for gender and development. For instance, Global Family, MCC’s sponsorship program, mainly supports girls, who are seen as the most vulnerable. Degroot studied how the India example could be applied to MCC’s work in Africa, asking questions like: “Who benefits from a particular project?”; “With whom does the project work?”; “Who makes the decisions?”; and “What does empowerment of women look like in a particular project?”

Development work that is gender aware isn’t easy to define, noted deGroot, but it’s an ongoing process that must also take into account issues of racism and class.

She was struck by the extent of violence against women, including in Canada, and how it’s always labeled a private affair. She was also struck by the amount of peacemaking work women do – planting crops, visiting neighbours and looking after children during times of conflict. “But no one ever talks about it. That’s just what women do,” said deGroot.

She returned to Canada with more curiosity, more patience with the pace of change, and with a new dose of humility. “I have a harder time making generalizations now. It’s harder to assume things now,” she said.

After her return to Canada, deGroot wrote a number of reports on her findings and recommendations and has made presentations at various MCC meetings.

German connection

Kornelius Penner, Simon Schlepphege and Peter and Lilli Penner are from Germany working with MCC in Winnipeg. The three young men volunteer at Winnipeg Harvest, a

(Clockwise from left) Peter Penner, Lilli Penner, Simon Schlepphege, and Kornelius Penner. Photo by Carol Thiessen

food bank that each month distributes food to approximately 40,000 people in Winnipeg.

Instead of performing a required stint of military service in Germany, they signed up as conscientious objectors to do alternative service. Through Christliche Dienste, the German Mennonite Voluntary Service Agency, they were connected with MCC, and are in the midst of two-year voluntary assignments.

Lilli volunteers for MCC at the Family Community Centre, an inner-city drop-in centre for mothers and children.

Christliche Dienste places volunteers with partner organizations throughout the world. In 2000, it placed 19 volunteers with MCC, of whom 14 were conscientious objectors performing alternative service.

Kornelius, Peter and Simon said they already knew about Winnipeg Harvest back in Germany from others who have spread word that Winnipeg Harvest was a good choice for service.

“At Harvest you can help other people instead of going in the army,” said Peter, who started his assignment in January 2000.

Working at the main distribution centre, the men fill food orders every morning. They also pick up donated food, make deliveries to other food banks, sort food, and supervise volunteer groups.

“I like it. Nice people. Good communication. I enjoy going there,” said Kornelius, who started in September 1999.

Linda Postma, volunteer services coordinator at Winnipeg Harvest, said being able to count on volunteers like Peter, Simon and Kornelius is invaluable. “They get a lot of work done that wouldn’t otherwise get done,” she said.

Kornelius, Peter and Lilli all have their roots in the former Soviet Union. Kornelius, 21, was born to Mennonite parents in Kyrgyzstan and moved to Detmold in northwest Germany when he was nine. Lilli, 22, was born in Kazahkstan, and moved to Detmold with her family in 1988. Peter, 23, from Russia, landed with his family in the same town two years later. Like many Mennonites there, they all attended the Baptist Brethren Church. Lilli and Peter were married in May 1999. Simon, 20, grew up near Karlsruhe in southwest Germany, where he was raised in the Lutheran church. He joined the youth group at the local Mennonite church a few years ago, and eventually began attending church there too.

German men need to fulfill eight months of military service as young adults, but a conscientious objector can instead do 11 months of civil service within Germany, or 13 months of alternative service with an approved organization outside the country.

Debbie Enbrecht, who coordinates placements for Christliche Dienste, said her organization requires them to serve at least two years. “This is because we want them to really do ‘voluntary service’, not just fulfill their required 13 months as conscientious objectors.”

The German volunteers agree they were drawn by the adventure of living in a foreign country and a desire to improve their English. But their motives went deeper too.

“One reason is I don’t believe in killing people. I don’t believe anyone has the right to take another life,” said Kornelius.

They say their decision prompts a mixed reaction back home. Some people are mocked for not joining the military. They say they’ll do their part to let other German Mennonites know the alternatives available, especially Winnipeg Harvest. “I would tell them it’s a good place to work,” said Kornelius.

 – from reports by Carol Thiessen, MCC Canada; MCC Manitoba

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Last modified July 5, 2001.

© 2001 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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