Hospitalero News-April 2010 - American Pilgrims on the Camino

Confraternity of St. James
of South Africa
Inaugurates <strong>Hospitalero</strong>
Training
Roque. One was an “In#Take” session where the
hospitaleros had to register pilgrims at their albergue.
We set up three tables with registration book, stamp
The first hospitaleros training courses in South
Africa, approved by the Spanish Federation’s
<strong>Hospitalero</strong>s Voluntarios $HOSVOL% were facilitated by
Sylvia Nilsen based on a training manual compiled by
Canadian Company of <strong>Pilgrims</strong>’ Rebekah Scott, Tom
Friesen and Mary Virtue.
Last year Sylvia, a regional convenor for the
Confraternity of St. James of South Africa $and ex#
<strong>American</strong> <strong>Pilgrims</strong> member% helped test an experimental
online hospitaleros training course by completing seven
online assignments prepared by Rebekah and Tom. It
was hoped that the online course would receive the
approval of the Spanish Federation for use by
confraternities in other countries but the concept was
vetoed by HOSVOL.
In July 2009 Sylvia volunteered as hospitalera at the
San Roque albergue in Corcubion. Many South African
pilgrims expressed a wish to
volunteer as hospitaleros but,
with the online course being
disallowed, the only alternatives
were to
travel to Spain to attend the
HOSVOL training courses or
bring a
trainer to
South
Africa at
great cost.
“I contacted
Rebekah
South African hospitaleros create an “albergue” for
and Tom about
role play and training purposes.
using the
assignments from the online course to train pilgrims in
South Africa” said Sylvia. “After numerous emails
between the Canadians and Ana Barreda the
coordinator of HOSVOL, a written training manual was
approved and sent to South Africa.”
The first two training courses, held over consecutive
week#ends, were attended by 21 pilgrims. “I included a
few new activities based on what I had learned at San
Newly commissioned hospitaleros
surround facilitator Sylvia Nilsen,
middle row, third $om le%
and a donation box. The ‘pilgrims’ were each given a
‘credencial’ in a di!erent language. One was in
Vietnamese which totally confused the poor hospitalera!
I even used a copy of my 2005 <strong>American</strong> <strong>Pilgrims</strong>
credencial” said Sylvia.
“Two of our hospitaleras will volunteer to
serve on
the Camino Frances in August and
September. Another
two, a husband and wife team, intend
serving on the Via de la Plata next year. One
of our members intends re#locating to the
Galician coast next year and plans to start a
self#sustainable small holding together with a
pilgrim albergue.”
South Africa is represented on the
Camino Frances at Vilacha $near Portomarin%
where Gordon Bell from Cape Town
welcomes pilgrims to “Casa Banderas.”
Sylvia Nilsen
Durban, South Africa
For more information visit:
Confraternity of St.James of South Africa
or contact Sylvia Nilsen:
sillydoll@gmail.com
www.amawalker.blogspot.com
<strong>American</strong> <strong>Pilgrims</strong> <strong>Hospitalero</strong> <strong>News</strong> 6