Opening Prayer

         First: please recall the previous lesson which was about the meaning of labour.

         Please recall:

         - Every useful occupation is labour.

         - Please mention the examples of useful occupations which were given on the previous class: ready a good book, help someone, study, to do the Gospel at Home, to play, to watch a good movie, help with home duties….

         Second: please let the children work that we do receive a monthly income from the professional work we do; which means we receive money for this kind of job. Please as the children if they are aware of other kinds of work where people don’t get paid to. Please ask them to name this type of work. In case the children don’t know the answer, the spiritist teacher can explain there are two types of work: paid (you get an income from it in cash) and unpaid (volunteer work; you don’t get paid to do it).

         Third: please split the children in pairs and distribute pictures of the different projects that happen inside the spiritist centre. This will allow them to recognize some of the people there and the activities they are involved with. This could also be taken from magazine, press or newspaper cutting. The teacher could also use pictures from lectures, seminars, community work projects, associations connected with the protection of animals, etc.

         Obs.: the pairs should look at the pictures together and try to find out what type of work they are doing in those pictures. If there is the need, the spiritist teacher can help them in this task.

         Fourth: please make a circle with them and ask each pair to show the pictures they have in their hands and explain the type of volunteer work they are doing. The spiritist teacher can this opportunity and engage the children to understand that every type of volunteer work is important and necessary. The teacher can use the answers given by the children and the pictures they have in hands to make further comments in regards to volunteer work.

         Please recall, whilst the children analyze the pictures:

          There are challenges at volunteer work; as there are with paid work.

          How should it be our behaviour in regards to a colleague at volunteer or paid work? We need to accept, understand any challenging colleagues. This should also happen at school: we need to accept our colleagues; to respect them.

          How should it be our behaviour as a volunteer or paid worker? It requires study, dedication, honesty, patience, discipline to be on time, good humour, good-will, will to work.

          We progress at work by overcoming our inner challenges; plus, recognizing the virtues we need to develop will make us better workers and good human beings since we are making efforts to change and develop.

          Volunteer work allows the person to develop spiritually. This enables the world to become a better place, since this change starts by the positive change of each worker. God only gives us the opportunity to do volunteer work because He loves us and wants us to be happy.

          The gifts we get from volunteer work:

         - Whoever switches on the light is the first to light up. The first beneficiary is the one who does the work; who helps; and the second beneficiary is the one who receives help.

         - It brings inner peace; peace to our hearts and a calm consciousness.

         - It makes us feel closer to Jesus and to our protector spirit.

         - The goodness we practice comes back to us; always.

          Please ask the children which volunteer work they would like to get involved with. In our centre many children are already involved with volunteering. This is the time to encourage them to continue and also the others to get involved.

         Obs.: this was a very special class, since most of the children realized that most of the activities that are available at the spiritist centre are done by volunteers. They also realized the volunteers do not get paid for their work; not even the spiritist teachers.

         Closing Prayer

         Class suggested being suitable for: 2nd cycle (9 to 10 years old) and 3rd cycle (11 to 12 years old).

         Translation: Carolina von Scharten, London, Sir William Crookes Spiritist Society linked to BUSS - The British Union of Spiritist Societies