Author name: Roxanne Garner

English lesson in progress
Ghana

Volunteer Story – Luke Hogan

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Volunteer Story – Luke Hogan “During my time in Ghana, I had the incredible opportunity to work on the Safe Child Advocacy Project run by the Daughters of Charity. This is a vital initiative dedicated to safeguarding children and providing skills training and education. Here’s a glimpse into my journey: My first role was at the Drop-in centre. This is where street children come for a rest to escape their street jobs and simply be kids. The drop-in centre is also seen as their first step to moving off the streets. Here, I played board games like ludo and Mancala, building friendships. In the evening, I helped them with literacy and numeracy skills through worksheets and trying to play games in English. Another role I had was in the outreach programme. This involved going onto the streets and identifying girls that were new to the streets and connected with street children at the Kumasi trading centre. We spoke to them and asked them about their day. Usually, the children would be in the same spots every day. Our goal was to offer them alternatives to street life, fostering relationships and guiding them towards better opportunities. To ensure continuous support, I participated in follow-ups with former programme participants. We provided essentials like shoes and checked on their well-being, reinforcing that they were not forgotten. When I wasn’t at the drop-in centre, I was at the Vocational Training Centre, where girls learned skills like sewing and hairdressing. I taught English classes focused on reading, writing, and video analysis. The girls loved watching short films and discussing them. Before evening classes, I played football with them, and they were very good, clearly enjoying the game. After class, we had fun playing board games like Guess Who, Uno, and Snap. The Safe Child Advocacy Project is making a real difference, and I’m grateful to have been a part of it.”  English lesson in progress Fun playing games Share this article

2024, Kenya

Volunteer Story – Maja Hamerlinska

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Volunteer Story – Maja Hamerlinska I went to Thigio in April 2024 and stayed with the Daughters of Charity. From the first day I was very impressed by the work that the sisters did for the community. I lived on the grounds of the compound where it was peaceful, well organized and there was a real sense of community. The Daughters of Charity welcomed me warmly, and I quickly became involved in their daily routines. I was shown around and introduced to the people who were part of the projects run by the sisters. The impact the Sisters had on the community was visible everywhere. They ran educational programs including a library, IT class, a hospice, a programme for elderly people and KISIMA- a programme for kids and teenagers with special needs and support services for families in need. Their work was truly inspiring, and I felt privileged to witness the deep connection they had with the people of Thigio. I helped with leading an IT boot camp for children and the engagement and progress the kids made in only three weeks was amazing. I really enjoyed teaching, the kids were really well behaved, willing to learn and grateful. I am already planning to come back to meet the community again and I can’t recommend more taking part in the volunteering experience, as this impacted me in such a positive way and I am grateful that I had the opportunity to give back my knowledge. Share this article

2024, Ethiopia, Kenya

Misean Cara Member Capacity Development Funding

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Misean Cara Member Capacity Development Funding 2024 VLM with the support of Misean Cara completed capacity development training in Ethiopia and Kenya. This was for training in Project Cycle Management to be run with the Vincentians in Ethiopia with a view to them developing project proposals for funding applications. Increasing their income will allow them to grow their projects, reaching more members of their communities and providing better services. The funding also paid for a comprehensive needs assessment to take place across Vincentian projects in Kenya. Having a professional needs assessment will give an evidence-base for future funding project proposals. Share this article

2023, Tanzania

Volunteer Story – Sinéad McColgan

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Volunteer Story – Sinead McColgan Hi, I’m Sinéad. I went to Songea, Tanzania in Summer’23. I am a secondary school teacher, and I travelled with 4 other teachers. When I began teaching in 2018, the school I worked in organised a trip every year to Ambo, Ethiopia with the VLM. I signed up to go as I always wanted to volunteer abroad in an educational setting. The trip was then cancelled unfortunately, and I knew I still wanted to go. 5 years later, a simple google search led me to find Madeleine’s contact. Madeleine helped us book our entire trip and was so easy to work with. We had a chat on zoom, and it all took off from there. When travelling to Tanzania, we were offered to go to Dar Es Salem, which is the capital or a village called Songea, which is further south. We opted to go with Songea, as we decided a rural setting would suit us better. The school in Songea had a preschool, primary school and secondary school. It was a perfect mix. The students were the happiest I have ever come across and were always willing to learn and keen to participate. Amongst our group, we taught in all 3 schools, facilitated training with staff members and did extra-curricular activities e.g. rounders, singing and observed some local dancing, which is one of the best memories we have. I was treated to the girls braiding my hair everyday too! The staff in the school invited us into their staffroom and made us feel part of the team. The management in all schools were friendly and supportive. All the priests and sisters we met embraced us with hugs and smiles. One person who needs a special shout out is Brother Leopold. We stayed in his accommodation, and he was the main link with the school. He was like a celebrity, everyone loved him. He did everything and more for us. We still keep in touch wishing each other a happy Christmas and Easter. The conditions we stayed in were excellent, we had private rooms that were clean and comfortable and undoubtedly amazing food. There were vegetables, meat, rice and the cooks kindly made us homemade chips which tasted delicious. The fruit was full of flavour and fresh daily. The Wi-Fi was quite good, so we were able to contact home and give updates. The weather was hot but not too hot. A perfect temperature really. When we had time off, Brother Leopold took us to local markets, lakes and restaurants. It was 5-star treatment. When we landed into the capital we were shown around the city for 2 days before taking the local flight to Songea. Our return flight home had a long stopover in Cairo. We booked a tour from the airport than showed us the pyramids, which was amazing.  After our placement in Songea, we decided to go to Zanzibar for a few days, considering we were so close! It was a lovely way to end the trip and the water was transparent, with blue skies and incredible sunsets. We also squeezed in a Safari in Mikumi national park which was a day tour from Dar. If you are interested in going, do it! It is never an experience you will regret. I loved every second, learned so much and hope to go again in the future. Share this article

2023, Ethiopia

Teacher Training Places – Bruh Tesfa

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Teacher Training Places – Bruh Tesfa, Ethiopia VLM has sponsored Montessori teacher training places in Bruh Tesfa, Ethiopia. This enables girls from disadvantaged backgrounds to gain a qualification and a sustainable livelihood so that they can provide for themselves and their families. They also go on to provide education in their communities. On completion of their qualification, all graduates receive a full set of teaching supplies. So far, VLM have supported 6 places in this training college. Libinesh, sponsored by VLM, has finished her studies and has secured a job near her home village. Share this article

2023, Ethiopia

Re-opening of Abba Gebremichael Catholic School – Mekelle, Tigray

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Re-opening of Abba Gebremichael Catholic School – Mekele, Tigray VLM, supported by a €14,137 Misean Cara grant, re-opened the Abba Gebremichael Catholic School (AGCS) run by the Vincentian Fathers in Mekele, Tigray. Due to the conflict recent conflict there, the school had been closed since November 2020, but thanks to this funding the school re-opened on 22nd May 2023. A total of 1926 students are now attending the school. They are enthusiastic to be back in education and making up for what they describe as their ‘stolen years’. Many families have lost their livelihoods, their homes, their relatives to the war. The school re-opening has lifted the morale of the whole community. If you would like to sponsor a school place in the AGCS, please visit: Sponsor a School Place Share this article

2023, Ethiopia

Camino de Santiago Fundraiser for Alemachen, Ethiopia

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Camino de Santiago Fundraiser for Alemachen, Ethiopia VLM supporters from Navan, Fiona and Clodagh-Jane Healy, walked part of the Camino de Santiago in Spain over the summer and raised an amazing €950. This has been sent to the Alemachen Centre for Children with Disabilities and will be used for food for the children. Thank you to Fiona and Clodagh-Jane for taking on this big challenge for Alemachen and for raising such a fantastic amount of money. If you would like to support their work, please click the donate button and reference Alemachen with your donation. Donate

2023, Fundraising, Tanzania

Scoil naomh Brid agus Padriag Bake Sale

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Scoil naomh Brid agus Padriag Bake Sale This wonderful group of students from Scoil naomh Brid agus Padriag in Mayo ran a bake sale and raffle and raised a phenomenal €1500 for our ‘Buy the Bus’ fundraiser. Children in Masanga, Tanzania currently walk 10km and more to get to school every day and our aim is to raise money to buy them a school bus. Share this article

2020, Ghana

St Mary’s Holy Faith, Glasnevin & Street Advocacy, Kumasi

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St Mary’s Holy Faith, Glasnevin & Street Advocacy in Kumasi In the summer of 2020, a group of eight students and two teachers from St Mary’s Holy Faith Glasnevin were due to travel to the Daughters of Charity street advocacy project in Kumasi in Ghana for their first school’s immersion project. Unfortunately, due to the Covid-19 pandemic they were unable to, but they very generously donated €8000 that they had raised to support the St. Louise Vocational Training Centre. The following activities were carried out with this donation: 1. Maintenance and renovation of the living room and corridors 2. Feeding and medical expenses of 48 girls 3. Provision of vocational materials and clothing. Sr Olivia, who coordinates the project said “the support received from the Vincentian Lay Missionaries helped to support the running cost of the Vocational Training Centre in the 2020 work year and particularly during the period of the coronavirus pandemic. The implementation of the project has helped vulnerable children formerly in street situation to have their dignity restored and childhood regained. These children now have access to and enjoy a safe environment free from all the abuses they suffered whilst still on the street. We therefore remain eternally grateful to the St Mary’s Holy Faith Glasnevin and the Vincentian Lay Missionaries for the support granted us to serve our children.” Share this article

2020, Kenya

Volunteer Story – Ken & Maria King

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Volunteer Story – Ken & Maria King As a couple, we were lucky enough to spend an amazing five weeks in Thigio Special School, just outside Nairobi, Kenya in January 2020. We both had some experience of volunteering in other parts of Africa and Asia in advance of our trip, but each project is unique and inspiring. We were kindly welcomed by the community of sisters who ran the special school and we settled in very quickly. In the early days, we observed the staff and students in their environment and assisted when requested. What we witnessed was remarkable and inspiring. With limited resources and funding, curriculum objectives were adapted with creative practical alternatives and great success was achieved. Many of the students had complex needs including physical disabilities and challenges. The staff had developed comprehensive individual programmes to assist the students with movement, dexterity, developing muscle tone and supporting life skills. There was limited access to wheelchairs, no adapted transport, no hoists or lifting equipment. Adaptations were made possible through the use of household items and local resources to provide students with exercises to develop skills such as strengthening, stretching, reaching etc. Given the lack of purpose- built equipment, aids and technology, many an educator in Ireland would feel overwhelmed and hopeless. However, in Thigio, the students were supported with consistent exercise regimes and parents/guardians were often encouraged into the school to learn and adapt the programme to the home environment. One of the staff would visit houses to oversee and support this. During our time in Kenya, we witnessed incredible developments and progress, such as students being able to hold a spoon, walking a step for the first time and learning to communicate in a way that supported learning. We observed endless patience and sometimes tears but determination and a great sense of achievement for both the students and the staff. The one-to-one attention we witnessed would challenge any occupational therapy department in Irish school settings! On returning to Ireland, we were delighted to share our experiences with our colleagues in Special Education settings. They were interested to hear of the value and success of the consistent reinforcement and investment in daily routines and exercises, which really transformed the lives of the children. We challenged our colleagues to reconsider the idea of always looking for more resources but rather focus on using and reusing resources and equipment already available.A quality education, isn’t about money and resources, it’s about the quality of time, consistency and relationships. This was clear for us to see from our time spent in Kenya. We would like to thank the sisters in the Thigio community, all the staff in the school and of course, the students, for letting us share their precious world with us. You all hold a special place in our memories. Asante! Maria and Ken King. Dun Laoghaire, Dublin. Share this article

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