24 organisations to attend Irish Aid’s Overseas Volunteering Fair on September 26, 2009

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Department of Foreign Affairs                Press Release

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24 organisations to attend Irish Aid’s Overseas Volunteering Fair on September 26, 2009

Irish Aid, the Government’s overseas development programme, is hosting a major volunteering fair in Dublin this week to promote responsible overseas volunteering and highlight the long and short-term volunteering opportunities available.

24 organisations will take part in the volunteering fair at Irish Aid’s Volunteering and Information Centre on O’Connell Street, Dublin on Saturday, 26 September.  The fair is free and open to the public. 

The overall theme will be “responsible volunteering”.  Each of the organisations involved will host information stands. In addition, staff from a range of organisations will give presentations on their work, the skills they are seeking and the opportunities available.  Indications from the organisations taking part are that teachers, doctors, nurses, project managers and accountants are most in demand for voluntary work in developing countries, while construction workers, engineers and physiotherapists are also sought-after.

Speaking ahead of the fair, Minister of State for Overseas Aid, Peter Power said:

“I would encourage anyone interested in volunteering overseas to come to the fair and explore how they can contribute in a responsible and sustainable way. It is estimated that about 5,000 Irish volunteers go on short term placements each year.

“While this interest is much appreciated and valued by Irish Aid, we also recognise how important it is that volunteers are organised and managed in a professional manner. The Government is very conscious of the need to protect the health and safety of development workers and volunteers overseas. This is why we are promoting responsible volunteering.

“I am pleased to say that the Irish overseas volunteering sector has been to the fore in promoting best practice internationally. All the participating organisations work under the Comhlámh Code of Good Practice for Volunteering. 

“This code, which has been developed with support from Irish Aid, not only sets clear guidelines and criteria for the recruitment, training and management of volunteers for the sending organisation, it also encourages the volunteer to act responsibly and to sign up to a Volunteers’ Charter of Behaviour. Irish Aid is also currently funding Comhlámh's research into the affect of volunteering on host communities,” the Minister said.

Among the organisations represented at the fair will be Voluntary Service Overseas Ireland, Volunteer Missionary Movement, Habitat for Humanity, as well as many others. Visitors to the Fair will be able to meet with representatives of the organisations and past volunteers, and attend workshops on different volunteering options.

This will be the second time the centre has hosted an overseas volunteering fair. The last fair in April 2009 attracted over 400 people. The event is being held a day after the national day of volunteering, “Give it a Swirl”. 

For further information, please contact Maggie Collins, Irish Aid on 086-0659630

• For further information on the fair and volunteering, visit www.irishaid.gov.ie or call in to the Irish Aid Volunteering and Information Centre on O’Connell Street, Dublin.
• The Code of Good Practice for organisations can be found at: http://www.volunteeringoptions.org/WhatWeDo/CodeofGoodPractice/tabid/75/Default.aspx
• The Volunteers’ Charter of Behaviour can be accessed at: http://www.volunteeringoptions.org/WhatWeDo/VolunteerCharter/tabid/74/Default.aspx

Note to Editors:

The volunteering fair runs on Saturday, September 26th from 10am to 5pm in the Irish Aid Volunteering and Information Centre at 27-31 Upper O’Connell Street Dublin. It is free and open to the public.

The organisations participating are:

Long term volunteering (1 year+)

1. Skillshare International Ireland
2. Progressio
3. Hope Foundation
4. Voluntary Service Overseas
5. Volunteer Missionary Movement
6. Viatores Christi

Support organisations

7. Volunteer Centres Ireland
8. Comhlámh
9. DTALK

Short term volunteering

10. Niall Mellon Township Trust
11. Camara
12. USIT
13. Global Schoolroom
14. EIL Intercultural Learning
15. Friends from Ireland
16. Suas
17. Serve
18. Voluntary Service International (VSI)
19. Hope Foundation
20. Habitat for Humanity
21. Sli Eile
22. A-Z Childrens Charity
23. Friends of Londiani
24. Irish Aid

ENDS+++

Press Office

24 September 2009