Jun 18, 2013:

Westmeath Volunteer and Active Retirement member wins trip of a lifetime to do voluntary work in Mexico

Mary Daly from Multyfarnham Co. Westmeath has won a prestigious 8 week travel award to Mexico. The fully funded award was given by Cork-based EIL Intercultural Learning, which organises cultural and educational travel programmes worldwide. This award is organised in Partnership with Active Retirement Ireland which selected candidates among their Active Retirement groups across Ireland.

 

Mary Daly is a member of Active Retirement Ireland. Prior to retiring, she was a nurse and worked in many areas of the healthcare settings. Mary has also been very involved in her community, she got involved in setting up the community preschool and a rehabilitation centre for the elderly. Mary was also very much involved in Health Promotion and Arts initiatives in her community and she is currently developing a men's health project with the help of Active Retirement Ireland.

 

She won the award after stiff competition from other entrants from all over Ireland. The selection was based on a written application, participation in a workshop and an interview.

 

She will now be volunteering for 2 months in San Juan del Río is the second largest city of Queretaro State, located 170km North East of Mexico city. Mary will be volunteering with the Community Action Programme of the "Municipio" (Municipality) of San Juan del Río. This programme focuses in the integral development of the citizens of the region and particularly target citizens from disadvantaged background and isolated groups with a special attention to the elderly, women in disadvantage areas, and children. Mary will be supporting the programme in various ways and will get involved with local elderly groups as well as with an orphanage.

 

Mary said "this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and one which I will commit to with the utmost enthusiasm and dedication. Working in the Community Action Programme taps into many areas where I have a strong interest. I enjoy the challenges life brings and I am always prepared to help, I am generous with my skills and time and if I can make a difference, I will. On my return, I plan to share my experience in my local community and among the Active Retirement groups and I hope it will generate an interest in volunteering abroad among retired people who have a lot of skills to share."

 

The travel award is funded by EIL Intercultural Learning in Cork. EIL programmes include opportunities for Irish people to do voluntary work in Africa, Latin America and Asia.  Anton Kieffer, Programme Coordinator, explained "The aims of our programmes are: enriching lives and inspiring global citizenship. Our Volunteer Abroad opportunities offer Irish people the chance to work on key local development projects where their contribution will be valued. Whether it is teaching in a school in India, conservation in the cloud forests of Ecuador or community development in South Africa, Irish volunteers can and do make a difference. As well as making a difference in the communities where they volunteer, participants also learn a lot themselves and about global issues. Our hope is that they will use this life education to a positive effect when they return to their own communities in Ireland by helping to raise awareness about the issues developing countries are struggling with on a daily basis".

 

EIL is a not-for-profit organisation which is recognised as a "Peace Messenger" by the United Nations. The mission of the organisation is to link people and foster international understanding. Further information on EIL is available through www.eilireland.org or www.volunteerabroad.ie

 

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