The Mill Debates 2008

galway | miscellaneous | event notice Wednesday January 09, 2008 12:49 by Sarah - Galway One World Centre

We Still Want You But...Volunteering Overseas the pro' and Cons!

The Galway One World Centre is running a series of monthly informal debates beginning next Tuesday 15th of January at 6.30.The debates will be held in the One World Centre headquarters on the first floor of the Bridge Mills, Dominic street.

For this first debate of 2008 we will have two speakers with great experience regarding international volunteering- Mr Titus Glavee from the Ireland African Internship Programme and Maryanne Wangari-Mullen of the Harambee Charity Shop in Galway which raises funds for the Dochas Nasamu children’s home in Kenya. They will both be speaking from their personal experience with international volunteers.

The opportunities for Irish people to volunteer in developing countries range from the type of ‘holiday’ where a well-intentioned Irish tourist can combine a little sightseeing with teaching English or building houses, to long term positions in respected organisations such as ‘Medicines sans Frontiers’ who provide medical services where they are urgently required. Volunteer- type tourism is a growing market in Ireland- people are choosing this type of holiday with frequency for reasons ranging from concern for others to a search for authentic adventure. Obviously these situations present a host of ethical and practical dilemmas- what use is an Irish office worker with neither a grasp of the local language nor skills in construction to a host community? Is their only benefit the sponsorship money that they raise in order to go on their holiday? What then, of the skilled construction workers such as those of the Liam Mellon trust who construct houses in South African townships? Do they undermine employment opportunities for locals in these areas?

All these topics and more will be aired in our informal debate next Tuesday. There is no admission charge and everyone is welcome. We also welcome suggestions and speakers for future debates and can be contacted as follows;

Contact Details: outreach@galwayowc.org