Waterford marketing exec beats the recession by volunteering in Kenya
18/02/2009 00:01:00
Waterford man Colm Halley has decided to beat the recession and share his marketing skills in Kenya with VSO, the charity that recruits volunteers to work in developing countries.
Colm is a 29-year-old marketing professional originally from Tramore, Co. Waterford, now living in Dublin. Having done a variety of marketing roles in both UK and Irish companies, Colm decided that a more modest life helping others was for him Set to depart in early March 2009, Colm will take up a challenging placement working as a Business Development Adviser in a HIV&AIDS organisation in Kenya.
Colm has been recruited and will be supported by VSO, Voluntary Service Overseas. The charity today announced that it has seen a 40% reduction in applications from Irish professionals looking to volunteer since the beginning of 2009. VSO wants to remind professionals that volunteering won’t affect their income or career prospects, as all costs are covered.
VSO urgently needs 50 Irish volunteers to work on development projects overseas but so far just 10 professionals have been placed since September. If levels of interest do not pick up jobs could be left unfilled and communities in some of the poorest countries in the world will suffer.
Enquiries from prospective volunteers in 2008 were down 25% on the previous 12 months, and last year 16 candidates withdrew their applications, sparking concern that the recession in Ireland is undermining people’s confidence to volunteer.
Marketing specialist Colm Halley has an encouraging message for potential VSO volunteers:
“I am excited about living and working abroad with VSO, and confident that I will learn a lot from the experience. Volunteering isn’t just taking time out, it’s using your skills and getting experience in international development. My costs are covered which puts me at ease. It’s a professional organisation.”
Today Malcolm Quigley, Director of VSO Ireland, said:
“The current economic climate is a real concern for everyone and it’s natural that Irish people are worried about their job security. But people living in developing countries are not facing recession; they are already living in poverty that threatens their day-to-day livelihoods. VSO is a respected NGO that covers all volunteering costs, so the risk isn’t as big as people think.”
In many developing countries staff shortages in business managers, educationalists, doctors and midwives are chronic, so these are the skills now in demand. VSO can use financial professionals where they have strong planning or management expertise.
VSO is encouraging people to escape the gloom and doom of the Irish economy, take up a two-year placement in an exciting new environment, and return to Ireland when the storm has settled
More information: Contact VSO Ireland on 01-8147070 or email Deirdre.finlay@vso.ie.
