| | | | Burkina Faso | | Ethiopia | | Eritrea | | Ghana | | Kenya | | Malawi | | Togo | | Uganda | | Zambia | | | | Events Calendar | | | | | 20 Year Highlights | | | What Your Money is Doing | | Regular Giving | | Fund-Raising Suggestions | | One Click Donation | | Corporate Seed Fund | | Farmers Grow Fund | | Volunteering | | Tax Relief on Donations | | | 2007 Kenya | | 2006 Eritrea | | 2005 -Kenya-Uganda-Malawi | | 2001-2004 From the Archives | | | Africa Alive Schools Programme |
| | Recent School News | | School Visits | | Curriculum Publications | | Student & Teacher Impressions | | Pictures Download | | Young Scientists Exhibition | | School Profiles (coming soon) | | | Africa Framed | | Value of Rubbish | | | | Press Releases | | Articles on Self Help Activities | | Related Topics | | | | | | |  |  |
|
|
|  | | Kenya Trek 2005 - Mick Galwey | | | A sporting career which took him to almost every corner of the world didnt prepare former Irish rugby international Mick Galwey for the sights and experiences he had on a recent visit to East Africa.
Travelling to Kenya as trek leader on a fund-raising trip organised by Irish development agency Self Help, the Munster-man says that without question the country was the most beautiful he has ever visited.
But the former Irish second-row forward showed a softer side to his character too, when he talked with sadness of the conditions of extreme poverty which are the daily reality for a majority of Kenyans.
Mick Galwey said that the visit which he made as the leader of a 30 strong party of Irish volunteers to rural communities who are working with the Irish charity was humbling, and that the fantastic work that Self Help was engaged in made him proud to be associated with the organisation.
I know that the work is only a drop in the ocean, but organisations such as Self Help make you proud to be Irish, he said. I have been to all of the continents and seen some magnificent places, mainly through rugby, but this experience will live with me for a very, very long time.
The former Irish lion said that despite the poverty, and despite the corruption in Kenya which appeared to be widespread, the commitment and determination of the people Self Help worked with to improve their living conditions in simple and practical ways, was both humbling and inspiring.
They face huge challenges not least that presented by the alarming spread of the HIV/AIDS virus, but along with all of the other volunteers who made this trip, I will certainly do all that I can to make others aware in the months and years ahead of the problems that are facing this wonderful race of people, Mick Galwey pledged.
The former Irish rugby international travelled to Kenya with a party of 30 volunteers, which included more than a dozen representatives from Irish third level colleges including University College Cork, University of Limerick, University College Galway, Waterford Regional College, and Maynooth College.
Alongside the summertime fund-raising trek to Kenya, Self Help also has trek visits travelling to Uganda (August) and to Malawi (October) in 2005. |
| |
| | Kenya Activities | | | | | |
|
| | | | | Self Help Africa is a limited liability company. Company number: 105601 Charity No. 6663 (Ireland)
The organisation has offices in Ireland at: Annefield House, Dublin Road, Portlaoise, Co. Laois Tel: 00 353 (0)57 8694034 - Fax: 00 353 (0)57 8694038, and in the United Kingdom at : Second Floor Suite, Westgate House, Dickens Court, Off Hills Lane, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY1 1QU. Tel : 0044-(0)1743 277170
| | | | | | | | |
|
|
|
|
