Tipperary woman returns from emotional trip to Africa – World Vision Ireland

Tipperary woman, Mary Hayes, has returned to Ireland following an life changing trip where she witnessed the work of World Vision Ireland programmes in Swaziland, Africa.

Mary has sponsored a child with World Vision for a number of years and was fascinated to see how sponsorship money is used to improve the lives of so many.

“I didn’t know what to expect before I arrived in Swaziland. I was slightly worried about what I was about to witness but I am so glad I decided to take this trip. It has been so interesting to see how money contributed by Irish sponsors has been used to change the lives of so many here. Mother’s and their children can now attend a local medical clinic where as before they may have had no access to health care at all. As a recently retired teacher I was delighted to see the improvements in the area of education. I visited a school where World Vision Ireland funding had built classrooms. Before this intervention some of the classes were taught their lessons outdoors under the shelter of trees. Its very heartening to see how far my small monthly contribution has gone.” said Mary
“It was heartbreaking at times to meet with women, often grandmothers, who are struggling to look after many young grandchildren after losing their own children to HIV/AIDS. It was encouraging to see what World Vision has done with the funding it receives through child sponsorship but so much more needs to be done. It costs €25 euro a month to sponsor a child, that’s just over €5 a week. I know times are hard for many people in Ireland now but after witnessing how life changing that money can be in places like this, I would urge anyone even considering child sponsorship to contact World Vision.” she added.

World Vision supports communities rather than just the sponsored children though sponsorship funding.  It has worked with the local community in Swaziland setting up credit services (like credit unions) and business set up training programmes to encourage small business start ups and create employment. Local farmers have been trained in food preservation and preparation techniques. As Swaziland has the world’s highest HIV infection rate, with 26.3% of the adult population infected, World Vision has set up HIV/AIDS education programmes. 10,800 young people attended these sessions in 2010 alone. Mary and the group of sponsors she travelled with witnessed World Vision’s work in Swaziland. She met with women and children affected by HIV/AIDS and visited the Kholwane health clinic, Mbanjana Primary School and many other programmes supported by World Vision thanks to monies raised through child sponsorship in Ireland.

Mary is available for comment and would be happy to chat to you about her experience. You can contact her at 087 906 7577

World Vision Ireland has found the best way to help a community to become self-reliant is to set in place Area Development Programmes (ADPs), which are funded through child sponsorship.

World Vision national staff will work in partnership with local communities and empower the people to build a brighter future. The communities plan, prioritise and implement their needs be it in well building, water pumping, soil cultivation and agricultural techniques – all critical to the self-reliance of a community.

As well as combating immediate problems such as malnutrition, health care provision and clean water supplies, an ADP will also look at tackling the reasons behind the poverty including advocacy issues, HIV/AIDS awareness and education, micro-enterprise development, disaster mitigation, disability rights, peace and conflict resolutions, citizenship awareness and human rights.

Each Area Development Programme (ADP) runs for an average of 15 years working through three key phases:

1.  Assessment & design phase
The intial two years of the programme are used to carefully prepare the plans and activities needed in the ADP as well as to build a strong working relationship with the community. Research plays a key role here as well as selection children for child sponsorship.

2.   Implementation phase
The longest of the three phases lasts from year three to eleven. In partnership with the communities we implement the plans formed in the earlier stage to improve livelihoods. Key activities include clean water, food security, health care and education as well as reducing the impact of HIV/AIDS.

3.   Transition phase
From the very beginning, World Vision emphasises to the community that they are the ones who are responsible for transforming their lives and lifting themselves out of poverty. The final three years are spent preparing the ADP for a self-sufficient future that will keep on improving and working ourselves out of a job!