Entries by Serve

India 2023 Volunteer Programme

September 20, 2022 in , /by

Volunteer in India with SERVE in 2023

An overview of your SERVE volunteer placement in India

SERVE Volunteering Programme 2023 Hybrid Overseas Zambia India Ireland Mozambique
SERVE Volunteers at APD in India




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Volunteers will be placed with two partners – Association of People with Disability (APD) and Sumanahalli Society. These are integrated education, rehabilitation, and social care centres for people with physical and intellectual disabilities. SERVE have been working in India since 2005, supporting innovative projects in the area of disability awareness, improving access to basic services, and targeted educational supports of people with disability. 

 

What work will I be doing? 

  • – Teaching support in integrated primary schools. 
  • – Facilitating workshops and activities. 
  • – Staff training and capacity building. 
  • – Outreach visits and social care work. 
  • – Supporting the on-going initiatives of APD and Sumanahalli Society. 
  • – Marketing and communications related work for those with the relevant experience 



register now

FAQ

Most frequent questions and answers

Age 18+ and must no longer be in full time second level education. All backgrounds and disciplines are welcome. You must be willing to get stuck-in, open to learning about new cultures and perspectives, and able to live and work with a diverse group of people.

This placement is open to individuals with a variety of backgrounds and skills. Volunteers must be willing to get stuck in and be comfortable working closely with children and adults with a range of physical and intellectual disabilities.

Previous experience of working with people with disability is desirable.

A background in teaching, social care, early childcare assistance or creative arts is an advantage.

There are also specific opportunities for people with backgrounds in healthcare, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech and language therapy.

We are also looking for people with specific skill sets and experience particularly in wheelchair assembling and inclusion and diversity immersion skills. 

This placement is also open to someone with experience in communications or marketing to work on an advocacy project for SERVE and APD. 

You will be required to consult  your doctor for expert medical advice. Vaccinations are at the expense of the individual volunteer and should not be fundraised for.


During the working week volunteers will be split into two groups. Volunteers assigned to Sumanahalli will stay on-site, with basic but comfortable accommodation provided. Volunteers assigned to APD with stay in a retreat house, a short journey from the APD campus. All the volunteers will stay together in NSK during the orientation period and the weekends. 

The SERVE volunteer programme is an immersive experience, with huge learning opportunities. Volunteers work closely with locals, offering a unique opportunity to gain insights into the lives of people in India.

An average day includes but is not limited to:

  • – Supporting teachers in the integrated primary schools. 
  • – Designing activities and workshops in response to the needs of the partners. 
  • – Identifying opportunities for resource sharing and staff capacity building. 
  • – Immersion into life in India. 
  • – Unstructured engagement with staff and students of the partner organisation, through working side-by-side, playing sport or games, or through general conversation. 
  • – Global Citizenship Education

Global Citizenship Education (GCE) is a core part of the SERVE volunteer programme. The placement, through the immersion of volunteers into the everyday challenges of life, presents unique opportunities for global learning and nurturing cross-cultural understanding. 

The learning experience of the placement is contextualised through GCE. Through interactive sessions and tasks, facilitated by the team leaders or guest speakers, volunteers are encouraged to think critically about the placement, their role in the world, and broader issues of injustice, inequality, and the challenge of sustainable and inclusive development. GCE is mainstreamed through the pre-departure training, the placement, and the debriefing seminar. 

Read all the details of the placements then sign up here.

Once you have submitted your application, a member of Team SERVE will be in contact with you at the end of October to organise an informal phone-interview to find out more about you and why you want to volunteer with us and be part of our 2023 Volunteer Programme.

If you are successful, your place will be confirmed shortly afterwards. 

FAQ on Fees

Most frequent questions and answers

This is relevant to those who are applying to volunteer overseas with SERVE.

You have to raise a minimum of €3,495 / £3,070 (inclusive of your non-refundable deposit of €200/£200). 

This covers the costs relating to:

  • – your flight and travel insurance,
  • – pre-departure training costs,
  • – in-country support,
  • – your main meals, accommodation, transport while on your overseas placement
  • – a grant to the overseas partner with whom you will be placed and
  • – your attendance at the SERVE “Next Step” Weekend following your return to Ireland. 

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You will receive fundraising support and workshops extensively during the pre-departure training days and on request at any stage throughout the process. 

This is relevant to those who are applying to volunteer overseas with SERVE.

Many of our Volunteers raise sums over and above their €3,495 / £3,070.  All of the funds raised above the target amount go directly to our Project Country fund; this provides financial support to our partners, enabling them to deliver on projects which the volunteers will work on. 

 

 

This is relevant to those who are applying to volunteer overseas with SERVE.

The €3,495 / £3,070 participation fee primarily covers the running costs of your placement. If you do not raise this amount, you will have to forfeit your place. However, if you are having trouble with fundraising, you will have the support of both SERVE and our volunteer network to help you to reach your target. 

 

 

Other Placements


Volunteer Programme 2023 Registration Form



Apply Now

Overview 2023 Volunteer Programme

September 20, 2022 in /by

Overview of 2023 Volunteer Programme

All placement types explained with details of the recruitment process.














The 2023 Volunteer Programme is now full.

Volunteers will be involved in an 8-month Global Citizenship Programme (GCE – otherwise known as Development Education) with the option to do a local volunteering placement, or a 4-week overseas placement from early July to early August.  

For the 2023 Volunteer Programme we are offering overseas placements in:  

  • – Bangalore, India 
  • – Lusaka & Mazabuka, Zambia 
  • – Beira & Dondo, Mozambique 

Volunteer with SERVE to be the change you want to see in the world.

  1. Benefit from comprehensive Global Citizenship Education workshops, hearing from speakers and guest facilitators from the Global South. Topics include: Advocacy & Human Rights; Social Justice & Inequality; Responsible Consumption – focus on Fast Fashion; Attitudes and Languages towards Ethnic Minorities; Our Food System and Climate Change; Partnership and Locally Led Sustainable Development; Disability Stigma in India; Effects of Climate Change in the Global South – focus on Mozambique; The Education System in Zambia and so much more!
  2. Volunteer on sustainable development projects, locally and globally. 
  3. Support the work of our local partners. 
  4. Those travelling overseas will also gain pre-departure training, in-country support, and debriefing. The overseas programme features:
    • – 4 week placement with one of our overseas partners from early July to early August 
    • – Live and work in teams of 8-12 volunteers, led by 2 experienced leaders.  

Applications are now closed.

FAQ

Most frequent questions and answers

Age 18+ and must no longer be in full time second level education. All backgrounds and disciplines are welcome. You must be willing to get stuck-in, open to learning about new cultures and perspectives, and able to live and work with a diverse group of people.

Local volunteering: The volunteering placement is chosen by the participant with help from an experienced SERVE Mentor. (Note – there may be an opportunity to do some online volunteering with our overseas partners, this is TBC).

Overseas volunteering: Volunteers take on a variety of roles and each placement is different. Placements are always planned in response to the needs of the local partners.

Click here to find out more about all the placements. 

Those participating in the local volunteering option are asked to contribute a programme fee of €150 and raise a minimum of €500. This covers training and facilitation costs, and supports SERVE’s work with its overseas partners.

Participants in the SERVE overseas volunteer programme are required to raise a minimum of €3,495. This covers flights, insurance, training, and in-country project costs. SERVE also uses these funds to make grants towards furthering the work of our overseas partners.

Fundraising support is provided at the training days. This fundraising target has been increased from 2019 in response to rising costs of insurance and flights.  

All fundraising to be completed before end of May 2023.

All volunteers will attend 3 in-person training sessions at our office in Blackrock, Cork on the following dates: 

  • – Sat, 25th February 2023
  • – Sat, 15th April 2023 and
  • – Sat, 20th May 2023

Volunteers traveling overseas will be required to attend a full-day training on these dates, while those participating in the local programme will be required to attend a half-day training.

All volunteers will attend online GCE sessions as well, with guest speakers from the Global South. This is an opportunity to learn more about the work SERVE does with our overseas partners.

All volunteers must also attend a debriefing session which will take place in October 2023.

Read up on all the placements then apply here.

Once you have submitted your application, a member of Team SERVE will be in contact with you to organise an interview (in-person or Zoom).

If you are successful, your place will be confirmed shortly afterwards. 

You will be required to consult  your doctor for expert medical advice. Vaccinations are at the expense of the individual volunteer and should not be fundraised for.

All volunteers who participate fully in the entire programme of Global Citizenship Education and/or pre-departure training, in-country placement/local volunteering placement, and debriefing will be awarded a certificate in recognition of your participation. 

You can use this volunteer experience to boost your skill set and include it in your CV. SERVE will provide a letter of reference should you need it for job applications.

Students can often use the volunteer experience to meet the placement requirements of certain courses. This is at discretion of the college and it is the responsibility of the individual volunteer to check if the volunteer placement meets college requirements. 

FAQ on Fees

Participants in the SERVE overseas volunteer programme are required to raise a minimum of €3,495 / £3,100 (inclusive of your non-refundable deposit of €200/£180). 

This covers the costs relating to:

  • – your flight and travel insurance,
  • – pre-departure training costs,
  • – in-country support,
  • – your main meals, accommodation, transport while on your overseas placement
  • – a grant to the overseas partner with whom you will be placed
  • – your attendance at the SERVE Next Step Weekend following your return to Ireland. 

Please note that the above price does not include the following and you are not entitled to fundraise for:

  • – the cost of your vaccinations,
  • – any day-to-day personal spending money,
  • – any activities undertaken on time off during the project,
  • – all visas to be obtained will be at each individual’s expense i.e. you may be required to obtain a visa before departure or in some circumstances can be obtained on arrival in the destination airport. 

Those participating in the local volunteering option are asked to contribute a programme fee of €150 / £130 and raise a minimum of €500 / £450.

This covers the costs relating to:

  • – pre-placement training costs
  • – local volunteering support
  • – online volunteering facilitation
  • – continuous mentoring by experienced SERVE mentors
  • – a grant to our overseas partners, who you will be learning about during pre-placement training
  • – your attendance at the SERVE “Next Step” Weekend in October, following the completion of your online and local volunteering

You will receive fundraising support and workshops extensively during the pre-departure training days and on request at any stage throughout the process. 

All of the funds raised above the target amount go directly to our Project Country fund; this provides seed funding for grants and financial support to our partners, enabling them to deliver on projects which the volunteers will work on, as well as longer term programmes. 

If you are having trouble with fundraising, you will have the support of both SERVE and our volunteer network to help you to reach your target. 

 

 

Read about The Placements


Volunteer Programme 2023 Registration Form



Apply Now

2023 Volunteer Programme – Local

September 19, 2022 in /by

Volunteer locally with SERVE in 2023

An overview of your SERVE volunteer placement

SERVE Volunteering Programme 2023 Hybrid Overseas Zambia India Ireland Mozambique
SERVE Volunteers at Scala in Cork




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This is a new option as part of our Volunteer Programme 2023. Participants who are not travelling overseas will work with experienced SERVE mentors to determine their interests in order to organise their own local volunteering.

Volunteers must complete a minimum of 8 hours local volunteer work with an organisation of their choosing, and a minimum of 8 hours online volunteer work with our overseas partners over the course of Summer 2023.  

The online volunteering work will be with our partners in Assumption Parish in Mazabuka, Zambia. This will be co-facilitated with SERVE volunteers on the ground in Mazabuka in July 2023. The placement will be based on our partner’s needs as well as the participant’s interests. Previous online workshops with our partners in Mazabuka include Conversational English lessons and CV and Interview Skills workshops with the youth of the community.

Volunteers who choose this option for the 2023 SERVE Volunteer Programme will be involved in similar pre-placement training as well as the same Global Citizenship Education workshops as those who are travelling overseas. 



register now

FAQ

Most frequent questions and answers

Age 18+ and must no longer be in full time second level education. All backgrounds and disciplines are welcome. You must be willing to get stuck-in, open to learning about new cultures and perspectives, and able to live and work with a diverse group of people.

The local and online volunteering option for the SERVE Volunteer Programme 2023 is open to individuals with a variety of backgrounds and skills. Participant to identify local volunteering opportunity to suit their skill set and interests. 

SERVE mentors will be available to assist participants during this process.

For eg: You may choose to volunteer at the local animal shelter. Wherein you will discuss with the manager of the animal shelter how you plan to spend a minimum of 8 hours with them during Summer 2023

The type of volunteer work being carried out online with our partners in Assumption Parish, Mazabuka will be determined by working with SERVE mentors to determine what skills can be shared by the volunteer which will benefit those in our partner country. 

For eg: last year our ‘Think Global, Act Local’ volunteers carried out online volunteering with our partners Assumption Parish. Our volunteers facilitated a range of activities including conversational English lessons and workshops on interview skills and CV writing.

Read up on all the placements then register here.

Once you have submitted your application, a member of Team SERVE will be in contact with you to organise an interview (in-person or Zoom).

If you are successful, your place will be confirmed shortly afterwards. 

FAQ on Fees

Most frequent questions and answers

Those participating in the local volunteering option are asked to contribute a programme fee of €150 and raise a minimum of €500. 

This is relevant to those who are applying to volunteer locally and online with SERVE.

This covers the costs relating to:

  • – pre-placement training costs
  • – local volunteering support
  • – online volunteering facilitation
  • – continuous mentoring by experienced SERVE mentors
  • – a grant to our overseas partners, who you will be learning about during pre-placement training
  • – your attendance at the SERVE “Next Step” Weekend in October, following the completion of your online and local volunteering

—

You will receive fundraising support and workshops extensively during the pre-placement training days and on request at any stage throughout the process. 

 

Other Placements


Volunteer Programme 2023 Registration Form



Apply Now

SERVE Culture Night ’22

September 11, 2022 in /by

Culture Night '22 at Scala

SERVE is thrilled to collaborate with Cork Repair Cafe, Cork Clothes Swap, Cork Zero Waste, and artist Silvio Severino, for Cork Culture Night 2022 event at our HQ – Scala Retreat and Conference Centre, Blackrock (located opposite Blackrock Castle Observatory).

Cork Culture Night 2022 SERVE Cork Zero Waste Silvio Severion Cork Repair Cafe Cork Clothes Swap
Few of the members of the organising team of Culture Night @ SERVE in Scala, Cork




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SERVE is thrilled to collaborate with Cork Repair Cafe, Cork Clothes Swap, Cork Zero Waste, and artist Silvio Severino, for Cork Culture Night 2022 event at our HQ – Scala Retreat and Conference Centre, Blackrock (located opposite Blackrock Castle Observatory).

This event is called ‘Building a Sustainable Culture’

Date: Fri, 23rd, Sept

Time: 5:30 to 8:30pm

What to expect on the night?

1. Begin your Culture Night experience by walking the thought provocative and interactive Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) trail, which reminds us that we live in a global community with a rich cultural heritage. Taste snacks served from different countries where SERVE works and a photo exhibition to bridge the people of Cork with few of the communities of the vast Global South.

2. Marvel at Brazilian Artist, Silvio Severino’s Art Exhibition and create your own collage from unused print material.

3. Stop by the Cork Repair Cafe table and get any household items and bicycle mended or learn how you can repair things yourself.

4. Meet Cork Zero Waste members to find out how you can reduce, reuse and recycle more with an opportunity to swap plants, artwork and clothes on the night!

5. Be inspired to fight fast fashion with Cork Clothes Swap by renewing or replacing something from your own wardrobe on the night too.

A great family-friendly evening to discover other cultures and an opportunity to get back to our roots which encourages a sustainable culture.



Register now

Few members of Cork Repair Cafe


Bring clothes, plants, art to swap


SERVE will have snack from around the world for you

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Irish charity SERVE works with Sumanahalli in Bangalore, India to support people living with leprosy


SERVE and Sumanahalli

SERVE’s Development Work with Sumanahalli SERVE Volunteers at Sumanahalli About Sumanahalli Sumanahalli is a leprosy and HIV rehabilitation centre in Bangalore. SERVE has worked Sumanahalli

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All the best Catriona

August 26, 2022 in , /by

All the best Catriona

SERVE is grateful to Catriona Reid for all the work done during her six month internship with us.

SERVE intern Catriona Reid Global Citizenship Education Volunteer Cork
Catriona Reid (second from left) on her last day with Team SERVE




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Catriona Reid has spent the last six months with SERVE as our all-rounder intern.

During her time at SERVE, she took on every task with enthusiasm and brought in her creativity to everything.
 
Catriona carries with her a passion for global citizenship education and was a fantastic mentor in our Think Global Act Local programme with a focus on climate action.
 
She’s also a great sport – wearing a giant flip-flop at the local farmers market for us with a great big smile.
 
We’re slowly beginning to spend a few days a week together at SERVE HQ. Every time Catriona comes in, her calm nature is most welcome in the busy office that SERVE is. Her silent passion for the work we do speaks volumes and energises us during brainstorm meetings. She’s full of ideas and Catriona reminds us of the joy of collaboration!
 
We’ll miss you Catriona – and something tells us we’ll be seeing more of you at SERVE.
 
Please join us to wish Catriona all the very best as she goes back to college in Sept to complete her final year in BSc Government and Political Science.

Catriona at Blackrock Farmers Market

Catriona being a great sport

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Thank you Dan Lynch


Thank you Dan Lynch

Thank you Dan Lynch SERVE would like to say a huge thank you to our intern, Dan Lynch, for all his work with us over

Photo by RF._.studio: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-player-holding-a-soccer-ball-3886252/


SERVE 5-a-side Soccer Tournament

SERVE hosts 5-a-side Soccer Tournament to help fund their overseas development programmes on Saturday September 10th 2022 Nemo Rangers GAA Club, Douglas, Cork.

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Join us today in helping to provide equal opportunities for communities living in poverty across the globe.





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Postcard from Zambia

August 25, 2022 in , /by

Postcard from Zambia

Rory Murphy from Team SERVE recently visited our partners in Zambia and reports back. 

Team SERVE's Rory Murphy facilitating a workshop in Assumption Parish, Mazabuka, Zambia




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Life in Zambia and the challenges its people face are changing rapidly and unpredictably. Because of this, my visit to Zambia in July was vital to allow SERVE to learn more about the work of our partners and the difficulties they encounter. 

Upon arriving, it was a pleasure to finally meet Milimo Muchanga, our extraordinary liaison with Assumption Parish. The role Milimo plays in the community is crucial to the success of all the work SERVE does with Assumption Parish and his commitment to improving his community inspires all of us at Team SERVE. I was also delighted to meet Mrs Mutale, the Principal of Luyobolola Primary School (LPS), Cledwyn Hamoonga from Flamboyant Special School, Harrison Banda from St Patrick’s Secondary School, and of course team Young Africa Zambia in Lusaka. 

In Mazabuka, LPS recently received funding from SERVE for 50 new school desks which have greatly helped in the learning outcomes for the local children. They noted the fact that these desks were tailored to the right size and their width supports two students comfortably but is not so wide as to reduce the number they can fit in a classroom.

Zambia recently made primary and secondary education completely free. This is a positive step forward for Zambia and school enrollments at LPS have significantly increased. However, Luyobolola Primary School is comparatively underfunded and so operate on a shoestring budget despite their overpopulated classrooms. Understandably, this presents more challenges, and SERVE is working with them to identify solutions. 

Our focus with Assumption Parish is guided by SDG 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education for all. 

I also visited the Lukavilla Arts Centre. Many of our past volunteers will remember their beautiful arts and crafts. They have faced a number of challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, but they are on the road to recovery, including setting up a poultry project. They have agreed to make a new batch of hand-painted cards for all occasions for us to sell and raise funds at Christmas markets and at events in 2023. You will also be able to buy them from our Ethical Shop on our website. 

When I visited Young Africa Zambia, I saw the enormous untapped potential for volunteer placements with them. Specifically, these volunteers could focus on life skills and employability training for young people in the local community. SERVE volunteers of the ‘Think Global, Act Local’ programme have already shared their reflections on the fantastic benefits of Life Skills training with young people.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth is at the centre of our partnership with Young Africa and our volunteer placements, funding and advocacy are based on this Global Goal. 

SERVE acknowledges there are myriad challenges faced by each of our partners and so our work continues with them. You can help us offer support where it’s needed through donations, fundraising, volunteering and advocacy programmes. While our partners in Zambia present unique challenges that they grapple with – at a government policy level, lack of resources, infrastructure, staff shortages, environmental issues and much more, I, like my colleague John McCarthy, who recently visited India, am moved by our partners’ hard work and resilience. 


All


Assumption Parish

Think Global Act Local

Interview Skills & CV Writing Workshop

Young Africa

Rory meeting Cledwyn Hamoonga in Assumption Parish


Rory visits the SERVE funded community garden in Assumption Parish.


New school desks funded by SERVE in Luyobolola Primary School


Rory was able to join our online TGAL session taking place in Assumption Parish


Rory was able to join our online TGAL session taking place in Assumption Parish


Rory was able to join our online TGAL session taking place in Assumption Parish


Rory facilitated further learning from the CV writing & Interview skills training for the group in Assumption Parish


Rory facilitated further learning from the CV writing & interview skills training for the group in Assumption Parish


Rory facilitated further learning from the CV writing & Interview skills training for the group in Assumption Parish


Rory with Team Young Africa Zambia


Rorry visits Young Africa Zambia tailoring department


Rory visits Young Africa Zambia

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Postcard from India

August 15, 2022 in , /by

Postcard from India

SERVE Development Programme Manager, John McCarthy reports after his visit to our partners in India

Meet Team SERVE John McCarthy (5th from left)
John McCarthy with Team APD




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It was special to visit our partners in Bangalore, India again after numerous lockdowns and all the uncertainty brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the Association of People with Disability (APD), I visited their main campus and their large Horticulture Training Centre. They continue to run robust programmes with great impact in urban and rural areas. They are responding to almost every issue affecting the lives of people with disability (PWD) in Karnataka State – education, healthcare, treatment, employment, training and advocacy. APD’s commitment to advocacy work and building the capacity of smaller NGOs is commendable. We are now moving into the third and final year of the Disability Awareness for School Children Project, a pioneering advocacy project in Bangalore, and will also soon start to implement a project to strengthen the response to COVID amongst people with disability (PWD).  

I also met with our partner, Sumanahalli who provide an incredible level of support and care to people living with and affected by leprosy and HIV/AIDS. We reviewed our past projects and discussed new was of working together in the future. At Morning Star, it was great to meet again with the people who live there and receive support to manage their disabilities. 

All partners commented on the challenges they are facing in responding to severe price rises in basic commodities.  

I must say that the resilience and commitment of our partners is no short of inspirational. The monitoring visits were a wonderful opportunity to meet with staff, beneficiaries and see first-hand the impact of many years of SERVE support. 

Your advocacy, volunteerism and donations have a great impact on the work we can do with our partners.   

John at Morning Star
Morning Star is a home for boys and adults - some of whom live with severe disabilities.


John at Sumanahalli
SERVE works with Sumanahalli provides an incredible level of support and care to people living with and affected by leprosy and HIV/AIDS. (Bengaluru, India)


John with George at Sumanhalli
SERVE looks forward to working closely with Fr. George, the Director of Sumanahalli.

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Irish charity SERVE works with Sumanahalli in Bangalore, India to support people living with leprosy


SERVE and Sumanahalli

SERVE’s Development Work with Sumanahalli SERVE Volunteers at Sumanahalli About Sumanahalli Sumanahalli is a leprosy and HIV rehabilitation centre in Bangalore. SERVE has worked Sumanahalli

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Join us today in helping to provide equal opportunities for communities living in poverty across the globe.





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Antonio’s TGAL reflection

August 12, 2022 in /by

"Through the monitor I could see their wide smiles.."

Participants from our Think Global, Act Local programme facilitated online workshops over four weekends on Cover Letter CV writing and interview skills for young people at Assumption Parish who are our partners based in Mazabuka Zambia. This was all part of the volunteering projects of our Global Citizenship Education programme. 

Below is a blog by one of the TGAL volunteers Antonio who describes the experience as an “enormous honour”.

Antonio TGAL SERVE Programramme online volunteering
Photo of group in Assumption Parish attending the online session faciliatted by SERVE volunteer, Antonio.




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Hi! My name is Antonio and I volunteered with SERVE under the Think Global, Act Local (TGAL) programme. I volunteered online with young people from the Assumption Parish in Mazabuka, Zambia where I taught them interview skills through a virtual presentation. 

Presenting my work in front of so many people was an enormous honour and pleasure. I hope that my work will contribute positively to their lives and they will reap benefits from the skills I shared with them. 

The young people were really engaged in what I had to tell them and they had plenty of questions afterwards, meaning that the work I did with them stimulated their interest. I’m very thankful to them for the trust they placed in me and for giving me their attention. 

Through the monitor I could see their wide smiles and hear their cheerful hellos. Even though there were miles of distance between me and them, we felt them very close. They have been an amazing group and overall it has been an amazing experience. 

I’m very thankful to all the SERVE staff for giving me the chance to prepare this presentation. They are the true heroes! 

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Donate to SERVE

Join us today in helping to provide equal opportunities for communities living in poverty across the globe.





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Goodbye Robin

August 4, 2022 in , /by
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Goodbye Robin!

This week, we are saddened to say goodbye to our wonderful multi-talented German volunteer, Robin Damaschke.

robin farewell group lunch photo

Robin arrived in Cork from Cologne and started his journey helping SERVE in September 2021. During the year with us, Robin’s work went from strength to strength. He arrived when Ireland was still faced with lockdown restrictions, and he took this in his stride. 

It didn’t take him long to slot into our team! He soon became our postman, photographer, video editor, admin guru, social media star and all-round person we could always rely on. 

He even drove our 4 Peaks German Team around the country and was present at all our community events.  Robin also volunteered time taking part in SERVE’s Think Global Act Local programme, fundraising events and took part in the Scala Youth Ministry Retreats too.  

We are going to miss him greatly and will be forever grateful for his commitment and friendship. Please join us in wishing Robin the very best in his next step in life in Berlin and all his future endeavours.  

FlipFlopAppeal2022

FlipFlopAppeal2022

We also want to say a huge thank you and best wishes to the Scala Youth Ministry team German Volunteer, Linus Mainzer. Linus helped Robin during our very busy periods and put his hands up to take part in our events such as Runamuck and the 4 Peaks Challenge. He was a delight to have in Scala & we will miss him very much too! 

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SERVE and INTO fund classroom desks for school in Zambia

July 28, 2022 in , , , /by

SERVE and INTO fund classroom desks for Primary School in Zambia

Earlier this year, SERVE helped a local primary school in the town of Mazabuka, Zambia to purchase a new set of school desks to alleviate some of the stress put on students by poor equipment. Read the story below! 

Smart Crawl News desks
Irish National Teachers Organisation


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Luyobolola Primary School has approximately 900 students, but it does not receive much government funding, relying instead on contributions from parents to meet running costs. Many parents who struggle to make ends meet. This means that many of its facilities and much of its equipment is outdated. SERVE previously helped the school to build three new classrooms and a toilet/sanitation block, making a huge improvement to student life. SERVE was delighted to help the school again with this new project.  

Despite the fact that education is mandatory in Zambia, the reality is that many poor children drop out along the way. The latest available statistics show that the primary school enrolment rate is 86% and the primary completion rate is 79%. Meanwhile, the transition rate to secondary school is approximately 70%. All of these rates are lowest amongst young girls. 

UNICEF states that, “For children in the early years, the coverage of care, learning and education services remains persistently low. Overall, girls continue to be at a disadvantage with a large number of them dropping out in the upper primary and secondary grads, and poorer levels of transition to junior secondary and senior secondary levels.” 

The head-mistress of Luyobolola Primary School, Mrs. Cecilia Mutare said, “I express thanks to SERVE and all involved for this gift. I am very thankful. Without these desks I don’t know how well my children would have been. Enrolments to the school keep increasing everyday and all the help is welcome.”

Previously, the students depended on desks without chairs, meaning that they had to kneel at their desks, which did not aid their learning. Some desks had become badly warped over time and were not fit for purpose.

With our help, Luyobolola Primary School was able to purchase a set of new desks, which were locally made, and have improved the learning environment for the local children.  


  • Wed 3rd May 2023

An Update: The 50 desks were made by three youths, employed by a local company, Shamtech Engineering. This was a conscious effort made by SERVE to not only improve the working conditions for school children, but to also support local enterprise and provide young craftspeople with experience and business opportunities.

This enabled SERVE to achieve two commitments in their Strategic Plan – ‘Improved standard of primary education for vulnerable children’ by ‘supporting the development of primary school infrastructure.’ While also working towards their broader development goal that ‘people in vulnerable communities are better able to reach their potential and contribute to society.’  

This project was possible with financial support of INTO. The funds raised not only paid for the desks for Luyobolola Primary school, but for the creation of a safe and welcoming learning environment- a major contribution to the future of the children involved.

Who is INTO?

INTO is Irish National Teachers’ Orgnaisation which was founded in 1868. Read more here.

How did SERVE receive this financial support?

This project was made possible by the remarkable efforts of Annette McGroary who is a SERVE alumnus. Annette is a teacher based in Donegal. Anette has volunteered with SERVE numerous times over the years and was also the 1st long term SERVE volunteer in Beira, Mozambique.

Anette says, “I am fortunate to have witnessed first-hand how SERVE tackles poverty through solidarity, service and partnership with oppressed communities.”

Learn more about Annette here.

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