My Volunteer Trip
My name is Aislinn McCarthy and I am 18 years old currently sitting my Leaving Certificate . Next year as part of a gap year, I have decided to spend some time travelling to different countries and volunteering. Personally I would like to do something good with my time, to give something back to those who are much less fortunate than myself. Before now I have volunteered in various different ways for different organisations, but I feel now I have the oppurtunity to see my actions making a difference first hand.
I will begin the year in September 2015 volunteering with a world renowned organisation called GVI: Global Vision International (http://www.gvi.ie/ )
With this organisation, I will travel to Fiji, to the Dawasamu District on Viti Levu, a poorer part of Fiji where tourists have no access to, until December. In many eyes, the islands of Fiji are known for their blue waters and tropical weather, which attracts tourists to the rich developed parts of the islands. Yet the hot weather, humidity, and its location in the South Pacific lead to frequent natural disasters including cyclones, floods, earthquakes, droughts and tsunamis. 
One of the most recent Cyclones in December 2012 , known as Cyclone Evan destroyed towns aloung the coast, tearing down schools , buildings and homes, causing thousands of people to refuge in emergency shelter. As a result of the harsh stormy conditions, the towns were left flooded with little supplies .
My aim through this volunteering expedition is to travel to the poor parts of Fiji, to assist in the work carried out in restoring the damage caused by natural disasters and also to provide the people with needed services. The programme I have signed up for is the Community Development Expedition , a multifocus expedidition consisting of:
> Volunteering in local pre-schools and schools, working with less fortunate children of all ages
> Constructing schools, and other key infrastructure projects to develop this undeveloped district
> Helping the community to implement important livelihood strategies as well as protecting their enviroment
> Setting up community based initiatives, generating income for the natives.
The cost of the volunteering expedition adds up to a little ove 4,500 euro which indeed looks like a very daunting figure. Yet I have various ideas and actions to take in raising whatever funds are required including bake sales, coffee mornings, fun runs (dates to be confirmed) and many more.
It would be greatly appreciated if you could donate whatever ammount you wish to help with this process, however big or small :) Your donation will go directly to a worthwhile cause and you too will have contributed :)!!
Thank you!
