This article is from page 32 of the 2008-06-17 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 32 JPG
NORTH Clare man David Mee is this week making final preparations for an eight week long aid trip to Jed abi byoyeynetere
Later this month David will travel with international aid organisation SERVE to the Filipino capital Ma- nilla before undertaking a number a number of aid missions on different parts of the island.
His work will include working with and teaching poor children, visit- ing hospitals and even working with children who have been imprisoned.
He is one of 14 Irish people who will be travelling to the Philippines this year. The groups leaves on June
29 and will spend a total of eight weeks working on the islands before returning home on August 20.
“We will be spending the first week in the capital Manilla where we will get some introduction into the way of life in the Philippines and a briefing on some of the work in which we will be doing,” said David.
‘Then we will be put in pairs and sent of to different regions to engage in all kinds of projects with the locals. We will spend about three weeks in out first area, then three more weeks in another area before we head back to Manilla for the final week.”
Over the last few months David has undertaken a number of fundraising activities raising more than €2,500
for the poor children in the Philip- obey
“I would really like to make a huge thanks to all those who sponsored me and helped me out when I was getting ready for this, the students in Mary Immaculate College, everyone who helped with the ceili, all those who helped with the raffle and all my NONE As
“The fundraising started with a raffle in Lisdoonvarna which raised €400 but we also had a legwaxing night in Charlie Malone’s Pub in Limerick which raised €500 and we raised €600 from external events. The most money raised came from the ceili in Kilfenora which raised more than €1,500.
“When I get over there I will be teaching children between the ages of 3 and 7, working in disadvan- taged communities, visiting prisons and working as advocates on behalf of the children in those prisons and we will also be visiting hospitals and leporsoriums.”
SERVE is a voluntary group which is a partnership between the Re- demptorists, young Irish adults and communities and agencies in the de- veloping world.
One of the main aims is to fund supports for sustainable development projects and global citizenship pro- grammes. For more check out www. To Mien (e