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Globetrotters with a mission


TWO local women have been awarded travel scholarships, allowing them to work in developing countries for two months this summer.

 

Clare Champion reporter Nicola Corless, who recently received a Global Awareness Programme Travel Award to work in Guatemala in an environmental project, for eight weeks this summer, photographed in the Burren. Photograph by John KellyKillaloe woman Niamh Foley and Ennis resident Nicola Corless won two of the four Global Awareness Programme Travel Awards presented by established not-for-profit EIL Intercultural Learning in Cork, an organisation supported by Irish Aid.

Clare Champion reporter Nicola will travel to Guatemala in mid-June to work on an environmental sustainability and eco-tourism project, while in July, Trinity student Niamh will go to South Africa to work on a HIV and Aids project.

“It is a privilege to be selected because there was a lot of competition for places from very qualified people. I have never worked in an environmental role so it will be challenging but I am looking forward to taking part in the programme and getting stuck in when I get there,” Nicola said.

“With so much going on locally in terms of eco-tourism and environmental sustainability, particularly in North Clare and South Galway, the areas I cover for the paper, it is a topic I am very interested in,” she added.

The Global Awareness Programme gives four candidates from across the country partially-funded travel awards to learn more about international development, explore the challenges and solutions to critical global issues in communities around the world and play their part in educating others on their return to Ireland.

Already both women have had to complete training and orientation weekends in preparation for their trips.

“I attended an Eco-Unesco youth work and sustainability training course in Dublin as part of my preparation for the trip and really enjoyed it. It promoted questioning the linear manufacturing chain many of us take for granted, gave advice on communicating environmental issues to young people and made lots of suggestions on simple and easy ways to live more sustainably,” Nicola explained.

Niamh also took part in a course in preparation for her placement.

“We did a course about HIV and Aids last week. It focussed on the disease itself, as well as its impact globally, before breaking it down further to examine the stigma attached to it, the situation in South Africa, issues around HIV and women, HIV and children and HIV and development. It was run by Áine Costigan, a development consultant, and was really brilliant and informative,” Niamh outlined.

While Nicola has been to developing countries before, this will be Niamh’s first time.

“Apart from a trip to Israel when I was 16, this is my first time outside of a developed western country. I think this adds to both my excitement and fears.

“I don’t know what to expect. It’s almost like a rollercoaster of emotions and I haven’t even left yet. EIL have been great though, helping me with any questions and problems I have,” Niamh outlined.

Niamh is currently studying human health and disease at Trinity and will be putting her skills in this area to work with people living with HIV and Aids in South Africa.

“I think the hardest part will be seeing the children we’re working with for the first time. All of the kids are seriously or terminally ill and I think it will be hard to overcome that in my head.

“Some people joke with me that I’m going on a holiday for eight weeks but I will be working in a hospice, which will be quite hard and it is going to be a huge culture shock,” she explained.

“My mam has travelled to developing countries around the world. I think this is what sparked my interest initially. From there, I just always found any information about third-world development quite engaging but I wasn’t sure what area I wanted to explore further until recently.

“My main interests now are health and education and HIV and AIDS fit right into that. The more I learn about HIV and AIDS, the more I want to know. There’s so much to overcome with this disease and I want to contribute to its eradication as much as I can. This programme with EIL is the best way for me to start helping,” she added.

As part of the award, Nicola and Niamh will have to share their new knowledge and experience on the development issue they worked on by facilitating workshops in schools and local communities, giving talks and organising awareness-raising events.

Ballyea schoolteacher Emily Price is a previous winner of a Global Awareness Programme Travel Award. In 2010, she volunteered in Nigeria, working with Living Hope Care, an organisation that provides care and support for people living with HIV and Aids and orphaned and vulnerable children.

“It was a really life-changing experience and one that has really influenced so many of my life choices and relationships since,” she said. Her time in Nigeria prompted her to volunteer in Guatemala last year and she has since travelled nationally with a photographic exhibition celebrating empowerment of women.

To donate or find out more information about Niamh and her volunteering project, visit www.youcaring.com/SA_GAP.

Nicola is holding a table quiz in Lucas’s Bar on Parnell Street in Ennis on Thursday at 9pm and all are welcome.

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