Helping hands

SOME of Christian Aid’s most memorable moments have been supported and carried out with the help of passionate volunteers dedicated to the cause of ending poverty.

During National Volunteers’ Week, which begins today, Christian Aid will salute the efforts of this vital community by calling attention to the volunteers for the tireless work they do to improve lives of the poorest communities abroad.

Christian Aid relies on their volunteers to contribute towards their work. Whether it’s helping out in the office, increasing awareness among children in schools or raising money to trek across a scorching desert, it all contributes to the successful running of the organisation.

Volunteering manager Marie Raffay says: “Volunteers are the foundation of Christian Aid. They bring their own unique perspective to the fight against global injustice.”

They are people such as Christian Aid local organiser Peter Murray, from Darlington, who has been volunteering for more than 30 years.

He says: “I started collected in 1970 and have collected every single year since.”

In 2006, he raised £5,000 from his community as he trekked across the Sinai desert, in Egypt, in the footsteps of Moses, to raise money for Christian Aid partners.

For voluntary teacher Molly Hardie, 66, from Berwick, Northumberland, raising awareness about poverty and inspiring young people to take action has been highly rewarding.

During her time teaching at Newbiggin-bythe- sea School, in Northumberland, she revealed the harsh reality of the “flying toilet” – human waste in plastic bags commonly thrown on roadsides and into ditches in the most deprived areas in developing countries.

She says: “The kids were absolutely gobsmacked.

Most children cannot really imagine dreadful conditions of poverty, but it is showing videos like these that makes it a shocking reality for them.”

Revealing the reality of poor sanitation in less-advantaged countries made her aware of how vital her role as a volunteer teacher was.

All sorts of people are welcome to volunteer with Christian Aid.

Ms Raffay says: “Some have been supporters for many years and volunteer as part of a deepening commitment to our work. Others are young people who are passionate about the issues that we work with and want to get relevant work experience.”

Swedish student Maja Josseffson took a gap in her studies to volunteer in the Newcastle office.

Having always had a deep passion to work in the area of international development, she found Christian Aid the most favourable out of the other organisations in Newcastle.

She says: “I love the sustainable approach Christian Aid takes as they work with different partners around the world.”

The gap year scheme offered by Christian Aid is another way for young people to show their commitment to the cause. As a student advocate, Cat Hingley, on the gap year scheme in the Newcastle office, has undertaken a highly rewarding role inspiring young people.

Having had a growing interest in global justice issues, the scheme seemed ideal for her after she graduated from Durham University last year.

Recently, she organised a campaigning event to raise awareness of the importance of tax transparency in developing countries. When she wanted to ask a hotel chain to support the campaign, she and her supporters put on their pyjamas and armed themselves with a huge Do Disturb Tax Secrecy doorknob sign to deliver their letter.

While Christian Aid aims to provide the opportunity to turn motivation and passion into action, many volunteers say it equips them with lifelong skills and experience.

Mr Murray says: “Of course, there is always a good feeling in helping others, but there is also a lot that you can learn when working in this area.

“You get closer to understanding what it must mean to live off less than £1 a day, to live in awful conditions and, sadly, have little or no control to determine your own future.”

If you’ve got bags of enthusiasm, a passion to join the fight to eradicate poverty and have the right skills and experience to take on a voluntary role, you are not far from being a part of helping people in developing countries to transform their lives and put an end to global injustice.

Volunteers’ Week is an annual event celebrating the contribution that millions of volunteers make across the UK.

The week plays a huge part in raising the profile of the millions of volunteers who regularly contribute to society, while inspiring others to get involved.

To highlight the contribution, there is a burst of activity during the week, when organisations hold events and activities to highlight their volunteers and the volunteering they do.

Hundreds of events are taking place nationwide – including showcasing volunteering roles on offer, taster sessions, team challenges with new partners, volunteer recruitment events, awards ceremonies and volunteering campaign launches.

More information is available at volunteers week.org.uk For more information about volunteering opportunities at Christian Aid, visit christianaid.org.uk/getinvolved