Having a New Year's resolution or two seems like the logical way to start the year ? with a bit of optimism and a lot of luck, we all seem to believe at midnight on New Year's Eve that we will be able to give up smoking (except for this last one, just before the countdown) or get some more exercise, or eat more healthily (except for the kebab on the way home from the New Year's celebrations).

However, it soon becomes clear as the gyms empty out and the Allen Carr books stop selling in mid-February that the road to hell is paved with good intentions, and that very few of us have the willpower to actually give up something.

So why not take up something new instead? With both the Government and the Church stressing the importance of volunteerism in recent years, deciding to take up some voluntary work could be the best New Year's resolution you ever make.

One woman already has exciting plans for 2008, which will see her travelling to Guyana to volunteer for the Voluntary Service Overseas.

Michelle Kinsella, who works as an occupational therapist in Galway, says she decided last February to apply to volunteer with the Voluntary Service Overseas.

She will work as the country's only occupational therapist, supervising a team of local rehabilitation assistants who will do the direct work, as they will be more familiar with local culture and practice.

"I'm going for two years," says Michelle, admitting that she is excited "but it's mixed with a lot of petrification!"

"I started the application process last February, I got it October and I finally decided to go in November! I'll be heading off on 14 February? my family are devastated, they keep at me not to go, and to change my mind!" she explains.

Her accommodation has been sorted for the initial phases, but once she arrives in Guyana she is on her own in some respects. "Once I arrive there, my employer is the local ministry of health. That's my employer, and the VSO kind of stays out of it once somebody is placed ? they work very closely with the local governments."

Michelle has "always done some local voluntary work," she says, "because you get more out of it than you give."

To donate funds for Michelle's period in Guyana, see http://www.mycharity.ie/event/michelle_in_guyana.

Comments (0) »

Show/Hide comment form

Name

Email

Title

Comment

Write the displayed characters

Add Comment