Vides International is a non-governmental organisation [NGO]. It is a non-profit association of voluntary service [AISBL n 16990/91, according to the Belgian Law] that works through young people.
The association came from an idea of the Salesian Sisters Institute.
Vides International is an NGO in Special Consultative Status with ECOSOC and it is associated with the Department of Public Information of the United Nations.
- Vides is promoted by:
The Institute of The Salesian Sisters - VIDES is present in:
- 14 countries in Europe
- 8 countries in Asia
- 2 countries in Africa
- 13 countries in North America and in Latin America
And operates through local groups and the International head office. - Why:
- For the defence of human rights, particularly of children, women, and youth
- For the promotion of voluntary service at the local and international levels
- For the support at a distance of children and their families
- For the promotion of youth as active and responsible citizen
- Development projects in Africa, Asia, Latin America.
- Promotion of long-term or short-term international voluntary service.
- Training sessions for Volunteers.
We in Ireland have a group of volunteers who have given time abroad and who share this with those who come forward and offer their services for limited periods working with our sisters in development projects abroad.
Vides Ireland continues to operate and invite volunteers to make contact if they are interested in giving time abroad.
The Irish delegate is: Sr. Dympna Clancy who can be contacted at dymclan@eircom.net
0863708652 or 061 348510
From October 28th to November 2nd Sr. Dympna attended the European Seminar :
Young People Builders of a Culture of Love, in Foligno, Italy.
This was attended by VIDES delegates and members from across Europe and was a very informative, educational and enriching experience. Some of the main topics covered included:
- Human Rights Today:
- Can it be a Reality?
- Education: Key Right To Have access To All Other rights
- Democracy: Ideal or Concrete Possbiility? Luxury or Necessity?
- Intercultural Education as a means of putting Intercultural Dialogue into Practice.
Currently Dympna Hannon, from Enniscrone, Sligo is working in the City of Hope, Lusaka. Dympna volunteered for three months last year and decided to return for another year. She went in January and will be home in December. Julie Hannon (no relation) from Clonmel has gone to join Dympna and other volunteers in the mission there. Both are doing terrific work and tell us there a lot more to do!
Martina Fahery, from Dublin and Martina Burke, from Mayo have arrived home having spent some time in Finetown, Ennerdale, Johannesburg. They worked with children from a nearby squatter camp and are really felt they made a difference. Both found it quite emotional leaving and hope to return some time in the future.
Mindra Kelly, Annacotty, Limerick returned at the end of August and found her time there a life changing experience.
Keiran Devine from Tyrone, went to Finetown, Johannesburg for six weeks and stayed for six months! He returned home in December. Kieran was very impressed with the whole culture there and the children's stories and their courage inspite of the hardships they had to endure spoke volumes to him.
Sadhbh Cronin, Landsdown Park, Limerick, Mary Donovan, Caherdavin and Megan O'Neill, Dublin Road have returned from Kasama, northern Zambia having worked in the mission there.
Dympna Hannon, Enniscrone, Sligo returned from City of Hope in December, having spent a year volunteering there since January 2011. Prior to this Dympna had spent three months working there.
Training for Volunteers is now taking place. Next meeting with be on Saturday 4th February in Castletown, near Mountrath, Co. Laois.
Any one wishing to volunteer during 2013 are asked to get in contact with Dympna soon. Phone: 086 3708652.
Donations towards the work of VIDES are also welcome. All money received will be acknowledged and sent directly to the Mission areas our Volunteers go to.
City of Hope, Lusaka, Zambia
The City of Hope project started in 1993. The sisters had concern for the increasing numbers of orphans and street children and set about their plan. By 1994 the sisters obtained land from the City Council. In 1995, with funds secured, building of a multi-purpose hall began on the new Makeni site. The project was named City of Hope and officially opened on May 25,1995. Initially, only four girls were housed at the new project due to lack of accommodation at the site. By 1996 this increased to nine and slowly more and more girls arrived.
In 1998 it had reached 25 and the need for more accommodation grew. Construction of two houses for the girls was started in 1999 and the number of girls rose to 45. By 2000 it was 56, in 2001 it rose to 65 and currently in 2003 it stands at 80. The total number of girls who were assisted in their needs and found shelter at City of Hope is 140. The project at City of Hope is divided into three main areas, Girls at Home, Community School and the Skill Training School.
How is this Achieved?
The Salesian Sisters at City of Hope through patience, hard work and much help from donors, have managed to provide a place the young girls and women can call home. The Centre is providing an atmosphere, which is safe and welcoming. The initial response of City of Hope is to help the young girls recover from their sometimes very difficult past with warmth, love and a caring ear. The hope of the centre is that each girl will ultimately reintegrate into society. This is achieved through building up the gaps in the individual's life. The girls are given the tools necessary to cope as adults. Promoting self-esteem and a sense of self-reliance being a major objective.
Information on Finetown, Ennerdale, Johannesburg
Finetown, a large squatter Camp or Shanty town, South of Johhanesburg, is an economically depressed area in which social deprivation is the order of the day and in which the socio-economic reality is one of dire poverty, underdevelopment, family disintegration, unemployment and ill-health. These are the conditions in which the Salesian Sisters (FMA) and the Salesian of Don Bosco (SDB) are committed to work with and support vulnerable communities.
The ‘Don Bosco Educational Projects’ started in answer to a real need, that is to provide a basic education for the many children roaming the streets of Finetown because they didn’t fit into the established Primary School system, either because they were destitute or dropped out of the system. (One cannot learn on an empty stomach or go to school without shoes or proper clothing.) The DBEd projects presently consist of two sections – the development of a skills training centre (which is in progress) under the direction of the SDBs and the Créche and Primary School where the Sisters are involved. The Créche is registered for 120 children but they have 148 attending at present! Some of the families pay a monthly fee of approximately €17/18 per month, the other children come from families who cannot afford to pay anything.
The Primary Level is not registered with the Department of Education as it would be impossible to consistently follow their programme. Many of these young people are unable to read or write when they come and would need one-to-one tuition if it were available. The Sisters aim to give them the basics of reading, writing, numeric and life skills. The teachers are not fully trained as they cannot afford it but they do their best and are answering a real need. The running costs and payment of teachers relies on fund-raising and donations.
The children who attend the project often come hungry, so they are provided with two meals per day: Breakfast and lunch, and many are given food parcels to bring home. Some of these children are HIV positive – the exact number unknown – and need nourishment to keep well.
The project also provides a socio-educational aspect. A team of doctors come with student doctors from the university and treat children as well as members of their families who are sick. There is also a ‘Care-giver’, who cares for the social needs of the children and liaises with the families.
Our next meeting will be on Saturday 4th February, in Castletown, near Mountrath, Co. Laois.
Time: 11.00a.m. - 3.00p.m..
