We can be thankful and proud of our volunteers

LAST Friday (September 30) was National Day of Volunteering; now is a time when I believe we should celebrate the significance of what it is to be a volunteer.

Over many years volunteering with the poorest of the poor in India, Ireland and other parts of the world I have seen how volunteering changes the lives of those who urgently need our help.

As Honorary Director and CEO of The Hope Foundation for the past 12 years, I have seen how it helped change thousands of children’s lives abandoned on the streets of Kolkata (Calcutta). I myself work on a voluntary basis, without salary, which I would like to clarify in the context of the Irish Examiner article (Sept 26) entitled “Charity bosses salaries exceed €100k”. Our hard-working and dedicated staff in HOPE’s head office receive modest salaries to ensure the efficient and transparent management of all donations.

While visiting HOPE’s projects in Kolkata I have seen Irish volunteers’ hearts and minds opened to the harsh realities of life on the poorest streets of this global village. I know that their volunteering experience has enriched their lives and helped inspire the younger among them to become caring adult citizens contributing to our society as a whole. We can be proud and thankful for our volunteers and what volunteering can achieve at home and abroad.

Maureen Forrest

Hon Director & CEO

The Hope Foundation

Skehard Road

Cork