An organisation offering placements to Irish professionals looking to work in some of the world's poorest countries has received almost 1,000 inquiries from prospective volunteers this month.
International development charity Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) says many cite the devastation caused by the recent Asian tsunami as a major motivation for their interest in a placement of one year or more.
It says it has received the same number of formal applications so far this year as it did for the whole of last year. It has also received nearly 1,000 internet inquiries, almost double the number it received in previous months.
This follows a major advertising campaign in the print media and on trains and buses which began at the end of last month.
Participants on VSO's programmes must have a minimum of two to three years' work experience in their area of expertise, and must be prepared to go overseas for a minimum of one year, with most going for two.
The average age of a VSO volunteer is 38, although many volunteers are in their late 40s to mid-60s. The maximum age for participation is 75.
"Our society has changed a lot in the last 10 to 15 years, with it becoming a faster, more consumer and materialistic society," the head of VSO in Ireland, Malcolm Quigley, said.
"There are immense pressures on Irish people to succeed and I think that in a way the tsunami disaster has made people realise what the important things are in life - as well as realise the vulnerability of others living in much poorer conditions than us."
The organisation has received 36 applications for placements so far this year, and expects between 60 and 80 volunteers to go overseas this year. As VSO has strict criteria for participation, Mr Quigley says this is a particularly high figure. The organisation wants to recruit more than 200 volunteers worldwide to work in long-term development in regions affected by the tsunami.
VSO: how it works
Voluntary Service International, a development charity which recruits skilled professionals in areas such as medicine, teaching and business, places some 1,600 volunteers in 38 countries worldwide each year. Most placements last two years, with volunteers receiving return flights, accommodation costs, insurance and PRSI contributions, and a living allowance equivalent to the average local salary of the country they are in.
Prior to departure, they are also provided with interview costs, training, and cover for their medical shots. Upon arrival, they receive two to six weeks' training, including language classes and briefings on economic and cultural issues of relevance to the country. VSO is funded by a variety of sources, including private donations and the Irish and other international governments.