KATHLEEN GATELY,
Madam, - On behalf of a group of 22 recently returned overseas development workers gathered at a Comhlamh event, we write to express our collective shock at the recent announcement by the Irish Government that it is to reduce its overseas aid budget by €54 million.
Each of us has first-hand experience of the problems associated with poverty in the developing world - famine , drought, disease, illiteracy, high mortality, high unemployment - in a diverse range of countries.
Likewise, we are cogent of the achievement of programmes funded by the Irish Government. One project with a budget of €50,000 will provide accommodation, daily meals, basic education and vocational training for 20 street girls (10-16 year olds) and pay a staff of five trainers for one year. Think what €54million would achieve - 1,080 such programmes for 21,6000 girls and employment for 5,400 trainers.
We know that we can speak for our colleagues in the developing world and know that they would want to continue helping to make a difference. A revocation of this shocking news would permit some of us to continue sharing our skills with those less well off than ourselves. - Yours, etc.,
ex-Kosovo;
KATHLEEN GATELY, MARY BUCHALTER, ex-Gambia; PERPETUA McSHANE, ex-Malawi; JOHN FITZSIMONS, ex-Tanzania; ANNE-MARIE McCARTHY, ex-Senegal; Comhlámh, Upper Camden Street,
Dublin 2.