Madam, - In her article on volunteering in developing countries, Jean O'Mahony states that "a cool, honest appraisal of your reasons for volunteering are essential before arriving at Dublin Airport, let alone rural Ghana" (July 7th). Comhlámh, the Irish Association of Development Workers, could not agree more.
Over the past 30 years we have supported Irish volunteers both before they travelled and on their return home.
Comhlámh believes that before volunteering overseas the individual needs to question their motivation and expectations, and consider their role and its impact on the host community.
This latter is more relevant now than ever - while a short-term volunteer assignment used to mean two years, now it can mean a few weeks.
Irish development workers can indeed play a constructive role in development and humanitarian contexts overseas, but we need to be sure that in volunteering we are adding value to the communities where we are working, and recognise that possibly the main beneficiary is oneself.
Most importantly, the volunteer experience must be understood within the bigger picture of global development.
Working from Ireland to influence the Government and European Union on global development issues such as unfair trade and debt can be as effective (if less of an adventure) in bringing about change for a more equal world.
Indeed, the main benefit of having an overseas experience is in the understanding it gives one, and the motivation it provides on one's return home to use this experience to effect real change by advocating that our Government addresses the root causes of global poverty and inequality. - yours etc.,
EMMA LANE-SPOLLEN, Co-ordinator, Comhlámh, Upper Camden Street, Dublin 2.