A Clondalkin teacher was among five Dubliners rewarded for helping people in the world’s poorest countries through their volunteer work with aid agency Concern Worldwide.
The humanitarian awardees included Paula Galvin (pictured), a teacher at Clonburris National School, who was honoured for being a volunteer judge in the organisation’s Concern Debates competition in primary and secondary schools.
“It is an absolute joy to adjudicate at these debates, to listen to the impassioned voice of our young global citizens,” said Paula, who was also prominent in making Clondalkin a Fairtrade Town.
“These young Concern debaters have a firm belief that they can change the world. The quality of their debates is brilliant, and they have a genuine understating of global issues, like climate change.”
Other award recipients from Dublin included former Concern employee Anne Marie McCarthy, humanitarian affairs consultant and former RTE broadcaster Diarmuid Peavoy, Lucan resident Luke Kavanagh, Dalkey’s Ros Barwise and David Denny.
Concern’s chief executive, Dominic MacSorley, spoke of his gratitude to all of Concern’s supporters, and said:
“What we do would not be in any way possible without your support.”
The awards celebrate the vital contribution made by the charity’s 1,700 volunteers in Ireland, who gave up an estimated 8,750 hours last year – which is valued at €85,750 using the national minimum wage rate of €9.80 an hour.
The charity’s volunteers include 1,500 fundraisers and 500 people from towns all over the country who adjudicate at Concern’s national primary and secondary school debating competitions.
The public is Concern’s largest donor and last year donated €40 million across the organisation’s fundraising markets in Ireland, the United Kingdom, the United States and South Korea.
Formed in 1968, Concern reached 24.2 million people in 25 of the world’s poorest countries, including Somalia, Bangladesh, Syria and South Sudan, in 2018.
