2023 saw Comhlámh begin the delivery of its five-year strategic plan, ‘Global Solidarity in Action 2023-2028’, part of which saw the completion of the first year of our multi-annual strategic programme of work funded by Irish Aid. A key aspect of the strategy and multi-annual programe is to support the evolution of Ireland’s volunteering traditions towards transformative approaches rooted in exchange, engagement, and active citizenship.
Overall, 2023 saw us build on issues and trends that came to the fore during and directly after the pandemic, as we focused on policy, practice, pedagogies, and action for solidarity-based change, all of which are rooted in global citizenship education (GCE) approaches.
Key achievements for 2023 included:
- A review and revision of Comhlámh’s Code of Good Practice for Volunteer Sending Agencies, through engaged consultation with 25 VSAs, creating the framework for a new approach to supporting values-led volunteering. This includes new approaches to ecological sustainability, safeguarding, power relations, and embedding GCE approaches across programmes.
- The launch of the End Orphanage Volunteering Campaign (EOVC) in January, and ongoing engagement with over 20 key stakeholders from across the national education, health care, and volunteering sectors to build a strong constituency of support for child-safe international volunteering.
- The implementation of the National Volunteering Strategy through close collaborations with Volunteer Ireland and the national network of Volunteer Centres, culminating in the launch of a new resource that allows the public to search for international placements in the National Volunteering Database (I-VOL).
- Our GCE courses directly engaged almost 500 learners and educators, and we partnered with more than 35 national and international organisations to respond to questions of ecological sustainability, intercultural relations, and supporting resilience at times of great global upheaval.
- Our GCE-informed programme of public engagement, both online and in-person, supported and shaped a broader values-led movement for transformative volunteering and active citizenship, and in 2023, we were delighted to work with a range of strategic partners to co-create and deliver events that reached well over 1000 people.
- Development of resources and pedagogical approaches that support new audiences to consider what solidarity-based global citizenship could look like. We worked with individuals, educators, and strategic partners from the GCE and national volunteering sectors to extend our offerings and begin the process of resourcing long-term, engaged responses.
- Building strong and durable relationships across a range of strategic partners to engage the public on global justice and solidarity issues, including ecological sustainability, democracy and global citizenship, migration, and conflict.
As you read through this annual report, you will see how our Member Groups continued to grow and develop as they worked on addressing their relevant issues.
Member Groups included:
- Access to Medicines Ireland Group
- Trade Justice Group
- Justice for Palestine Group
- Ireland Says Welcome Group
- Dympna Meaney Women’s Leadership Fund
These groups are a cornerstone of Comhlamh, run voluntarily by our members and funded through your membership fees and donations, as well as small amounts of funding they apply for independently. As with many organisations, funding is a challenge, so I put out a call to encourage you to sign up/renew your membership or make a small donation. All of this helps keep these excellent members group active and supports their great causes. Any support given is greatly appreciated by the board, staff, and member groups.
I would like to acknowledge our institutional funders: Irish Aid, the Erasmus+ programme (managed in Ireland by Léargas), New Foundations, and Concern Worldwide. I’d also like to thank our Solidarity Partners: Action Aid Ireland, Brighter Communities Worldwide, Department of International Development–Maynooth University, EIL, Fairtrade Ireland, Scouting Ireland, Tearfund, UCD Volunteers Overseas, Viatores Christi, Vincentian Lay Missionaries and Voluntary Service International.
A special thanks to those who contributed to the Dympna Meaney fund, to our individual donors in our Solidarity Circle and to you, our members. Through all this support, Comhlámh can continue its work. This support is greatly appreciated by the board.
Finally, the Comhlámh staff is ‘one of a kind’. Their commitment to the work and integrity in their approach is purposeful and inspiring, creating a culture of shared learning, reflection, and mutual trust. Together, we look forward to working toward our vision and mission in the coming year.
Niamh Phelan, Interim Chairperson
