About Comhlámh
#VolOps: Sharing Volunteering Options.
#VolOps leaflet for the health sector: a leaflet designed to raise awareness of responsible volunteering among the health sector.
#VolOps Leaflet for retirees: a leaflet designed to raise awareness of responsible volunteering among active retirees.
Comhlámh Resources
From Volunteers to Active Citizens – a publication that has been the result of a pan-European collaboration through sharing best practice of development education in volunteering, through the design and production of a common curriculum.
Engaging Returned Development Workers In Development Education – report looking at the how people who have volunteered in the global south are engaged in development education in the North of Ireland.
We Want You To Get Involved – Join Today a Comhlámh membership recruitment leaflet.
Coming Home Book 2014 – a resource and guide for the returned volunteer.
Exploring Diversity Through The Arts – A resource supporting second level teachers in bringing a justice perspective into their classroom using active learning.
What Next Leaflet – a resource for returned volunteers.
‘Coming Home’ Training – A handbook for volunteer sending agencies.
Be The Change: A Tool Kit For Taking Action Against Poverty and Injustice (Comhlámh, 2013)
Comhlámh’s Code of Good Practice (Comhlámh, 2012) for Sending Agencies
Comhlámh’s Volunteer Charter: (Comhlámh, 2014) outlines Comhlámh’s seven principles in best practice volunteering.
What Next Toolkit: (Comhlámh 2013) This resource guides returnees through a process of reflection and discusses the possibilities for continued engagement on development issues back in Ireland, whether through activism, campaigning or further education.
Good Practice Guidelines for Development Education in Volunteering: A set of guidelines for sending agencies seeking to strengthen their development education with their volunteers.
Comhlámh’s Coming Home Book: (Comhlámh, 2010) is aimed at people who have returned from working overseas in global development and discusses many of the issues raised in the coming home section of this website.
Working for A Better World: A Guide to Volunteering in Development: (Comhlámh, 2007) is a comprehensive guide to overseas volunteering for Irish people containing invaluable advice and information on how to get the best out of your volunteering experience. Available from your local bookshop or the Comhlámh office.
Careers and Courses Leaflet: (Comhlámh, 2010) outlines courses in development related areas in Ireland as well as jobs noticeboards for the development sector.
Index Contacts List: Newsletter for Development Education Exchange list of useful contacts.
Research & Policy
Comhlámh Discussion Paper On Virtual Volunteering – a discussion paper launched as part of International Volunteer Day (IVD) 2014 examining online or virtual volunteering for development.
Comhlámh Discussion Paper On Diaspora Volunteering – launched in association with Irish Aid and Diaspora Matters.
Comhlamh VSA Survey 2013 – This new research report is based on quantitative data emerging from an online survey issued to volunteer sending agencies (VSAs) in Ireland.
In October 2014, Comhlámh hosted a seminar for volunteer sending agencies (VSAs) with Jayne Cravens, entitled Virtual Volunteering: Using the Internet and Networked Devices to Support and Engage Volunteers. This video captures key aspects of the talk.
Volunteers As Multipliers For Development Education In Ireland (Comhlamh 2014)
New Evidence on Overseas Volunteering from Ireland and its Socio-Economic Impact in Ireland undertaken by Dr Pat McCloughan, PMCA Economic Consulting (Comhlámh, 2013)
Models of International Volunteering: Trends, Innovation and Good Practice undertaken by VOSESA (Comhlámh, 2013)
Southern Alternatives Policy report: The report is divided into 8 papers detailing a vision of an alternative European trade policy, based on principles of sustainability, democracy, flexibility, human rights, transparency and poverty eradication. Subjects include alternative approaches to issues in international trade such as access to water, agriculture, raw materials, and regional integration. Read more on the campaign here. (Comhlámh 2012)
The New Resource Grab: Comhlámh’s report on the EU’s trade policy on Raw Materials. (Comhlamh 2010)
Research into Barriers to Continuous Engagement: As Experienced by Returned Volunteers and Returned Development Workers: (Comhlámh 2010)
The Impact of International Volunteering on Host Organisations: A Summary of Research Conducted in India and Tanzania: (Comhlámh 2007)
Images & Social Media
Guidelines for the use of Social Media in Volunteering: a guide for volunteers and sending agencies.
Dochas Code of Conduct on Images and Messages: Comhlámh is a proud signatory of Dochas’ Code which outlines guidelines in the Development sector.
Images of the Global South: Guidelines for primary educators for working with photographs from around the world
Social Insurance and Pensions Support for Volunteers and Development Workers
VDW Scheme Information Booklet
External Resources for Volunteers
How to Live Your Dream of Volunteering Overseas (Joseph Collins, Stefano DeZerega, Zahara Hecksher; Penguin, 2002) is an excellent, extremely comprehensive print resource that provides information and advice on all aspects of overseas volunteering. It includes in-depth profiles of a wide range of volunteer-placing organisations, many of which are based in North America.
World Volunteers: The World Guide to Humanitarian and Development Volunteering (Fabio Ausende, Erin McCloskey (second edition): We Care Guides, 2004) includes an extensive list of organisations that arrange humanitarian and development volunteering positions.
The Rough Guide to a Better World has been produced by Rough Guides and the UK Department for International Development. It is available free online or you can order a copy to be posted to you.
Are You Experienced? Harmondsworth: Penguin. Sutcliffe, W. (1998).
The International Lesbian and Gay Association is “a world-wide network of national and local groups dedicated to achieving equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) people everywhere. It is the only international non-profit and non-governmental community-based federation focused on presenting discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation as a global issue”.
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs): Further information about the MDGs, which were discussed on our web site, are available here.
UNIFEM is the women’s fund of the United Nations. The site contains comprehensive information on a variety of issues that affect women worldwide, including gender-based violence, HIV/AIDS, and poverty.
World Volunteer Web
This site supports the volunteer community by providing a global one-stop-shop for information, resources, and organisations linked to volunteerism.
Irish Foreign Policy Website
A new independent website on Irish Foreign Policy has been created at www.foreignpolicy.ie. The site is dedicated to informing the Irish public and others about all aspects of Irish foreign policy. The format will be open and accessible and it is intended to develop the concept so as to involve the greatest degree of public access and open fora both electronic and real.
Archived Comhlámh Reports
Annual Reports
2011 – 2010 – 2009 – 2008 – 2005
Strategic Plans
Food Security
Implications of Trips for Food Security
Beyond Cancun EU Agriculture Trade Policy and the Majority World
Other
The Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill 2008
Comhlámh’s letter to the Minister about the Izevbekhai case
Comhlámh’s Submission on the Immigration Bill
Report from the seminar “Careers in Development: Where will we be in 2015?” organised by Comhlámh; Careers in Development: Where will we be in 2015?
A Summary of the Lisbon Treaty for Comhlámh Supporters; What is it? What are the key areas to consider?
Download the summary here