Have you ever written to your TD?
I know everyone is feeling the financial squeeze and the effects of budget cuts but I'm not here to ask for your money. Instead, I’m asking you to write or email your local TD and let him or her know that you think the Irish government should keep its promise to the world's poorest people.
It takes just a minute and you'll get a personal response from your TD. Mine came in through the post yesterday. The email's already written and there's even a map of Ireland on which you click that lists all the TDs in your constituency.
Budget 2010
With all the talk of December’s budget coming up already, I'm worried what the future holds.
Last year, the Irish government promised to give 0.7% of our Gross National Income to overseas development assistance by 2015. It’s so important we keep this promise.
Heartbreak
World Vision Ireland has already had to close and scale back many projects that were making a real difference in people's lives.
As part of my job, I have to go to the communities and see the work that's been done. I've also had to tell communities that we can no longer work with them as there's no money available, even though they were only just beginning to get on their feet. It's heartbreaking.
Seeing the difference first-hand
We've just finished up a 3 year project in 15 sites in Tanzania, Kenya, Mauritania, Sierra Leone, Somaliland, Uganda and Senegal that was funded through the Irish government.
With just 3 million euro we managed to get some wonderful results, below is a very brief selection:
- We've provided better school facilities for 23,000 kids through constructing classrooms, toilets and water services, contributing to a 25% increase in primary school enrolment.
- In our project areas in Kenya, we've halved malaria and diarrhoea and 90% of pregnant women and young children are sleeping under a mosquito net.
- Over 320,000 people now know about children's rights. Child abuse is now being reported to the police and brought to court. Over 1,400 cases were reported and followed up on through child protection committees set up by this project.
So please write to your local TD and let him or her know that you want Ireland to keep its promise to the world’s most poorest and vulnerable people by spending 0.7% of our Gross National Income on overseas aid by 2015. If nothing else it might just stop my heart from breaking.
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