Entries by Serve

“Rehabilitation is a Bridge Spanning the Gap”

August 4, 2019 in /by

By Sile Byrne In the lead up to departure my mind danced with expectations of what my placement in APD would entail. I was experiencing a cocktail of emotions, from nervousness and doubt, to eagerness, inadequately and excitement. I wondered what I could bring to APD, what expertise I could offer to enhance the educational […]

Education is the most powerful weapon

August 4, 2019 in /by

By Aisling Moran My hands are clasped by two boys while “aunty look! aunty look!” rings in the background. I look around and see the eyes of 20 beautiful boys glancing between me and the plane that flies above our heads. “Airplane aunty! you fly to Ireland!!” they say. I take one look at the […]

A Personal Reflection of my time in Morning Star

August 4, 2019 in /by

By Amy Considine It began with a simple idea months ago. That idea became a Skype interview, an excited acceptance, and many fundraising ideas. But now that I have flown across the world, now that I have settled into the mad streets and smells of Bangalore, now that home time is coming closer, the depth […]

Expectations of Vietnam

July 29, 2019 in /by

By Friedrich Hanrath Before I came to Vietnam, I expected it to be a poor and inefficient country shaped by agriculture and some tourism. The only time I really heard of the country was in school, when we were covering the Vietnam War. I knew it was a Socialist ruled country. Despite social and economic […]

Love, Unity and Kindness

July 29, 2019 in /by

By Eilis O’ Sullivan Badjao! While this name carries negative connotations for many people of the Cebu province of the Philippines, I can confirm that having spent a month with this indigenous tribe the Badjao represents love, unity and kindness. My journey from Ireland to the Central Visayas region of the Pacific on a volunteering […]

Music and Nursery Rhymes with the Badjao Tribe

July 26, 2019 in /by

By Maria O’Brien I chose to volunteer with SERVE after recommendations from colleagues who had previously worked with the Badjao tribe and had a very positive experience. They are both music teachers like myself so I felt I may have some skills I could contribute, having worked as an educator in music for over 30 […]

APD: Week One

July 26, 2019 /1 Comment/in /by

By Michelle, Zara and Sile As we made our way to APD on Monday morning our minds were filled with thoughts and expectations for the day ahead. Smiling faces met us as we entered the gates and warm greetings set the tone for the week ahead. We had a trust placed in us which we […]

Resourcefulness of the Badjao Community with Food and Water.

July 26, 2019 in /by

By Ciara O’Keefe When I think back about my first day at the Badjao, I think of happiness. Purely for the fact that these people must be the happiest people I have ever met despite their circumstances. The kids ran around happy with a plastic bag full of water with a small hole where they […]

There is always more to be done: Young Africa Beira

July 26, 2019 in /by

By Rory Murphy On March 4th 2019, Mozambique’s port city of Beira was 90% destroyed by one of the most devastating natural disasters in living memory. Cyclone Idai affected millions, claimed the homes of many and the lives of more than a thousand. Weeks later, Cyclone Kenneth put an end to the initial relief effort […]