Rebecca is currently studying in fourth year of Architectural Technology in TUD. Rebecca also plays camogie with my local club Good Counsel and is a cellist with the Comhaltas National Folk Orchestra. 

Rebecca’s volunteering journey began with SERVE in 2017 when she was in 5th year in Colaiste Cois Life. After a year of preparations with SERVE, her class when to volunteer with the Tsholofelo community in South Africa. 

Rebecca explains, “The whole process even before we got to South Africa was very educational and valuable as we learned the values and goals of SERVE as a charity and the importance of the type of work we would be doing in South Africa. The immersion program itself was an unforgettable experience and it still gives me goosebumps thinking about it! We stayed in the Tsholofelo community that was also home to some local South Africans who were the same ages as us. We painted and did groundwork in the two local creches during the day and in the evening, we did cultural exchanges and workshops. The whole experience gave me a rich knowledge and understanding of South Africa’s culture and history”. 

Rebecca has always wanted to go skydiving but had the fear of heights growing up. Today, Rebecca is not as afraid of heights and her friend suggested they do it together so that Rebecca could fulfill her dream.

Rebecca explains, “My friend & I found that the Irish Skydive Club in Kilkenny allows you to do a fundraiser for a charity. For me, it was a no-brainer that I would fundraise for SERVE. Since my immersion programme I have found SERVE very easy to donate to, I have asked for their gifts as presents for birthdays and Christmas and bought them for friends and family, a personal favourite of mine is their cookbook! Because all the donations I had made to SERVE were small I thought the skydive would be a great way to make my friends and family aware of SERVE again.”

Rebecca raised €436 for SERVE. SERVE Programmes Manager Paula Quigley said, “We can’t thank Rebecca enough for being a champion of the Global Goals and supporting the work we do. She overcame a personal challenge and fulfilled her dream. She has done this in solidarity with partners we work with in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and India. Rebecca has helped raise vital funds for SERVE and it will help us continue our work with them.” 

Rebecca adds, “I really admire SERVE’s values in development and work as a charity and am still very grateful for the immersion programme I was a part of, hopefully that won’t be my last or my last skydive either!”