Td fundraising for plan international

Longford/Westmeath TD Robert Troy, Fianna Fáil spokesperson on children, is seeking volunteers to help collect money this weekend for Plan Ireland and an orphanage in Ethiopia.

Deputy Troy travelled to Ethiopia last September to carry out voluntary work at an orphanage and to visit projects being funded by Irish charities.

While the trip was facilitated by Plan International, Deputy Troy paid his own travel costs.

“I’m looking for assistance this weekend as we carry out a church gate collection to raise funds for this cause,” he said.

“My entire trip was very humbling. It was an amazing and wonderful experience. However the poverty was startling and I am committed to try and help these people further.”

Among the locations Deputy Troy visited were Tambaro, a compound comprising a clinic, kindergarten and orphanage, and the site of a proposed new clinic, for which he hopes to raise funds.

He also taught at a school in Tazaar and visited clinics in the area that are being run by the two religious orders.

“The children were fantastic,” he added. “You would ask them how they were, and even though you knew their background was desperately poor, they’d smile and reply every time 'I’m fine thank you and how are you?’; it was very, very humbling.”

While in Ethiopia Deputy Troy arranged a meeting between the Irish ambassador and the project leader for the new clinic in Tambaro as Ethiopia is one of the approved countries to receive Irish government aid.
The ambassador was able to advise on which channels the clinic can best use to apply for funds. The meeting was a major boost for the project.

“After seeing at first hand the situation there, especially for children, I am determined to help in any way I can.

“Raising funds for the proposed clinic is now a personal project for me. The work being done by the aid agencies and religious orders in Ethiopia is simply phenomenal and needs to be supported in any way at every level,” Deputy Troy concluded.

To assist in this weekend’s collection please contact Robert Troy’s constituency office on 044934857 or 0877979890.