Concern’s Head of International Programmes, and one of Ireland’s most experienced aid workers, Anne O’Mahony, said a key ambition of Concern’s has always been to empower communities to spearhead their own development out of extreme poverty so that they can then leave and continue their work in other countries in desperate need of aid.
“The support and donations we get really do have impact,” said Anne, who is based in Dublin and oversees aid operations in 23 of the world’s poorest countries.
“We can see that today in Tanzania, which has made significant progress over the last few decades and has thankfully seen improvements in children’s health, education, livelihoods and food security.
“Concern helps people in any way that we can until there comes a time when we are no longer needed – and this is done thanks to our continued public support.
“It is heart-warming to know that wells and bridges we built, for example, are still benefiting local communities.
“Our vision is of a world free from poverty, fear and oppression - where everyone has access to the opportunities they need to live a long, healthy and creative life and we thank all our supporters for helping us as we carry out our work. “
In Concern’s final full year in Tanzania in 2015, it provided agricultural training to 28,360 people; planted 10,000 “kitchen gardens” to improve child nutrition and trained 316 community health workers.
This article was originally published in the Sunday World newspaper.
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