Erratic rains and an attack of pests and locusts destroyed entire harvests in 2011, leaving families with nothing to eat.

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Pictured right: Halima and her four children in Niger. Her husband has gone to Nigeria to look for work and promised to send money back however none has come through yet. She and her children eat the residue of millet, eating once in the morning and once at night. Millet residue is normally fed to animals and has no nutritional value at all.

In Niger alone, more than 6 million people are at risk of hunger and nearly 2 million of them need food assistance now.

Plan is already targeting hundreds of thousands of vulnerable children and adults with emergency food aid and support – but we need your help.

Malian Refugees

Plan is providing vital aid to thousands of Malian refugees who have fled violence in their country only to find themselves caught up in West Africa's food crisis.

200,000 refugees have so far left Mali, with 30,000 heading to Niger - a country where more than 6 million people are already at risk of hunger.

Malnourished children

Every day, refugees who have walked for up to 15 days arrive in Gaoudel, a small village just 5km from the Malian border. All of the children are malnourished, and many have illnesses such as whooping cough.

Azahara and her young family have only a sheet for shelter.

"The government couldn't protect us anymore. The bandits came with guns and stole many of our things, so we ran away. I left with nothing because I had to help my children," she says.

Plan support

Azahara and her family are now among 15,000 Malian refugees who are receiving emergency food, blankets and mosquito nets from Plan in Niger.

In addition to providing vital support to villagers suffering from the food crisis, Plan has also furnished the village school with extra blackboards, seating mats and teaching guides to accommodate greater numbers.

Teacher Adouramane Oumarou says one entire class is now made up of 117 refugee children, who have never been to school before.

Donate to Plan Ireland's West Africa Appeal

Our first submission was submitted on behalf of the Children's Rights Coalition, a consortium of child rights focused international agencies led by Plan Ireland, that includes World Vision Ireland, ChildFund Ireland, Children in Crossfire and UNICEF Ireland.

Each agency strongly believes that in its current format, the White Paper is not explicit enough in its commitment to the protection of children and their rights. Drawing from our experience as beneficiaries of Irish Aid funding and given our involvement in the implementation of Irish Aid development programmes, we decided to join together to create a submission that expresses our joint concerns, views and ideas. The Children's Rights Coalition's vision is one of children as actors of change in their own lives and societies. In light of this, we urge Irish Aid to clarify its commitment to the realisation of children's rights and child development.

Read the Children's Rights Coalition full submission to White Paper Review here

Plan Ireland's submission to the Review of the White Paper on Irish Aid concerns the realisation of the rights of girls and boys. Within this framework, Plan Ireland advocates for the inclusion in the forthcoming White Paper on Irish Aid of three key commitments:

1) A Commitment to the realisation of Children's Rights, and in particular the right to Education and the right to Protection

2) A Commitment to gender equality and girls' empowerment

3) A Commitment to the inclusion of most vulnerable and marginalised children

Read Plan Ireland's White Paper Review submission here

1. Half of the world’s population is at risk of contracting malaria.

2. Across the globe, there are 250 million malaria cases and nearly one million deaths registered every year.

3. Malaria kills more children in Africa than any other disease, resulting in one death every 45 seconds.

4. Every year, malaria contributes to the death of around 10,000 pregnant women and 20,000 babies in Africa.

5. Malaria is spread through bites from infected mosquitoes. The infected mosquitoes thrive in moist temperatures and breed in water.

6. Symptoms of malaria appear 10-15 days after someone has been bit by an infected mosquito.

7. Human immunity developed over years of exposure can prevent malaria. For this reason, most malaria deaths occur in children who have low immunity.

8. Without access to medication, the impact of the infection can include: coma, brain damage, loss of muscle function and death.

9. Long-lasting anti-malaria bed nets can help prevent the spread of malaria.

10. One bed net can protect up to five children for five years.

Pictured below: In Burkina Faso, a mother helps her child into a bed protected by a bed net provided by Plan.

”The team will validate the data and information on the site before making any decision on whether Plan Indonesia has to dispatch humanitarian assistance to Aceh. In principle, we are ready to provide humanitarian assistance there after yesterday’s quake in Sumatera,” said the Acting Country Director Plan Indonesia Nono Sumarsono in Jakarta.

Even though the situation in Aceh, especially Banda Aceh has returned to normalcy, Plan Indonesia will directly monitor the situation in Aceh in order to ensure that all children and their families are in good condition.

”Children are the most vulnerable group to be affected by disasters. Plan Indonesia is concerned to ensure that they keep on having access to fulfill basic needs,” said Nono Sumarsono.

Outside of Aceh, Plan Indonesia is also in close contact with a number of local partnering NGOs in other disaster-affected areas such as in Mentawai and Pariaman (West Sumatra).

Indonesia reported no immediate casualties and damage this time around, though state television showed images of citizens visibly panicked by the events. With little clear data of the impact of the earthquake, Plan’s Emergency Response Team will work in Aceh for 4-5 days and maintain contact touch with the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, as well as the Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management.

Wednesday, April 11th, 2012 - An earthquake of 8.7 magnitude has struck under the sea (nearly 500k) off Indonesia's northern Aceh province. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said it was not yet known whether a tsunami had been generated, but advised authorities to "take appropriate action". As such, a provisional tsunami warning was issued for the whole Indian Ocean. The Tsunami Warning Centre did comment that the earthquake has “the potential to generate a widespread destructive tsunami that can affect coastlines across the entire Indian Ocean basin".

Plan disaster response teams in Asia and at global head quarters in the UK are monitoring the situation closely and are in touch with country offices that could be affected. We will update you as more information is available here and throughout our social networks.

The quake struck 500 km southwest of the city of Banda Aceh, on the northern tip of Sumatra island, at a depth of 33km, the US Geological survey said.

The quake was felt as far away as the Thai capital, Bangkok, and in southern India, residents said. Hundreds of office workers in the Indian city of Bangalore left their buildings, workers there said.

The quake was in roughly in the same area as a December 26th, 2004, quake of 9.1 magnitude, which sent huge tsunami waves crashing into Sumatra, where 170,000 people were killed, and across the Indian Ocean.

In all, the 2004 tsunami killed about 230,000 people in 13 Indian Ocean countries, including Thailand, Sri Lanka and India, all countries where Plan operate.

The 2004 quake was at a depth of 30km along a fault line running under the Indian Ocean, off western Indonesia and up into the Bay of Bengal.

The quake was also felt in Sri Lanka and the southern Thai holiday island of Phuket, both of which were hit hard by the 2004 tsunami.

Thai Meteorological Department deputy chief Somchai Baimoung said there was no tsunami warning yet in Thailand. Provincial officials along the Andaman Sea coast were preparing for possible evacuation if necessary.

Bucket collections will be held in towns up and down the country and RTÉ’s Liveline presenter Joe Duffy is championing the appeal. Commenting at the launch of the appeal, Joe Duffy said, “I am delighted to get on board with the World Water Day appeal to raise money for Plan Ireland’s water projects in West Africa. Water is such a basic resource and one we all take for granted, yet millions of children across West Africa do not have access to a clean and safe water supply." 

Donate online to our World Water Day Appeal

Bucket collections will be held in towns up and down the country and RTÉ’s Liveline presenter Joe Duffy is championing the appeal. Commenting at the launch of the appeal, Joe Duffy said, “I am delighted to get on board with the World Water Day appeal to raise money for Plan Ireland’s water projects in West Africa. Water is such a basic resource and one we all take for granted, yet millions of children across West Africa do not have access to a clean and safe water supply."

"Plan Ireland’s work in bringing water to some of the poorest regions of the world is literally life saving. The Fire Fighters of Ireland, from Sligo to Waterford, Killarney to Dundalk, are generously giving their time to this fantastic cause and I urge everyone to support the collection on World Water Day.”

All funds raised from nationwide World Water Day collections will go towards sending a fire engine to support a rural community in Niger, as well as a water project in Burkina Faso, where Plan is drilling boreholes for school children.

Last year, Irish Fire Fighters from Louth and Monaghan travelled to West Africa where they trained a local fire fighting crew in the maintenance of a fire engine kindly donated by Dublin City Council. Previously, there was just one fire engine in the region to service a population of 2.4 million people. Today, a 1998 Dennis fire engine, called the ‘GillyRay’, is bringing life saving services to the parched region.

Brendan McCoy, Dundalk Fire Fighter who is coordinating the project, said “We are delighted to be involved in raising vital funds for water projects and bringing fire engines to Niger with Plan Ireland once again. Last year, I saw the need in West Africa with my own eyes; I know that the hard work and donations are making a real difference.”

David Dalton, CEO of Plan Ireland commented, “In times of drought, fire engines help to bring water to the most remote communities. We are certain that the fire engine will be of great benefit to the children and communities in Niger. In addition, the water project in Burkina Faso will help thousands of children gain access to drinking water as well as receive hygiene and sanitation awareness training.”

“Every year, around 20,000 children under five die from diseases related to water and sanitation. We are calling on the people of Ireland to donate whatever they can to our World Water Day Appeal and help us to raise much needed funds.”

To donate to the World Water Day Appeal, please visit www.plan.ie or call freefone 1800 829 829. Alternatively, donations can be sent to Plan Ireland, 126 Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2.

ENDS

For more information contact Sarah Harte, Media & Communications Officer, Plan Ireland.
Tel: 01 659 9601 / Mob: 087 985 8259. Email: sarah.harte@plan-international.org

Notes to the Editor:

About World Water Day 2012 - Water facts:

• Around 1.1 billion people globally do not have access to improved water supply sources whereas 2.4 billion people do not have access to any type of improved sanitation facility (latest figures according to the World Health Organisation).

• There is a global crisis in water and sanitation, with diarrhoea killing at least 1,200,000 under-5s each year.

• Plan works with communities to improve access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation and to raise awareness of the importance of hand washing and waste management.

• In 2011, Plan supported 122,927 households in 49 countries to improve their sanitation facilities, and helped communities to build or refurbish 5,804 water points.

• Plan supports communities to take the lead in improving their own sanitation, promoting the rights of women, girls and marginalised groups and spreading the message about hygiene. We work alongside government, communities and local groups to ensure that initiatives are sustainable in the long term.

Hundreds of people, including women and children are feared to have been killed and injured in the latest inter-tribal clashes in the Jonglei district.

Children’s organisation Plan Ireland, which has been carrying out emergency work in Jonglei for the last few months, says it is concerned over further escalation of violence and more revenge attacks. 

“This spiral of violence which is pulling many people into it, must be stopped. These brutal attacks are causing massive displacement of people and great anxiety and suffering,” said Damien Queally, Programme Manager, Plan Ireland.

“We are particularly concerned about the impact upon children who are witnessing and being caught up in this conflict. Urgent mediation and negotiations are needed to tackle this conflict and it will mean additional humanitarian assistance.” 

A large number of children have been abducted during these raids which has pitted the Lou Nuer tribe against the Murle ethnic group. Both sides steal each other’s vital cattle in the raids, prompting increasingly brutal retaliations. The proliferation of automatic weapons in the area in recent years has made the disputes more deadly.

There has been a spike in attacks since December 2011 and recently entire villages and schools were burned to the ground. Several thousand people are believed to have been killed since the latest conflicts began and an estimated 50,000 people displaced.

Plan has an on-going programme in Pibor and Jonglei state where it is helping some 50,000 affected and displaced people and also around 4,500 children in school feeding programmes.

Damien Queally said that long-term solutions and offering alternatives for the young men involved in the attacks are vital for a peaceful future.

Providing relief in Jonglei presents a unique problem to humanitarian agencies. Much of the state is flat and swampy land, and the road network is poor or non-existent. Large areas become completely unreachable every year when the rains start in April.

Upon the independence of the state of South Sudan in July 2011, it officially became the 50th developing country which Plan works in. There are currently over 800 Irish people sponsoring children in East Africa, including South Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda, through Plan Ireland.

More information about Plan’s work in South Sudan can be found here.

8th March 2012: To mark International Women’s Day 2012, former Plan-sponsored child Khady Diop, 35, from St. Louis, Senegal, reflects on how her life has changed and tells us about her hopes for the future.

About Plan's Because I am a Girl campaign

"When I was 6 years old, my parents opened the door to a future I could never have imagined when they signed me up to be a sponsored child with Plan.

For 12 years, through my schooling, I was sponsored by a person in the Netherlands. The sponsorship not only allowed me greater opportunity through access to education and more, but also helped my village. Many children benefited from the improvements to the school and programmes made by Plan.

One of my own children is sponsored by Plan, and the others attend a school which receives support from Plan because of sponsorship."

Leading the way

Khady (left) with her brother and sister in 1986, when she was a sponsored child

"Today, I hold a bachelor’s degree and have attended several technical trainings to collect my certificate in data management. In addition to caring for my family, I work as an assistant to the manager of a savings and credit association.

I am also the president of our community health group, which means I convene and coordinate the monthly meetings, reinforce our local health services and facilitate training. Community health groups are supported in their work to ensure that people are accessing health services and learning how to better care for their children and families by Plan."

Women are important

"Holding this position gives me a sense of pride. It is well-respected in my community and was previously held by a man.

When I was young, I learned that women are important. We have an obligation to make a positive impact in our communities, which improves the future for our children. That my own children are seeing me in this leadership role emphasises this value I want them to share with me."

Education key

"Based on my own experience, I believe that the biggest gift a woman can give her children, especially her daughters, is an education. Girls need to focus on their studies and live their lives with dignity. By living with dignity, we will be treated with respect.

We mothers and women lead by example, being active participants in daily life, able to make changes and impact the future. I was inspired by the people I met in Plan, my parents, my teachers, to become a leader.

With their support, I was able to achieve my goals. It is my intention to do the same for my own children and the many other children in my village."

Join Plan’s Because I am a Girl campaign to promote girls’ rights and fight gender inequality

Sponsor a child with Plan

Taking time out of their busy training schedules for the upcoming London 2012 Olympic Games, athletes Fionnuala Britton and Claire Bergin have come on board to encourage the women of Ireland to take part and raise money for Plan Ireland’s ‘Because I am a Girl’ campaign, which aims to fight gender inequality, promote girls' rights and break the cycle of poverty.

Sign up to join the Because I am a Girl Team today!

Launching the appeal to coincide with International Women’s Day, on March 8th, Olympic athlete Fionnuala Britton said, “This is such a great cause – I should know, I volunteered with Plan Ireland a few years ago!  I know the impact that their work has. The ‘Because I am a Girl’ campaign is really inspiring as it specifically focuses on supporting and empowering girls in the developing world who need our help the most. I’m delighted to play my part today and I hope women around the country will join myself and Claire in supporting this fantastic campaign.”

Claire Bergin, Olympic athlete, bobsledder and child sponsor has been a long term supporter of Plan Ireland. Last year, she guest blogged for Because I am a Girl and sponsors a young girl called Beatrice in Burkina Faso with Plan Ireland. Claire added, “Because I am a girl, I believe that everyone should strive to achieve their own goals and dreams in life, no matter what obstacles are in their way. I am proud to represent women through my sporting achievements, and hope the women of Ireland will join in representing the girls of the developing world.”

Speaking today, Jessica Majekodunmi, Marketing Manager, Plan Ireland said, “We are calling on all women: friends, daughters, sisters, nieces, aunts, mothers and grandmothers to make a difference this June Bank Holiday weekend and join our ‘Because I am a Girl’ team at this year’s Women’s Mini Marathon. By taking part in the world’s biggest women-only event, you will help to build a brighter future for some of the world’s poorest girls. Every step makes a difference.”

"We wish Fionnuala and Claire the best of luck with their Olympic bid this year and would like to thank them for supporting Plan Ireland’s ‘Because I am a Girl’ campaign. We are also delighted to have NIVEA Ireland on board as sponsors, who are kindly providing fantastic goody bags and spreading the word. Our target for the Because I am a Girl team is 200 women, so please sign up today, get your ‘Because I am a Girl’ Mini Marathon pack, start your training and help raise funds to make the world a better place for girls and be part of something special.”

NIVEA Ireland is also encouraging women to get involved by sponsoring the Because I am a Girl goody bags, which will be filled with NIVEA treats and given exclusively to all those who sign up to run and raise funds for girls in the developing world.

Mairead Walsh, NIVEA Brand Manager commented, “We are delighted to once again partner with Plan Ireland and show our support for the ‘Because I am a Girl’ campaign. NIVEA Ireland is proud to be involved in helping the women of Ireland to get fit and raise money for girls in the developing world at the same time.” 

Sign up to run for girls today!

All funds raised will go towards life changing projects for girls in the developing world. Contributions will be invested in effective projects which address and promote equality for girls. Currently Plan’s work with girls includes: education projects including establishing girl-friendly schools, maternal and reproductive health projects, protecting girls and women against trafficking and child labour, empowering women to achieve financial stability through savings and loan schemes, and tackling early and forced marriage and sexual exploitation of girls and young women.

To sign up and help change a girl’s life in the developing world, firstly submit the official form and fee to Flora Women’s Mini Marathon and visit www.plan.ie or call freefone 1800 829 829 to sign up for your exclusive NIVEA ‘Because I am a Girl’ mini marathon fundraising pack.

21st February 2012: The aid effort to ward off severe hunger in Niger is being complicated by the large influx of refugees escaping fighting in northern Mali. According to the international children’s development agency Plan Ireland, over 20,000 refugees are now in Tillaberi, which borders northern Mali, a region where many inhabitants are already facing severe food insecurity and malnutrition.

David Dalton, CEO of Plan Ireland said: “The growing influx of Malian refugees is creating a crisis situation, especially for women and children. As it stands, they are having to cope with extreme living conditions, along with lack of shelter. There are incidences of malaria and other potentially fatal diseases and Plan is currently providing aid to those who arrived last week from Mali and who are living in very difficult circumstances in the northern part of Tillaberi.”

Fighting between rebel forces and the Malian army in the northern region of Mali has forced thousands to flee their homes and head to areas along the border of the country, in particular Niger, Burkina Faso and Mauritania.  The majority of people fleeing are Tuaregs, though not exclusively so.

Dalton continued, ““There is an urgent need to focus on long-term support for the Sahel region as well as emergency food aid. Building up the resilience of the region to future droughts, and thereby gradually reducing the need for outside assistance, is critical.”

There are currently over 280,000 children undergoing treatment in Niger for severe malnourishment; as many as six million people in some 7,000 villages are now thought likely to be at risk of food insecurity.

Dualta Roughneen, Disaster Risk Management coordinator, Plan Ireland commented: “In Niger, the ‘hungry season’ usually occurs from April to November and malnutrition rates, especially in young children, peak in June. However, this year the peak is expected to occur as early as April because many families have no more than one month’s supply of food to last until the next rainy season.”

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has named Plan as the focal point in both Tillaberi and Dosso. Cases of malnutrition are already appearing in the region and Plan is deploying teams of health workers to villages in Tillaberi, kitted out with screening equipment to identify severe malnutrition in young children.

During these initial screenings, children categorised as moderately and severely malnourished without complications will be sent to health centres and health huts to be treated with nutrient and vitamin enhanced food distributed by Plan. Severely malnourished children with complications will be directed to the feeding centre for intensive treatment, with the financial and technical support of Plan Niger.

“Plan is active in Niamey, Dosso and Tillaberi, and has undertaken several activities over the past months including off-season gardening initiatives to cultivate crops, currently benefitting some 2,000 women and their families,” continued Roughneen.

He added: “We have also undertaken work to strengthen cereal banks and offer nutritional support to malnourished children under five as well as pregnant and lactating women. In Tillaberi, 57% of people reached by Plan’s work are young people under the age of 18.”

Over the coming months, Plan's priorities will be to help build communities’ resilience through reinforcing existing livelihoods and to provide assistance to affected children and their families through school feeding and food distribution programmes. Other initiatives will continue to focus on sustainable gardening and agriculture, drought resistant crop cultivation, grain banks, microfinance and nutritional centres for mothers and babies.

For more information about Plan Ireland’s work, please visit www.plan.ie or call 1800 829 829.

February 2012: Plan Ireland has partnered with the Irish Girl Guides (IGG) to launch a Global Action Theme Resource Pack at a meeting of over 150 Irish Girl Guides Leaders last weekend. Minister Joe Costello TD attended and launched the resource which will be distributed nationwide and used by over 11,000 members of the Irish Girl Guides.

Pictured right: Minister Costello TD and David Dalton CEO of Plan Ireland

The Global Action Theme Resource will aim to educate the nation’s 11,000 IGG members about the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, educating them about the challenges facing girls living in poverty at home and around the world. The resource will help Leaders teach girls what they can do to help in their own communities and to improve conditions for girls around the world using activities, games and other fun tasks.

Read more about Plan Ireland & Irish Girl Guides

Joe Costello TD, Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade with responsibility for Trade and Development, spoke to over the 150 Irish Girl Guides Leaders and representatives of Plan Ireland at the launch.

Emer O’Sullivan, Chief Commissioner of Irish Girl Guides stated: “We are thrilled to be launching this resource that will be critical in helping inform our young women to be responsible citizens at home in their communities and to raise awareness for girls living in poverty around the world. Our members are the young leaders of tomorrow, and this resource represents yet another way we can help them to develop to their fullest potential as responsible citizens of the world.”

David Dalton, CEO of Plan Ireland commented, “Plan Ireland is delighted to continue our partnership with the Irish Girl Guides by contributing to the Global Action Theme Resource book. Plan’s ‘Because I am a Girl’ global campaign aims to raise awareness of girls’ rights in the developing world, fight gender inequality and break the cycle of poverty for millions of girls worldwide.

We know that when a girl is educated, nourished and protected she shares her knowledge and skills with her family and community and can change the future of a nation. By raising awareness on a community level here in Ireland, we can make a real difference and help to change the world around us.”

Minister for Trade and Development, Joe Costello TD, said: “I am very impressed with the work that has been completed on the Irish Girl Guides Global Action Theme resource pack. This pack will help to inspire a generation of young people in Ireland to become responsible global citizens.”

Michael Moriarty, ACA, Deputy Financial Controller with Plan Ireland (pictured right), takes a look at Irish governance guidelines in the latest issue of Accountancy Ireland.

Read the article and more about Plan Ireland's accountability here

Plan has distributed emergency food supplies to more than 50,000 people who have fled clashes between rival tribes in Jonglei state.

“The situation on the ground in South Sudan is severe. People have left their homes with nothing and, amid the chaos, some children have been abandoned and found wandering alone,” said David Dalton, CEO Plan Ireland. 

“People have no food, no access to clean water, no shelter and some are badly wounded. We must take action now as the number of displaced people continues to grow by the day and the conflict is expected to continue,” Dalton stated. 

Plan is one of the first international organisations to respond to the crisis in South Sudan, distributing cereals, beans and other food items to the homeless, mostly women and children. The organisation is preparing to deliver water and hygiene kits to thousands of households.

In partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP), Plan is working towards scaling up life-saving emergency food needs in Jonglei State for thousands of people displaced in the inter ethnic fighting that has pitted the Lou Nuer tribe against the Murle ethnic group.

“Our plan is to scale up our response to provide badly needed food to affected people in Pibor and Waat counties over the next three months. Under this programme, Plan will distribute over 1,500 metric tons of food rations,” said Fikru Abebe, Plan’s Country Director for South Sudan.

The agency is trying to reach as many at-risk people as possible, especially children. Plan is responding to the emergency food needs of 4,500 children through a school feeding programme in Pibor and Akobo in Jonglei state.

“In addition to physical needs like water and food, providing psycho-social support for young people is a key requirement,” explained Mr Abebe. 

“We are also implementing programmes to keep children safe and help them continue their education during this time of upheaval.”

Upon the independence of the state of South Sudan in July 2011, it officially became the 50th developing country which Plan works in. There are currently over 800 Irish people sponsoring children in East Africa, including South Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda, through Plan Ireland.

Read more about Plan’s work in South Sudan. For more information about Plan Ireland’s work, please visit www.plan.ie or call 1800 829 829. 

We have long been managing the process of sharing letters between sponsors and their sponsored children right across the developing world, however, to date, this has been in traditional format only.

In response to queries from our sponsors about an online tool to email their messages, we have developed a modern, faster, easier and greener way for them to communicate.

Our new online Plan Postbox is now live and allows our sponsors to say 'hello' to their sponsored child today safely and securely, thus reducing postage, delivery costs and administration resources. It will also enable our sponsors to attach images to share with their sponsored child.

Visit our Plan Postbox today

Correspondence gives sponsors the chance to build a friendship, an opportunity to learn about a culture through the eyes of their sponsored child and their family and community and also allows them to share in their achievements, pastimes, education and much more. It also allows sponsors to see the difference that Plan, with their support, is making. 

Tips for writing to your Sponsored Child

Why not ask questions in your email? It may make it easier for your sponsored child to write back. You could ask about their school, their favourite subjects and games, their family or what they want to be when they grow up. They will also be keen to hear about your life, family and daily routines. Share what you feel comfortable with.

And remember, “a picture says a thousand words” so why not attach a photograph or image with your message and we will send on with your message as soon as possible.

Happy Emailing!

Geraldine joined the Plan Ireland Board in 2008 and has served both as a member of the Marketing and the Strategic Planning Committees.

She holds a Masters in Economics from University College Dublin.

Kelly manages her own consultancy business rXi Ventures. She has over 20 years of global business development experience in the technology, software and the energy-carbon sectors having worked on international business development for Thomson NETg; Visio Corporation and Adobe Frame.

We are also delighted that Jane Clare, founder of Plan Ireland and outgoing Chair, will remain on the Board.

View photos of Geraldine's recent trip to Ethiopia with Plan Ireland