I am participating in the UCDVO CEDC Education Project this year, a component of which is a 4-week virtual voluntary placement with Benedetta Comes, Conor Sweeney, Cynthia Ndunaka, Rachel Moore, Sarah Mahady, Sarah Mahady, Sarah Mahady, Xinran Mao, Zoe O'Beirne based in Ireland.      UCDVO is a registered charity that provides UCD students, staff and alumni with the opportunity to engage in a year-long volunteering and global citizenship programme for the benefit of disadvantaged communities overseas, in response to needs explicitly identified by those communities. Throughout this year, I will participate in a series of UCDVO Programme Days, including global citizenship education, training and team-building activities before and after virtual volunteering takes place.    The Community Educational and Development Centre (CEDC) in Sangam Vihar, New Delhi, is run by the Society for Working Life (SWL) and Women, Work and Health Initiative (WWHI), and enables 100 children from the poorest areas of the city to access education and nutritious meals. SWL’s primary focus is promoting education and skills to girls, women and youth from the underprivileged sections of society. Three-year funding for ‘Digital Literacy for the Girl Child’ commenced in 2019, benefitting 480 children in Sangam Vihar slum. The Centre currently runs education and digital literacy programmes, as well as vocational skills training. In 2021, UCDVO ran its first virtual volunteer project with the CEDC.    UCDVO aims to create remote volunteering projects with the CEDC that add value and benefit the local communities, are a rich learning experience for volunteers and enable cross-cultural exchange and friendship. Virtual volunteering is voluntary work completed, in whole or in part, over the internet. This may include creating materials and pre-recorded videos and/or interactive live sessions/workshops with partner communities.    Main Outcomes of the 2021 Project:• Creation and delivery of educational videos and corresponding workbooks.• Interactive live sessions held over the 4 weeks for 40 young students.• Shared learning, cultural exchange and global citizenship education between UCD volunteers and volunteers from the University of Delhi, Noida International University, Indira Gandhi National Open University.    UCDVO – CEDC Education Project 2022 may include:• English language, digital literacy, cultural exchange, drama, play.• Gender awareness training seminars; mutual learning and exchange on key issues facing women and girls.    The majority of raised funds will go directly to UCDVO’s overseas partners and contribute to their community development programmes. Part of the funds raised will contribute to SWL and WHHI’s ongoing livelihoods/education programmes and support specific costs of the virtual volunteering project such as transport, food and resources needed.    Tax Relief on Donations: If you donate €250 or more in one year, your gift is worth at least an additional €112.33.You can download a Tax Back Form here - https://www.revenue.ie/en/companies-and-charities/documents/charities/chy3-enduring-certificate.pdf    Please contact us at  [email protected] if you have any further questions, or post theform to UCDVO, UCD Global, Gerard Manley Hopkins Centre, Belfield, Dublin. 

Voluntary organisation for UCD students, staff and graduates to engage in volunteering and global citizenship education programmes.