ElectricAid partners with organisations of every shape and size, from large INGOs (international non-governmental organisations), smaller charities, church bodies, right down to tiny indigenous CBOs (Community-based organisations). TOUCH is a small Irish outfit, based in Naas. Their starting point is that 100% of donated funds “get there” – they are completely voluntary, with zero overhead spend – a huge reassurance to donors, although probably a limiting factor on their ability to grow.
Since 2005, we have funded TOUCH 10 times with a modest total of €37,400, for work with vulnerable children, primarily in Zambia. These children may be vulnerable as HIV/AIDS orphans, as children with disabilities, as street children, or as children of the marginalised in need of education or vocational training – TOUCH reaches out to them all.
You can see our funding history with TOUCH here: Funding history 2005-2018 The slideshow above is of the various projects funded in Zambia.
Seamus Gleeson, Chairman of TOUCH writes:
The relationship between ElectricAid and TOUCH Ireland began with an introduction from the FÁS 3rd World Fund. As TOUCH Ireland is a totally voluntary organisation we were delighted to be accepted by ElectricAid as a grant recipient in 2005 with funds towards a Container of education materials for children with special needs in Cameroon.
Since then ElectricAid has been continuously supporting TOUCH Ireland projects and especially with our efforts to support vulnerable children in Africa and Asia. ElectricAid’s support has assisted us in providing water and electricity to Community Schools and Drop in Centres, the construction of Community Schools, Physical/Learning Disability Centres and Skills Training Centres.
In setting up TOUCH Ireland we had three main Aims:
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To Support Vulnerable children in Our World: this we have done with over 100 projects throughout Zambia, Cameroon, Brazil, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
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100% of Funds raised for our projects must go to our projects: this we have maintained to do, even throughout our own country’s financial difficulties.
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Work with people in their own countries and support them to organise and run their own communities: this would give them the confidence, expertise and the chance to take care of their own children. It also meant having trust and faith in the people we worked with in their own countries.
TOUCH Ireland’s hard work with local communities has helped this come to fruition with one of our recent projects: Kalundu School, Mangango, Zambia. In as much as this was our first project that was constructed monitored and officially opened by local people. Financially the project was monitored by TOUCH Ireland.Thus we had achieved our 3rd Aim and we visited the school on our annual visit to Zambia in 2017. The school committee have great pride in their new school and we know they will maintain and care for itWith the support of ElectricAid through TOUCH Ireland, local communities now have the Dignity of being able to take care of their children and also give them a better chance for a future. Electric Aid has been a consistent partner on this journey and we look forward to their continued support. As a relatively small organisation of volunteers we appreciate the support from ElectricAid. It is great knowing that you are there with us as it also provides a moral support for all concerned with TOUCH Ireland.
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