Home News Raheny family show zest for charity project

Raheny family show zest for charity project

Friday, 26 June 2009

WHEN Robert Carley visited Uganda earlier this year, it proved to be a life changing experience and put our recession into perspective. Robert was asked to get involved in Irish charity Zest4Kidz, an organisation that seeks to bring long-term relief to the kids of this world who have got a raw deal in life.  These are kids who have been displaced, tortured, abused, misused, abandoned and left to die, and in general, denied the normal things we would expect childhood to include. Zest4Kidz focuses its efforts in Belarus, Georgia, India and Uganda. In February, Robert volunteered to accompany Stuy Wilson, the charity’s founder, on a fact-finding visit to Uganda. Their aim was to check ongoing projects, seek out new ones and to revisit villages and schools where a relationship of trust has been developed with children who are just starting out on the road to rehabilitation. Robert told Northside People that nothing could have prepared him for what he saw. “During the visit I met former child soldiers who had been forced to kill family members,” he said.  “Imagine a nine-year-old in your family being forced to kill. “I met young girls who had been forced to be sex slaves. Imagine a 10-year-old-girl from your family being forced to ‘marry’ the camp colonel. “I met children with twisted and lifeless limbs who had been abandoned to the wilds because there was no help to ensure the simplest of medical procedures were received. “Imagine a four-year-old from your family lying helpless on the floor knowing that they could be cured. This stopped me in my tracks.” Robert said that when he was in Uganda, he met beautiful, proud and happy people. “The demeanour of the Ugandans is incredible,” he stated.  “Despite the huge challenges and appalling history of hurt and hardship they, for the most part, choose to smile. “As a motivational trainer, I was captivated by the positive attitude of the people. “The beauty of the country, although ravaged in places, is astounding and the need for focused help from outside is overwhelming. “I’d urge anyone who can, to help us raise funds to help make life better for these kids. We really do appreciate all the support.” When Robert returned from his visit to Uganda, he shared what he describes as “deep life lessons” with his family. “The visit really put Celtic Tiger booms and busts into perspective,” he added.  “As a nation that has suffered all the horrors that life can throw at it, from war to famine and indeed to institutional abuse, I think there is something deep in our Irish souls that screams at us to intervene.” The visit had such and impact on Robert that, along with his wife, Jean, and five children - Jonathan, Joanna, James, Deborah and Timothy – they have got involved in an amazing project that will change the lives of countless children in Northern Uganda.  On July 25, the entire Carley family will return to Uganda as part of a Zest4kidz team. Some of the things they will do include: l Running an Introduction to Trauma Counselling course. They will bring four trained counsellors to work with locals and pass on knowledge, wisdom and guidance to help local groups as they seek to help reintegrate the returnee ex-child soldiers. l Setting up a vocational programme to try to teach life and work skills to the youth who will then learn a trade that will help them have better prospects in life. l Run two fun camps for these ex-child soldiers who never got a chance to play as they were holding guns instead of footballs and dolls when they were children. The camps combined will have about 1,000 pupils.  l Sponsoring six children with deformities to be placed in the medical programme that will see them receive long overdue treatment. Having mobility will vastly improve their quality of life. The cost for the project is e20,000 and every member of the Carley family is working hard to raise funds.  Joanna has baked and held a cup-cake sale, Jonathan has been bag packing, James will run a soccer tournament, Timothy is having a sponsored sleepover and Deborah has done a sponsored fast. Mum Jean will hold craft evenings and Robert has been organising sponsored business-training events. The family also intends to hold a number of table quiz nights. To follow the Carley family’s work and to pledge funds, log onto www.mycharity.ie/ event/thecarleys/ Also, you can email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it for more details or contact Robert Carley on 087-2258270.