138 GOALies are currently employed by GOAL and they are working
alongside many thousand local staff in the implementation of a variety
of humanitarian programs in 11 countries. GOALies include country
directors, project managers, accountants, nurses, doctors, nutritionists,
administrative personnel and engineers.
GOAL's programs are aimed at the poorest of the poor and people
suffering the effects of war and / or natural disaster. Funding
for these projects comes from the governments of, among others,
Ireland, UK, USA, the European Union, various charitable trusts
and foundations in Ireland, the UK and USA, organizations of the
United Nations and the general public. Since its inception 31 years
ago, GOAL has spent over $795 million on its humanitarian programs
employing over 1,300 GOALies. It has achieved this on an exceptionally low administrative
cost base. Besides implementing its own
programs GOAL works with partner organizations and missionary groups
who have similar objectives.
Since 1977, GOAL has responded to almost every major natural and
man-made disaster, and has spent over $795 million on humanitarian
programs worldwide.
GOAL’s emergency programs focus on life saving
assistance for those in dire need, ensuring that basic shelter and
food are provided, and that healthcare needs are met.
In the aftermath of a crisis, GOAL works with communities and local
NGOs to implement water and sanitation programs, as well as re-building
roads, bridges, wells, houses, schools, hospitals and clinics. GOAL
aims to reduce a community’s level of dependency by training
local personnel so that all programs can continue when GOAL pulls
out.
GOAL has always held a special place in its heart for street children
and each year saves many thousands, truly the poorest of the poor,
from lives of misery and degradation. GOAL has worked with street
children in Calcutta for over 30 years and has rescued more than
70,000 from lives of misery and abuse.
Dedicated GOALies also implement street projects in countries
such as Sierra Leone, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, India and Honduras,
providing children with food, shelter, healthcare, education, counseling
and training. Above all, they are shown love and understanding.
Other key elements of GOAL street children programs are advocacy,
raising awareness of children’s rights, and where possible,
the re-integration of children back into their families, mainstream
education and wider society.
In addition to providing practical assistance to some of the poorest
people in the world, GOAL also advocates on their behalf at both
national and international level. GOAL believes the international
community must be persuaded to honor its obligations to the poorest
of the poor in the developing world. To bring about this, we endeavor
to exert as much pressure as possible on governments and other institutions
that have the capacity to bring about real change. Our ultimate
goal is to persuade the Irish Government to be the voice of the
voiceless.
Issues that GOAL have campaigned on include: Third World corruption,
the international arms trade, the need for an international army
to protect civilians in time of war, transparency and accountability
in the handling of overseas aid, child trafficking, street children
and HIV/ AIDS.
In 2003 one of our greatest successes was persuading the Irish
Government to redirect €10 million in bilateral funds earmarked
for the corrupt regime in Uganda. A further €2 million in aid
was cut to Uganda in 2005.
HIV/AIDS, the leading cause of death in the developing world, kills
almost 9,000 people daily.
HIV/AIDS presents GOAL with a major challenge, and our response
has been to design and implement a range of programs for treating
infection and educating those with the disease and their carers
in countries like Uganda, Malawi, DRC and Sierra Leone.
Some of these strategies include assisting affected households with
basic provision services, and attending to the health, education
and social needs of those orphaned by HIV/AIDS.
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