About us
Viatores Christi (VC) is an Irish-based development organisation supporting and working within the faith-based international development sector. VC works with over 30 partners across a wider range of sectors in focusing mainly on East and Southern Africa, but with projects in Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. VC addresses these needs through through project support and when needed through the recruitment, training and placement of skilled volunteers.
Our Mission
| We work in solidarity with our partner organisations, to improve the lives of local people, by improving access to basic services |
VC also specialise in the area of grant support, (proposal writing), monitoring and implementation of projects as well as in the recruitment of experts/consultants for clearly defined projects in developing countries. The organisation focuses on assignments identified by its partners in the field. In 2017 alone, over 158,000 individuals directly benefited from the work of VC across partners in the areas of agriculture, community development, education, environment, health, human rights, income generation and microfinance. VC are members of Misean Cara, an Irish Aid supported funding organisation and are signatories to the Comhlámh Code of Good Practice for volunteer sending organisations.
VC offer our field partners
- Access to funding
- Support with proposal development
- Volunteers with skills that are not available or affordable locally
VC offer potential volunteers
- Long and medium term opportunities for volunteer placement across a wide range of sectors
- Training preparation course
- In some projects VC offer financial support for volunteer while overseas including flights, accommodation, living allowance and insurance cover.
- Personal support while overseas and on return
- Opportunity for membership of VC
Incorporation and Structure
Viatores Christi CLG (Company No. 68833) is incorporated under the Companies Acts 2014 as a Company Limited by Guarantee (CLG) and a registered charity (CHY No. 5526 and CRA No. 20008444). The organisation is run by a CEO who reports to a board of directors/council members. There are 9 directors appointed by the members who are elected at the AGM each year. There are a further five trustees who are also elected at the AGM as serve as guardians of the association. The council is made up of a President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary and five additional members. It meets 10 times per year and is responsible for policy and other governance issues including approving membership of the association. It is fully compliant with the Governance Code.
History
VC was set-up as a lay missionary association in 1960. The first VC members participated in pastoral work as volunteers during holiday periods in England and Scotland helping Irish emigrants with their new lives. In 1960, the first members went on assignment to Nigeria. In 1961 members departed for Peru, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. The organisation has supported thousands of projects and sent over 2500 volunteers/development workers into the field since its inception. Today, VC’s faith-based approach is one of journeying with and in solidarity with the poor and marginalised in the world.While it is rooted in the Roman Catholic tradition its development and pastoral work is open to all faiths and those respectful of the organisation’s ethos.
Staff and support volunteers
Shane Halpin – CEO -Email: shane@viatoreschristi.com
Colette Rooney – Recruitment and EU Project Coordinator (VIVID) – Email: colette@viatoreschristi.com
Susan Lakes – Programme Manager – Email: susan@viatoreschristi.com
Rachel Ryan – Projects Officer/MDO- Email: rachel@viatoreschristi.com
Ann Waldron – Training and Finance – Email: ann@viatoreschristi.com
Rose Salaama Bavuga – VC Coordination Uganda Email: rose@viatoreschristi.com
Maeve Rafferty – VC Infield Projects Support Uganda Email:
Conrad Bryan – EU Project Manager UK (VfH): – Email: conrad@viatoreschristi.com
Adrian O’ Farrell- Communications Manager: Email: adrian@viatoreschristi.com
Mary Winters – Parish Promotions Programme (PPP Ireland) Email: mary@viatoreschristi.com
Sally Roddy – MCP and Volunteer Support (Volunteer) – Email sally@viatoreschristi.com
Patron: Most Reverend Diarmuid Martin DD- Archbishop of Dublin, Ireland
Contact Dublin Office +353 1 8689986
Contact East Africa Office + 256 41 4691400