A NORTHSIDE man who works with an Irish children’s charity said he was greatly impressed by the response to the launch of the organisation’s Haiti appeal.

Jonathan Adams (24), from Malahide, is a volunteer spokesperson for Cradle, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), which is aiming to raise money to finance its long-term projects in the devastated country.

Mr. Adams told Northside People: “What’s happened in Haiti is a horrific tragedy on an unimaginable scale, which is affecting some of the world’s already most impoverished people and Cradle is now taking part in the rebuilding of a great society.”

The Radisson Blu hotel near George’s Street played host to a fashion and beauty event fundraiser for the appeal earlier this month.

Over 350 people visited the stalls of big name brands to get faces, hair and nails primed, learning beauty tips from the experts and, in the process, they raised more than €5,000 for Cradle’s Haiti appeal.

The fashion and beauty event was a big hit, providing the opportunity for fashionistas to get pampered for a great cause.

RTÉ’s Kathryn Thomas, who hosted the show, said she was excited to be taking part in the fundraiser and to be doing something positive for Haiti.

“I think the event is fantastic,” said the presenter of No Frontiers and Winning Streak.

“There were 120 people in the door in the first few minutes. It has been really well done, with brilliant stalls with everything to have for a great night out.”

Ms. Thomas said what happened in Haiti was devastating.

“We can’t really even understand the destruction there without seeing it close-up,” she added.

“Cradle is hands-on, they really get to where aid is needed, often in places that have been neglected for aid.

“It’s great that they are an Irish charity and they can give people here the opportunity to help out.”

Cradle’s aim is to raise money for long-term family and school support projects in Haiti.

Mr. Adams added: “Cradle is looking to focus our work using local knowledge in Haiti, helping to create a community spirit by utilising what is already there, and giving a sense of ownership to the Haitian people.

“The organisation directs its work in areas of countries where aid is less focused, while trying to use local community centres, such as schools, to locate their projects.”

Cradle has a history of working in war-torn and crisis-hit regions, such as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Albania, Thailand and Moldova.

Meanwhile Cradle is looking for volunteers to sign up to raise money for the charity by taking part in this June’s Women’s Mini Marathon and fundraisers such as coffee mornings, pub quizzes, sponsored walks or even parachute jumps.

Mr. Adams added: “We want people to do whatever they can to help us in our appeal and to spread word of our work and about what needs to be done.”

For more information, phone Cradle on +353 1 6795242 or email svenn@cradle.ie or tajma@cradle.ie

The shoeboxes collected in Cradle's annual Christmas appeal have now been distributed by Cradle's team in Moldova. The truck from Ireland arrived in mid-december and the shoeboxes were distributed as Christmas presents. The gifts were greatly appreciated by both parents and children.

Cradle would like to thank you for your support and participation in this project.

Please see the attached newsletter with pictures from Moldova

This year’s Reading festival (22-24th of August) saw Cradle (www.cradle.ie) and Festival Republic (festival republic.com) work together to raise awareness and money for Cradle’s projects in Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Thailand. The relationship between Cradle and Festival Republic (former Mean Fiddler) started in 1993 and has since then developed into a close partnership.

In October 2007, this relationship underwent a new and exciting development brought on by Festival Republic’s MD Melvin Benn’s desire to bring festival audiences closer to Cradle’s work. Festival Republic made Reading & Leeds festival goers an offer: how would you like to join us on an all-expenses paid trip to experience and participate in Cradle’s vital and rewarding projects?

Worldwide Volunteering with Festival Republic & Cradle received hundreds of applications. By February and March 2008, the selected candidates departed for Thailand and Bosnia&Herzegovina. Chloe and Ben were chosen to come to Thailand, where they participated in Cradle’s school-rebuilding project, while Rhiannon and Mark were selected as candidates for the house-rebuilding project in the town of Mostar.

The candidates’ reaction to their experiences was overwhelmingly positive:

‘This project was the most memorable of my life and I’d like to sincerely thank all at Cradle… Also to Festival Republic, namely Sharon for the same reasons, and Melvin Benn, the Managing Director, for giving me this unique and rewarding experience.’ Benn

To read more about the candidates’ work with Worldwide Volunteering, click on the heading ‘Charity’ on Festival Republic’s website.

This enthusiastic response is what motivates Cradle and Festival Republic – it shows that their work can bring about a change in people’s lives.

Festival Republic, the promoters of Reading and Leeds Festivals, in association with Cradle, are calling for applications for the 2009 Volunteer Project.

The Volunteer Project gives Reading and Leeds festival goers the opportunity to visit supported projects. Working alongside Festival Republic and Cradle staff, the volunteers will experience first hand the work that is being done and why there is a need for it.

At this year’s project in Bosnia & Herzegovina volunteers undertook a full-on programme of community work where each morning was spent decorating an extension to a family home. In the afternoons they helped out at other Cradle projects within the area including a violin project in Mostar, an arts class at an orphanage, Lokomotiva handball team (an incentive to keep girls off the streets and safe from trafficking and drugs) as well as spending time with a Roma family. The project in Thailand was similarly demanding where volunteers refurbished the library and canteen of a village school in Phang Nga; a region that was devastated in the tsunami. Learn more about what was achieved on each of the projects and the positive impact this had on the local community, by reading the volunteer blogs.

Plans for 2009 are well underway with week long volunteer opportunities taking place at a house building and refurbishment project in Albania and a school building project in Thailand in January and February. The trips will be fully paid for by Festival Republic, including flights, accommodation and food.

To qualify for application for the 2009 Volunteers Project you must have attended Reading or Leeds Festivals 2008. You will be required to prove your attendance with either a wristband, ticket stub, ticket confirmation email, or other relevant proof of attendance. Other than that, you don’t need any specific experience or training, though practical skills may be an advantage, from painting and decorating to child care, teaching an instrument or sports skills. But most importantly you need to be keen, willing to get stuck in, be able to communicate well with people from different cultures and backgrounds and be open to a new experience.

All volunteers invited to join the next year’s projects will be expected to document their experiences in order to write a full blog on their return.
More details about this year’s Volunteer Projects and application forms available at www.festivalrepublic.com.