SERVE (Summer Endeavour in a Redemptorist Volunteer Experience), are looking for help from anyone out there looking for an exciting challenge,or prepared to head to the poorest parts of the world to make a difference.

The Irish volunteer organisation recently held an information session in St. Clement’s School, South Circular Road, where they spoke about the six different volunteer programmes they run every summer.

SERVE volunteers become part of a lively and proactive team dedicated to several community initiatives, such as house-building in Brazil.

The SERVE initiative aims to tackle world poverty and, in particular, strives to combat poverty among the youth.

The organisation emerged from a tripartite partnership relationship, between young Irish adults, the Irish Redemptorists and marginalised communities in the developing world.

Last summer, SERVE placed 82 volunteers in countries as diverse as Brazil, India , South Africa, Mozambique, Thailand and the Philippines. Most range in age between 20 and 40.

Volunteers need to go through an interview process and participate in fundraising activities to contribute towards the project they are working on.

Next summer, SERVE will be sending people to work for 6-8 weeks in South Africa, Mozambique, Thailand, The Philippines, India and Brazil.

Some of the projects that volunteers can expect to undertake include: house building, working with street children in the Philippines; providing staff support in education projects in Thailand, helping in construction work in a HIV/AIDS clinic in South Africa; working with a Leprosy Programme and Slum Projects in India.

SERVE is based and rooted in Ireland with strong connections to areas of need and vulnerability, so participants can also expect to be working in a youth outreach programme in Ireland.

For more information, visit www.serve.ie