Downpatrick War on Want volunteers delighted by merger

Downpatrick War on Want volunteers delighted by merger

18 April 2018

DOWNPATRICK War on Want volunteers who have clocked up a combined total of almost 80 years’ service between them to help end extreme poverty in Africa are looking forward to an exciting new chapter in the history of the organisation.

War on Want Northern Ireland — which has 13 charity shops across the Province — is to formally relaunch as Self Help Africa following its merger with a Dublin-based development charity.

War on Want has been active for almost six decades and is linking up with Self Help Africa, which also has offices in London, Shrewsbury, and New York, to extend the reach and the breath of its work in sub-Saharan Africa.

Self Help Africa is currently helping to improve the lives of close to four million people, while War on Want supports agricultural development projects in Uganda and previously worked in Malawi. Also in these countries, Self Help Africa has a number of projects as well as farm and enterprise development activities in Kenya, Zambia, Ethiopia and across several countries in West Africa.

Volunteers at the Downpatrick shop, led by Mrs Elfriede Coburn who has been working for the charity for over 33 years, have welcomed the charity’s merger and are confident it will ensure more help is provided to people in need.

While the Scotch Street shop will soon be rebranded with the new Self Help Africa logo, inside, it will be very much a case of business as usual.

“We have been based in three different shops over the years and are delighted to continue volunteering on behalf of people who are very much in need,” Mrs Coburn said.

“We all love what we do, meeting people and of course helping raise much-needed funds for those in Africa. Being a volunteer is a privilege and we get to see so many people coming through the door. We are very much a cross-community organisation and there is great camaraderie among all the volunteers.”

Mrs Coburn first got involved with War on Want shortly after he mother died when she spotted an advert for volunteers in the Down Recorder.

“We have had three shops during my time with the charity and while we are about raising money, some of the people who come to see us tell us their troubles and we talk with them which helps us all. I think meeting and chatting with people is something that keeps me young,” she said.

“The fact the charity has had a presence in Downpatrick for several decades illustrates how supportive the local community has been, helping us raise money for the less well off. We are quite a family-orientated organisation in the town and often get donations from relatives who have worked as volunteers here many years ago.”

Mrs Coburn said the charity relied on the help and support of others and thanked people for donating a wide range of items for sale.

“We are down to just seven volunteers and would love to hear from others who would be willing to help. We are open six days a week and more volunteers would allow us to better cover holiday periods and when people are ill or have hospital appointments,” she continued.

“We are also grateful for all donations, but cannot accept electrical items or child seats due to safety legislation. All the volunteers are very passionate about what they do and we have a great team, but we would like some more help as we believe we play a vital role, not only in our community, but in those across the globe by helping raise much-needed funds. 

“We are pleased to play a small part to help others and believe the merger with Self Help Africa is a good thing.”

Marie Fay, who has been volunteering for 12 years, described what she does as “therapeutic.” As someone who lives alone, her work in the shop gets her out of the house and is pleased to play a part in helping raise money for people in the Third World.

Marie added: “I never thought when I got involved as a volunteer 12 years ago that I would still be here, but I am and really enjoy it.”

Helen Carnegie, who admitted she gets a lot of pleasure from working in the shop, revealed that War on Want once had 34 volunteers in Downpatrick, but now has just seven.

“We need more and if people are interested in coming forward to join the team of volunteers we would be delighted to hear from them. The work is rewarding,” she added.

Mrs Myrtle Maxwell, who also has a long association with the charity shop, is keen for more people to come forward as volunteers. She said working for a charity that helps those in the Third World “provides an opportunity to give something back.”

The Downpatrick shop is open from 10am until 4pm from Monday to Friday and between 10am and 1pm ion Saturday.