Thursday, December 06, 2012

Nun recognised for work with youth

A Limerick nun who helps bereaved children look forward to their future again was among 11 volunteer heroes honoured in Dublin last night for their contribution to communities.

Sr Helen Culhane was chosen from more than 450 people nominated for the fifth annual Volunteer Ireland Awards.

Sr Helen, a trained social worker who supports children affected by death, divorce, or separation, established the Children’s Grief Project three years ago.

Demand for the Limerick-based voluntary support service has increased to a point where it currently has 30 children on a waiting list.

"After a couple of sessions when a child leaves my office happy and excited and looking forward to their future again, I know my job is done and that is enough for me," she said.

Sr Helen, a member of the congregation of the Sisters of Mercy, travels to schools around Munster where she talks about her project, which receives no government funding.

Another award recipient, Jacqueline O’Driscoll, has worked with Limerick Feral Cats for over a decade and turned her home into a sanctuary for wild and abandoned cats.

Most of her free time is spent travelling all over the city and county feeding feral cats, trapping them, bringing them to vets, and getting them neutered.

The winner of Volunteer of the Year was Antrim midwife Jacqueline McAuley, who has helped improve health care for mothers and babies in Ethiopia.

Volunteer Ireland chief executive Yvonne McKenna said the awards, which were made on International Volunteer Day, let society know about people with a strong sense of social justice who were working hard to improve their communities.

* www.volunteer.ie