Vincentian Lay Missionaries (VLM)
Mission Statement
To form and facilitate our members to immerse themselves in the experience and culture of the Vincentian mission overseas, so that reflecting on the learned experience, they will, on their return, effect change and transformation both locally and globally.
Objectives
The main objectives of the Vincentian Lay Missionaries Company (as stated in the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company) is “to alleviate poverty in communities in the developing world through the promotion of education, health, poverty and community projects, through the provision of personnel and funding”.
Governance
VLM is managed by a voluntary board of Directors made up of former volunteers, Vincentian priests, representatives of the Daughters of Charity and lay people with specific expertise. VLM is a registered company and a registered charity. The Board is governed by its Constitution and agreed objectives and activities. It was registered on 15th September 2006 as a company limited by guarantee, not having share capital, by the Companies Registration Office, Company Number 426535 and is subject to Irish company laws. It has been accorded tax exemption status by Revenue, Registered Charity Number CHY 17070. It has been registered as a charity by the Charity Regulator, Charity Registration Number 20062866. The company is registered as an employer for taxation purposes. The governance and decisions of VLM resides in its Board, and is subject to the Companies Act 2014. It is independent in its governance, decisions and operations.
VLM approved individual projects in Africa receive funding from the Irish Government from time to time through the Department of Foreign Affairs (Misean Cara), from the Vincentians in Ireland, from volunteers who self-fund the cost of their training, flights and accommodation, from Board of Management fundraising initiatives and from some individual benefactors who support the work of VLM through personal donations or various fundraising activities.
What We Do
VLM is a part of the Vincentian Family in Ireland which includes the Vincentian Fathers, The Daughters of Charity, the St Vincent De Paul Society, De Paul Homeless Services, The Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice, Holy Faith Sisters, Ladies of Charity and the Association of the Miraculous Medal (AMM).
VLM is primarily a Volunteer Sending Agency (VSA) which works exclusively with the Daughters of Charity and Vincentian Fathers to send volunteers with expertise on short term placements (1-6 months) with our partner projects in Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya and Tanzania. Our volunteers work in educational, community development and outreach programmes for children, women and youth, who are among the most vulnerable and marginalised members of the communities in the countries in which the projects are based.
Volunteers, (who must be 18 years of age or over), are recruited from all walks of life, with a wide range of experience and expertise which will be of benefit to the communities that we serve. All are welcome who come with an open heart and a willingness to do what is necessary to serve those less fortunate.
VLM’s flagship project is the Ambo Lazarist Deaf School in Ambo, Ethiopia where we were instrumental in supporting the building and development of a school for deaf children. Our Board Sub-Committee for the Ethiopia Deaf Project (EDP) works exclusively to raise funding for the continued development and day to day operation of the school.
VLM operates Summer School Programmes which run for one month in the summer- usually July, in various locations. These summer schools provide basic lessons in English, Maths, Arts and Crafts, Music and Sports for disadvantaged primary school aged children and are attended by many street children as well as those fortunate to be receiving an education in schools. While many qualified teachers participate in these programmes it is not necessary to be a teacher to participate. Volunteers with a background in community programmes, the arts and sport have also been part of the teams.
VLM has also established Schools Immersion Programmes in three Dublin Vincentian Family Schools - St Vincent’s Castleknock College, St Paul’s College, Raheny and St Mary’s Holy Faith Girls Secondary School, Glasnevin. These programmes are aimed at 5th year Students in the schools and see eight students and two teachers from each school travel to either Thigio, Kenya or Kumasi, Ghana for two weeks in the summer months to live and work with our partner projects.
VLM has its office in St Peter’s Parish Offices, Phibsborough and has one full-time Coordinator.
