Support for Development Workers

• Get involved
• Before Going Overseas
• Coming Home
• Support Services for Returned Development Workers
• Getting involved Back Home

One of Comhlámh's primary aims ever since it was founded has been to support returned development workers (RDWs) who have in turn sought to promote effective global development.  RDWs refers to anyone who has worked overseas in a development or emergency/humanitarian capacity and includes volunteers, development workers and missionaries.

Comhlámh provides free support, information, advice and guidance for all RDWs to facilitate their return to Ireland, to deal with ‘reverse culture shock' and assist them in settling back in. This support ranges from social events to careers advice, information on social insurance, pensions, health, etc and engaging them in the debates in Ireland on development.

All Returned development workers or volunteers, short- or long-term, are given 12 months free membership of Comhlámh courtesy of Irish Aid. To avail of your FREE membership, please contact stuart@comhlamh.org

Comhlámh seeks to support Development Workers at each stage in the process:

Before going overseas:
Deciding whether to go, how best to go, and how to prepare. See the Options workshops, or contact Dervla at dervla@comhlamh.org or Siobhan at siobhan@comhlamh.org

Go to the Volunteering Options website, http://www.volunteeringoptions.com/ The Volunteer Charter and Code of Practice for Sending Organisations are both very useful and informative resources for anyone considering international volunteering. 

Special note about social insurance and pensions 

Part of preparing for going overseas should include some thought on the options open to volunteers/development workers/missionaries for remaining within the Irish social insurance system.  Considering one's options for social protection may seem unimportant now, however it becomes extremely important for returning volunteers/development workers in accessing short-term benefits upon return, such as unemployment benefit, medical or dental benefits, etc. and for state pension entitlements upon reaching retirement age.  The RDW team in Comhlamh is available to provide information on current options for remaining within the Irish social insurance system.  For further information please contact either Stuart White on 01-4783490.

If you are a public servant on authorised leave of absence you may be entitled to avail of the Public Service Pension Scheme.  Again contact either Stuart for further information.

While overseas:
The Project Officer for Returned Development Workers (RDWs) responds to enquiries from development workers while overseas.                                                     Contact: deirdre@comhlamh.org

Coming Home to Ireland - Event for recently returned development workers:
The next Coming Home Weekend for returned development workers will be from 23rd-25th May in Newry, Co Down Book Now! Contact Deirdre for further details on 086-3367683/deirdre@comhlamh.org. This weekend is FREE if you have worked overseas in a development capacity for 3 months or more.

What are the support services available to returned development workers (RDWs)? 

Comhlámh provides a range of supports to development workers returning to Ireland. Our support services are open to all returned development workers so whether you were overseas as a short-term volunteer, a longer-term volunteer, an aid/humanitarian worker or a missionary we have support services for you!

These include regional "Coming Home Weekends",professional careers advice, theraputic counselling sessions, social and networking opportunities and training in development education. The full list of services is available below.  To find out more about any specific services contact Deirdre, project officer for returned development workers, at deirdre@comhlamh.org. 

We are always interested in meeting RDWs so please feel free to call and make an appointment for a chat or drop into our offices, share your experience of being overseas and find out how we might be of assistance now that you're back in Ireland.  Our support team are friendly and approachable, they have all worked overseas and are familiar with the process of returning to Ireland and welcome contact from all returning development workers.  Our job is to provide a service to you so if we can of any assistance please let us know.

Membership of Comhlamh opens up the following services to RDWs:

• Individual Support
• Coming Home Book
• Coming Home Weekends
• Special Reorientation Events
• Personal Debriefing service
• Moving Forward Days
• Counselling Service
• Professional Careers Guidance Service
• Careers and Courses Booklet
• Internet jobs notice board
• Social Insurance - Volunteer Development Worker PRSI Scheme
• Pensions Advice leaflet (Forthcoming)
• Social Events (Dublin and regional)
• Development education and campaigning opportunities and skills training

As a Comhlámh member, you will receive invitations to Comhlámh events, e-Link newsletter, and all editions of Focus and INDEX Magazines. You also have full voting rights in the governance of the organisation. This does depend upon us having a current address for you, so please keep us informed of any moves.

In relation to any of these services or other queries please feel free to contact Deirdre@comhlamh.org