Meet the volunteer - Maggie

Maggie saw an appeal for volunteers in her parish newsletter five years ago. Reading it she thought: ‘I can, I should….and I will!’ She hasn’t looked back since!

Why did you decide to volunteer for CAFOD?

Born in Kenya, with a father whose work was in overseas development and a mother who was a very faithful Catholic, CAFOD was a good fit for me. The training is excellent - volunteers are welcomed, and given a thorough grounding in CAFOD’s history, organisation and goals.

Whether you are a school volunteer or speaking at Mass there are regular training updates and the material that you present on CAFOD’s behalf is factual, topical and attractively presented. 

What’s your favourite thing about volunteering?

Being a volunteer is definitely rewarding. It’s hard to believe how clued up, fair-minded and sensitive little children can be. They’re funny too. In the span of a few seconds you can be amazed by a little five-year-old boy who knows how many people live on the planet, or by a little girl (also five) who explains ‘rights’ by telling the story of the suffragettes - how amazing that 100 years after the event, she knows. And then a little boy in answer to my question, ‘what would you do to get fresh water to drink if you didn’t have taps?’, said: ‘Stand there with your mouth open and wait for it rain!’

What do you find challenging?

I do get challenging questions in schools and when I speak at Mass. For example, there is the worn out cynicism of being ‘over-disastered’ – people ask, ‘what’s the point?’ It’s so important to tell people about the advances achieved by aid programmes. I love how CAFOD shows inspiring stories and photographs showing how we can empower members of the community to be the leaders of change.