IRELAND: Wexford couple to volunteer in Zimbabwe with Irish charity

By wexfordweekly.com

A Wexford couple will be heading to Zimbabwe to volunteer this summer…

Rosslare’s Louis Pemble and Gorey’s Shannen Byrne will be heading to Zimbabwe this summer to volunteer with SERVE, an Irish development and volunteering organisation.

They will be working with Young Africa, a youth training and empowerment programme that equips young people with vocational, life, and employability skills.

Both Louis and Shannen come from corporate backgrounds and are currently retraining as teachers after returning to college. While studying, they began exploring opportunities to give back through international volunteering and discovered SERVE’s programme online.

“This programme is ideal,” they say. “We’ll be working directly with trainees and apprentices who are learning practical vocational skills. Alongside this, we’ll help deliver training in life skills, entrepreneurship, CV building, and interview techniques—so they can be prepared for the world of work,” they told Wexford Weekly.

Their role won’t stop at supporting students. Louis and Shannen will also collaborate with local educators to develop teaching practices, classroom management strategies, and learner-focused methodologies.

“Beyond the classroom, we’ll work with skilled professionals who may not have formal teaching experience, providing guidance on effective teaching methodologies. By equipping them with the confidence and techniques to pass on their expertise, we aim to create a sustainable, long-term impact on the community.”

As part of their fundraising efforts, Louis and Shannen will be running the Great Limerick Run this May Bank Holiday weekend. All proceeds will go toward supporting the impactful work of SERVE and Young Africa. You can donate at https://gofund.me/722c0e9f

SERVE is a development and volunteering organisation committed to providing equal opportunities for poor communities living in Southern Africa, South-East Asia, and South America.

Inspired by the belief that ‘Solidarity in Action’ can improve the lives of the most vulnerable, SERVE works in partnership with local communities and organisations to offer high-quality vocational and educational learning opportunities. For more information on SERVE’s work visit www.serve.ie