Showin' some love 'n' gettin' 'Dirty' ... Volunteers visit and clean infirmary

Grey Ground, Manchester:

Residents at the Manchester Infirmary, located in Grey Ground, a small community in Manchester, were overjoyed at the sight of the volunteers from Projects Abroad recently, as the team arrived for Dirty Day, an initiative of the organisation.

The Dirty Day initiative, which started five years ago, is carried out on the third Friday of every month and sees volunteers from all over the world participating in cleaning activities in communities and organisations.

Coordinator of this special Dirty Day and information manager at Projects Abroad, Keisha Wright, told Rural Xpress of their efforts and what they hope to gain:

"We went to the Manchester Infirmary and we took care of 93 persons who were there. We were divided into teams that took on different responsibilities in laundry, grooming, socialising, cooking and serving, and ground rehabilitation and beautification."

In addition to the services offered, the team donated much-needed toiletries to the infirmary.

"We want our volunteers to get involved in everything; not only at their placements, but to come together as one and make a big impact and put smiles on people's faces," Wright further stated.

Enthusiastic about work

Matron at the Infirmary, Vivinne Grant, was enthusiastic about the work and the donations made by Projects Abroad.

"The residents were appreciative of the care and attention given to them; many have grown accustomed to the loving care of volunteers who are placed here. Companies like Projects Abroad help us fulfil the mandate of the institution to cater to the total well-being of the residents," said Grant.

In the same breath, Matron Grant made a plea for others to get on board and help the infirmary.

"The infirmary is operated by local government, and because of the present economic position of the country, we are having challenges in providing for the 92 residents," stated Grant.

The infirmary is currently in need of lockers, clothing, beds (with mattresses), an industrial oven, a sphygmomanometer, blood sugar testing kits, bed linen, curtains, towels, diapers, toiletries and medical supplies. Wards also need to be painted, and the recreational areas, the library and the church need refurbishing.

Canadian social worker and volunteer, Lisa Bertin, who was a part of the Dirty Day initiative, told Rural Xpress how she felt about the project:

"It was a very rewarding experience, it was great seeing the adults (residents) and it was great helping to groom them."

She lauded the efforts of the team and expressed the importance of impacting the lives of others.

"This is extremely, important not only to the persons receiving our attention, but also to self; it helps you develop as a person; it puts into focus the things that you have planned and helps mould you into the person you want to be," said Bertin.

Bridgette Barrett, country manager for Projects Abroad, spoke to the plans for the future, "We will be working closely with partner agencies, the Ministry of Education and the Child Development Agency, for 2014. We will be working hard at removing pit latrines from schools and install the flush system. We are really aiming to have the needs of partners met through our volunteers, who will result in bettered lives and a brighter future."

With more than 60,000 volunteers between the ages 16-75 all over the world participating in thousands of service initiatives, the 20-year-old organisation, Projects Abroad, still seeks to dominate as an international volunteer organisation.

- T.B.