All Together in Dignity (ATD) full time volunteers are people who have a long-term commitment with those living in extreme poverty. ATD gathers people from all backgrounds in order to think, act and live together differently. Within communities and families facing persistent poverty, they support and create projects and programs that reinforce people’s daily efforts to have a better life. Examples of these projects include street libraries, peer support forums, human rights workshops, youth groups, etc. We also carry out public campaigns and advocacy at a national and international level.
In early 2018, there were 411 ATD full time volunteers (299 women and 182 men) from 41 different countries in the Global North and South, working out of small international teams in their native country or elsewhere in the world.
“Orientating my life around overcoming poverty is a very rewarding way to live”.
The ATD International Volunteer Corps challenges and seeks to distinguish itself from a society where money dominates. This choice and commitment by full time volunteers is in line with working towards a people- centred society through:
- A long-term commitment that requires an availability to go where most needed and set aside a more traditional career path, living far from their home countries where necessary. “Between long and short- term assignments, I’ve lived a pretty varied life”- ATD International volunteer corps member. Most ATD full- time volunteers live and work alongside people or communities who face the violence of poverty and exclusion and act together with them on a daily basis so they can access their basic human rights. “Being a Volunteer Corps member with ATD Fourth World is a real profession in the sense that it takes training. We have to learn how to build a relationship of trust and equality with people whose entire life has been an experience of injustice”.
- Team work based on each person’s knowledge, experience and passion. “Our priority is a ‘horizontal’ way of working, and without any ideological bias. We are always guided by what we hear from people who are not usually heard.”
- Actions and projects built around those people not seen or heard in society that create spaces and ways they and others recognise how they are activists, sources of knowledge and experience, and creators of peace in the work to overcome poverty.
- Approaches that encourage others to become involved, as individuals, communities, or through institutional partnerships, to create a strong current of societal change based upon and of true benefit to the reality of people living in persistent poverty.
- A modest stipend that is decided upon together and the same for everyone with the same country, regardless of seniority or responsibility. This is part of our ethics and in solidarity with those experiencing financial hardship. This can include rent and healthcare allowances depending on the country.
If you are interested in joining the international volunteer corps, contact Dann@atdireland.ie for more information! Or visit www.atd-fourthworld.org.
Below find full interviews with international volunteer corps members!