TRIBUTES TO GOAL

‘He [John O’Shea] says openly that Western aid ought not to be channelled to governments that are proven to be either corrupt or brutal – and he is happy to name those regimes. Plain speaking of this order is not usually a way to win friends and influence people. But it has influenced us, which is why we honour him today.’
(Pro-Vice Chancellor at the Open University, John Naughton, speaking at the ceremony when John O’Shea was awarded an honorary degree from the university for his services to the poorest of the poor in the developing world, April 2007)

‘To really appreciate the value that GOAL gets out of every Euro, every Dollar or every Pound Sterling that they collect, you need to go to the field and see the projects in action. I saw them in Calcutta and it was a real eye-opener. The real entrepreneur works quickly. They don't dwell on an idea for a long time, how should we do this? John thinks of a way of going about it straight away. GOAL act as a bridge or a link between different strands of society.’
(Micheál O Muircheartaigh, commenting on John O Shea's award as Social Entrepreneur of the Year at the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award ceremony September 2005)

‘Aid agencies such as GOAL are the best in the world.’
James Morris, former Executive Director of the World Food Programme.

Speaking at a British Charity function, Kate Adie the distinguished BBC correspondent spoke dismissively about many of the large charities for squandering money by excessive administration costs. However, in addition to Medicin Sans Frontieres, she singled out one small charity as being consistently lean, focused and giving best value – GOAL.

‘What I like about GOAL is that, as with John O Shea, there are no hidden agendas. There is no money spent on frills… There are millions of people worldwide who have had their lives made more bearable by GOAL.’
John Mc Enroe, GOAL patron.

‘GOAL is special because of its ‘can do’ spirit. They identify needs and adapt accordingly; are creative and innovative. I worked alongside GOAL in Afghanistan, Iraq and Sri Lanka – when we partner GOAL we know we’ll get the job done.’
David Lillie, Disaster Operations Specialist with USAID

‘For nearly three decades, GOAL has provided aid and comfort to those affected by international humanitarian disasters and the neediest individuals of the developing world. Its efforts have proved that while there may not be an easy solution to ending the suffering of the world’s poor, there is much that can be done to improve the quality of life of those without the means to do it themselves.’
Michael R. Bloomberg, Mayor of New York

‘Over the years John O Shea has used his unique leadership qualities to attract skilled dedicated staff to enable GOAL address the issue of poverty and exclusion in many parts of the world. One example is Goma in 1994, when no one wanted to bury some 40,000 victims of cholera – GOAL volunteers carried it out and were justly praised for their courage and humility. I am so proud of them and know I will go on meeting them in places where the humanitarian need is greatest.’
Mary Robinson, former United Nations High Commissioner for Human rights.

‘I’ve seen GOAL and the way they work in Africa and these people are the real heroes – much more than actors, much more than rock n’ roll stars – they represent their country better than any of us here can…I just want to thank them.’
Bono’s tribute to aid workers during his acceptance speech for the Humanitarian Award at the Meteor Ireland Music Awards on March 3rd 2003. He gave €50,000 from his award money to GOAL.

‘I did an audit of aid agencies working in the region after the Tsunami, as I wanted to give a donation. I chose GOAL because it had people on the ground, is cost effective and experienced.’
Philip Berber, founder of A Glimmer of Hope Foundation, who made a personal donation of €1 million to South East Asia and awarded €200,000 of this to GOAL.

‘GOAL Ireland first came to my attention through the establishment of a rubbish removal project in Peje/Pec Municipality, at a time when returned refugees were still confronting the reality of a domicile reduce to rubble and the UN’s ability to organise public works projects was hampered by its initial deployment difficulties. The rubbish removal project was no doubt instrumental in averting a public health disaster and facilitating the orderly rehabilitation of both public and private infrastructure.’
Head of UNHCR, Kosovo, Jim Kovar

‘We support agencies which do essential work under challenging circumstances –GOAL qualifies on both counts.’
Former USAID administrator Roy Williams, after donating $750,000 to GOAL’s work in South Sudan.

‘I would like to express my sincere appreciation for the most needed and useful TB programme that GOAL Ireland dared to start when bigger NGOs avoided it.’
Dr Abdirizak Hasan Jimala, Head of TB Programme, Digfer General Hospital, Mogadishu, Somalia.

‘GOAL has exhibited commendable commitment and knowledge to the process for developing conditions to support minorities in Kosovo. It is the only organization to have implemented an exclusively minority housing construction project in this area.’
Manoj Saunik UNMIK/Municipal representative, Vushtri / Vucitrn, Kosovo.

‘GOAL is a welcome addition to the UNHCR’s returning programme and has shown an acute understanding of UNHCR’s policy of the right to return. GOAL has absorbed difficult programmes quickly, performing above expectation, showing a particular sensitivity to the needs of minority returnees and an appreciation of the delicate nature of targeted intervention for minority communities.’
Jane Lewis, Programme Officer, UNHCR, Pristina, Kosovo.

“We regard GOAL’s street children programme in Luanda as one of the most innovative initiatives addressing the needs of these highly vulnerable people. I wish to commend the high caliber of GOAL staff, recognized throughout the country for their commitment and professionalism. I am pleased to confirm that this view is shared by members of the Government and donors, who often single out GOAL’s programmes for praise.”
Lise Grande, head of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Human Affairs in Angola

‘The children in GOAL’s street programme have changed my life forever – they respond so enthusiastically to the care and love GOAL gives them that I was overwhelmed by the outpouring of emotion on my first visit..’
Pat Cash, President, GOAL UK.

‘We respect very highly the excellent work GOAL is doing in Kenya, and globally for street children.’
Dr Nicholas Alipui, UNICEF, Kenya.

‘GOAL has penetrated further into the country than many other international organisations and are struggling to put much needed health, food distribution and road building projects into place: the work of Irish NGO’s has been the subject of high praise from both government and senior United Nations officials.’
Minister of State at the Dept of Foreign Affairs, Conor Lenihan on a visit to Darfur in April 2005.

‘There is a lot of creativity in GOAL.  We worked with GOAL very effectively during the tsunami.  There is a lot of good creative thinking there, good expertise on the ground and a willingness to get as close to the people as possible to help them to identify what their needs are and respond to them.  This is one of the qualities that makes GOAL most effective in the field – get down, work with the people, help them to realise their own recovery.’
Jason Aplon, USAID in Pakistan

‘For every Euro that GOAL receives, only 5c is used on administration – I mean, that’s real efficiency.’
Denis O’Brien, chairman of Ernst & Young Entrepeneur of the Year award commended GOAL on its business model

“When I came back a lot of people asked me, ‘Was it terrible?’ and my gut reaction was to say, ‘No’. I really enjoyed it because what I saw GOAL doing in these places is really positive. When you think about it you see some horrendous things, things you’d never want to see again, but GOAL is providing the key to the door to get people out.”
Shane Byrne, former International rugby player, on his return from visiting GOAL’s projects in Calcutta (Kolkata)

‘Seeing what GOAL does on behalf of the street kids in Calcutta was an eye-opening experience… There’s no doubt in my mind that these people deserve everything we can do for them. Where we live on this earth is an accident of birth and we in the affluent parts have an obligation to look to the needs of those who are less well off. People like John O’Shea and GOAL do just that and our donations make it possible.’
RTE broadcaster Mary Kennedy who has visited a number of GOAL projects in the field.
 
‘It has been very important that agencies here step up. To get numbers of people on the ground and to start doing the job very very quickly – that’s what GOAL has managed to do.’
Glyn Taylor of the British Foreign Office in Darfur

‘A Dublin sports writer , John O Shea and business man Tim Philips persuaded the Irish government to supply a  cargo plane loaded with milk, medicines and land rovers – thousands of lives have been saved as a result…’
John Pilger, Daily Mirror, November 9th 1979