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Irish Aid, the Government’s overseas development programme, is hosting a major overseas volunteering fair in Dublin on Saturday to highlight opportunities in developing countries.

Visitors to the fair will be able to meet representatives and former volunteers from more than 28 organisations involved in volunteering. At a series of workshops, the organisations will provide presentations on their work and information on the skills they are seeking and the opportunities available.

Speaking ahead of the event at the Irish Aid Volunteering and Information Centre on O’Connell Street, Minister of State for Trade and Development, Jan O’Sullivan, said:

"The fair provides an excellent opportunity for individuals interested in long or short term volunteering abroad to discuss their options with the 28 volunteer sending organisations which will be represented on Saturday.

"The majority of the NGOs taking part have signed up to the Code of Good Practice for Sending Organisations. The code promotes best practice in volunteering, and the signatory organisations undertake to run high quality volunteering programmes based on the needs of their host communities."

The Volunteering Fair will take place in the Irish Aid Volunteering and Information Centre, 27-31 Upper O’Connell St. Dublin from 11am to 4pm on Saturday October 1. The fair is open to the public and admission is free.