Human Appeal Ireland Charity Shop Opens in Dundrum

Belkacem Belfedhal, Alex White and Ammar Ouamar cutting the ribbon at the Human Appeal Ireland Charity Shop in Dundrum.

Belkacem Belfedhal, Alex White and Ammar Ouamar cutting the ribbon at the Human Appeal Ireland Charity Shop in Dundrum.

I was humbled to open the Human Appeal Ireland Charity Shop in the old Apollo building on the Dundrum Road. Proceeds from the new charity shop will go to alleviate poverty in Syria, the Philippines, Palestine and Burma. Human Appeal Ireland is one of the few charities that have managed to gain access inside Syria. It was a great honour to meet all of the local volunteers who have worked so hard to make this impressive initiative happen.

The Syrian people and the many thousands of refugees are in our hearts and minds. I’d encourage people to pop in and tell their friends and neighbours about this new local hub which is run by local people for the benefit of Syrian refugees. Customers have the opportunity to purchase handmade goods such as knitwear and crafts made by Syrian refugees.

The team who run the charity shop are supported by the Southside Partnership’s TÚS scheme and I want to commend them for their hard work and dedication.

An Tánaiste, Eamon Gilmore and Minister for Foreign Affairs, has committed a €12 million package of support on behalf of the Irish people for Syria in 2014, which will be used to provide emergency food, water, health and protection to the most vulnerable Syrians.

Human Appeal Ireland will open a series of community hubs where locals can meet, pick up a few bargains and have a cup of tea or coffee. The Dundrum charity shop is the very first community hub to open in Ireland.

Kaddo,  Minister Alex White TD, Sheikh Hussain Halawa, Belkacem Belfedhal, Sheila Geraghty, Bryan Morrison and Marian White

Kaddo, Minister Alex White TD, Sheikh Hussain Halawa, Belkacem Belfedhal, Sheila Geraghty, Bryan Morrison and Marian White

Labour Local Area Rep. Peter O'Brian, Belkacem Belfedhal, Alex White

Labour Local Area Rep. Peter O’Brian, Belkacem Belfedhal, Alex White