Itinerary see HERE
MaryBeth Gallagher receives the Gallagher Global Award from Clan Chief, Adrian Gallagher
Gallagher Global Award – Presentation to Marybeth Gallagher
At the Gala Dinner Dance of the 2nd Gallagher Global Gathering in Ostan Loch Altan, Gortahork, Co. Donegal, Ireland, on 13th Sept 2013, the inaugural Gallagher Global Award was presented to Marybeth Gallagher from California, who is currently living and working as a volunteer in Namibia.
This followed a worldwide search, with nominations received from all over the world. These were adjudicated by an independent (non-Gallagher) panel of judges, which included Jim Miley, Project Director of The Gathering Ireland. Despite other very strong nominations, Marybeth was a more than worthy recipient of the award.
The presentation dance was the culmination of a week-long gathering of the Gallagher Clan from four continents, launched by Parish Priest of Gortahork, Fr. Seán Ó Gallachóir, last Friday the 6th. The ten-day event saw Gallaghers descend on the west Donegal Gaeltacht from as far away as Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the U.S.
MaryBeth’s Work in Namibia
MaryBeth is currently a volunteer serving AIDS orphans and other dependent children in Windhoek, Namibia. She works at the Bernard Nordcamp Center (BNC) in Katatura, adjacent to Windhoek, where many of the poorest families live. She has been working there since January 2005. Prior to that she served overseas in Bangladesh and El Salvador.
From the time she was a teenager, MaryBeth has given tirelessly in the service of others. In high school and college she volunteered with children, coached young athletes, and worked with the Big Brother/Big Sister organization as a mentor for girls needing companionship and guidance.
Upon graduating from college in 1986, MaryBeth joined the Jesuit Volunteers and was assigned to an inner-city school in San Francisco. She remained at St. Dominic’s School for ten years, first as a classroom assistant and after-school coach, and later as a 2nd-grade teacher. Many former students still attest to the positive impact “Miss Gallagher” had on their lives.
International Service Work
After a decade in San Francisco, MaryBeth left her position at St. Dominic’s to pursue her lifelong dream of serving the poor overseas. As a lay missioner with Maryknoll, she worked for six years in the barrio of San Ramon in San Salvador, El Salvador. Her work focused largely on children—especially girls—who were often neglected.
Against great odds, she organized girls’ soccer teams to give them recreation and relief from demanding chores. Her philosophy is that for children to grow into responsible adults, they need love, guidance, and instruction in life skills—courtesy, cooperation, respect—learned through team sports. She carried this philosophy to her later work in Bangladesh and now in Namibia.
Programmes in Katatura
In Katatura, MaryBeth organized soccer teams for girls and later for boys. Today, more than 500 children participate every Saturday, with older teens and local adults trained by MaryBeth now running the program. Some girls from her teams qualified for the Namibian National Team and participated in the Norway Cup in 2009.
With donated racquets, equipment, and support from local tennis clubs, MaryBeth also introduced township children to tennis, enabling them to compete locally and nationally.
Realizing education is the key to breaking cycles of poverty and addiction, MaryBeth gradually transformed BNC activities from loosely organized play into structured educational programs. The BNC is now a full after-school enrichment center, offering instruction in English and Math, along with homework support. Many participating children have seen remarkable grade improvements, with increasing numbers entering the best high schools in Windhoek.
MaryBeth also recruits sponsors from around the world—Australia, New Zealand, Europe, the U.S., and Canada—to fund school fees for children in need. She has additionally led workshops for teachers on classroom management.
Alongside her work at the BNC, MaryBeth assists a school for handicapped children in Rehoboth, helping them purchase a van to transport children for care, therapy, and instruction, with support from Rotary Clubs in Namibia and the U.S.
She also helps women market handmade crafts, allowing them to support and educate their children.
Leadership and Global Support
MaryBeth recently served as President of the Windhoek Auas Rotary Club, encouraging Rotarians in both Namibia and the U.S. to support numerous community projects.
Her work is sustained by individuals and groups worldwide. Volunteers serve from two weeks to three months.