Ronan can be contacted at ronan.scully@selfhelpafrica.
Ronan Scully of Self Help Africa helps improve life for people and families in the poorest countries in the world. He is the business development representative for Self Help Africa. He is married to Jacqui O’Grady and has two daughters – Mia (14) and Sophie (10) – whom they adopted from Ethiopia. The Offaly man, who lives in Galway, has dedicated his career to ending hunger and poverty in rural Africa. For the past 28 years, Ronan and his colleagues have witnessed first-hand some of the malnutrition, drought, climate change disasters, hardships and suffering experienced by millions of people across the continent of Africa and now also the effects of the dreaded Coronavirus as it has caused untold damage and death in many countries. And this spring, Self Help Africa (who merged with Gorta a few years ago) are taking more steps involving itself directly in a humanitarian emergency and long term development work in response to the unfolding food crisis and Covid-19 crisis in Africa and also to look after refugees in some countries looking for security and a better life. The selfless charity worker fundraises tirelessly to help save lives in Africa and more details about the charities work and how you can support the charities work can be found at www.selfhelpafrica.org
Q 1- How does your normal day begin?
I’m motivated by helping people, especially those most in need as I live my life so that others can have a better life. I am constantly motivated – and have been for as long as I can remember – to work towards a better quality of life for families, people and children struggling with so many issues in Africa and Ireland and in our world. I set about my day usually around 7am starting with a prayer of gratitude for another day and making sure my wife and children are ok. I then set about my work for our great charity organisation Self Help Africa checking in with colleagues in Ireland and Africa making sure that what needs to be done to keep the projects going in 10 countries in Africa and the people and families we work with safe. I’m also motivated by the fact that I live and work according to what I believe in. I fell in love with the ethos and mission of Self Help Africa and its work – a strong volunteer base here in Ireland helping to bring about change for the good of everyone so I make sure to check in with many of our supporters and volunteers on a daily and weekly basis and to thank them for their support for our work in Africa.
Q 2- What are your biggest daily challenges?
Trying to raise much-needed funds especially in these challenging and worrying times to keep the projects going. The challenges vary from day to day, depending on whether I am working in Ireland from the office or I am visiting our projects in Africa, but consistency in effort, support, planning and action is something that I strive for always and especially in trying to make life better and more hopeful for the people and families we work with and for. At the moment my main challenge is trying to plan fundraising campaigns to raise much-needed funds for our projects in a world of uncertainty where charities are finding it difficult to raise funds as a result of the impact of COVID-19 and Government restrictions in Ireland and worldwide.
Q3- What do you love most about your job?
I love my work and the challenge of the work in trying to make a difference for good in people’s lives and livelihoods. I love meeting people especially my wonderful caring colleagues, the people and families we work with and I especially love meeting the people who support and organise events to support our work with their fundraising and volunteering. We in Self Help Africa have a vision for our work and enjoy setting goals and targets to achieve those visions to make life better for families experiencing abject poverty and then celebrating those goals when they are reached. For me seeing the difference our work has made for the good, brings great joy to my work.
Q 4- What do you do to relax?
I love to spend any type of time with my family as I am away from them a lot at times. I also like to write and I am involved in writing weekly articles for some newspapers and I love to go for long walks for prayer and reflection into the beautiful countryside here in Ireland and especially in Connemara in Galway which is one of our greatest assets – and I love walking parts of the Camino each year. Also, I am a big sports fan, so anything GAA and most types of sports either watching or playing I love!
Q 5-Favourite staycation destination in Ireland and why?
This is my toughest question to answer as Ireland has so many amazing and beautiful destinations. Connemara is wonderful for its beaches, walks and trails. Kerry, Donegal and West Clare for the same reasons. There are so many fantastic Irish locations all around our beautiful country. I suppose for me anywhere along the Wild Atlantic Way and I’d be happy out. But if I was pushed Roundstone in Connemara or Dingle in Kerry would be my top choices.
Q 6-Favourite holiday destination worldwide?
Anywhere on the Camino in Spain. It’s like a fun retreat where you get to enjoy prayerful walks, companionship, amazing scenery, meditation and reflections on life, lots of amazing food and wine, people watching, daily mass if you want, healthy walking and in the main part lots of sun. Anyone who has walked the Camino will agree. I can’t wait to get walking on the Camino again. Also, I love going to Ethiopia where Self Help Africa had its beginnings and where my two amazing, fabulous and beautiful daughters are from.
Q 7-Favourite Business motto?
“Your health is truly your wealth” and “Working together is success”, are my favourite business motto’s especially as we get older in life. I try as much as possible to get away from stress as it affects me on a personal and work level. Much of the time my work is very emotional as I’m involved in dealing with families and people’s livelihoods in some of the poorest countries and I have to make sure to look after myself. I have a very strong family, amazing colleagues and friendship network that has always been my support and rock. At times, I like my own space and this helps to clear my head – whether walking, praying or writing some personal stories and thoughts. These are my form of prayer and spirituality and they really help to get rid of the clutter in my head. I have a strong faith and this helps me to reflect and find the positives in life. Having a strong family, amazing colleagues and friendship support and spending time with them always makes me feel good.
Q 8. Advice for young business entrepreneurs
Have courage, learn from the past and strive for a good future but live for today as today is all you have got and most of all remember to enjoy the journey and never be afraid to ask for help!
Ronan can be contacted at ronan.scully@selfhelpafrica.
