Charity Muggers and the Desperate Quest for Employment
Anyone roaming the streets of Dublin, or perhaps the streets of innumerable other towns in Ireland, will probably sympathise when I mutter the words ‘Hanly Centre’, ‘Concern’ and ‘goddamn stupid charity muggers trying to take my money’, with an exasperated, perhaps traumatised look smeared across my prissy never-worked-a-day-in-my-life face. However, as I have joined the destitute, redundant and just plain unemployed legions of us hunting for work against the riptide of recession, I have begun to sympathise with our friends, the charity muggers.
Sure, they follow, harass and guilt trip us into handing over our hard earned (or not so in my case) cash to potentially dubious sources, but does anyone consider THEIR feelings? They have to wander aimlessly through the dangerous streets of Dublin city, degrading themselves to a state of perpetual begging for a charity they more than likely didn’t know existed before that fateful day they applied for that: ‘FUN FILLED POSITION - PERFECT 4 STUDENTS LIKE U!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!’ and for what? Constant rejection from passers-by? Fear of unemployment? Humiliation and peanut wages?
Bet you feel bad for not spending your bus fare on that three euro scratchcard now, eh?
So next time you’re stopped by a charity mugger, oh I don’t know, say, THE HANLY CENTRE? Make a donation. Not just for the charity, but for the poor, innocent charity mugger. Why? Because they love you.
PS: Did I mention, I have an interview with the Hanly Centre tomorrow? Wish me luck