About GOAL
GOAL is an international humanitarian agency dedicated to alleviating the suffering of the poorest of the poor. We are a non-denominational, non-governmental and non-political organisation.
What is GOAL?
GOAL is an international humanitarian agency dedicated to alleviating the suffering of the poorest of the poor. We are a non-denominational, non-governmental and non-political organisation.
Our History
GOAL was founded in Dublin in 1977 by former sports journalist and current Chief Executive, John O’Shea. Since its inception, GOAL has spent in excess of €600 million on humanitarian programmes in over 50 countries. Over 1,500 GOALies and many thousands of local staff have worked in the developing world on GOAL’s behalf and the organisation has responded to every major humanitarian disaster since 1977.
Where are our operations?
GOAL currently has in excess of 100 GOALies based in 11 countries: Ethiopia, Honduras, India, Kenya, Malawi, Niger, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Uganda, Zimbabwe and Haiti. Across GOAL’s fields of operation, 2,500 locally-based staff are employed alongside the GOALies, where together they deliver on a range of humanitarian programmes. GOALies come from all walks of life: accountants, nurses, doctors, nutritionists, logisticians, engineers, administrative personnel, and so on.
Testimonials
- ‘He [John O’Shea] says openly that Western aid ought not to be channelled to governments that are proven to be either corrupt or brutal – and he is happy to name those regimes. Plain speaking of this order is not usually a way to win friends and influence people. But it has influenced us, which is why we honour him today.’John Naughton
Pro-Vice Chancellor at the Open University - ‘To really appreciate the value that GOAL gets out of every Euro, every Dollar or every Pound Sterling that they collect, you need to go to the field and see the projects in action. I saw them in Calcutta and it was a real eye-opener. The real entrepreneur works quickly. They don't dwell on an idea for a long time, how should we do this? John thinks of a way of going about it straight away. GOAL act as a bridge or a link between different strands of society.’Micheál O Muircheartaigh
RTE sports commentator
- ‘Aid agencies such as GOAL are the best in the world.’James Morris
Former Executive Director of the World Food Programme
- ‘What I like about GOAL is that, as with John O Shea, there are no hidden agendas. There is no money spent on frills… There are millions of people worldwide who have had their lives made more bearable by GOAL.’John Mc Enroe
GOAL patron