TDS AND Senators from all parties and one member of the Stormont Assembly are to spend some of their summer holidays on volunteer work in Africa and Asia.
Fianna Fáil Dublin South East TD, Chris Andrews will spend time in The Gambia; Fine Gael Dublin West TD, Leo Varadkar will travel to Mongolia; Labour's Cork East's Sean Sherlock will go to Namibia.
Meanwhile, Labour Meath-based Senator Dominic Hannigan will also go to Mongolia; Fianna Fáil Kerry-based Senator, Mark Daly will go to Zambia, while SDLP MLA, Carmel Hanna will also go to Namibia.
The six, recruited by the international development charity, VSO Ireland, will help organisations in each of the countries to improve their ability to push their cause with local and central governments, and improve fund-raising techniques.
Last night, Mr Sherlock said he would be working with an organisation helping Aids victims and their families in Walvis Bay in Namibia: "I am going with very realistic ambitions. I know that I won't change the world.
"But Ireland is a significant contributor to overseas development and it is a good opportunity for all of us to get to know more about what is being done, and what the problems are," he said.
VSO Ireland said the week-long trips offered "Irish politicians a unique opportunity to make a practical contribution to development in some of the world's poorest countries" and encourage them to be powerful advocates for Official Development Assistance at home.
