Mullingar man meets president

Mullingar man meets president of Ireland to celebrate 75 years of international children's charityAidan Leavy from Mullingar, the business development co-ordinator with the children's charity Plan Ireland, met President Michael D Higgins last week to celebrate the charity's 75th anniversary, highlighting the importance of birth registration for children in the developing world.Speaking at the official visit at Áras an Uachtaráin, Mr Leavy, who has worked for the charity since 2011, said: "We are honoured and delighted to have the opportunity to meet President Higgins and celebrate 75 years of Plan."Born on a battlefield during the Spanish Civil War in 1937, Plan has always had as its objective the protection and empowerment of children. Today, Plan is one of the world's largest children's development organisations operating in over 70 countries globally and transforming the lives of children and communities throughout the developing world."In celebrating their 75th anniversary year, Plan aims to draw attention to their global birth registration campaign, Count Every Child.Through this campaign, since 2005, the organisation has enabled more than 40 million people across 32 countries, most of them children, access vital health and education services after being traced and issued with birth certificates."We take it for granted that every child celebrates their birthday - just as we, as an organisation, are celebrating our 75th birthday this year," said Mr Leavy."Yet millions of children around the world cannot mark it because their births are not registered."Some 51 million children every year are at risk of being denied their basic rights including education, healthcare and housing, and are more likely to be exposed to exploitation and abuse. No birth certificate equals no identity, equals no rights, equals no opportunities - it really is that simple. Core to Plan's global mission is to address this issue."www.plan.ie1800 829 829.