The misappropriation of funds under previous leadership deeply impacted supporters and the communities the charity Bóthar serves, its new CEO, Ailish O'Reilly, has said.

Bóthar has acknowledged past challenges and remains committed to transparency, accountability, and fulfilling its mission.

The new CEO said that Bóthar has undertaken a comprehensive overhaul of its financial controls and implemented robust cost-saving measures, strengthened governance, and refocused on delivering impactful programmes.

Bóthar recently launched its Easter fundraising campaign for 2025, which is aimed at supporting young girls rescued from trafficking in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

This is the third fundraising campaign O'Reilly has organised for Bóthar, following campaigns at Easter and Christmas last year. 

The charity works with the open prison, Shelton Abbey in Arklow, Co Wicklow.

Every spring, the team at Shelton Abbey welcome Friesian calves from Bóthar's donors, raising them in specially built housing until they can go out on grass.

The heifers are then prepared to be shipped overseas in their second year. These in-calf heifers provide farm families the means to move out of poverty and create a new future, said the charity.

O'Reillly said that, through its partnership with Daughters of Mary Immaculate (DMI) Global Mission, Bóthar is continuing in its commitment to sustainable agriculture and education, helping vulnerable communities and transforming lives through its Earn & Learn Initiative.

Donations received this Easter will directly fund Spring of Hope, a shelter and training centre that has provided care, counselling, and skills development to girls aged 13-19 since 2010.

Many of these young survivors were rescued by law enforcement or community outreach programmes.

The Bóthar CEO explained how at Spring of Hope, the girls receive not only healthcare, psychological counselling and training, but also gain a path to independence, dignity, and self-sufficiency.

Through Bóthar's ongoing collaboration with DMI Global Mission, the Earn & Learn Initiative ensures that profits from farming directly support the Spring of Hope programme.

O'Reilly said: "This initiative strengthens communities by combining agricultural education with economic sustainability."

Donations to Bóthar’s Easter campaign will:

help plant 30ac of essential crops such as maize, cassava, and eggplant;
grow fruit trees including mango, papaya, and cashew;
expand livestock farming of pigs, chickens, goats, and cows;
develop fish farming to enhance food security;
protect water sources to withstand droughts.

The new CEO said supporting DMI Global Mission is a crucial part of honouring past commitments and ensuring that promises made are promises kept.

According to Sister Vijili Dali, DMI Global Mission, the monsoon has started in Tanzania.

Sister Dali said: "This is the time for new planting and cultivation,

"Thank you Ireland for your continued support. Together, we are working towards the self-sustainability of the Spring of Hope programme."