VOLUNTEERING
Volunteering is of enormous value to society. It helps people fulfil their potential while contributing positively to social, economic or environmental change. People volunteer for many reasons. Some people want to gain work experience, acquire new skills and expand their network of contacts while others want to give back something to their community by donating professional skills etc.
While providing a valuable service to the community, volunteering is also a great way to explore career options. It also is a way to travel abroad and experience life in another country. See skills employers seek.
You can also find information on both long and short term volunteering opportunities in Ireland and òverseas in the Careers Information Library section of the Career Development Centre.
Organisations with Volunteering Opportunities
- Actionaid - is a partnership between people in rich and poor countires dedicated to ending poverty and injustice.
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Azafady is a UK charity and NGO which works in response to local communities expressing needs on sustainable development projects in Madagascar.
- Barretstown Camp - rebuilds the lives of children affected by childhood cancer and their families. The children, from 7 to 17, come from Ireland and across Europe to take part in activities such as canoeing, high ropes, drama and arts and crafts. Volunteers, Chaperones and Interpreters stay on site during camp. Food and accommodation is provided. Volunteers must be 18 years of age or over.
- Camara - a volunteer organisation that uses technology to improve education in Africa.
- Dance 4 Life - HIV and Aids Awareness / Sex Education Youth Group.
- Dochas - website hosting various volunteering posts in Ireland
- EIL Intercultural Learning - an Irish not for profit organisation which promotes intercultural learning through a range of cultural, educational and volunteering activities.
- Friends of the Elderly - where service to the elderly begins by being a friend.
They are a volunteer based non-profit organization whose sole mission is to alleviate loneliness and isolation among the elderly. - Focus Ireland - aims to advance the right of people-out-of-home to live in a place they call home through quality services, research, and advocacy
- Gorta - working for a world free from the injustices of chronic hunger, poverty and disease, having special regard for the plight of children and the empowerment of women.
- Habitat for Humanity - sends volunteers on short term placements to help local families build homes in over 100 countries.
- Haven - an Irish non-governmental, non-political, non-religious organisation working to build sustainable communities, through the provision of housing, and emergency relief and by implementing community development programmes in Haiti.
- i-to-i Ireland - gap year travel, volunteer abroad opportunities, TEFL Courses, work abroad as well as alternative spring breaks and internships overseas.
- ISPCC - The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC) is Ireland’s oldest and most well-known children’s charity. The ISPCC has a long, proud history of service delivery and advocacy on behalf of children.
- The Irish Cancer Society - a national charity dedicated to preventing cancer, saving lives from cancer and improving the quality of life.
- Medecins San Frontieres - an independent humanitarian medical aid agency committed to two objectives: providing medical aid wherever needed, regardless of race, religion, politics or sex.
- The NCCPE - providing ideas and inspiration for new volunteering projects and new ways of working.
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Our Lady's Hospice - offering respite, rehabilitation and reassurance.
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Progressio Ireland - an international development organisation working for sustainable development and the eradication of poverty.
- Skillshare International - working for sustainable development in Africa and Asia by sharing skills.
- Special Olympics Ireland - a year round sports training and competition program for children and adults with a learning and/or intellectual disability.
- Stepping Stone - helping people who have experienced homelessness.
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Suas Volunteering - dedicated to supporting education in the developing world by partnering sustainable community run educational projects.
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Sunbeam House Services - services for people with intellectual disabilities.
- UCD New ERA - facilitates students who have the ability to benefit and succeed in higher education to access reserved places in UCD.
- UCD Volunteers Overseas - actively involved in fundraising, awareness raising and motivating students to get involved in voluntary work overseas.
- UCD Rove - The purpose of UCD's Recognition of Voluntary Engagement (Rove) awards programme is to acknowledge the voluntary contribution of UCD students to community life, both on and off campus. Any student who volunteered for a minimum of 10 hours in the calendar year is eligible to apply for this award.
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Viatores Christi - an Irish Catholic lay volunteer missionary association, founded in 1960, which recruits, trains and places people in areas of need.
- Voluntary Service International (VSI) is the Irish branch of Service Civil International, a worldwide peace movement that began in 1920.
- Volunteer Centres in Ireland - a comprehensive list of centres located in each county.
- Voluntary Service Overseas - a leading development charity that sends volunteers to work abroad with full financial support.
Further Information
We also suggest you do follow-up research for volunteering abroad programmes online e.g. www.volunteersdirect.co.za
Books relating to Voluntary Work in the Careers Information Library
- Working For a Better World – A Guide to Volunteering in Global Development, Comhlamh
- Worldwide Volunteering, How To Books
- International Voluntary Work, Victoria Pybus