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[ Home » What We Do » Mv Views Of Young People.php ]

Views of Young People on Millennium Volunteers

Volunteer Role: Volunteer with Newry and Mourne Volunteer Centre

My name is Teresa Stewart, I am 23 years old and a registered volunteer with Newry and Mourne Volunteer Centre. I started volunteering last November after realising it would be a great way to make use of my skills and interests.

I graduated from the University of Ulster last year with a Degree in Drama and was initially interested in finding some work in this area because I found it difficult to gain employment without having any actual practical working experience. However, after discussing my skills and interests, I was offered a range of placements that were available.

Since then I have helped facilitate some drama workshops in my local community for kids. I have also assisted on two photography programmes for adults with learning disabilities where the participants' photographs from the first group were entered into a competition, resulting in a few winners. The second group will be holding an Exhibition in September.

From February to May, I volunteered in the office of the Special Olympics Newry Committee working on office administration and PR tasks to help raise finance to send a team of Athletes to China in October for the world games.

I am a member of Shopmobility Newry Management Committee and volunteer on a weekly basis in their office based in the Buttercrane Shopping Centre, offering administrative assistance. To date we have published two editions of a Newsletter which I helped write and design.

I also work permanently on producing a monthly Newsletter called "The Voyce" for all the young Millennium Volunteers who are registered with the Newry and Mourne Volunteer Centre.

In such a short period of time I think I have done quite a bit of work but I love it because volunteering allows you the freedom to pick a working environment that suits you and to choose the level of time commitment that you can give. It has helped me gain new friends and invaluable contact with potential future employers - in fact I recently went for my first job interview which I know I wouldn't have got if it had not have been for the work I had done through volunteering ... I would definitely recommend it to anyone!

 

Volunteer Role: Volunteer leader with Headliners

Gavin has been involved in creating and producing a young people's magazine called "Off the Walls". This provides information for young people within the L'Derry area and gives them ideas on how to be creative with their time during the summer holidays. Gavin will also be speaking about various topics on BBC Newsline Blast over the summer period. These topics include; Young Immigrants coming to L'Derry, Young Referees in the Foyle Cup, Attention Seeking Behaviour and Bebo.

Gavin's volunteer work has also involved doing radio shows on Inishowen
Community Radio (ICR) in the hope that this will give the young people within the community a voice. Gavin will also be travelling to Brathay in the Lake District in August to take part in Peer training.

Gavin describes his volunteer role as, "Giving your time to help and guide others" and believes that "Volunteering is an uplifting experience".

 

Volunteer Role: Peer facilitator with Headliners

Sharmin has given up her free time and participated in various projects which include "When Cultures Meet". This project involved working with ethnic minorities and producing photographs to show the importance of meeting and learning about other people's cultures and lives. She is currently involved in making a DVD titled; "Citizens on Line" which will be used to promote the work of Headliners for National Youth Day.

Sharmin says that she volunteers so as, "To learn new skills and pass them on ... It's good to give something back when working with others."