I volunteer at the Aviva Vaccination centre. Greeting those getting vaccinated and helping them along their path to vaccination. I got involved because I think this is an important moment in time. This vaccination means we are moving forward from a long stagnate, pandemic of a year. I am also receiving covid-19 payments since I, being a chef, have been out of a job since March 2020, when the restaurants closed down.The Irish government and population have been paying me and I thought they deserved to be paid back with helping get the society back on its feet so I can get back in the kitchen!
It surprises me how much enthusiasm and excitement is in the Aviva atmosphere, it’s almost feeling like we all won the lottery with having a vaccine so fast and getting people vaccinated as fast as possible.
I enjoy the staff (volunteers, vaccinators, security, HSE, building staff) and their vivacity for getting things done and keeping spirits high! My least enjoyed element of this role has to be seeing those that are truly nervous about needles.- Meghan S.
Volunteering at the AVIVA STADIUM for the pandemic vaccinations programme has helped me progress with my social skills and given me an understanding of how to deal with people in distress by keeping calm being polite. Volunteering gives me an amazing boost to my confidence. I am also impressed that the majority of the people getting vaccinations are so brave and courageous.
Growing up, my family contributed to the welfare of the local community in my hometown. I started volunteering as I travelled over the years and it has been a great way to connect to the culture and the local community.
I am a mental health therapist and I am passionate about providing accessible mental health support to those in need. What has surprised me is the therapeutic impact volunteering has on my own mental health.As an expat, volunteering helps me to utilize my skills in a way which is meaningful and gives me a sense of belonging in the community I live in.
I would definitely recommend volunteering because of how much I have grown as a person and the amount of opportunities it has opened up for me. – Gauthami D.
I grew up seeing my parents involved in volunteering. My dad would bring me as a kid to some of his volunteering gigs in Brazil, so it was always present in my life.
When I got a chance to volunteer at the Aviva Vaccination centre, I saw an opportunity to contribute my time to this great cause. So many front-line professionals have been working extremely hard to get us out of this pandemic, so why not to do my part?
Volunteering help me see the world from a different perspective, a type of lens that shows you that is not all about money. It gives me a sense of a mission accomplished that sometimes is hard to get even from our professional jobs. Besides that, it’s a great opportunity to meet different people, from different backgrounds and listen to their personal journeys, always so unique. – Sueellen M.
When I saw the call for volunteers to help in the roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccine at the Aviva, I applied straight away. After a year of working from home and not being able to do very much to support others in the pandemic, I saw this as a perfect chance to give something back to the community which has helped me so much since I moved to Dublin three years ago.
Volunteering has far exceeded any expectations I had. First off, the atmosphere in the Aviva is so upbeat, warm and welcoming which I would like to think helps people feel more comfortable when getting their vaccine (let’s face it – nobody likes needles!). Meeting and speaking to the public is the best part of the volunteer’s shift – people have been so patient and friendly. This is followed closely by meeting and talking to fellow volunteers. I have been so surprised by the rich diversity of volunteers helping out – and have absolutely loved meeting people from an incredible range of nationalities and professional backgrounds.
It’s been an awful year for everyone and being a part of the vaccine efforts, which will hopefully ease the transition back into “normality” is a wonderful feeling! – Laura S.
