Over the past year, volunteers have welcomed people arriving in Ireland as international protection applicants and those seeking refuge from the Ukraine and all around the world. Now, many of these same refugees are giving back to their local communities by volunteering themselves.
Read on to hear some of their experiences:
Adeyemi volunteers with our #TogetherForBetter programme, which bring people new to Ireland together Dublin residents to volunteer:
I volunteer with Friends of the Grand Canal. We pick up litter and tidy up the areas around the canal. The group provides tools to help us clean, like bags, gloves and litter pickers- we also have drinks and snacks.
I started volunteering because I feel it’s my responsibility to support the community, and I have the time to do it. Volunteering enhances my life and gives me the opportunity to interact more fully with people in my community.
I was surprised to see so many people from different countries, black and white, young and old, who were smiling and seemed happy to do cleaning!
I would recommend volunteering to anyone because:
• Volunteering connects people from different communities.
• Volunteering is good for your mind and body.
• Volunteering can advance your career.
• It’s fun to be part of the group!
Uzoamaka is new to Ireland and is becoming part of her local community and making an impact through volunteering!
Here is Uzoamaka’s story:
“I volunteer with Clean Coasts and @BullIslandActionGroup . Volunteering is one way I can give back to my community and get involved with activities and events going on around me. The Group organisers are ever willing to answer my questions and I look forward to each meet-up. It’s an awesome experience!
I love meeting with people from diverse backgrounds and ethnicities and getting to know the community better. Volunteering has helped me to learn about my new environment, and I’ve become more comfortable in my community knowing that I’m accepted and welcome.
Volunteering is a two-way thing in the sense that as you are giving but you’re also getting it back in a different way. I have drawn a lot of inspiration and strength through volunteering.”
M’hammed talks about how Together for better helped him adapt to living in Ireland:
Together for Better was a real opportunity to meet people from different countries who are asylum seekers like me, but I also got to meet a lot of local people.
I volunteered at a community garden, and also helped create St. Patrick’s Day decorations for Balseskin reception Centre. While volunteering for Together for better,
we shared our experiences and cultures, including learning about Irish culture and integrating into the wonderful Irish society.
Together for Better is a space for us to talk about common difficulties, opportunities, stories, circumstances at home – Irish people learn about the migrant community, and we learn about Ireland!
I learned how to lead a social conversation , listen to others carefully, and try to be helpful , how to prepare decorations for St Patrick Day! 
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.I also got a big opportunity to approve my modest English.
I would advise people to get involved in volunteering as a noble contribution for community, in hard times as good times. Volunteering can help you improve yourself, your health, and your mental well-being, while making difference in other people’s lives- especially if they are struggling with their daily basic needs or loneliness.
More reasons to volunteer from the lovely Mitchell :
I’m Mitchell and I’m from Zimbabwe. I started volunteering last year at NCBI Charity shop. Volunteering has helped me a lot in terms of learning new skills such as tagging items, till operation, putting clothes in order and displaying them so that the shop will look colourful and attract customers. It also helped me to meet new people.
I learned that anyone can do volunteering and to my surprise l met some students coming from other countries to volunteer at the NCBI Charity shop and I had a great time with them. Volunteering has boosted my confidence and courage- and my English has improved too! Volunteering has taught me about Irish culture and the differences between Ireland and Zimbabwe. I learned that Irish people embrace their culture by through national festivals like music festivals. One of the most famous and popular Irish traditions is celebrating Ireland patron saint, St. Patrick.
Whether you have always lived in Ireland or are new to the country, volunteering is a good thing to do – and it can help you too! If you are looking for a job, you can gain experience and get references through volunteering. I had a great experience volunteering- give it a try! You can volunteer anytime and anyplace, you can also choose your volunteering hours and there is a lot to learn.