The future of Youth Volunteerism, now and beyond Covid-19
12 March, 2021
Localise Youth Volunteering is officially launching our new online volunteering platform virtual.localise.ie on Friday 12 March, 2021.
This time last year most young people abruptly lost all opportunities to volunteer, to help the elderly, to work in their communities, to be of service to others and to connect to those in need. This new innovative platform was developed in response to the pandemic impacting on young people being able to volunteer and has been created to forge the future of youth volunteerism.
Community groups, primary and secondary schools will be able to access a range of resources such as instructional videos and session plans through the platform, enabling them to facilitate Localise programmes in an online blended learning format supported by Localise staff. The Virtual Youth Volunteer Programme provides young people with a real sense of purpose and connection during these challenging times and beyond.
“The platform being launched today reflects the spirit of adaptation and resilience that has been a notable characteristic of the community and voluntary sector at this time, where organisations have adopted blended approaches. Through this [Localise] platform community groups and schools will be able to access instructional videos and other supports enabling them to facilitate a Localise programme in an online blended format… online platforms such as this are crucial in reimagining how we engage with young people…I look forward to the success of this platform and hearing from young people in the future about the positive impact that youth volunteering has had on them.” – Minister Roderic O’Gorman, Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
In its pilot phase, this new platform has significantly impacted how Localise has enabled and engaged youth volunteers nationwide to give back to their local communities. In these initial stages, Localise has engaged over 1,500 young people, from all across the country, to become the next generation of diverse civic leaders by cultivating a sense of innovation, compassion and empathy, through various community action projects.
At a time where young people feel disconnected and struggling to engage with their peers and their community, Localise Youth Volunteering rose to the occasion with an online response to allow for young people to care for those in their community and to bring civic leadership into the 21st century with powerful and impactful volunteer projects.
“It is vital to give young people a sense of purpose and the opportunity to use their talents to be of service to others during these challenging times – Localise programmes ensure that young people and those in need remain connected and that the spirit of volunteerism prevails” – Derek Cleary, Localise Director.
Participants at the launch include:
- Minister Roderic O’Gorman (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)
- Localise youth volunteers who have participated in our programming
- Fionnuala Ní Chaisil, Principal of Luttrellstown Community College, Dublin 15
- Aoife Keogh, South Regional Manager of Cheshire Ireland
Localise is a national youth and community development organisation in operation since 1972. Localise awakens a culture of volunteerism by enabling young people aged 11 to 25 to carry out local grassroots volunteer projects in the service of others. The development of virtual.localise.ie has been funded by the Capital Funding Scheme through the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
ENDS.
Derek Cleary
Director, Localise Youth Volunteering
Phone: (01) 497-9010
Mobile: (87) 699-7281
Email: [email protected]