Foróige has been a huge part of my life for over a decade now, frst as a member and now as a volunteer. I couldn’t imagine my life without it. I was 10 when I got involved in our local Neighbourhood Youth Project (NYP) in Carrick-on- Suir. My parents passed away when I was fve and I was the only girl in the family so everyone at the NYP became almost like a surrogate extended family. Even today, I know that I can go down to the Youth Café and talk to the staff and other volunteers about anything.

I was painfully shy and had no confdence in myself at all, but being part of the NYP helped me to come out of my shell and get involved in all sorts of programmes, mixing with different people. From a young age I also suffered from severe arthritis which made things even harder for me – but again, everyone at Foróige helped me to deal with it and they were there if I was ever feeling down. Even taking part in the different activities helped, as the aim was to just get involved rather than be the best.

At 16, I trained as a junior volunteer and supported the Foróige staff in summer and holiday programmes, homework clubs and fundraising activities. I also went on to complete the Albert Schweitzer Leadership for Life Programme in 2009. The following year I worked as a volunteer on the programme and it was one of the best experiences of my life.

Being involved in Foróige helped me change from being the person who would sit in the corner hoping no-one would notice me to being a person who got involved and wasn’t afraid of any of life’s challenges. It also helped me gain confdence and to believe in myself. I wanted to give back to others what Foróige has given to me – and that’s why I now volunteer.

Ian is involved in one of the groups I volunteer with. He’s an amazing young lad. He loves playing Wii and we sit and play together, have fun and talk. He’s 12 now and he loves being a part of the NYP and is the frst in the door every day. He likes the time he gets with the volunteers at the beginning of group before everyone else arrives and he knows he can talk to us about anything. He throws himself into every project we do. Ian is a lot different than I was at that age, but that’s what Foróige was and is still all about for me – meeting all sorts of different types of people and connecting with them.

Ian is hoping to take part in the Citizenship and Leadership Programmes this year and will hopefully one day become a junior volunteer with the project, like his older sister Stephanie – and like me.