Killian O’Kelly, a Foróige volunteer in Bundoran, Co. Donegal has won an award in the category Youth & Children at the Volunteer Ireland Awards. Killian donated his own business space to the Foróige Bundoran Neighbourhood Youth Project when there was no room for the project to operate due to budget cuts. He has also offered surfing lessons to over 30 young people every summer over the last 5 years.
Foróige’s Christmas single was recorded on Sunday 10th November at Finnstown House in Lucan. Volunteers, staff and young people arrived in their droves to participate. The song is entitled “Calling you Home for Christmas” and has an emigration theme. The song will be in aid of Foróige youth services in Tallaght and Blanchardstown. It was composed by Gavin Byrne who is a Youth Worker at Foróige’s Computer Clubhouse in Blanchardstown. The cover art was created by Richard O’Connor who is a former member of the clubhouse.
Daniel Cronin, Foróige volunteer is one of 6 finalists in the hotly contested Calor Community Champion competition. He has received thousands and thousands of votes to get him to this phase of the competition. In 2011, Daniel set up the Ballineen Foróige Club in Co. Cork and also acts as Public Relations Officer for the West Cork Foróige District. We caught up with Daniel to find out more about his volunteering experience with Foróige.
Foróige volunteer Killian O'Kelly has been shortlisted out of 100's of nominations for the Volunteer Ireland Awards. Killian has been supporting the Foroige Bundoran Neighbourhood Youth Project for 5 years now. Caroline Cooke, youth worker at the Project nominated Killian and explains why.
My name is Stephen O'Leary. I’ve been a volunteer Club Leader with Foróige for about 3 years. I started a Foróige Club in Derrinturn, Co. Kildare and we now have 25 members! We have also started a Foróige Juniors Club this year which already has 36 members. I was elected as the Kildare representative on the National Council of Foróige and I also sit on Foróige’s National Executive. Some of the Foróige volunteers, staff and young people may know me from my tattoos! These are a big talking point with the new people I met while volunteering at Foróige's Reference Panel meet up this year.
A total of €80,006.36 has been raised by Foróige volunteers, youth workers and young people in a Tesco National Bag Pack which took place on the 13th and 14th September. All funds raised will be spent on youth activities and services in the locality in which it was raised.
