Retired people who still like to keep active are being encouraged to volunteer for Ireland's largest youth organisation, Foróige.
2012 is the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity Between Generations so there has never been a better time to send out this appeal to those in Ireland who can share their life-experience with young people and by doing so make a really worthwhile contribution. Full training and support will be provided to those who put themselves forward to volunteer.
Denis O'Brien, Foróige Volunteer Development Manager explained:
"Retired people very often have valuable skills and experience from their working lives. Maybe they are good at art, drama, playing an instrument, have teaching skills or are good at organising events. We already have 5,500 people of all ages volunteering with us in many different roles. We will match each volunteer to a role that suits them.
"Foróige aims to double the number of young people it reaches by 2020 and I am asking active retired people to help us meet this ambitious target. The easiest way to make contact is by emailing us at [email protected] or you can call us on 01 630 1560."
Active Retirement Ireland (ARI) has kindly agreed to help Foróige distribute a new leaflet which encourages older people to get involved. ARI represents more than 500 active retirement associations that combined have more than 23,000 members. The leaflet is also available on Foróige's website or we can post it out on request.
Commenting on the initiative, Active Retirement Ireland CEO Maureen Kavanagh said:
"ARI is delighted to work with Foróige not only to promote intergenerational solidarity between local Active Retirement Associations and Foróige groups but to live it through joint events and social opportunities."
Foróige is the leading and largest youth organisation in Ireland. The charity works with almost 64,000 young people and 5,500 adult volunteers annually, through a network of more than 600 youth clubs and cafés and 154 targeted projects and national programmes. Founded in 1952, Foróige offers the most diverse range of volunteer programmes in Ireland.
The charity is engaged in three major ongoing programmes – Citizenship, Entrepreneurship and Leadership. Foróige also operates Garda Youth Diversion Programmes and Drug Education & Prevention Projects. There are also programmes associated with teen sexual health and well-being, teen parenting support and early school leavers.
Since the year 2000 Foróige has also been operating Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ireland (BBBS) which is an internationally proven youth mentoring programme. The concept is to match young people to caring volunteers who provide mentoring support, guidance and encouragement to assist them in their school, family, and community lives.
This is Foróige's 60th anniversary and the organisation supports young people aged between 10 and 18 to make friends and have fun in a safe environment. The young people learn how to relate well with adults and contribute to the community as they develop their own positive values, views and beliefs.
ENDS
Foróige is the leading and largest youth organisation in Ireland. The charity works with 64,000 young people and 5,500 adult volunteers annually, through a network of more than 600 youth clubs & cafés, 154 targeted projects and national programmes such as Citizenship, Entrepreneurship and Leadership.
Twitter.com/Foroige
Facebook.com/Foroige
YouTube.com/Foroigechannel
