New website aims to get college students involved in volunteer activities

Some Irish students are figting back the 'lazy and drunken' sterotypes in a new initiative that matches their interests with volunteering oportunities.

Every year students from universities and institues across the country contribute more the 100,000 hours of volunteering for good causes.

StudentVolunteer.ie is a brand new online resource which sets students up with opportunities to volunteer in areas where they would have an interest.

It is the first student portal of its kind and aims to enhance students' awareness of their roles and responsibilities when it comes to fighting homelessness, social exclusion and helping members of our aging population.

“The voluntary work that I have completed over the past year with the UCC Cancer Society has taught me a number of things which I believe will be helpful in the future," says Aine McGrath a student in BA Early Childhood Studies in UCC.

"Being able to work well with people, both in a team and in a client relationship, will be very useful in my career as I work with other people to make a positive change in communities and within families.”

We are delighted to have launched nationally this week with our ten colleges across Ireland, in line with #IVD2016 https://t.co/feJ5G8nblx pic.twitter.com/b7AJ9Mmzwl

— StudentVolunteer.ie (@StudentVol_IE) December 7, 2016

The portal is open to over 100,800 students across all higher education institutions across the country as well as 8,000 registered Civil Society Organisations.

Charities such as Barnardos, TeenLine, Special Olympics Ireland, and Habitat for Humanity will benefit greatly from this new initiative, the likes of which rely heavily on student volunteers.

“Habitat for Humanity Ireland is delighted to be involved with the launch of Studentvolunteer.ie," says Clare Cullen, programme support officer with Habitat for Humanity Ireland.

"It is a great platform on which to introduce our work to third level students, as well as a brilliant way to encourage volunteerism and active citizenship in general."

Students! @Barretstown are looking for volunteer Caras and Interpreters for their Spring and Summer camps, apply: https://t.co/r3IXWHndOI pic.twitter.com/Bu8bcypV8O

— StudentVolunteer.ie (@StudentVol_IE) December 6, 2016

Students from @ITTVolunteer sleeping out tonight for @PMVTrust- you can donate to them here https://t.co/Ez8BeFLVIy, best of luck! pic.twitter.com/51E4tAo4eJ

— StudentVolunteer.ie (@StudentVol_IE) December 5, 2016

For more information go to StudentVolunteer.ie