Issue 34: November 2001 - Youth Work Ireland

Meeting Youth NeedsChanging WorldIn this article Tom Coppinger,Chairperson of the National Councilof Foroige ... calls on Foroigeleaders and all volunteers in theyouth work sector to use theoccasion of the United NationsInternational Year of Volunteers toreflect on their work and considehow they can continue to progresstowards meeting the needsyoung people in Irish society.What makes a volunteer? Perhaps a desire to helpa worthy cause, or get involved in the localcommunity, or assist a sporting organisation, orsimply as a social outlet, or it may be a matter offollowing in a family tradition.Some people are convinced that all of us must begetting something out of our voluntary work. Theycannot believe we are doing it for nothing. In a realsense, they are right. While we are getting nothingmaterial from our voluntary work we certainly aregetting something personally rewarding. We aregetting that feeling of satisfaction that comes fromknowing we are making a difference within our localcommunity and within our society as a whole. Weare helping to enhance our local communities and toimprove the quality of life for many people.In this, the United Nations International Year ofVolunteers, voluntary action is called for more thanever to meet human needs and solve problems insociety. However, there is some evidence thatvolunteering is on the wane.Significantly, there is important evidence that menare not coming forward to volunteer in For6ige Clubsas they used to in the past. Our figures show a 10%drop over the last 10 years in the proportion of malevolunteers in For6ige. We should take theopportunity of the International Year of Volunteers torecruit more men as voluntary leaders.Personal development and community developmentare fundamental to For6ige. Our organisation'spurpose is to enable young people to involvethemselves consciously and actively in their owndevlopment and in the development of society.Their own development involves matters such asgrowing in useful knowledge and skills, growing inensitivity towards others and their needs, growingin awareness of one's strengths and weaknessesand developing a sense of one's personal dignity.Development of society involves contributingsome shape or form to the well-being of others. Thismight be improving the physical environment,fundraising for a good cause or innumerable otheractivities.Every young person has a right and an obligation tocontribute to both their personal development andthe development of their commun ity, to becomewhat they are capable of becoming and to put theirmark upon the worl d.inThey must experience thevalue of service to others and the common good.This is why we volunteer our time and our energyand this is why we need to recruit others to join us.The bonus for us personally is that it is also one ofthe means by which we put our mark upon the worldand fulfil part of our vocation in life.It is one of thereasons why we are privileged to be youth leadersand why we need to reflect on our youth work and toassess to what extent we are achieving ourfundamental purpose. Are we contributing to thecommunity? Are we helping our young peoplebecome better persons?Irish YouthWork Scene•November 2001