SpunOut.ie Blog
July, 2006
Virtual volunteering
A SpunOut.ie youth editor talks about volunteering.
Volunteering: It’s fantastic. At least that’s what the brochures have told me. And despite the numerous suggestions that the youth of the country are apathetic, disinterested creatures when it comes to work of any kind, there is in fact a rich and healthy vein of young volunteers around the country, working in every conceivable sphere from charity organisations to youth media websites…
First taste for volunteering
My own involvement in volunteering started with me being volunteered. I was in fourth year at school when my Life Skills teacher drafted me and two other boys in my class to a high-security prison in Hanoi for a crime we didn’t commit.
Sorry, drafted us to work for the second incarnation of the North Western Health Board’s hugely successful school journal project. The journal, entitled “J2”, was largely a development of the original; bringing it up to date, and adding and editing different little bits.
Armed with experienced health board professionals, enthusiastic if not a little groggy producers (we did the great deal of our work on a Saturday morning) and a delightfully skewed gender imbalance (7 boys, 11 girls), the journal’s main success was the way in which it blended seriousness and levity, with matters like parental separation, homelessness, alcohol and drugs, while also leaving room for more light hearted segments like personality tests, horoscopes and the like.
It was this recipe that would set the template for future Health Board projects in youth media, and it was one of these projects that have kept me volunteering happily ever since.
Virtual Volunteering with SpunOut.ie
In the summer of 2004, my attendance at a visit of Ombudsman for Children, Emily Logan to Letterkenny prompted a meeting with Ruairi McKiernan, who was in the early stages of setting up the website we know and love today as SpunOut.ie.
I was there to sell the raison d’etre contained in the school journal to the Ombudsman, and it was after this that Ruairi and I got talking about the ideas behind SpunOut.ie and he asked me if I wanted to be involved. Needless to say, I pounced on the offer like I was a lion being commentated on by Richard Attenborough.
Now as I approach my two-year anniversary with SpunOut.ie, I look back on it and I’m extremely proud of my body of work. In fact, everyone who volunteers for an extended period of time feels exactly the same way. It really is a great feeling to know that you’ve made some difference or made an effect, and SpunOut.ie gives the many people involved that feeling on a regular basis.
And of course, volunteering for a website like this gives you multiple different creative outlets, from writing, designing, photography, video-making, the list is endless, really…
Volunteering might not be for everyone, but for anyone with any more than a passing interest in a certain subject, be that media or otherwise, volunteering, however regularly or irregularly you do it, is completely worth it, for the experience, the satisfaction you get from doing it, and the people you meet. Seriously, give it a shot…
Who can get involved with SpunOut.ie?
All young people aged between 16 and 25. You’re not expected to be a computer genius, amazing artist or A-grade english student- at SpunOut.ie, everybody can get involved.
What does virtual volunteering with SpunOut.ie mean?
SpunOut.ie is youth led media, which means that young people direct the development of the website and create their own media.
Young people are involved on our advisory panel, as editors, designers and programmers and as part of a growing panel of writers, photographers, artists, moderators, film makers and promoters.
Getting involved can mean telling us what you think of SpunOut.ie, writing, sending in artwork or photographs, interviewing people, taking part in SpunOut.ie competitions, having your say on the discussion boards, promoting the website and much more. Your level of involvement is up to you- there’s no pressure or expectations!
By: Patrick Duffy- Volunteer editor for SpunOut.ie.
SpunOut.ie Suicide Awareness
Our mini-documentary on mental health, suicide and sexuality.
We're proud to present to you our short mini-documentary aimed at increasing awareness around mental health, suicide and sexuality, which are all massive issues in today's Ireland.
The documentary was developed by young film maker, James Gavigan from Ballyshannon and was recently showcased at the National Suicide Forum, which was attended by President McAleese amongst others.
The footage features an interview with 22 year old Ian Howley, who is the President of the Letterkenny I.T. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Society and documents his own journey from several suicide attempts to healing and growth.
Please be aware that some viewers may find this video upsetting.
>Download
(Windows Media Format, 3.5MB..other formats and videos coming soon...)
Info on mental health and suicide
Info on sexuality
See the help section for contacts details of support organisations.
