Ruairí Gallagher
At just Ruairí 17 years of age, Ruairí has a great sense of community and an interest in volunteering, so much so that he gives up a few hours every week after school to help out in Vincent’s Living charity shop in Ballina.
Ruairí had noticed the great work being done by the shop and the different supports it offers people who are finding life a bit tough financially. He realised quickly that by supporting the shop, he too was supporting the people in his community indirectly.
From working in the shop, Ruairí has met lots of new people and really sees the value of volunteering. He says:
“It’s amazing – volunteering has given me confidence in engaging with people. It will help me achieve my silver Gaisce award, it looks great on a CV but most importantly it gives me an opportunity to give something back to my community and help people less fortunate than me.”
There is a feel-good factor to that. Ruairí enjoys volunteering and would encourage other young people to get involved in their local communities/charities.