Successful Volunteer Fair for DCU

Over 500 people visited the eight annual DCU Volunteer Fair, organised by DCU in the Community, with the assistance of DCU Students' Union and DCU Interfaith Centre.

The Fair offers a unique opportunity for students, staff and local residents to meet with local, national and international volunteer organisations to learn first-hand how to make a difference through volunteering.

Nearly 30 community and voluntary organisations attended the DCU Volunteer Fair,
including Make A Wish Foundation, Suas, Habitat for Humanity, Troicare, An Gaisce - The President's Award, BITE, Volunteer Ireland, as well as a number of DCU-based societies and campus projects.

Ruth Lynam, DCU Volunteer Coordinator with DCU in the Community, leading the organisation of the Fair, said: "Absolutely anyone can volunteer - there are an abundance of opportunities to suit your interests and time allowance - it's all about doing what you can! At DCU Volunteer, we believe the Fair will continue to make a significant contribution to DCU's profile as a university which promotes active citizenship and well-rounded graduates."

Visitors and stall-holders were invited to try their hand at arts, crafts and graffiti by completing a mural outside DCU Sports Hall during the day.

Professor Ronnie Munck, Head of Civic Engagement at DCU, commented during the event: "This is a really vibrant affair and shows that students and community organisations need to come together for mutual benefit. For our part we will commit to building student volunteering at DCU with an active programme of networking events and a first class online volunteer management system (www.studentvolunteer.ie ). The extent of student volunteering is an indication of the civic health of any university".

The DCU Volunteer Fair 2016 was preceded by a digital and social media campaign, coordinated by Lara Roche, Digital Communications Officer with DCU Student Volunteering, encouraging university students to get involved in local, national and international communities and find opportunities suitable to their interests, time commitment and future career.

The DCU Student Volunteering campaign can be followed on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram.

To check out recent volunteering opportunities available to DCU students, please click here.