Fionnán Fitzgerald shares his volunteering story as part of our National Volunteering Week 2016 #NVW2016 Consider Volunteering Campaign.
SIGNING up to sacrifice hours of your precious free time for the greater good is unlikely to get most people queuing up to volunteer, but what most potential volunteers don’t realise is just how much fun it can be. For Fionnán Fitzgerald it’s the craic and camaraderie that are key to a good volunteering experience.
A secondary school teacher , Fionnán first got involved in volunteering when a Community Alert scheme was set up in Ballymacelligott after an attack on the local Parish Priest. Overcome with a desire to do something about it, he signed up as Secretary and hasn’t looked back since- taking the lead in an innovative and hugely successful text alert system that is the envy of groups around Ireland.
“Being involved with something from the beginning gives a source or pride, and you learn as you go along and once you’ve got a supportive group behind you who understand you, you will stick at it.”
As well as Community Alert Fionnán is also secretary of Ballymac GAA: “It’s when you go down to the pitch and see the game in action or when you are in school and the lads arrive into my classroom -which can be kind of a nerve centre for Ballymac GAA- and say we won the game sir, or ask if there is any news on an upcoming game. I get a real laugh out of that.
Fionnán was recently involved, along with upwards of 90 other volunteers, in running the B Wildered event for the club: “To see the craic- three BBQs belting out burgers at full whack, and myself and two ladies doling out the tea, with three boilers on the go that kept tripping the switch. Just amazing fun of it”.
“The world, now can be an isolating place, it can be all about the text and the email but with volunteering when there is heart behind it and a bit of blood and a bit of humour thrown in – it can make a real difference.
“It’s not the be all and end all which group you get involved in or what you are doing. I never kicked a ball particularly well and here I am in the middle of GAA”.
“There is a phrase a friend of mine uses- if people can walk away feeling a little bit lighter in their foot for having met you then that’s worth it. It doesn’t matter if you are teaching them outer Mongolian. If people are benefitting from it- that appreciation will radiate back to and you’ll go home and say that was well worth it.
When volunteering it can be easy to bite off more than you can chew but for Fionnán it’s all about being upfront
“I often think there is a sense in volunteerism if you put your head above the parapet it could be blown off for making a mistake. In my experience is that would be an absolute myth. If you are honest with people – they just want to know you are about it and that you are doing your best to achieve the thing.
Another bit of advice is to take it slowly and take each little job as it comes. And don’t be afraid to take some time out for yourself.
“I’d be inclined to pick certain times of my week where I will say, I’ll do this, this and this because I have time there- then I might let it build up again for a bit. I give myself a day off or a half day. That’s the beauty of the email/ text it allows you communication at a time that suits you”.
Fionnán’s advice in four simple steps:
1.Go slow with it
2.Don’t be afraid to get involved
3.Do it for the enjoyment and what it brings to other people
4.Take each step at a time– you will get to really enjoy it as you go forward.
