March 2010 Student Volunteers Awarded Presidential Certificate

ALIVE Certificate Awards Ceremony Celebrates Student's Commitment to Community A record breaking 880 NUI Galway Student volunteers have been awarded the ALIVE Certificate for Volunteering in a ceremony at the University. President of NUI Galway, Dr James J. Browne and Galway City Mayor, Declan McDonnell attended the event, as well as community members, students and NUI Galway staff. Over 880 students received the ALIVE Certificate for Volunteering, congratulating each of them for their time spent volunteering within NUI Galway, the wider Galway community, and with national and international non-governmental organisations. Students have volunteered on campus within societies, clubs and student mentoring, and off campus with local youth and homework clubs, Ability West, the Gaf Youth Café, Amnesty International and Childline to name a few. "We are most grateful for diligent NUI Galway student volunteers who are always ready to help us out. They are fantastic," said Mary McGrath, Mercy Secondary School Homework Club coordinator. ALIVE - A Learning Initiative and the Volunteering Experience – was established by the Community Knowledge Initiative at NUI Galway to harness, acknowledge and support the contribution that NUI Galway students make to Galway by volunteering. To date over 2500 students have been recognised for their volunteering commitment within a variety of pathways, enabling NUI Galway to become a role model in promoting skills related to democratic participation and civic engagement amongst the student body. "Student volunteering has grown significantly each year since NUI Galway established a dedicated innovative volunteer programme to enable and encourage student and community engagement. We now have over 1300 students volunteering annually in a variety of organisations and organised events, most notable was the tremendous voluntary effort for the Volvo Ocean Race, Galway Stopover. "The ALIVE Certificate Awards Ceremony is an important opportunity to recognise students for their volunteering, instilling in them a sense civic responsibility, while acknowledging NUI Galway's community partners" said Lorraine Tansey, Student Volunteer Coordinator at NUI Galway. Special guests at the ceremony this year were 6th Class Galway Educate Together. The pupils attended a series of Computer Skills Workshops hosted by student volunteers in the JE Cairnes School of Business and Economics. "As a final year student facilitating the workshops for the pupils has been a great opportunity to enhance my experience, while the pupils learn important skills like creating presentations and posters," said student volunteer Owen Barrett, "We had loads of fun in the classroom as the facilities are interactive and I think the young people enjoyed meeting the volunteers". -Ends-