Called to Care Living Mission Every day - Karen - Flipbook - Page 10
Purpose & Potential: Apprenticeship with purpose, potential and lasting impact
Young Hearts, Big Impact
Cat Scanlon, Youth & Community Coordinator, with
Localise Youth Volunteering, advises Mission Matters how
nine years of volunteers have brought kindness, connection
and community to the Mater
S
ince 2017, Localise Youth
Volunteers and the Mission
Office at the Mater Hospital
have built a unique partnership rooted
in compassion, service and
community. What began with sixthclass students from St. Catherine's
Primary School, Cabra, performing
Christmas carols and delivering
festive care packages to patients and
staff has now grown into more than 50
volunteer projects that have enriched
the lives of everyone involved.
The shared mission of Localise and
the Mater Hospital is simple but
powerful: to encourage young people
to serve others while developing
empathy, confidence, leadership and a
lifelong commitment to community.
In return, the patients, staff and
families of the Mater inspire these
young volunteers, creating
experiences that remain with them
long after each visit.
Over the past nine years, schools and
community groups from across
Dublin's north inner city have made
the Mater Hospital a place of
celebration, kindness and connection.
Students from St. Catherine's Primary
School, St. Declan's College, Beneavin
De La Salle College and Larkin
Community College, together with the
Ballyrunners in Ballymun, have
organised countless projects that have
brought smiles to patients and
appreciation to staff.
A particularly meaningful part of the
partnership has been the
intergenerational projects with the
Leo Street Elderly Day Care Centre.
These initiatives have brought young
people and older adults together
through music, conversation,
storytelling, art and shared
celebrations, creating friendships
across generations and reminding
everyone that volunteering is as much
about building relationships as it is
about providing service.
The partnership has also welcomed
international volunteers through
Localise's annual service programmes.
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