VOLUNTEERING Playing your part

Playing your part for the greater good


Mary Davis

CITIZENSHIP in its simplest form is about how we play an active role in our families, neighbourhoods, communities, voluntary organisations, workplaces and political structures.
In our communities we have rights and responsibilities to be active – to care for others and ourselves. Successful communities emerge where there is a sense of shared citizenship - where people have the confidence and desire to engage in community life.
My colleagues and I on the Taskforce on Active Citizenship have been working hard on reversing a statistic we identified through months of research: for every adult involved in their community, there are at least two others who are not.
There is a great deal of untapped potential in Ireland, particularly among our young people.  There are opportunities to improve the quality of life through more engagement by citizens of all ages, in shaping what happens in our neighbourhoods, communities and society as a whole and this is what national Social Inclusion/Active Citizenship Week (October 17 top October 22) is about.
Dozens of voluntary community groups and statutory organisations in Mayo are involved in making this week special and their passion and determination to make it memorable and worthwhile is the type of spirit Ireland needs. We can and must recapture the spirit of giving which Ireland is famous for.
Active Citizenship is about engagement, participation in society and valuing contributions made by individuals, young or old and whether they are employed or outside the traditional workforce.
In practical terms, this engagement and participation may mean membership of a residents’ association, political party or lobby group; volunteering in a local sports club, caring for a family member or neighbour, or simply being vocal in your local neighbourhood about the issues affecting you.
The collapse in the property markets coupled with the implosion in global and domestic banking has changed our country dramatically.
Incomes are falling while unemployment rises. Involuntary emigration has made an unwelcome return as the best hope for many of our youngest and brightest.
While the economic woes that have befallen us have been much commented upon, the social cost has been less well documented. Worry and uncertainty dominates the lives of so many of our fellow citizens.
So, what does all this mean for the concept of Active Citizenship? My starting point today is that our changed circumstances makes Active Citizenship all the more needed.
In the era of the Celtic Tiger the Taskforce identified “some concerns … about the extent of community involvement and spirit of engagement and participation because of the many different types of pressure on people today.”
The pressures we spoke of such as a lack of available time may have eased for some, only to be replaced by new ones.
I believe that the basic concepts and aims of improving participation among our citizens to be Active Citizens remain the same – but we have to rethink how we encourage and support that participation, particularly among our young people.
It is now, when people need reassurance and support, when our communities can be touchstones for inspiration, that Active Citizenship must be promoted.
Engagement with this process can lift and inspire us all. I passionately believe that Active Citizenship can create a virtuous spiral. Seeing people give generously of their time and commitment, as I have done for over 30 years in my work with Special Olympics, and seeing how this giving enriches them, encourages others to do likewise. 
The Taskforce set out to promote the concept of Active Citizenship with a view to increasing levels of participation across all sectors of society. Our changed circumstances mean we need to put increased emphasis on enlisting the continued support of the business community and philanthropy at large.
As a nation we are famous for our spirit of giving, let’s recapture that spirit this week. I hope you and your families enjoy the many events taking place in Mayo.

Mary Davis from Kiltimagh, is Chairperson of the Taskforce on Active Citizenship and Managing Director of Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia. Social Inclusion/Active Citizenship continues until October 22.  Phone 094 9047545 for a full list of events in Mayo.