Mayo Foróige volunteers celebrated at annual Volunteer Conference in Galway

Foróige volunteers from Mayo travelled to Salthill in Galway over the weekend for the organisation's 52nd annual Volunteer Conference.

This year's conference welcomed over 220 dedicated volunteers to celebrate their significant role in youth development across the country.

The event took place from Friday, 8 November to Sunday, 10th November wherein volunteers took part in a variety of workshops and group discussions designed to foster collaboration and idea-sharing.

Volunteers were also given the opportunity to listen to and connect with speakers, such as psychologist Shane Martin, in order to explore new ways to enhance their work across communities and share stories of how volunteering has impacted their lives.

READ NEXT: Canadian woman visits Westport after her message in a bottle is discovered on local beach

Psychologist Shane Martin was the keynote speaker at this year's conference and discussed the resilient nature of volunteer work. Martin said: "Empowering volunteers not only enhances their well-being but also enriches the lives of the young people they interact with."

Praising the important work done by Foróige volunteers, he said: "The impact of dedicated volunteers on young people is immeasurable."

The conference served as an opportunity for the organisation to show its gratitude towards its volunteers and to encourage and inspire them to continue in their incredible efforts to help young people.

Chairperson of Foróige, Odhrán O'Mahony opened the conference, saying: "Each of you plays a crucial role in shaping young people’s lives. Your dedication and passion are what make Foróige a pillar of strength in communities throughout Ireland."

Regarding the future of the organisation, O'Mahony added:"Foróige aims to ensure that every young person who wishes to engage in youth work has the opportunity to do so. Our vision is to have flourishing Foróige clubs and projects in every county, attracting and retaining passionate volunteers to continue our mission."

This year marks Foróige's 72nd year of service, now with over 4,500 volunteers across 450 clubs and 180 projects and programmes.

Initiatives such as Leadership for Life, Be Healthy Be Happy, Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE), and Big Brother Big Sister engage over 50,000 young people each year, empowering them to take responsibility for their futures.