Fostering Active Citizenship through volunteering
ATD Ireland fosters active citizenship for those who spend time volunteering, doing internships or joining the team. It does this through encouraging a deepened capacity for empathy, creating spaces based on solidarity and collective action and through supporting the development of all who get involved.
ATD Ireland encourages people from all walks of life to build relationships and friendship with those with experience of poverty. These are relationships based on mutual respect and a shared vision of a world without persistent poverty and severe inequality. Those involved have the opportunity to get to know each other on more of an equal footing rather than the more common client- service provider dynamic. Getting involved in ATD Ireland’s action means seeking change collectively. This approach can shape the perspective of the volunteer in the long term.
“Upon arriving at ATD, I was immediately struck by the diversity of the people involved in the organisation: volunteers, students, interns, but most notably, people with ‘lived experience of poverty.’ Far from a model where you simply ‘help’, ATD creates a ‘space for dialogue and mutual learning’”- Anthiosse.
Breaking down barriers in this way between people, alongside an emphasis on lived experience provides new opportunities for learning and unique insights. While collectively working together for change, volunteers and activists alike can experience a change within themselves as people recognise their shared humanity and can undo any internalised misconceptions or judgements they may hold. This space also provides the opportunity to connect over shared life experiences It can help to strengthen resolve and maintain authenticity of the action by not allowing a distance to arise between the everyday reality of the volunteer and the issues and people they are working on behalf of.
ATD Ireland’s small team dynamic provides unique opportunities to get involved in numerous aspects of the work and support diverse projects and actions. This can help to demystify the work towards social change. Through this, volunteers are also supported in their own development and given space to gradually learn, share their ideas and slowly strengthen their commitment.
“The workspace is extremely collaborative, everyone’s voice is heard and everybody has something to say and contribute. Everyone is equal, and everyone is involved, the space definitely creates active citizenship”- Emma.
ATD Ireland welcomes volunteers from all walks of life and of various backgrounds and life experiences. The following reflections are from the perspective of young people who have carried out voluntary internships and student placements.
“What I have learned from ATD is what I am excited for young interns and students to learn too. Within ATD, there is something special felt and I believe its down to the many values that are upheld by the community – with the goal of making the world a better place; aiming to overcome poverty – collectively – in the long road to justice”- Niall
