Conor volunteered from September 2024 until September 2025 with the Normal - Mental Wellbeing organisation. The project focused on strengthening mental health awareness, education and empowerment for young people aged 15-25 across Ireland, particularly within underserved rural communities.
🎤 What has been the most memorable or impactful moment from your volunteering experience — something you will never forget?
"During the project, there was a period in which I delivered in-person workshops on consecutive Mondays over several weeks. Each Tuesday, as I returned to my role as a software engineer, I did so with a growing sense of heaviness, aware that the most meaningful and fulfilling work I was doing lay elsewhere. Feedback from school and college staff, as well as audience members, consistently encouraged me to pursue this work on a full-time basis.
Following my return from a European Solidarity Corps meet-up in Helsinki, I made the decision to prioritise my passion and commit fully to working in mental health. As a result of this personal turning point, I am now a full-time mental health public speaker and will commence a PhD in September 2026. While this decision was frightening at first, it is one I will cherish for the rest of my life."
🎤 What type of impact did your engagement have on the local community where you were active?
"Our work had a meaningful and lasting impact on the local communities involved, particularly among young people and the educators who support them. One anonymous piece of feedback captured the depth of this impact, stating: “If you have a list of people whom you have helped from the brink of suicide, you can add me to that list. Keep doing what you're doing.”
Teachers and school staff consistently reported observing positive changes in students following the talks, including increased openness and greater willingness to seek support. Feedback surveys from participants highlighted clear behavioural changes, such as improving sleep routines, adopting practical stress management strategies, and developing healthier daily habits.
Both in-person and online feedback repeatedly emphasised appreciation for our personal and authentic approach used throughout the project, particularly the use of anecdotal story-telling to communicate mental health concepts in a relatable and accessible way."
🎤 How has volunteering contributed to your personal growth, professional development, or overall outlook on life?
"My volunteering journey has had a profound impact on all of the above! Through this work, I have developed a deeper sense of purpose and clarity around what meaningful work looks like for me. Engaging directly with young people and communities has strengthened my empathy, communication skills, and ability to speak with honesty and vulnerability, qualities that now underpin both my professional practice and personal values.
Volunteering challenged me to step outside my comfort zone, reflect critically on my own experiences, and use them responsibly to support others. It also reshaped my career trajectory, giving me the confidence to prioritise impact over security and to pursue work aligned with my values. Most importantly, this journey has reframed how I view success, shifting my focus from traditional professional milestones to long-term social contribution, human connection, and lived impact. Volunteering has not only influenced what I do, but who I am and how I approach life, work, and responsibility."
🎤 Why do you believe volunteering is important?
"Volunteering creates meaningful human connection and addresses real needs that often go unmet within formal systems. Through my own experience, I have seen how volunteering can translate empathy into action, turning lived experience into support, reassurance, and hope for others. Volunteering allows individuals to contribute in ways that are deeply personal and contextually relevant, often reaching people who may feel overlooked or disconnected. It also fosters mutual growth, offering those who volunteer the opportunity to develop self-awareness, purpose, and a stronger sense of social responsibility.
Beyond individual impact, volunteering strengthens communities by building trust, reducing isolation, and encouraging open dialogue around difficult issues such as mental health. It plays a vital role in prevention as well as support, helping people access knowledge, coping strategies, and pathways to help before they reach crisis point. Ultimately, volunteering is important because it reminds us that positive change does not always require large institutions or resources, but rather committed individuals willing to give their time, skills, and compassion to improve the lives of others."
🎤 What is your birthday wish for the 30th anniversary of EU supported volunteering, and for the next 30 years to come?
"My birthday wish is that EU supported volunteering continues to be recognised as a vital force for social change, particularly in areas such as mental health, where human connection is essential. For the next 30 years, I hope volunteering remains accessible, inclusive, and well supported, empowering individuals to turn lived experience into meaningful action. Most importantly, I wish for a future where volunteering not only fills gaps in society, but helps reshape systems through empathy, openness, and long-term community impact."
Updated on Tuesday, 14/04/2026
