“Coinníonn sé óg thú, ag obair le daoine óga!”
Fearghas volunteers with Fighting Words, an organisation that provides free programmes and mentoring in creative writing and related arts to children, young adults and adults with additional needs.
“Fearghas, an t-ainm atá orm. Bím ag tarraingt pictiúir do cheardlanna scríbhneoireacht chruthaitheach ‘Fighting Words’. Is breá liom an chraic leis na páistí scoile. Cumann siad carachtair thar a bheith spéisiúil agus tagann siad aníos le scéalta thar a bheith cruthaitheach agu beagán craiceáilte. Is é an jab a bhíonns agamsa ná pitiúir a tharraingt de na carachtair seo. Bíonn cuid de na carachtair a chumann na páistí do-chreidte agus craiceáilte! Mar shampla: Jamal agus na Hamstair Gangsters, Shunkunkle an Laoch, Breithlá Skelly Bob. Buail faoi! Bainimse an oiread sásaimh as. Faighimse níos mó amach as a bheith ag tabhairt chúnaimh ná má chuirim féin isteach ann! Tá sé an-sóisialta. Castar gach sórt duine ort. Coinníonn sé óg thú, ag obair le daoine óga! Is breá liom a bheith ag obair le páistí. Is breá liom a bheith ag tarraingt pictiúir. Ag obair go deonach le ‘Fighting Words’ bíonn deis agam an dá rud a dhéanamh!“
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“My name is Fearghas. I do illustrations for creative writing workshops for ‘Fighting Words’. I love the interaction and rapport with the school children. They come up with great characters and imaginative story lines and my job is to draw illustrations the characters they create. Some of the names and types of characters the kids come up with are amazing: Jamal and the Gangster Hamsters, Shunkunkle the Hero, Skelly Bob’s Birthday. I get more out of it than I put in! It’s very social. You meet all kinds of people. Working with children keeps you young at heart! I love working with children. I love art, doodling and cartoons. I get to do both volunteering with ‘Fighting Words’!”
This National Volunteering Week, we’re celebrating the diversity of volunteers who make Ireland what it is. No matter your age, race, abilities, or status, we honor your place in the community and the volunteering that you, uniquely, do.
Thank you to Fearghas for sharing his story. Please email [email protected] if you’d like to share yours!
