I volunteered as a coach and umpire in karate, netball and badminton, coaching both children and adults of varying abilities. As I am a sportsperson myself I understand the importance of volunteers and the vital role they play in making sporting events happen, and what volunteering brings to both local and wider communities.

I volunteered with UCD Volunteers Overseas in Haiti teaching English, Maths and French to Haitian school children. Children the world over are the same! They're all kind, naughty, cheeky, intelligent, creative, loving and great fun. It gave me a real insight into a culture I knew very little about.

I volunteered for Path To Africa in Moshi, Tanzania, where I worked on an organic farm that involved the local children. I gained confidence from traveling to Tanzania as well as a knowledge of fundraising and I learned not to take anything for granted.

I volunteered in a social and medical centre in Vietnam with the Christina Noble Children's Foundation. I was working with sick and socially deprived children. Since returning from Vietnam I still support CNCF and currently am involved in other community volunteer projects such as REACH Programme RCSI.

I volunteered as a carpentry trainer in a small town in rural Zambia. I gained fantastic personal experience from teaching in the workshops. The students had a real appetite for knowledge. They were constantly pushing things forward, learning from projects they worked on and questioning the decisions they made with regard to their own products.

I volunteered with the Access Office as a student mentor. My role was to help first years with the many questions they stumble upon and may not have the courage to speak out loud in a lecture theatre or may not know where to go for advice. I have helped create a great environment for the new first years.

I volunteered with St. Joseph's Foundation in Charleville. I was responsible for the growth and development of the children with Autism helping them relax and socialise through water based activities.

I volunteered with the sick and the disabled who travelled to Lourdes from the Meath diocese. My main role was to help transport the sick from the hospital to the church every day.

I volunteered as an Information Officer in Citizens Information Office. I've provided translations in Latvian and Russian regarding social and civic rights. I always wanted to be helpful to people. This role gave me opportunity to contribute towards society.

I volunteered as a radio presenter with South Tipperary General Hospital Radio in Clonmel. We broadcast on 93.7FM and over the internet to the patients and staff of the hospital. I present my own show on Saturday mornings live from 10am until 12pm. I've been there for just over two years and I really love it.

I volunteered with Chrysalis Community Drug Project and have provided harm reduction materials and information to street based sex workers. Sex workers can be marginalised and dehumanised and I am strongly committed to breaking down these misrepresentations. I have learned a lot about myself, my strengths and weaknesses, my prejudices and a lot about communication.

I volunteered by visiting the elderly in nursing homes and providing them with some company and good fun. My interest in volunteering started as a child when I spent my holidays with my grandfather who was very kind and loving. I think that volunteering is good for everyone, apart from fun, you discover that you are using your time to great benefit.

I volunteered with the Creative Crew Club and Foróige in Sligo, helping young people to express themselves through fun, creative and educational media. I have always been interested in textiles, art, and fashion and I wanted to generate my enthusiasm and passion into a project which I hoped would develop these creative traits in other individuals.

I volunteered with the No Name! Club. It's an organisation providing a fun, safe environment where the youth of our community can gather without the pressures of drugs and alcohol. I help to organise and run events. We do lots of activities from discos to table-quizzes.

I volunteered with the GSPCA in Co. Galway which specialises in caring for and re-homing animals. My role included cleaning the cat's cages and feeding them on a weekly basis.

I volunteered with Students in Free Enterprise. We are a non-profit organisation developing sustainable community based projects which impact lives through entrepreneurship. I get a real sense of enjoyment and satisfaction from organising projects, and ensuring the day to day smooth running of the society.

I volunteered with the Careers Centre at WIT. I saw it as a great opportunity to contribute something to the college and the student population whilst also staying informed about current developments in employment.

I volunteered as Vice President of St. Vincent de Paul at DIT where I organise our events, fund raising and volunteering activities. I have gained something I never thought possible, a mentality; a mind set which constantly asks the questions: "What can I do to help? What can I do to make a difference?"

I volunteered as a Peer Support Leader at UCC. I have made the transition from secondary school to university less daunting for first years and helped them to fit into the college experience more fluidly.

I volunteered with Outreach Moldova, an organisation that works with children and young adults who have been orphaned or abandoned, and who have special needs or terminal illnesses. I would like to think that I have made an impact on the lives of the girls in the orphanage and in some way helped them to develop as individuals.