Community Connect @ DkIT

Dundalk Institute of Technology, in October, stepped up their campaign to engage with the community in Dundalk and Co Louth by opening the campus to local community groups. Local groups were invited to a Volunteer Fair on 23rd October, organised by DkIT and supported by Louth Volunteer Centre and at the same time they launched their Community Connect @ DkIT initiative.

The theme of the launch was 'Engaging People'. It brought together students, staff, community groups and policy makers to focus on how engagement and co-operation can empower individuals and enrich communities. Speakers from various backgrounds highlighted the importance of volunteering to the community and how the relationships built between volunteers and community organisations can be so beneficial to both.

The volunteer fair consisted of 23 local organisations who spent the day chatting to students about the work that they are doing and the types of volunteers that they are hoping to recruit. There was a great level of interest from the students.

While all of this was going on, the Volunteer Society were busy hosting a student led event to highlight the importance of getting involved and being an active citizen. There were a variety of events for the students to participate in, and they raised vital funds for the Irish Cancer Society and SOSAD.

It was really great to see the hard work of everyone involved paying off and the start of a great relationship between DkIT and the local community.