Cindy Hill volunteers as an IT Tutor with Age Action
Tell us a bit about yourself? I am a 60 year old mother and grandmother, born in the USA but naturalised an Irish citizen. My husband and I have lived in Galway since 2011. My hobbies are reading, films, and volunteering! Since coming to Galway I have volunteered with Age Action Ireland (as a tutor, 6 years now), many of the major festivals (Volvo Ocean Race, Film Fleadh, Fringe, TULCA), The Galway Music Residency and Music for Galway. I enjoy growing plants and walking the Prom. We love living in the West!
When did you start volunteering ?
I began volunteering as a teenager. When my children were young we volunteered as a family at the local natural history museum. I can honestly say I have been volunteering for more than 40 years, on and off.
Why did you start to volunteer?
Giving back to the community costs nothing but time, but provides more benefits than can be described. I enjoy sharing knowledge with others because it makes me happy to know that I have given someone confidence in themselves. Volunteering gives me joy.
What
role are you currently volunteering in and can you tell us about it,
what are your duties, hours, training, how long you’ve been doing it etc
I
currently volunteer with Age Action Ireland tutoring older people in
how to use their electronic devices. Classes are held once per week, 2
hours per class, for a 5 week course series. I have been with them since
2012. I also volunteer with Music for Galway at certain musical
concerts. I also volunteer with The Galway Music Residency at certain
musical concerts, as well as their free concerts the first Tuesday of
every month. I am hoping to volunteer with the Film Fleadh this coming
July as an assistant to the woman who schedules the Film Marketplace.
What is the best thing about volunteering in your own opinion?
Volunteering gives me happiness. I like meeting people and helping them find their way around, and giving them confidence
What would you say to someone who was thinking about starting volunteer work?
I would strongly encourage them to jump in and enjoy it! I can’t say enough good things about volunteer work.