Scroll down this page to see the work experience and student placement information.

Volunteers play an integral part in the work of the Red Ribbon Project. We welcome volunteer applications from anybody who is interested in working with our project. All of our volunteers are expected to complete training relevant to the area of work they will be doing.

Over the years the Red Ribbon Project has benefit from the help and support of a number of different volunteers. This support has included everything from covering reception duties, putting our stickers on condoms to bucket collection on Irish AIDS day and World AIDS day. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer please contact the Red Ribbon Project.

To all our previous and current volunteers, THANK YOU.

 

Current Volunteer Feedback

 I started my volunteer training programme with the Red Ribbon Project (RRP) in September 2008. During my training, I observed that the facilitators of the training were not only abreast with mainstream youth culture (the language and culture of sexual expressions) but were very honest about the challenges of their work.

I was shocked, relieved and inspired by their passion and sense of responsibility.

Working as a volunteer receptionist for a few weeks, I noticed that the Red Ribbon Project are a person centred organisation. Their clients come first. They are a very professional, well structured and effectively ran project with a hands on, knee deep and contemporary approach towards sex education, counselling and person to person interaction. Respect for the client, the work and each other is key in the RRP.

As a volunteer, I was trained and supervised adequately to carry out my duties.

I came to the Red Ribbon Projection burning with a passion to work, but I have learnt from them, the value of service.

Work Experience Placements

Anyone can apply for work experience with the Red Ribbon Project. We welcome the opportunity to support and empower the development of all students from transition year to third level students. We have a Work Experience Policy which clearly tells you everything you would need to do in order to apply for a student placement with us. 

Work Experience Reflections

‘So, can I please do my work experience in the Red Ribbon project?’ I asked, flashing my sweetest smile for my principal, who looked at me unsurely over her copy of the Red Ribbon Project Policy. She put it down on her desk, looking defeated.

‘Okay Megan, on one condition’

‘Yay! Okay what’s that?’

‘You’re not to do anything inappropriate’ she told me warningly.

‘Of course not Mrs!’

Having chosen the Red Ribbon Project as my Transition Year work experience placement and finally being granted permission from my rural Catholic school, I was unsure what to expect. The reason I choose Red Ribbon was fairly simple- I want to become a Gender Identity Disorder Specialist and a place such as the project is the only place I can think of that is suitable and would have any information, contacts and communication with transgendered individuals.

Like my previous placement in Foróige, I thought that in the Red Ribbon Project I would be unable to offer anything unique or learn any news skills as such, but observe the work completed there and pick up some information about that kind of work. I was eager to find out what I could encounter, what the staff might be able to advise me about my future and what information I might find out along the way. If I was sitting down observing all day, or rushing around doing the cleaning it made no difference to me, just getting the chance to meet new people and gain insight into the work they did was valuable enough for me.

I am on my last day at this stage and I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I got to complete worthwhile tasks and the staff challenged my thinking, expanded my knowledge and actively worked so I could learn more about my area of interest. I think my week here has been invaluable in terms of personal growth.

The most important question presented to me during my week here was why I wanted to become a Gender Identity Disorder Specialist. At the beginning I found it easy to answer- I was writing a book and a character named Levi appeared in my head, as the love interest of a main character. Biologically male his drastic despair struck me instantly. I cannot remember ever hearing about GID before this point, but as I learned more about my character and started to research the symptoms I was completely drawn into Levi’s world and the whole area of Gender Identity Disorder. It was as simple as that for me.

I cannot say I have completely worked out my interest but here is what I have been able to establish since it was presented to me. I feel great compassion for GID sufferers and I feel intrigued by their strength and story. For some reason, however inaccurate and especially with MTF (male to female) transgendered women, they seem awe-filled and have been reborn. Rebirth is phenomenal, it rarely occurs. The despair before being able to identify as the correct gender is almost soul-destroying. When something as fundamental as gender is completely wrong there are few to turn to who can accept and help. Of all disorders, I can think of few more tormenting, with fewer places to turn to, fewer people to understand and fewer qualified to begin the transformation that some people need to save their lives. It’s the idea of bringing an individuals beauty from darkness and setting them free that appeals to me. Rebirth and freedom and beauty…. 

Megan Cleary -Transition Year Placement 2010