I was so shy and never thought of myself as someone who could really get involved and put myself out there.

Rhiannon Kavanagh, 19, Waterford

My experience with YouthBank is something that I will never forget and has been so instrumental in my growth and development all through my teenage years.

At first, I was quite apprehensive about joining YouthBank as I wasn’t sure if it was the right type of programme for me or not. However, after my first meeting I knew straight away I would gain so many opportunities during my time there.

CONFIDENCE
YouthBank helped me build my confidence. I was so shy and never thought of myself as someone who could really get involved and put myself out there. YouthBank taught me to always strive to be a better version of myself.

It taught me to push the nerves aside and showed me that I was capable of so many things. I couldn’t be happier than I am now seeing how much I’ve grown since joining first.

GIVING BACK
One of the best parts of being a member of YouthBank was that while developing my own skill set, we also were responsible for identifying problems and making positive change in our local communities. There was no better feeling than awarding a grant to a local youth group and seeing how much of a positive impact it had on them and helped them grow and develop also.

SKILLS FOR LIFE
YouthBank taught me communication skills., interview skills, public speaking and about taking responsibility. These have all been transferable to other areas of my life. YB also gave me opportunities to constantly meet new people. I made some really good friends along the way.

JUST DO IT!
I can’t thank our YB co-ordinators enough for how much they cared about each and every one of us. They work so hard to make sure we benefit to the fullest. They should be proud of what they do.

I would encourage any young person thinking of joining YouthBank to just do it!. I can honestly say it was one of the best decisions I made and I am so happy I could be a part of such an amazing programme!