Forward Emphasis: Rooted in Community, Driven by People
Giving Back Is Part of Who We Are At Forward…
The Donegal Giving TY Pilot Programme has been a fantastic success, a shining example of how the simple idea of giving can grow into something powerful when young people are encouraged to see their own ability to make a difference.
This first pilot took place at Gairmscoil Chú Uladh, Ballinamore, in the heart of the central Gaeltacht region that stretches from Glenfin to Doochary and Glenties. Eighteen Transition Year students took part and from start to finish, their energy, creativity, and openness to learning made the programme truly special.
This year marks a significant change in the TY curriculum across Ireland, with an increased focus on Civic, Social, and Political Awareness (CSPA) – encouraging students to become active, reflective citizens who engage meaningfully in their communities.
The Donegal Giving TY Pilot aligned perfectly with this new focus, giving students a hands-on, values-based experience of civic awareness in action.
Using Donegal Giving’s Circle of Giving model, students explored how giving happens in every area of life, through business, community, education, the environment, and the self. They discovered that giving isn’t only about money or volunteering – it’s about time, kindness, skills, and care.
Students completed interactive Giving Checklists and reflection sheets, which guided them to think about how they already give at home, in school, and in their communities. Through exercises like the “Tree of Giving” and “Ripple of Giving,” they identified their own contributions and learned how small actions can have a big impact. Each week, they tracked personal acts of kindness, shared talents with others, and worked together to design mini “giving projects” based on what mattered most in their local area.
The Donegal Giving TY Programme also placed a strong emphasis on reflection – an essential skill now embedded in the new TY learning outcomes. Students journaled what surprised them, what they learned, and what they shared with others.
These reflections revealed how much the experience had shaped their confidence, empathy, and self-awareness.
“I didn’t realise how much giving I already do – helping my younger brother, or checking in on someone. It all counts.”
“It showed me that we can change things in small ways, and that it makes you feel good too.”
To continue their journey, the Gairmscoil Chú Uladh students will soon take part in a special intergenerational project – visiting a local day care centre later in November. There, they’ll engage in conversations about the art and act of giving over the years, hearing stories from older generations while sharing their own reflections.
This beautiful exchange will bring the learning full circle, connecting young and old through shared wisdom, compassion, and community spirit.
Although the future rollout of the Donegal Giving TY Programme in other schools is still being explored, there is no doubt about its value or impact. The feedback from students and teachers alike highlights a deep need – and genuine enthusiasm – for this kind of learning in schools.
By introducing the concept of giving in all its forms, Donegal Giving is helping to nurture a new generation of young people who see themselves not just as receivers of opportunity, but as givers, of time, care, creativity, and courage.
Because when young people learn to give, they learn to grow.
