Forward Emphasis: Rooted in Community, Driven by People
Giving Back Is Part of Who We Are At Forward…
Donegal Giving has proudly completed its first ever Transition Year pilot programme at Donegal ETB school Gairmscoil Chú Uladh, marking a major milestone in its mission to build on a culture of kindness, connection, and community across Donegal.
The programme, created and delivered by Evelyn Mc Glynn, founder of Donegal Giving, was designed to help students understand that giving doesn’t need to take the form of grand gestures. Instead, it explored how small, everyday acts can make a real difference in families, schools, friendships, and communities. Throughout the programme, students worked through a specially designed workbook which encouraged them to identify the ways they already give, reflect on the importance of kindness, and take on a giving challenge at home, in school, and among friends.
This TY milestone follows the hugely successful launch of Donegal Giving at An Grianán Theatre earlier this month, where almost 300 people gathered to celebrate and champion the rich culture of giving that already thrives across Donegal. The launch received national attention, with website visitors logging in from around the world and community groups, schools, families, and businesses attending on the day. The positive energy from the event continues to ripple out across the county, inspiring new collaborations and confirming that Donegal is already a great county of giving and ready to build an even stronger culture of kindness for the future.
As part of their project, the TY students visited the Cloghan Day Care Centre, spending time with seniors in a warm, intergenerational exchange. Young and old chatted, played cards and music, shared stories, and swapped knowledge and life experiences. The visit was filled with laughter, learning, and genuine connection, showing students first-hand that giving time and attention can be one of the most meaningful gifts.
To celebrate the completion of the pilot, Evelyn returned to the school with Chantelle Grant, Manager of Century Cinemas. Together, they presented certificates to all participating students in recognition of their effort and commitment.
Chantelle also brought goody boxes and cinema admission tickets for every student who took part. In the spirit of Donegal Giving, she included extra tickets for students to pass on to someone else, encouraging them to continue their giving journey beyond the classroom. The students presented Evelyn and Donegal Giving with a framed piece of artwork they created in their art class as a thank you for all the opportunities they had been given through the programme.
Teacher Mr. Sean Ferry congratulated the students for embracing the project wholeheartedly and shared his appreciation for the chance to participate. He said the class had grown from the experience and thanked Donegal Giving for selecting Gairmscoil Chú Uladh for the first pilot programme. He noted that important seeds had been planted, giving students a new understanding of giving and how it will shape their lives for years to come.
Following the success of this pilot and the outstanding feedback from students and educators, Donegal Giving hopes to roll out the programme to more schools across the county in 2026.
Evelyn Mc Glynn said she was inspired by the students’ enthusiasm and the genuine impact of their visit to the day care centre. She added that young people have a powerful role to play in building on the culture of giving across Donegal.
Donegal Giving welcomes enquiries from schools interested in taking part in future programmes. Visit the website at www.donegalgiving.com
