Student Volunteer Ireland and Gaisce Team Up for Students!

18/08/2025

Empowering Students through Global Citizenship Education and Volunteering

‘Roots and Shoots: A Higher Education Global Citizenship Initiative’ is a joint partnership between Gaisce – The President’s Award and Student Volunteer Ireland (StudentVolunteer.ie), funded by Irish Aid.

• This project is designed with students in mind, as we seek to transform student volunteering and action into a powerful tool for global awareness and community engagement.
• It will provide students with opportunities to engage as active citizens, making meaningful contributions across their local and global environments.
• This will involve trainings, workshops, networking opportunities and a symposium with student volunteers from the global community.  

Why the SDGs?

We are excited to launch this joint project in universities across the country, as we aim to enable students to grow their awareness of interconnected global issues and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), deepen their understanding of the connections between local actions and global impacts, and encourage their sense of shared responsibility in addressing systemic challenges. This project marks a bold step forward in integrating volunteering and Global Citizenship Education into the student experience; Empowering young people to make meaningful contributions to address global challenges.  

About Our Next Project Event - Roots and Shoots Workshop near you!

Curious about the SDGs, want to learn more about global issues, interested in community action or just looking to network with other passionate student volunteers? Join Roots and Shoots here at StudentVolunteer.ie 

Stay up to date on information about the project, university visits and opportunities through both the Gaisce and Student Volunteer Ireland socials and websites.  

Here we will post the next event and the sign up form!

About Gaisce

Why not earn your Gaisce Award as you volunteer, for more information visit: www.gaisce.ie   

About Roots and Shoots Launches

Gaisce- The President’s Award and Student Volunteer Ireland Launch Higher Education Global Citizenship Initiative

  22nd September 2025: Gaisce – The President's Award and Student Volunteer Ireland launched the Roots and Shoots: A Higher Education Global Citizenship Initiative today at a ceremony in the UCD Greenacre Sustainability Hub.

The Roots and Shoots Initiative is designed for third-level students who are undertaking their Gaisce Award to promote the connections between local actions and global impacts and foster a sense of shared responsibility in how we address systemic challenges. This initiative aims to enhance the volunteering landscape amongst third-level students to build awareness and understanding of Global Citizenship Education (GCE).

Students will develop a critical understanding of interconnected global issues, recognise how local actions can have global implications, and embrace the concept of shared responsibility for the planet. Over 200 students across campuses will participate in workshops, intervarsity sessions, and two in-person residentials, which meet the Residential requirement for the Gaisce Gold Award. Gaisce participants will have the opportunity to be recognised for their non-formal learning and achievements while also completing the Community Involvement aspect of their Gaisce Award.

This programme is funded by Irish Aid through the 2025 Global Citizenship Education grant.

The launch was attended by Avril Ryan, CEO of Gaisce – The President’s Award and Dr Lorraine Tansey, Programme Manager for Student Volunteer Ireland, alongside Niamh Byrne McKenna and Vaman Shenoy from UCD In the Community; and Kirsten Southard and Dr Thomas Macagno of UCD Sustainability. Gaisce was also thrilled to have Nina Sachau, Executive Director of STAND.ie and Fiachra Brennan from Comhlámh in attendance, along with many students and staff from UCD. To celebrate the launch, Gaisce presented organic seeds and plant shoots from Little Green Growers in Roscommon to contribute to the UCD Greenacre Community Garden.

24th September 2025: Gaisce – The President's Award and Student Volunteer Ireland launched the Roots and Shoots: A Higher Education Global Citizenship Initiative today at a ceremony in the University of Galway’s Herb Garden at the Orbsen Building on campus.

The launch was attended by Karol Quinn, Head of Programme and Strategic Development at Gaisce – The President’s Award and Dr Lorraine Tansey, Programme Manager for Student Volunteer Ireland, alongside Molly Hickey, Environmental Awareness and Sustainability Officer at the University of Galway, along with student volunteers and Gaisce President’s Award Leaders (PALs) and participants from the university. To celebrate the launch, Gaisce presented organic seeds and plant shoots from Little Green Growers in Roscommon to contribute to the University of Galway’s Herb Garden.