Our Volunteers 我哋嘅義工: Dora

Hi, I’m Dora. I’m 17 and turning 18 this December. I’m currently studying undergraduate medicine at UCD, having completed my Leaving Cert last year.

Born and raised in Hong Kong until the age of 10, my parents decided to send my brother and me to Ireland for further education, believing we would have a happier life here. Looking back, I’m incredibly grateful for their decision—pursuing medicine wouldn’t have been possible if I had stayed in Hong Kong. After almost seven years in Ireland, I’ve grown to feel a strong sense of belonging here.

你好，我叫Dora，今年17歲，12月就會滿18歲。我而家喺UCD讀醫科，啱啱喺去年完成咗Leaving Cert。我喺香港出世同長大，直至10歲嗰年，父母決定送我同哥哥去愛爾蘭讀書，因為佢哋相信我哋喺愛爾蘭讀書會更加開心。睇返轉頭，我好感激佢哋嘅決定。我如果仲喺香港，我應該無可能讀到醫科。喺愛爾蘭生活咗差唔多七年，我開始對呢個地方有歸屬感。

In 2021, I discovered Cantonese in Ireland (CII) through posts my mom shared with me. I had no idea an organization for Cantonese speakers existed in Ireland. At the time, I was in 5th year and had more free time, so I signed up to volunteer, eager to connect with other Cantonese speakers and contribute to this meaningful community. Volunteering with CII has been a new and rewarding experience. I’ve worked on social media posts, assisted with the monthly newsletter (which was particularly challenging!), and helped with captions for the photo exhibition—a unique and enjoyable task.

2021年，媽媽傳粵語愛爾蘭啲 POST畀我睇，就係咁，我發現咗粵語愛爾蘭。我嗰時先發現，原來愛爾蘭有一個專為粵人士設立嘅組織。嗰陣我喺中五，有多啲時間，所以報咗名做義工，想認識愛爾蘭嘅粵群體，亦想為呢個有意義嘅機構出一分力。義工工作對我嚟講係一個全新嘅體驗，亦收穫良多。我幫手做過社交媒體post，亦有參與月訊嘅制作（呢個任務特別有挑戰性！），仲幫過攝影展覽寫相片說明，呢件工作對我嚟講幾特別，又有趣。

Although I took a break during my 6th year to focus on the Leaving Cert, I’ve continued volunteering in university and plan to stay involved. Through CII, I’ve gained valuable skills, met people from diverse backgrounds, and deepened my appreciation for the work they do. I look forward to contributing to more Cantonese projects in the future!

喺中六準備Leaving Cert嗰陣，我暫停咗一段時間，但而家讀大學，我又可以重新投入CII嘅義務工作。打算未來都會繼續參與。喺CII，我學識咗同唔同背景嘅人合作，亦喺佢哋身上學到好多嘢。我好期待將來可以參與更多唔同嘅項目，推廣粵語粵文化！