iYouth Patron

Hello. I am James O’Higgins Norman, and I am the UNESCO Chair at Dublin’s City University in Ireland, and I am delighted to be the Patron of iYouth, Young Professionals working for St John Eye Hospital in Jerusalem.

International research tells us that 44% of volunteers globally are in fact under the age of 35 years. This is not surprising; young people are idealistic, they often have time on their hands, and of course they bring enthusiasm and energy toward whatever task they undertake.

These are all things that are not new towards us in St John. St John has of course had volunteers working to meet its goals and aims from the first centuries. But we want to work harder and redouble our efforts to ensure there is a place for young professionals to give of their time to St John Eye Hospital.

Being a volunteer is good for you. It fights depression, it reduces stress, it’s fun, it makes you somebody that people are interested in, and it’s also good for your career. So it’s no wonder that St John Eye Hospital has, with St John Ophthalmic Association, developed iYouth, a young professional program that is for you. It’s for you to become a volunteer to put your energies at the service of St John Eye Hospital in Jerusalem.

I am absolutely delighted to be involved. The people who are really making iYouth a success are its leaders and its members. So please consider joining iYouth as a young professional whatever your background or discipline, there will be place for you, there will be a role for you, there will be something for you to do in helping us to serve ‘Our Lords the Poor and the Sick’.