Corrach Buí Community Centre in Rahoon in Galway city is getting back on its feet with the reopening of safe and secure spaces for local teenagers.
Youth Work Ireland reported a drop of almost 80,000 young people engaging with their services during the pandemic.
A key volunteer who has returned to the Rahoon centre's Westside drama group is performing arts instructor, Leticia Cavicchioli, from Brazil.
She has lived in Galway for several years and is passionate about giving something back to the local community.
"I've been volunteering since I was 14 back in Brazil. It is such a rewarding activity. We live in a time where we’re aware of all the problems in our society but we’re also very detached from our communities.
"We all have something to give and volunteering is a great way to engage with the community and make a difference."
She added: "I have great fun with the kids here in Westside and we all love being back in the club. We tried to do it remotely with Zoom during the pandemic but it just wasn't the same."
Sewing workshops have also become very popular since the pandemic and among those volunteering to teach this craft is Aicco Sapi from Tanzania.
"Our most popular activity is upcycling sessions. Every week the youth club members bring in their old, discarded clothes and I show them how to create new outfits!
"It's good for the environment and very therapeutic."
Joseph Burke, 22, from Ballinasloe also wants to reach out and help. He was bullied and marginalised when he was 12 before attending youth services on the advice of his psychologist.
"Bullying led to a lack of confidence and self esteem issues. I went into myself and just stayed home all day," he recalled.
"Youth work got me through a tough time and had a huge impact on my mental health recovery. The youth centre was my second home, where I wasn't judged and made fun of. I was free to be who I really am."
Joseph added: "It was more than just activities though. I developed as a person through participation, gained social skills and was able to start trusting people again. The youth worker listened to me and gave me advice on everyday issues."
He added: "I became a volunteer myself and set up fund raisers and quizzes, travelled abroad and fought for the retention of youth counselling services.
"Then I went on to do social work studies in college and am now a youth worker myself. Being part of Youth Work Ireland changed my life and I cannot recommend volunteering enough."
Irene Murphy works with the National Youth Council of Ireland in Galway.
"We're lucky here in Galway. Many of our volunteers are back and we did child protection training with 50 of them last week," she said.
"But I'm acutely aware it's not like that everywhere. As a result of the pandemic, we've had a major decline in volunteers in youth groups in every corner of the country.
"Numbers are down from 11,000 to just under four. We would love to see these volunteers return, but equally we would love new people to get involved.
"Local youth groups play an essential role in communities across Ireland, and volunteers are the backbone of these services.
"We know many people have seen the true value of their local community over the past two years and perhaps they may be thinking about giving back and becoming a volunteer."
Ms Murphy added: "It's clear from the stories of volunteers the great sense of purpose that volunteering offers and we hope this campaign inspires people to take action and get involved so that we can rebuild our safe and secure spaces for young people."
The National Youth Council of Ireland is calling for people with all kinds of experience and skills to apply to be volunteers.
