Volunteering

The Week of Possibilities initiative is AbbVie’s signature annual volunteering and community support programme. Work in Ireland is part of wider international outreach involving approximately 15,000 AbbVie volunteers from 50 countries.

To mark the 10th anniversary of the project, more than 1,000 employees from AbbVie’s six Irish sites in Cork, Dublin, Sligo, and Mayo dedicated over 3,000 volunteer hours to transformation initiatives at schools. These efforts included support for several special schools that provide high-quality education for students with autism and complex needs.

At each Week of Possibilities location, AbbVie selects projects that meet the greatest needs of local communities. AbbVie partnered with the national volunteer development agency, Volunteer Ireland, on the design and implementation of the projects.

A team of 150 volunteers from AbbVie North Dublin dedicated more than 540 hours to revitalising Holy Spirit Boys’ National School in Ballymun, transforming four key areas: the garden, lower yard, main school foyer, and all-purpose hall.

In Citywest, 48 volunteers worked to enhance the beach and dunes at Dublin’s Bull Island – a popular spot for walkers, swimmers, kite-surfers, birdwatchers and nature lovers. The group collected 50 bags of waste and recyclables, making a significant impact on this well-known Dublin landmark for both the local community and visitors.

AbbVie’s Sligo-based volunteers from the Manorhamilton Road and Ballytivnan sites joined forces to rejuvenate Scoil Ursula, a school serving around 450 students on Strandhill Road. A total of 230 employees contributed 1,265 hours to refurbish nearly every area of the school, creating a bright, welcoming environment where teachers can focus on providing a positive learning experience. During the week, the team painted the building’s exterior, refreshed faded playground markings, improved the outdoor sensory area, cleaned and decorated connecting corridors, painted a new classroom for children with autism, and revitalised the garden.

At our AbbVie site in Westport, 266 volunteers spent 1,016 hours transforming St. Brid’s Special School in Castlebar, Co. Mayo. This co-educational school serves children with moderate to severe and profound needs, offering high-quality education for pupils with autism and complex needs.

In Cork, Scoil Mhuire Knockraha National School was selected as the project site. Here, 51 AbbVie employees dedicated 204 hours to enhance the school’s facilities, including transforming an outdoor area into a sensory and planting garden and upgrading the playground.