What is volunteering?
Volunteering can be seen as purely an act of giving of your food, time, resources and labour to people in need. But there’s more to it than that and many ways that you can grow through acts of volunteering.
The benefits of volunteering
Broadly speaking, volunteering gives us the opportunity to serve others and make a meaningful contribution to the world around us. It also takes us out of our comfort zones and asks us to walk in someone else’s shoes. It’s an experience that opens your eyes, expands your horizons and boosts your sense of well-being. According to research done by the Centre of Economics and Business Research, people who donate and volunteer report more positive emotions and are 1.7 times more likely to feel optimistic in future.
Belonging, community and connectedness
What are the positive effects of volunteering? Volunteering can help you find your ‘people’ and be part of a community. It’s a win-win! Even when faced with uncertainty, volunteering can help us to frame things more positively. When you deal with issues like hunger, poverty and health matters, you are challenged to come out of your shell, connect to people and make a difference. There’s something powerful about working together to spread joy – whether it be animal welfare, youth development or any other outreach effort. Volunteering embodies the philosophy of ubuntu in its purest form – we are all in this together.
Learn new skills and share your expertise
We can often end up underestimating the life skills we’ve learned over time. What we may take for granted are in fact skills worth their weight in gold when shared with someone in need. Basic life skills such as cooking a meal, learning how to write a CV, preparing for a job interview, brushing up on basic DIY tips and prioritising health and wellness are invaluable to those who’ve not had the opportunity to develop these skills. Do you feel confident about your digital know-how? How about sharing your vital insights to help others (both young and old!) feel less intimidated about using technology to improve their lives.
Feel empowered
When volunteering opportunities present themselves, getting out there and making a difference is a vibe on its own. Feel the endorphin boost that comes from your plans coming to life and seeing the difference they’re making in the lives of others. Get immersed into your research, and create groups on social media or WhatsApp to set up your next volunteer event.
Keeping track of your volunteering journey
Volunteering allows you to sharpen your soft skills set that can help you grow as a person. Track your journey of self-discovery by keeping a journal and recording the milestones you’ve achieved. If you’re going to make use of the photos and videos of others – even if you’ve taken them – it’s important to first get their consent. Documenting the progress you’ve contributed to through your volunteering efforts will not only inspire you to keep going but to also do more for others.
Choose your path of impact
Explore virtual volunteering databases for opportunities in different niches, like arts and culture, computers and technology, education and literacy and more. In most cases, you can add your CV to a database, and you will be matched to online volunteering opportunities where you can add the greatest value. Organisations like Volunteernow.co.za and Bookvillage.co.za are some interesting platforms to check out.
In need of a good home Internet connection to get you going? Consider looking into Telkom LTE or Fibre Home Internet solutions. Don’t forget to first check if you have coverage in your area.
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