How to Volunteer
Volunteering is one of the many ways you can actively give back to the community, but you may also want to volunteer to beef up your resume, learn new skills or meet new people. There are a lot of volunteering options for you, all you have to do is choose one wisely. Here’s how.
Why Volunteer?
Again, there are many reasons why one would want to volunteer. Helping out or giving back may just be one of the many reasons. You may also want to pursue a passion, like teaching kids or participating in causes that you believe in. List down your reasons why you want to volunteer and what you would wish to come out of your volunteering efforts. Doing this task can help clear up your expectations and narrow down the kinds of activities you wish to do when volunteering.
Schedule Your Efforts
It also helps to determine how much time you are willing to give for your volunteer efforts. It can be as specific as the number of hours that you can give, to certain days of the week. That way, the organization you will volunteer in know when they can expect your help and time.
Choosing a Volunteering Opportunity
Are you updated with the latest issues your community is facing today? Volunteering usually comes with an advocacy that you are passionate about or something you believe in. Read up on the latest news internationally and in your very own community. Which of the issues affect you, get you thinking? Is there one problem that you would like to contribute in solving?
Find the issue that you feel strongly about, whether it be about poverty, literacy, the environment and other issues. Study the different perspectives on the issue, read about the experiences of other volunteers. Some volunteer efforts are paired with certain religious groups, so being okay working with a religious group is also a factor you must consider. Having a strong belief behind your volunteer work is what will keep you going. Look for these opportunities online, in your community or even the religious group that you’re in. There are a lot of volunteer opportunities waiting for you right under your nose.
Choose a Group
After choosing which advocacy you would like to get involved in, it’s time to choose a volunteer group or organization. Some groups are local charters of international groups, while others were created and based in your locality. Look into their background, talk to people already involved with the group. It’s really your decision if you like a group or not. Choose wisely. You’re not required to stay with a volunteer group forever, but you’ve got to prepare yourself for committing to it nonetheless.
Review Your Skills
What are you willing to do for your organization? Some volunteer groups require travel, while others require simple elbow grease, especially in the case of cleaning efforts or building houses. Cooking and baking skills are also needed for some groups who specialize on charity bake sales or charity dinner events. Review your skills and make a realistic assessment of what you can or cannot do as a volunteer effort. Doing what you do best, whether it be baking, teaching kids or cleaning up beaches, will make your volunteer experience a lot better.