Why Volunteer?
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Why is volunteering important?
Volunteering in any capacity is a fantastic opportunity for a number of reasons. If you are considering volunteering, you may be wondering what sort of benefits it has for you or why it is important. If that is the case, this article will explore the reasons why volunteering is a great way for everyone to get involved with something new while supporting a worthwhile cause.
What is volunteering?
First of all, what is volunteering? Put simply, volunteering means giving your time and skills for free to support an organization such as a not for profit charity. Volunteering can be done in a number of ways, depending on the organization, their needs, your skills, and your experience.
Volunteering activities can range from helping to raise funds for a charity to helping children learn how to read, or working in a shop (like a charity shop). Many organizations rely on volunteers to continue to serve their communities. That is one reason why volunteering is important. Without individuals giving up their time to volunteer, many not-for-profit organizations would struggle to operate and provide support to their communities.
What are the benefits of volunteering?
Volunteering comes with many benefits – both for the organizations themselves and for an individual. Here we’ll give just a few examples of how volunteering can benefit you.
1. Volunteering Builds Your Confidence
If you struggle with low confidence and self-esteem, volunteering can be a great way to build these up. If you have been out of work for a while, or you’ve never had a job, you may feel that it is impossible to start on that journey. However, volunteering can provide a very clear path that supports you in doing just that.
Volunteering can also provide a sense of purpose, and give you a real confidence boost. In pouring your energy into something that does good, and connecting with others, you’ll naturally feel more confident in your abilities and better about yourself. In short, volunteering can provide you with a sense of accomplishment, identity and pride that you may not have currently. It can also inspire you for the future and give you an idea of the kinds of goals you would like to achieve.
2. Volunteering Widens Your Social Circle
Meeting new people and building relationships is incredibly fulfilling. And volunteering gives you the opportunity to do that. If you want to make new friends, volunteering is a fantastic way to meet new people where you live and get to know the community you live in even better.
In turn, if you struggle to make new friends, volunteering will support you in developing social skills. This may give you the confidence to use these skills in your everyday life to build stronger relationships, too!
3. Volunteering Teaches You New Things
No matter what you volunteer to do, getting involved with a charity or organization can help you strengthen key qualities and skills such as teamwork, communication and problem solving. All of these things are invaluable in the world of work and can help you in the future.
If you already have a job but take up volunteering as something to do in your spare time, you may learn new skills that you can apply in work. Or even just gain the confidence to put yourself forward for new tasks and responsibilities.
If you’re out of work, volunteering can give you an insight into a line of work without having to make a long-term commitment. You may even decide to pursue this if you like the look and feel of a certain role and open doors to a brighter, exciting new future.
4. Volunteering Is Fun
Finally, volunteering can be lots of fun! As well as giving you the opportunity to explore new interests and learn new skills, it can also give you something to look forward to and something meaningful to do with your spare time.
From making new friends to learning something new, volunteering is a wonderful way of spreading your wings while contributing to a worthwhile cause.
Why is volunteering important?
Volunteering in any capacity is a fantastic opportunity for a number of reasons. If you are considering volunteering, you may be wondering what sort of benefits it has for you or why it is important. If that is the case, this article will explore the reasons why volunteering is a great way for everyone to get involved with something new while supporting a worthwhile cause.
What is volunteering?
First of all, what is volunteering? Put simply, volunteering means giving your time and skills for free to support an organization such as a not for profit charity. Volunteering can be done in a number of ways, depending on the organization, their needs, your skills, and your experience.
Volunteering activities can range from helping to raise funds for a charity to helping children learn how to read, or working in a shop (like a charity shop). Many organizations rely on volunteers to continue to serve their communities. That is one reason why volunteering is important. Without individuals giving up their time to volunteer, many not-for-profit organizations would struggle to operate and provide support to their communities.
What are the benefits of volunteering?
Volunteering comes with many benefits – both for the organizations themselves and for an individual. Here we’ll give just a few examples of how volunteering can benefit you.
1. Volunteering Builds Your Confidence
If you struggle with low confidence and self-esteem, volunteering can be a great way to build these up. If you have been out of work for a while, or you’ve never had a job, you may feel that it is impossible to start on that journey. However, volunteering can provide a very clear path that supports you in doing just that.
Volunteering can also provide a sense of purpose, and give you a real confidence boost. In pouring your energy into something that does good, and connecting with others, you’ll naturally feel more confident in your abilities and better about yourself. In short, volunteering can provide you with a sense of accomplishment, identity and pride that you may not have currently. It can also inspire you for the future and give you an idea of the kinds of goals you would like to achieve.
2. Volunteering Widens Your Social Circle
Meeting new people and building relationships is incredibly fulfilling. And volunteering gives you the opportunity to do that. If you want to make new friends, volunteering is a fantastic way to meet new people where you live and get to know the community you live in even better.
In turn, if you struggle to make new friends, volunteering will support you in developing social skills. This may give you the confidence to use these skills in your everyday life to build stronger relationships, too!
3. Volunteering Teaches You New Things
No matter what you volunteer to do, getting involved with a charity or organization can help you strengthen key qualities and skills such as teamwork, communication and problem solving. All of these things are invaluable in the world of work and can help you in the future.
If you already have a job but take up volunteering as something to do in your spare time, you may learn new skills that you can apply in work. Or even just gain the confidence to put yourself forward for new tasks and responsibilities.
If you’re out of work, volunteering can give you an insight into a line of work without having to make a long-term commitment. You may even decide to pursue this if you like the look and feel of a certain role and open doors to a brighter, exciting new future.
4. Volunteering Is Fun
Finally, volunteering can be lots of fun! As well as giving you the opportunity to explore new interests and learn new skills, it can also give you something to look forward to and something meaningful to do with your spare time.
From making new friends to learning something new, volunteering is a wonderful way of spreading your wings while contributing to a worthwhile cause.
*Information and Statistics from Volunteer Weekly Magazine.
Service Learning Opportunities in Hawai'i
O'ahu
Hawai‘i Conservation Alliance
Honolulu Zoo
Hawaiʻi Land Trust
Mālama Maunalua
Paʻaiau Fishpond
Papahana Kuaola Waipā Foundation
Sustainable Coastlines
Hawai‘i Conservation Alliance
Honolulu Zoo
Hawaiʻi Land Trust
Mālama Maunalua
Paʻaiau Fishpond
Papahana Kuaola Waipā Foundation
Sustainable Coastlines
Why it is important for kids to volunteer
By Kofoworola Jolaoso | TEDxKids@Gbagada
In Kofo's talk, she shares her experience volunteering and why it is important or kids to volunteer. Kofo has passion for performing, speaking and leadership. At just thirteen, she is the president of volunteer club in her school as well as the chairperson of the student council. Kofo wants to be a television personality and a youth development activist. She is 13 years old.
https://youtu.be/fDocxsO2tYA
By Kofoworola Jolaoso | TEDxKids@Gbagada
In Kofo's talk, she shares her experience volunteering and why it is important or kids to volunteer. Kofo has passion for performing, speaking and leadership. At just thirteen, she is the president of volunteer club in her school as well as the chairperson of the student council. Kofo wants to be a television personality and a youth development activist. She is 13 years old.
https://youtu.be/fDocxsO2tYA
5 Awesome Health Benefits Of Volunteering
Volunteering is a voluntary act of an individual or group freely giving time and labour for community service. There are more than 970 million volunteers worldwide.
Number 1. Reduces stress. Work-related stress affects every third adult in the world. A survey of 600 Community Service Volunteers found that almost two-thirds volunteers said that volunteering reduced stress levels, boosted the immune system and helped to combat disease.
Number 2. Beats depression. The CSV survey found that almost half of those who had volunteered for over two years said that it made them feel less depressed.
Number 3. Lowers blood pressure. A study found that over-50s who volunteer regularly are less likely to develop high blood pressure than non-volunteers.
Number 4. Boosts brain function. Older adults who tutor children or volunteer in other ways can delay or even reverse declining brain function. This was found by a Johns Hopkins University study.
Number 5. Increases fitness and stamina. Successive studies have shown that volunteering increases fitness and may result in weight loss, too. One Johns Hopkins University study looked into this.
https://youtu.be/nXIUVOeuVcM
Volunteering is a voluntary act of an individual or group freely giving time and labour for community service. There are more than 970 million volunteers worldwide.
Number 1. Reduces stress. Work-related stress affects every third adult in the world. A survey of 600 Community Service Volunteers found that almost two-thirds volunteers said that volunteering reduced stress levels, boosted the immune system and helped to combat disease.
Number 2. Beats depression. The CSV survey found that almost half of those who had volunteered for over two years said that it made them feel less depressed.
Number 3. Lowers blood pressure. A study found that over-50s who volunteer regularly are less likely to develop high blood pressure than non-volunteers.
Number 4. Boosts brain function. Older adults who tutor children or volunteer in other ways can delay or even reverse declining brain function. This was found by a Johns Hopkins University study.
Number 5. Increases fitness and stamina. Successive studies have shown that volunteering increases fitness and may result in weight loss, too. One Johns Hopkins University study looked into this.
https://youtu.be/nXIUVOeuVcM
“If our hopes of building a better and safer world are to become more than wishful thinking, we will need the engagement of volunteers more than ever.”
— Kofi Annan
— Kofi Annan