Why We Should Volunteer.

Till now I’ve been hyper critical of the Volunteering Experience, whether it was complaining about the lack of volunteers or the hard parts about volunteering. In essence it all circled around how I couldn’t understand why people won’t volunteer and why they don’t seem to look at the whole thing the way I do. I have toyed with the idea that maybe I’m part of a dying breed of great people (There’s a photo of me next to “humility” in the dictionary), or I’m part of a dying breed of crazy people who have kept these things going longer than they should have. Personally, I don’t like either notion (for obvious reasons). Maybe it’s just because society has forgotten the value of volunteering and the role it plays. So instead of just nitpicking at all the problems, I think this piece should attempt to produce solutions.

Now, there’s no absolute solution to all the problems I mentioned in the other posts, but we can start somewhere. Volunteer organisations need people, and that’s why we should volunteer!

There. Short and sweet. Problem Fixed!

Seriously though, I think that the way to bring people into volunteering isn’t just to tell them about all the good they’ll do for others, that’s harked on about in every recruitment campaign for non profits I’ve ever seen… it’s to introduce them to all the benefits for themselves. I’m not talking about making volunteering something about self gain… actually I am… but hopefully not to the same extent as some corporate scheme… I just think that people need a reminder that there are personal benefits to giving away your free time for what is already a worth wile cause.

In usual fashion, we will now proceed into the sub headings that will sum up all the reasons why you need to volunteer!

Expanding your Social Circles and Learn how to work with People:

The recent American Elections brought up a lot of discussion about the effects of Social Media and creating bubbles (Echo Chambers for the technical among you). What surprised me, was how people were making a big deal out of it like nothing like this had ever happened before social media came in with its algorithms and corporate voodoo. Maybe not on the same scale, but we do find our selves in echo chambers in the real world too (someone’s probably reading this and going “This guy’s wasting time stating the obvious!” … but you’d be surprised how a lot of people don’t notice this).

The point is, if you are constantly surrounded by the same type of people, your view of the world is gets distorted, not always in a bad way, but it adds filters… Volunteering in almost any capacity, introduces you to new people, and forces you to see different outlooks.

As someone who went through a private school system, I have to admit that I had a very blinkered view of the world and how society worked, and if it wasn’t for my involvement in scouting I would probably still have those views. At school I was surrounded by people from similar social backgrounds, and that made working together and socialising so much easier… especially when compared to my early days at a scout group. I was a fish out of water, but being put in a situation were I had to work with people who saw the world differently, definitely helped me in ways that I am undoubtedly benefitting from today.

Moral of the story; do things that introduce you to different people and in turn…

You will “Find Yourself” … or at least get close.

I hate hearing “I went to *insert 3rd world country here* to help… and find myself” … but what I hate even more, is admitting that they may be right. Now I’ve never been on one of these trips myself, but I have friends who have, and they do come back changed people. For the better! To a similar extent, people who volunteer at “lesser” levels, do get that same experience (and not always to a lesser extent).

What I’m trying to say here is that these experiences, whether on the scale of a volunteer abroad scheme or simply being part of the organising committee of a local youth centre, brings out the best (and worst) in your character. You will create bonds, and clash, with these new people you’ve met.

It will change you, at least it did for me. Otherwise I’d still be that sub popular, rather annoying little brat I was at school… now I’m just annoying! Which is fine because …

You’ll develop new skills that will look great on your CV

Had to provide you with a more tangible reason, and this is probably the best one. In a job market that demands experience, it is getting harder and harder to get yourself through the door. Especially when your youth was spent going to school, private lessons and the odd sporty activity.

Volunteering teaches skills employers want, and schools don’t teach. Scouting alone teaches teamwork (no, the group assignment that teacher made you do with your arch nemesis isn’t enough), discipline (we do tend to lack this) and respect of authority! You can also develop practical skills which most businesses don’t want to spend time teaching you on the job, be part of any committee and you’re training for managerial roles among others!

I get it, that paid internship will look great and give you beer money, but will it really give you the experience that will get you the full time position you really want when you graduate? Actually it might… but you could still volunteer on the side to be able to apply for that better position!

That being said, it’s not all just about you…

It does feel good to give back!

Couldn’t finish this selfish piece of back patting without mentioning at least one societal point. Yes, the feel good factor is a selfish reward, but it comes from being part of something greater, and helping out a greater cause.

Whether it’s giving back to the scout group that shaped you into who you are, or helping out the community that you call home. Volunteering in any capacity usually involves helping people or at the very least providing for people, and if you don’t get that feeling, then you may have read this all for nothing… and my dying breed theory will have been proved right… at least part of it, the sanity marker is still up for debate.

Thanks for Reading!

Hope you enjoyed my waffling on the subject of volunteering. This was part of a school project, but I may look into continuing this or maybe a whole new project in the future. Though to do that I would like your feedback on what you thought of the whole thing, and if you think others will enjoy my ramblings on this and other topics!