Four ways to do something good for others
Giving back to the community is something we can all do, which inspired me to write about 4 ways we can help others!
The weather is getting colder, the nights are getting longer and just like nature around us we are slowing down. I don’t know about you, but when winter is approaching (and maybe the holiday season is starting to play a role in it), I tend to take on little projects to do something good for others to give back to the community. I participated in the European Voluntary service years ago and it is great to do something for others. I also have a soft spot for animal shelters; so far I have supported them with donations, but for a very long time I have also wanted to donate my time to the animals.
I did some research and put together a list of four ideas on how to help the community of people around the world, either locally or from a distance. Not all organisations might be available where you live, but I hope this helps you with ideas and finding similar opportunities near you. You can give back to the community by donating your skills, time and/or supplies!
- Help out with your skills
We all have skills that can be helpful to others; perhaps you’re good at writing, graphic design, web development, marketing, translating, teaching…
Well, Catchafire connects volunteers with skill-based projects like developing and maintaining a website for a month for a non-profit in Kenya, or volunteering in graphic design and leadership coaching for an organization in Sydney, Australia. The most non-profits listed on the website are based in the United States, but they do have a selection of projects from many locations around the globe.
Another example is an organisation ideal for translators is Translators without Borders (TWB). They are a global community of translators and language specialists helping others all around the world. I found out that roles such as project manager, graphic or web page designers are also welcomed!
2. Volunteer to help people in need
I recently heard from a friend who used to help the homeless in her hometown in Northern Spain, and I asked her how she got involved. She volunteered for the Red Cross while studying and she started to notice how not enough was done for the people in the streets.
Following that conversation, I had a closer look at ways you can help. To find volunteering opportunities locally, Red Cross recommends seeking information from the National Red Cross or RedCrescent Society from their database: https://www.ifrc.org/our-volunteers. You can help the elderly, children, the homeless and people with disabilities, and the ways to help are endless, I really recommend checking out the database!
3. Ways you can help animals
If you’re interested in helping animals in your free time, it’s best to focus on a local shelter, or at least one in the same country. Animal Rescue Algarve is one in Portugal that came to mind.
But the ways you can support an animal shelter are most likely the same all around the world:
- Donate blankets, towels, toys and food;
- Help clean the shelter;
- Assist with admin tasks and office management;
- Take pictures of the animals for the shelter’s website and social media pages, write down their story so the adoption chance increases;
- Walk the dogs (or any other animal) — they will get exercise and will be happy to have a companion;
In case you are looking for an organisation to support from a distance, Four Paws in Europe focuses on the rescue and welfare of companion, wild and farm animals. Even though the biggest help is in donations, they do run petitions and offer jobs and traineeships to learn more about animal welfare.
4. How to get more involved with protecting the environment
Helping our environment starts from small steps and from changing habits like recycling and ditching plastic bottles, but what can we do to have our voice heard, to make sure big companies listen. The UN Climate Change Conference 2021 (COP26) is taking place as I write this, but how can I get involved?
Fridays for Future is bringing awareness to the climate crisis with a Friday strike, but they also list a few other things you can do beyond a strike — for example building relationships with local climate-focused groups, signing petitions and giving climate talks if you are great at public speaking!
Do you volunteer? Have you done some volunteering in the past? How do you give back to your community? Please share your thoughts in the comments below, I would love to read all about them!
