Volunteerism is defined as an act of taking part or doing something freely without expecting anything in return or basically without being paid.
It has been a very common thing among us to hear about volunteerism as there is quite a huge number of volunteering organisations we have heard about or even some of us might have been involved in. But the sad part here is that there are also people who actually don’t bother to know anything about it and think that being a volunteer is a waste of time.
Well, what do we actually get out of volunteering? We must first understand and know the benefits of it before even making a blind conclusion. First and foremost, volunteering is a good way of improving our communication skills as well as to brush up our confidence level as we tend meet a lot of new people when we volunteer. Volunteering brings together a diverse range of people from all backgrounds and walks of life.
The recipients of your volunteer efforts can be a rich source of inspiration and an excellent way to develop your interpersonal skills. Volunteering also offers an incredible networking opportunity. Not only will you develop lasting personal and professional relationships but it is also a great way to learn about people from all walks of life, different environments, and new industries.
Besides, it is the perfect vehicle to discover something you are really good at and develop a new skill. It is never too late to learn new skills and no reason why you should stop adding to your knowledge just because you are in employment or have finished education. As Mahatma Gandhi said, “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”
Planning and implementing a major fundraising event can develop goal setting, planning and budgeting skills. Supervising and training other volunteers helps to develop supervisory and training skills.
Also, we sometimes take for granted the community that we live in. People and societies co-depend on each other for survival but growth of such things as commercialism are seeing traditional values being disregarded. Communities are suffering due to the growth of secular societies but at the same time we can really bridge that expanding gap through volunteering.
Volunteering is ultimately about helping others and having an impact on people’s wellbeing. What better way is there to connect with your community and give a little back? As a volunteer, you certainly return to society some of the benefits that society gives you.
In conclusion, a volunteer programme requires an investment on the part of an organisation, internal constituencies, and volunteers. Some may ask whether this investment is worth the effort. Indeed it is, volunteerism benefits all parties involved. Benefits to clients include receiving needed services and the feeling that someone is interested in and cares about them.
Benefits to organisations include increasing cost-effectiveness, expanding programmes, and raising service quality. Benefits to communities include enhanced civic participation and awareness.
