Volunteering is offering something you have without expecting any compensation from it. People started to embrace the concept of volunteering because of its many benefits. What it lacked in financial gain, it recompensed in other aspects.
Volunteering is good for one’s physical and mental health. It helps lower blood pressure and combat depression. Volunteering also increases some life skills and a person’s self-confidence. Being involved in acts of volunteerism can also widen one’s network or social circles.
The main thing that you need to remember if you want to volunteer is to find your passion. There are many types of volunteering opportunities that you could try. Here are the most common ones.
Health Interests
There are many ways that a person can volunteer relating to health interests. Even if you are not a medical professional, you can still work in communities. You could raise awareness on some health issues. It could be as simple as having better hygiene practices or having more nutritious meals. You could also contribute to the mental health of youth. You may do so by engaging them in worthwhile activities such as sports, arts, or music.
Another way to volunteer in the health sector is to be a paid volunteer for a clinical study. Instead of being negative about a disease you have, you can help medical people to learn more. By being a patient research volunteer, you contribute to further studies. These researches could lead to innovative procedures and breakthrough medicine. You would have a sense of fulfillment to be part of something that can help other patients like you.
Animal Rescue and Care
Animals do not have the faculty of language to communicate their needs. Some people, due to greed or ignorance, do things to harm animals and their habitats. If you are an animal lover, you could be a voice for them. You could also help to save them from harm, or even extinction.
You could start with dog shelters in your local city. If you are more of the adventurous type, you could go for wildlife and marine conservation. These types of volunteer work also give you the chance to see some rare species of animals.
Environmental Work
Another global issue that people must focus on is environmental issues. There are many ways that you can engage yourself in environmental volunteerism. You can go for nature conservation and environmental protection. Simple projects involve planting trees, joining cleanups, or growing a community garden.
A unique way to get involved with environmental pursuits is to live in an ecovillage. In this setting, you would learn sustainable practices. You would have the chance to learn new skills along the way.
Voluntourism
Voluntourism is a combination of two words, volunteer and tourism. Based on this fusion of words, it is a type of volunteer work where tourists are the main participants. Tourists carve time off their vacation or travel to be a part of an advocacy.
This type of volunteer opportunity is controversial. This is because it has its share of disadvantages. Some point out the inexperience of volunteers and the short period on which they can commit to the cause. But, despite its misgivings, voluntourism also has its benefits when done right. Tourists must remember to be true to the cause that they support. They should not do it for their social media posts. Also, they must know how to gauge their strengths and volunteer to projects that need them most.
Social-impact Volunteer Projects
There are social issues that put some groups at a disadvantage. Some famous examples are women, ethnic groups, and people living in poor areas. You can do something to improve the quality of life of such people.
Teaching livelihood projects is a famous example of this volunteer opportunity. By empowering them to do well with what they have, you could give them some confidence. This could be key for them to be at par with other groups.
Online Volunteering
Volunteering used to be a physical activity. Due to the advancement of technology, another facet of volunteering emerged. Experts can now share their knowledge and skills with more people for free. Some people who volunteer through this method are writers, proofreaders, or website designers. An advantage of this type of endeavor is the chance to grow their network.
Volunteering is an altruistic act. But, the one doing it does not come out of it empty-handed. Volunteering makes a person’s life happier and fuller. You can try it for you to experience how it improves lives. You do not have to start on a big scale. One small act of kindness creates big ripples of positive change.
