It is common knowledge that volunteering has undeniable benefits once you align your abilities with the needs of a group of people or an organization. The impact of your volunteer experience will depend on your motivations for participating. It is crucial to engage in volunteering with genuine concern.
01 Learn a Skill
It is a great way to learn, to acquire new knowledge about the good and the not-so-good. There is always something to learn. In addition, it helps build problem solving skills.
02 Build self-confidence
By recognizing what we are good at, are you good at managing, being a hostess, a speaker, etc.? Knowing what we are good at allows us to work on those skills so that, if we want, we can shine!
03 Build effective relationships
Building effective relationships is key to anything in life. Having good communication with others, learning to listen, and learning how to be self-aware of our actions help us build positive relationships.
04 Make friends/acquaintances
This is a favorite of mine, meeting people from all walks of life and having the opportunity to make new friendships when possible.
05 Provides a sense of purpose and belonging
It is simple: when you are doing something for others, you are building something positive for others and for the community. You have a wonderful reason why you are doing things, and it provides a great sense of a positive identity.
06 Helps to reduce stress
Volunteering has been shown to decrease stress and create positive feelings. Researchers have found that it increases dopamine, a neurotransmitter, and a hormone that we all have, which plays a key role in how we feel pleasure and satisfaction.
07 Create a sense of community building
Volunteering allows you to create meaningful connections with others with the purpose of building positive outcomes for others and the community. You come together with others to build, lift, and support others!!
08 Improves mental health and wellbeing
Volunteering helps to reduce stress. It gives you a positive outlook on life because you are doing something good for the community, and you have a sense of belonging. Research has shown that volunteering reduces the rate of depression, which are all pluses for mental health and wellbeing.
09 Creates civic minded individuals!
School and college students working for the benefit of a community learn to sustain ongoing charitable activities and help build businesses and activities that are socially conscious.
10 Great benefits for Super Seniors
Studies have shown that volunteering has great benefits for older adults. Studies of Gerontology show increased brain elasticity, which helps maintain connections in the brain and protects against dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Studies have also demonstrated positive side effects, including lower mortality rates and a reduction in feelings of isolation and inactivity, among other benefits.
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Creates “borderless learning” my fave term!
Learning from diverse perspectives like different points of view, religions, ethnicities, nationalities, etc., allows for inclusive decision-making and a boundary-less educational experience.
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The list goes on…
While all of the reasons to volunteer are positive enough for anyone to decide to do it, preparedness, self-awareness, flexibility, and patience are key factors in having a positive experience. For example, if one is not at their best when dealing with dramatic situations such as disaster relief areas or major diaspora situations (human mobility and resettlements, such as currently in Venezuela and Syria, to name a couple), the experience might turn negative and bring more stress than a sense of relief.
Researching the place/organization/community you are going to volunteer at is a key factor in having a rewarding volunteering experience.
