Volunteering is one sure way to advance your personal and career life. It allows you to see things differently and build meaningful connections if approached correctly.

With the new year comes new opportunities in many forms, some of which come through volunteering. You can volunteer in any industry, irrespective of your skill level. All you need is the right attitude to work and a lot of discipline to get by.

Why Volunteer?

We live in a fast-paced world where many people think they have nothing to offer to other people, especially those who are way below them. You need to know that LESS IS MORE, and you do not need to move heaven and earth to effect positive change around you. To volunteer is to freely offer something like your skills, time, and resources, to mention a few.

Here are some benefits of volunteering that will change your life for good;

• It gives you a sense of purpose and belonging.
• It gives you a sense of fulfilment and ultimate joy.
• Volunteering improves your level of confidence.
• It helps you to learn new skills and grow your career.
• It can help you release some stress.
• Volunteering strengthens your network.
• It helps you become a life-long learner as it comes with lots of exposure.
• It improves your social and interpersonal skills.
• It makes you a more flexible person.

It is essential to settle for the best option for you to get the most out of volunteer work.

Getting the Best Out of Volunteering

Now that you know some of the benefits of volunteering, you can have a better volunteer experience by following the steps below;

• Identify Your Interests: this will help in searching for and joining an organisation with similar interests. Focusing on what ideas and pursuits keep you engaged is essential in satisfying volunteering.
• Be Open to Learning: Ensure you are honest about your skills and experiences; you can gain many essential job skills from volunteering. Asking questions and being flexible will help you see things differently.
• Set Realistic Goals: Setting realistic goals is crucial for achieving success and having a sense of accomplishment. The key to setting goals in life is to break them down into SMART goals.
  • S – Specific
  • M – Measurable
  • A – Achievable
  • R – Realistic
  • T – Time Bound
• Be an Active Member: Active volunteer/member of an organisation means a person who has been appointed a voluntary role in an organisation and faithfully performs volunteer service in that organisation. Being actively involved in activities gets you closer to achieving your goals and helps you build strong connections.
• Track Your Progress: Keeping the right track of your progress helps measure your growth and prepare you for the next career stage. A practical method for measuring progress is documentation. Consider recording your overall goals, tasks, milestones and deadlines. You can also get a calendar to track your progress by checking off charges as you complete them and milestones as you achieve them.

Way Forward: Scouting for Volunteering Opportunities

After establishing your interests, you can search for volunteer opportunities around you or virtually. While doing your research, keep an open mind and look into several organisations with volunteer programs. You can find either paid or unpaid volunteering opportunities in places like schools, parks, nursing homes, religious institutions, community centres, conservation centres, historical centres, and non-governmental and governmental organisations, to mention a few.

Volunteering should bring you joy and happiness, not put you in harm’s way. Carefully review all the necessary documents before going all in. Do not settle for any opportunity that does not allow you to learn and enjoy yourself while volunteering. Ask important questions like the time required to dedicate to your tasks, available training options, and the team to join.

One Voice Initiative for Women and Children Emancipation often needs volunteers for its programs year in and year out. Connect with us on our social media platforms (Whatsapp, Instagram, Linkedin, Twitter, Facebook) to stay updated, or email info@oviwce.org to learn more.