Why volunteer?
For many people becoming a volunteer is not a decision but something that happens quite by chance. It’s flexible, YOU decide how much you want to do and when, taking into account the other commitments you have in your life.Volunteering is another great way to learn new skills from being part of a team to setting and reaching goals. It gives you a chance to discover what kinds of things you're best at and enjoy the most.
Although you won’t be paid, there are other rewards for volunteering:
- building up confidence and self-esteem
- meeting people in similar circumstances
- learning transferable skills
- trying out new experiences
- it gives you an opportunity to change lives, including your own.
- It lets you focus on others and see that your involvement in the world can be meaningful.
- It can help save you from boredom — it gives you a place to be where you can have a good time and keep busy.
- It makes you look good and very impressive. It shows employers and universities that you believe in making the world a better place and that you're willing to sacrifice your time and energy to do it.
HOWEVER!!! if you do it just to please other people or to look good you may not enjoy it because volunteering does show others (and yourself!) that you are reliable enough to make a commitment and show up on schedule.