Volunteering – The Two-way Street
By CJ ROPER, DIRECTOR, AFRICAN SUNRISE VOLUNTEERING
The more I read online, the more I see what a divide there is between those who are pro-volunteering and those who are not. As someone on the ‘inside’, I can attest to the value a volunteer or intern can bring to a project in need. Often people who make comments about how volunteering actually harms projects, are those that have not worked at a project, and have not seen how it actually benefits those involved. The smallest task can make a difference to the lives of people and organisations in need. Even an outing for the elderly, makes a massive difference in their lives – small things like this, and then the bigger things like fundraising for a new stove or replacing a mouldy roof.
Social interactions between volunteers and children at projects is vital for the children – they learn new cultures, new ways of doing things, and with a constant flow of volunteers, they know they will always have support. The children learn about co-dependency this way too – and are able to say goodbye to a volunteer when the time comes, knowing they are still loved, safe and cared for.
And volunteering is a two-way street: It can benefit the volunteer as much as the organisation. While some people are naturally outgoing, others are shy and have a hard time meeting new people. Volunteering gives an opportunity to practice and develop social skills, as well as learn a new culture, in a very diverse country. .
Volunteering offers vital help to people in need, worthwhile causes, and the community, but the benefits can be even greater for the volunteer. Volunteering and helping others can help reduce stress, combat depression, keep you mentally stimulated, and provide a sense of purpose.
None of our projects are “tourist attractions”. We know the needs of the projects, and we focus on those – most of our interns are social work students, and are there for long periods of time. The social workers at our projects welcome the students, as they become the mentors for the students.
There was an interesting comment I read, where someone was asking what value a student just finishing highschool, with no qualifications, could possibly bring to a project in an African country. I think these students are exactly what the volunteering sector needs – young people, who get an opportunity to experience a new country, a new culture, and actually get to see the issues and problems we face. They will return home with a much better understanding of themselves, and the world in general. The adults and children that they help while they are here, will once again have the benefit of sharing their stories, getting to know a new culture themselves, getting a better world view, and learning to make friends, to accept people from all over the world as their equals.
You can make a difference – we have so many interns and volunteers with amazing stories who can attest to this. And once they all go home, we are still here, and we are still with the people and children from the Organisations that we work so closely with.
The more I read online, the more I see what a divide there is between those who are pro-volunteering and those who are not. As someone on the ‘inside’, I can attest to the value a volunteer or intern can bring to a project in need. Often people who make comments about how volunteering actually harms projects, are those that have not worked at a project, and have not seen how it actually benefits those involved. The smallest task can make a difference to the lives of people and organisations in need. Even an outing for the elderly, makes a massive difference in their lives – small things like this, and then the bigger things like fundraising for a new stove or replacing a mouldy roof.
Social interactions between volunteers and children at projects is vital for the children – they learn new cultures, new ways of doing things, and with a constant flow of volunteers, they know they will always have support. The children learn about co-dependency this way too – and are able to say goodbye to a volunteer when the time comes, knowing they are still loved, safe and cared for.
And volunteering is a two-way street: It can benefit the volunteer as much as the organisation. While some people are naturally outgoing, others are shy and have a hard time meeting new people. Volunteering gives an opportunity to practice and develop social skills, as well as learn a new culture, in a very diverse country. .
Volunteering offers vital help to people in need, worthwhile causes, and the community, but the benefits can be even greater for the volunteer. Volunteering and helping others can help reduce stress, combat depression, keep you mentally stimulated, and provide a sense of purpose.
None of our projects are “tourist attractions”. We know the needs of the projects, and we focus on those – most of our interns are social work students, and are there for long periods of time. The social workers at our projects welcome the students, as they become the mentors for the students.
There was an interesting comment I read, where someone was asking what value a student just finishing highschool, with no qualifications, could possibly bring to a project in an African country. I think these students are exactly what the volunteering sector needs – young people, who get an opportunity to experience a new country, a new culture, and actually get to see the issues and problems we face. They will return home with a much better understanding of themselves, and the world in general. The adults and children that they help while they are here, will once again have the benefit of sharing their stories, getting to know a new culture themselves, getting a better world view, and learning to make friends, to accept people from all over the world as their equals.
You can make a difference – we have so many interns and volunteers with amazing stories who can attest to this. And once they all go home, we are still here, and we are still with the people and children from the Organisations that we work so closely with.
