Community Service and Volunteering

Philanthropy is the desire to promote the welfare of others. In other terms, it is the “love of humanity” which encompasses virtues such as generosity, compassion, empathy, and intent among others. Philanthropy consists of 2 main branches, charity and volunteering. While charity refers to the giving of resources to aid others, volunteering is the giving of time and personal effort to help those around us. 

Volunteering does not necessarily have to include large-scale projects, organizations and teams. The simple act of helping those around us by sparing some time and effort is the basis of volunteering, whether helping an old person cross the street, or giving some food to a homeless man on the street, or spending some time with classmates to explain the material taken in class. The world of volunteering is so vast and broad that there will always be something for everyone. 

As with most ideas in our lives, volunteering has a set of pros and cons. Volunteering gives lots of opportunities to teach and be taught. Noone is naturally skilled at being a volunteer, and it is with proper guidance, care, and teamwork from fellow and more experienced volunteers that a person can grow and eventually teach the next generation of aspiring caregivers. This teamwork, also brings forth countless possibilities to widen social networks and improve the contents of your personal applications whether for universities or jobs.

However, the cons of volunteering cannot be initially ignored, especially those that may weigh heavy on a caregiver and care receiver. Many of the sights and stories that may be experienced really show that life is not always as beautiful as we think it is. There really is poverty, disease, handicaps, burdens, and troubles affecting each and every person around us. This emotional burden of service can be something of a reality shock and cause some distress to volunteers, but it is our perspectives and what we are willing to do to let change happen that define how worthy our struggles are. Also, the sad truth is that some people attempt to exploit the kindness of others by starting fraud campaigns in order to satisfy their own personal gains. This emphasizes the importance of research and certification when looking for NGOs to volunteer with.

At the end of the day, the decision to volunteer revolves around three main groups of questions.

• Personal → Is this the work I am interested in? What does the service description entail? Am I willing to commit to this project?
• Communal → Is the organization efficient in its work or will I be wasting my efforts? Is my help needed, or should I go help other organizations?
• Ethical → Are they trustworthy? Are they biased in their work? Are their goals set for personal or communal benefit? Am I working for personal gain or to improve my community?

In conclusion, volunteering in certified and registered NGOs can be a beautiful experience that is truly eye-opening and rich in memories, lessons, and stories. Considering the many irreplaceable positives and avoidable negatives, volunteering is a wide and rich world with so much to offer whether personally, socially, emotionally, or opportunistically. It may take lots of courage and strength to volunteer and give it your all, but there will always be someone to support and guide you through the process. You just have to take the first step and sign up for a cause.