If you’re considering devoting some of your free time to volunteering activities, you are not alone. Volunteering has skyrocketed in popularity in recent years, to the extent that 25% of the adult population of the United States, around 63 million people, have participated in a volunteering program.
If you’re unsure why you should volunteer and help others, it is worth going through some of the key benefits of volunteering, and how they can change your life for the better.
Whatever your motivation, there are always good reasons to volunteer. Here are just a few of the key volunteering benefits that you should know about before you begin your journey.
1. Volunteering Helps You Connect with Others
Perhaps one of the most important benefits of volunteer work is how it can connect you to the people around you. When you spend your days helping others, you quickly develop a strong sense of empathy.
You learn to see the world through the eyes of those less privileged than you and you can become inspired to make the world a better place. There are few things more fulfilling that the ways that volunteering brings you closer to your fellow man.
2. Volunteering is Good for Your Career
Volunteering is a simple and effective way to get valuable career experience in virtually any field imaginable. It is no secret that employers will always look at resumes to see evidence of volunteering, as this shows that a candidate is committed, passionate, selfless, and independent.
What’s more, the huge diversity of the volunteering sector means that you can get experience in virtually any field. Let’s say you’re interested in a career in social work or with local government. For that, volunteering with an organization such as Youthline could put you on your dream career path.
3. Volunteering Teaches You New Skills
Volunteering throws you into a situation you would never have otherwise found yourself in. It is an invaluable opportunity to learn new skills that you can take with you wherever you go.
There are the more obvious health benefits of volunteering, such as increased emotional intelligence, wellbeing, and people skills. Then there are the more practical skills you can learn, such as how to work in a large organization. The list is endless.
4. Volunteering Helps You Give Back to Your Community
If you feel like you owe something to the community you live in and love, then the best thing you can do is volunteer. All communities need a little extra help.
If you wish to be a respected and valuable member of your community, think about the ways that you can donate your time to help it. This could mean lending a hand at your local library, feeding the homeless, or helping out with voter registration drives, to name a few.
5. Volunteering Can Take You Anywhere
If you have a keen sense of adventure, then the limitless opportunities available to you through volunteering should appeal to you. You could volunteer via an international scheme.
This could take you to remote villages in Tanzania, vulnerable marine ecosystems in Fiji, or low-income schools in Brazil. Every corner of the globe has volunteering opportunities for anyone dedicated and passionate enough to help out.
The Benefits of Volunteering Abroad
If one of the key benefits of volunteering for you is the ability to see the world, then it’s time you started doing your research.
If you wish to find out more about some of the world’s most exciting destinations, we’ve got you covered. Make sure to check out our Travel & Leisure section for detailed guides on anywhere you could wish to go.
