Volunteer work abroad can offer you an unparalleled short-term opportunity to challenge yourself, but there are many ways to pursue rewarding volunteer work without leaving your local area. Besides the lower cost of participation to you if you’re buying a bus ticket (not a plane ticket!), you also have the potential to be involved with something long term: to watch the fruits of your contribution grow over time, to develop a new skill in a meaningful way, and to build a long term relationship with an organisation, its staff and its constituents.
There are many ways that volunteers can help organizations. Volunteers are often a resource that many organizations could not otherwise afford. But that’s not to believe the emphasis should lie on the monetary value of volunteers alone.
“If you gave me all the money in the world to hire all of the staff I needed, I would *still* create high-responsibility roles for volunteers, to give the community a way to be involved in the organization and a direct view of the work we do, to show donors that the community believes in the work we do, to get alternative viewpoints (sometimes volunteers will criticize in ways staff may be reluctant to do), and oh-so-many other non-monetary reasons.” (Jayne Cravens, Volunteer Manager, USA, February 22, 2009)
School systems also often utilise volunteers to increase the quality of the education that they are able to offer to students. Being involved with your child’s school’s Parents Committee is one way, but there are a host of local literacy programs available where you can directly impact on a childs education on a day-to-day basis!
In some countries, research has indicated that whenever the economy is down, the need for volunteers and resources increases greatly. Although it is very difficult to put a dollar value on volunteer time (partly because it may be missing the point!) it is reasonably safe to assume that even in Australia, in times of financial hardship when donations are lower, volunteers may be particularly welcome.
There are a myriad of additional personal benefits of volunteering too: beyond even the very important relationships and skills that you will develop. Volunteering often provides a great amount of perspective. You will be able to see the world in the eyes of those in more need than you, and to act and provide help in that area is highly rewarding. Volunteering is also a fun and easy way to explore your interests and passions, that may give you the confidence to one day make a bigger change than you expected! Additionally doing volunteer work you find meaningful and interesting can be a relaxing, energizing escape from your day-to-day routine of work, school, or family commitments. It can provide you with renewed creativity, motivation, and vision that can carry over into your personal and professional life. It has been known to help combat depression, social isolation, and even promote a longer and healthier life!
But ultimately volunteering is not about you – it’s about other people. Volunteering is a way to become part of a positive change in the world. That’s what matters the most.
All this and more is available to you when you ‘act local’ with volunteering! If you are interested in exploring what this could mean for you in the local area, contact the Liverpool Volunteer Resource Centre.
When arranging a placement, our Volunteer Coordinator considers the candidate’s personal goals, life skills, prior work experience and length of probable commitment, as well as the needs of the host organisation. The final decision regarding the acceptance of a volunteer into a particular program, organisation or project will always be taken by the organisation itself, so you can always be sure that when you are offered a place, you will be welcomed!
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Thank you for the useful information – its really very good that people share their experience and time with each other.
ALL this information was useful – never knew such a broad range of volunteer opportunities were available! This is exciting!
Some good points – I was looking for this site because I wanted to volunteer anyway, but you have helped me solidify it – thank you!
I am impressed with this blog. For a while, I told myself I should be trying to volunteer, though I am not having the know-how on how to do it. Now I have some clues, thanks!
Volunteer recruiters will use a specific language style and words in the job advert itself and these are the words that should appear in your customised curriculum vitae which you will send as your volunteer work application. Do you give this advice to your volunteers?
Greetings, I’m interested in volunteering and this site was very helpful.
Although french is my first language I was pleased reading it. Something I might like to do when I come to Sydney for volunteer work later in the year.
Keep posting stuff like this i really like local volunteer work.
Cool, there is actually some good points on here some of my readers will maybe find this relevant, will send a link, many thanks.
Have been looking for something to fill in my time and give back, great to know the benefits of volunteering locally, especially in Sydney! Thanks!
BTW – is this volunteering page the best one to find the most recent volunteering opportunities nearby me in Liverpool/Fairfield?
Nice site, easy on the eyes and great content too. Cute photos! Are they people you volunteer with?
You make a good case sir!
Volunteers arise!
Just watched BeerFest last night – now I’m all excited about volunteering at Oktoberfest. Do you do any jobs like that?
Cafe Bar in Norwest Sydney Baulkham Hills district
Do people really need help learning how to volunteer? How sad. We used to all know our neighbours and their needs!
I will be vying for an interview with a volunteer job Tuesday. I hope for the best.
Hello. I am Kim Livingers, delighted to make your acquaintance.
I like the title you gave the post: “Volunteer Work? Why Get Involved With Local Volunteering?” – I think more people need to be asking themselves this question.
Good answers too.
Thanks,
Kim Livingers