HOW TO BECOME A VOLUNTEER?

“IT STARTS WITH ONE”

“Volunteers don’t get paid, not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless.”

What is volunteerism and its necessity?

Volunteering is a selfless act that benefits individuals, communities, nations, and the global community.

• Volunteering is to step forward and help others in danger.
• It can be paid or non-paid.
• It’s a human thing.
• It gives peace of mind.
• Volunteers are typically individuals who exhibit goodness and compassion.

VOLUNTEERS ARE WORKING…

IN THE CONTEXT OF BANGLADESH,

• For the orphans
• For older people
• To improve health services
• For the environment
• To improve the education system
• For the poor people
• For cleanliness

IN THE CONTEXT OF THE WORLD,

• For corona pandemics
• For climate change
• For environment
• For disaster
• For the war
• For the poor people
• For the making green earth

How to become a volunteer?

• BEING HUMAN: To be an effective volunteer, one must embody humanity, as volunteering inherently revolves around helping and serving fellow humans. Without this human connection, fulfilling the role will be challenging. 
• PASSION: Everyone should develop a genuine passion for contributing to society, country, or the world.

• SOFT SKILL: Everyone should have soft skills like communication skills, adaptability skills, teamwork skills, and so on.

• SELECT A FIELD: He should select a specific area of interest, such as healthcare, environmental, or climate, where you can provide your efforts effectively.

• SEARCHING A FIELD: He should research and identify organizations in his chosen field that are seeking volunteers.

• APPLY: He should apply for volunteer positions with these organizations, expressing his commitment skills, and passion.

• NETWORKING BUILD-UP: He should build a network within the volunteering community to stay informed about potential opportunities and collaborate with like-minded individuals. It will help individuals to find volunteer opportunities. 

• EXTRA CURRICULUM:  He should engage in extracurricular activities or additional learning sessions to enrich his qualifications and skills as a volunteer.

What are the qualifications to be a volunteer?

• TEAMWORK: You can collaborate effectively within a team.

• LEADERSHIP SKILL: Capability to take on leadership roles when needed.
• PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILL: You must have proficiency and the ability to find solutions to challenges.

• BASIC IT SKILL: You must have familiarity with essential IT tools and skills like Photoshop, Illustrator, Microsoft Word, etc.

• COMMUNICATION SKILL: You must have strong communication skills encompassing listening, speaking, email writing, providing feedback, and using appropriate body language.

• EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE: You must have a strong sense of emotional awareness and understanding.

• EMPATHY: You must have the capacity to demonstrate empathy and compassion towards others.

Volunteer for crisis response:

1. NATURAL DISASTER: 

Volunteerism plays a crucial role in responding to and recovering from natural disasters. When disasters strike, they often overwhelm the capabilities of local authorities and organizations. Here is how volunteerism contributes to natural disaster response: providing rapid assistance, leveraging local knowledge, providing community support, offering a flexible workforce, complementing professional services, and demonstrating empathy in times of crisis.

1. MAN-MADE DISASTER: Volunteerism also plays a significant role in responding to and recovering from man-made disasters, such as industrial accidents, acts of terrorism, conflicts, and other human-caused emergencies.

1. COVID-19 PANDEMIC: Volunteerism has played a significant role in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, which can be considered a global health and humanitarian crisis. We saw how they offered virtual and remote support to individuals dealing with increased stress, anxiety, and isolation due to lockdowns and social distancing measures at that time.

Ability to adapt in crisis:

1. EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
2. PHYSICAL FITNESS
3. MENTAL FITNESS

Moreover, volunteering is a meaningful and impactful way to benefit yourself, your community, and your country. It offers an opportunity to make a positive difference, connect with new people who share common interests, and engage in enjoyable and fulfilling activities.

So 

“GIVING BACK THROUGH VOLUNTEERING”

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Writer,

Md Raihan Kabir

Intern, Content Writing Department

YSSE