“What’s the point of wasting my time and energy by engaging myself in non-paid voluntary work?” – Does this question knock your mind when anyone wants to convince you to be a volunteer? It must be circulating in the minds of all those individuals who have never been broadly introduced to the term “Volunteerism” because most people think it to be something that will give them nothing in return! Don’t you think that they’re living in a fool’s paradise?
Volunteerism is not mere selfless non-paid work rather it is more than that! To be more specific, it is a form of assistance in which people actively participate in helping others and make commitments to the development of society without expecting any financial rewards. However, even if volunteerism is a selfless job, people can heighten the overall benefits of volunteering throughout their lives and this is what we call the ‘Ripple Effect of Volunteerism”.
Imagine yourself standing near a still pond. Now, picture yourself picking up a stone and throwing it into the water. Have you noticed that the stillness of the water is not there anymore? The endless ripples are spreading outwardly, making it a mesmerizing scene! And the most interesting fact is that the entire water in the pond is getting mobilized just by one stone’s throw! This is exactly how the Ripple effect of volunteerism works! To be a volunteer, you only need to have a strong passion for volunteerism and the force of that passion will drive you further to turn over a new leaf in your life.
In the initial days of volunteering, you may not realize what the ripple effect of volunteerism is bringing up for you! As time goes by, you’ll notice that you’re getting more than what you’ve just expected.
Some of the noteworthy benefits of volunteering are highlighted in the following section:
- Develop Situation-demanding Skills:
Through volunteering, you can explore many unconventional arenas, and working with like-minded individuals will help you gather diverse skills such as leadership skills, communication skills, problem-solving skills, and some other skills that will certainly be the driving force for you to ride the professional ladder.
- Being a Household Name:
If you like to do Yeoman’s service, you’ll have to make headway to be teamed up with the volunteers of your society and try every possible thing to make a positive change in society. This is also how you can be a household name that other youths would like to follow, just like a philanthropist!
- Build Long-Lasting Relationships:
If you are someone who wants to do something worth remembering for the community, then you can engage yourself in volunteering. As you do humanitarian work in a team there, your bond will be stronger with other volunteers with whom you’re on a mission to do noble deeds.
- Reduce Stress and Improve Mental Health:
Have you ever realized how good it feels from within when someone has benefited from one of your works? You feel a strong sense of contentment at that moment, right? When you’re completely indulged in volunteering, people around you will be compelled to acknowledge your selfless work. Thus, volunteerism can reduce your mental stress and release your dopamine hormone if you find immense pleasure in helping others.
- Promoting Social Justice and Solving Ongoing Problems:
The escalating gap between the rich and the poor in our society is indeed a concerning matter. Volunteers, in this aspect, can help reduce the gap between rich and poor by initiating situation-demanding steps and resettling social justice. Moreover, you can hit the nail on the head by addressing any ongoing problem and making a proper plan with your team to solve that problem in your society.
Therefore, sow an eminent seed of volunteerism within you today so that you can reap the enormous benefits of it in the long run! Now, the choice is up to you, whether you want to ignite your passion for Volunteerism or not!
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Writer
Taspia Taher
Intern, Content Writing Department
YSSE