The term volunteer work is used to describe the actions of people who donate their time and effort for charitable or humanitarian purposes. This selfless act has been shown to provide many health and social benefits for the volunteer. This article explores the many aspects of volunteer work, including its role in societal change and its surprising effects on mental health.
There are dozens of different types of volunteer work. People often choose a type of volunteering based on their personal interests or experiences. For example, a person who has experienced domestic violence might volunteer with organisations that offer support for victims. Another common type of volunteering is fundraising. For example, people might run marathons or volunteer at events like Daffodil Day to raise money for cancer research, care and support.
People also volunteer to learn new skills and develop their talents. For example, a student might volunteer as a tutor for children or help with the maintenance of a library. Many people also use volunteer work to meet other like-minded people and make friends.
Regardless of the type of volunteer work, it’s important that volunteers are precise about what they do and what they expect from their volunteering experience. This is why it’s essential that nonprofits clearly define their expectations, roles and scope of work. This clarity helps ensure that volunteers understand what they can reasonably expect to achieve in the scope of their volunteering activity and prevents them from feeling exploited.