HOPE worldwide of Canada  
 

Grow, Give back, Hope!

Benefits of Volunteering:

Through my volunteer activities on Committees and Not-for-Profit Organizations ranging from Fine & Gross Motor Facilitator, Toronto Association for Community Living, Canvasser, United Way to Treasurer, Education at Work Ontario, there is an intrinsic sense of completion and fulfillment. I have had the chance to develop my creativity and to tap into the talents of my colleagues. I have learned dedication, commitment and to advocate for others who are vulnerable in our society. I addition, I have seen the importance of contributing to our society, and applying our abilities to helping others. I gained invaluable skills such as problems solving, leadership, time management, communication which are utilized in all aspect of our lives. Volunteering has been an excellent medium to spiritual growth and intellectual stimulation. As a Career Educator, previously at the University of Toronto and currently in the co-op program at the University of Waterloo, I have been blessed with the opportunity to inspire students and provide them with the tools and building blocks to determine their career path.

Volunteerism presents you with wonderful opportunities for professional development and personal growth.

  1. Provides an excellent opportunity to build connections and grow your social and professional networking base. Allows you to meet new people, including leaders in your community. You foster life-long relationships/friendships, get the scoop about job openings, employment information, and create great references.

  2. Creates a wonderful vehicle to develop new skills and refine existing ones. Job responsibilities can change over time, and you may no longer be doing things you used to do, and liked. Through volunteering, you can sharpen your skills and abilities, build your awareness of employment trends, become more marketable, and explore new career paths. Employers are often seeking well-rounded individuals who have good teamwork and goal setting skills. Serving on a volunteer committee or board is an excellent way to learn group dynamics, teamwork and achieve desired outcomes. Involvement in the planning, co-ordinating and implementing of fundraising events and community programs is a wonderful way to enhance your planning, creativity, organizational and budgeting skills.

  3. Develops leadership skills and the opportunity to mentor and coach others. Supervising and training other volunteers provides an excellent opportunity to develop facilitation, supervisory and training skills. By observing the people around you, you can begin to identify the leadership qualities that you most respect, and develop those qualities in yourself. You will cultivate a deeper understanding of your community, about trends and issues, about people and about resources. All of which can help you foster your leadership potential.

  4. Provides hope and assistance to those in need and inspires you to contribute your skills, knowledge and talent to an organization, a cause, a goal. You can volunteer at a time that fits your schedule. Volunteering is an excellent way to put vision into action and become active in your local and global community.

  5. Contributes to the success of your community and generates an inner feeling of good will, happiness and spirituality. Volunteering allows you to become passionate about life and promotes a sense of purpose. Research has shown that people who volunteer live longer and have a more positive outlook on life. 1

  6. Raises your profile within your community, organizations and committees you are affiliated with (work, churches, societies). Volunteering can expose you to a wide range of people, including many strong, influential community leaders. Through volunteer work, you can build your personal brand and become known as a “solution maker”, “creative thinker”, “passionate, dedicated, person”, “person of integrity”.

  7. Creates an environment of engagement, collaboration, support and respect. Through volunteering you not only get involved, but you can encourage others to join you, and craft new solutions to community problems. Working in volunteer settings will help you to develop strategic thinking, change management and conflict resolution skills. Provides a great instrument for collaboration and creative problem solving.

Re-energizes and renews your faith in life and society. Volunteer work relating to a personal interest or hobby can be fun, relaxing and energizing. Volunteering fosters hope not only in your life, but in the lives of people you help. It allows you to empower yourself and your community.

Be an active participant in your life, grow and develop, motivate others, embrace the journey, have faith and give back to your community.

footnotes

  1. Corporation for National and Community Service, Office of Research and Policy Development. The Health Benefits of Volunteering: A Review of Recent Research. Washington, DC 2007.