The theme for International Volunteer Day in 2022 is “solidarity through volunteering,” which promotes the collective power of humanity to achieve positive change via volunteering. This theme is somewhat aligned with what HF has always been working on, which is to assist the impoverished in altering their life by accepting assistance. HF believes that individuals can join them in a variety of ways, including monetary or in-kind gifts, volunteering, and active participation in their events. The UN General Assembly was the first to realize the need to recognize the contributions of volunteers worldwide. The significance of volunteer work was highlighted in resolution 40/212, passed on December 17, 1985. Therefore, December 5 has been designated as the International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development.
The day is a celebration of the hundreds of people who give their time to volunteering. Despite repeated failures, they keep working in secret. These volunteers put in long hours in every field. Most volunteers don’t get compensated either. Activities may include wildlife rescue, aiding the elderly, and cancer treatment. At HF, we believe that kind of contribution is worthy of honor and recognition. All of us benefit from their efforts, as they ensure our safety and the happiness of others. We celebrate these influential people in our culture today. Many of us have grown up in societies that value education highly and tend to take it for granted. In contrast, HF is a knowledge-based and honorable organization that is altering the course of young women’s lives in these developing nations.
Volunteerism is deeply ingrained in HF culture, as demonstrated by the organization’s massive response to the 2022 flood crisis on a purely voluntary basis. Volunteering is one of HF’s primary strategies for combating social isolation. HF sees volunteerism as a strength that must be carefully incorporated into planning, policy, and program design. For instance, lending a hand to those in need is a great approach to becoming more involved in your neighborhood. Volunteering has a multiplicity of positive effects on those involved. The ability to help others without expecting anything in return is why volunteering is so crucial. People choose to volunteer for many different reasons, including helping others, giving back to the community, and supporting important charitable projects. In addition, helping others through volunteer work is a great way to make a difference in the world.
Moreover, volunteering can help you in numerous ways, both in your personal life and your career as volunteering has been shown to have beneficial effects on both a person’s mental and physical well-being. Helping others can make you feel good about yourself, which can boost your self-esteem. Also, because it forces you out of your shell and into the company of others, volunteering can help reduce the likelihood that you’ll experience depression. As a volunteer, you’ll probably be moving and lifting a wide array of goods, or at the least, moving your body and having to exercise, which is great for your physical health. Volunteering is a great way for people to meet new people and improve their communication and social skills, laying the groundwork for fulfilling friendships and romantic partnerships. Volunteering is a great way for introverts and shy people to get out of their shells and meet new people while also making a positive impact in their local community. This allows the person to grow as a social being and as a communicator. Volunteering is a great way to meet new people and develop existing friendships because you share a common interest. Giving back to the community through volunteer work can make the volunteer’s life more fulfilling. Similarly, volunteering can free up time and resources for you to focus on other interests and pursuits.
Moreover, we at HF feel that volunteering may also be beneficial for individuals in a professional context, such as:
- In addition to the personal growth benefits, volunteering might lead you along the road that’s best for your professional goals. Volunteering can be a great way to test the tides and see whether a potential career path is something you’d be interested in pursuing, especially if your work falls within an area that reflects your interests. In addition, the skills and interests you develop while volunteering can help you in the workplace. Through community service, you might learn, for instance, that you thrive in an administrative role rather than one centered on sales or metrics. In the end, your time spent volunteering can inform your choice of profession and your evaluation of your professional aspirations.
- Volunteering is a great way to learn about new trends in the workplace and the wider community. Volunteering is a great way for people to develop their existing abilities and acquire new ones, both of which are assets in the workplace. If you volunteer in a library, you might pick up some useful skills, such as how to utilize specialized software or improve your spreadsheeting practices. Some duties may prove difficult for volunteers, especially if they are entering an area of work with which they are inexperienced. Giving back to the community in this way might present interesting opportunities to grow and develop your abilities. If you want to show potential employers that you are up for a challenge, volunteering in an area that is completely foreign to you is a terrific method to do just that.
- Occasionally, a volunteer’s efforts will be recognized and rewarded with a paid position with the organization. Hiring managers who are trying to fill vacancies internally will first look at current employees and those who have volunteered for the company in the past. Volunteers may have an advantage over new hires when paid roles become available. For instance, a volunteer who has been working with the same organization for three years will be familiar with the staff, policies, and norms of that organization.
To wrap it all up, we at HF believe that “Solidarity through Volunteering” is an initiative that encourages people to work together for a better world by using their talents and skills in service to others. The act of volunteering has been linked to improvements in both psychological and physiological health. Introverts and shy people can benefit greatly from volunteering because it forces them out of their comfort zones and into the world. Giving back to the community in which you live, or work is a fantastic way to stay aware of emerging trends in both your field and the world at large.