ALT-6 Nonprofit Service Sector
There are many ways by which one can volunteer.
Step 1:After establishing that you wish to volunteer, contribute to society and help the less fortunate, the next logical step is to decide which organisation or cause you wish to support.
There are many welfare, charitable and non-profit organisations out there, each specialising in a segment of population whom they are assisting. These range from the elderly, the poor/destitute/hungry, orphans, children, the mentally ill, the physically handicapped, the minority races, minority social groups etc.
Search for a listing of such organisations and zoom in on those whose cause you identify with. Then, try to find out more information about these organisations and their activities. Information listed on the respective organisation's web site will give you an idea of the focus of the organisation. You may even wish to consider attending some of the activities of these organisations to see how well you fit in with the culture of the organisation and its staff and other volunteers.
Step 2:After determining the exact organisation/group which you wish to volunteer with, the next step is to contact its volunteers co-ordinator(s) to find out which are the areas/activities which they need volunteers in.
It is good to be honest about the type of activities you are interested in, as well as the amount of time per week/month that you are prepared to commit to the cause. To be effective in your volunteering efforts, there has to be a balance between the number of hours you can commit to the cause vis-a-vis the time you need to spend with family, friends, work and leisure.
If you do too much too quickly, there is the risk of fatigue setting in, with the possibility of burn-out. On the other hand, if there is a lack of regular participation, it is difficult to see how you can really contribute to the cause, if at all.
Step 3:The exact form of your means of participation can also be discussed and negotiated with the respective co-ordinator. There are different forms to fit different personalities and preferences. These include:* Fund-raising.* Running of actual activities in person, for e.g. helping out with planning, logistics or publicity, or conducting activities and programmes for the beneficiaries of the organisation.* Outreach work done on the internet, for e.g. replying to e-mails or answering queries in chat rooms etc.
The bottomline is to find a volunteer task/duty that you enjoy doing, feel you can contribute towards, and which is sustainable over the long run.
Happy volunteering!
