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Please VISIT these websites to develop your IDEAS and VOCABULARY about the subject:
Now READ about some YOUNG PEOPLE who have already volunteered abroad:
What is voluntary work
To volunteer, means simply, to be
motivated and give one's time or energies to work towards a project or cause
that you are interested in.
Why should people volunteer?
Volunteering gives individuals the chance to explore
avenues that would not usually be open to them. This experience enables an
exchange of cultural and social contact between volunteers and their host
nationals.
It enables people to learn new skills and languages, to
develop and gain practical experience in the field in, sometimes demanding
conditions, and to develop leadership and teamwork skills. In addition,
personal development which is difficult to evaluate, is one of the greatest
benefits to working and travelling amongst people from different cultures.
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Voluntary work - what's it all about?
The main feature of this sector is the lack of profit and the dedication to a particular cause. The
voluntary sector in the UK
Benefits of volunteering
· Learning
new skills – these can include practical skills as well as ‘soft’
skills such as communication, time management and problem solving.
· Experience –
you can gain valuable experience for an area that you would like a career in,
for example teaching, PR or social work.
The same is true if you need experience to be considered for a
vocational course. Volunteering also
offers you a ‘safe’ environment in which to test out certain career areas to
see if they are something that you wish to pursue.
· Meeting new people - volunteering allows you to meet people outwith your own social circle.
These can be students from other degree courses and universities, people in a
different age group from you and people from different backgrounds. It can be a chance to find out more about the
community you live in outside of university.
In these situations you will no doubt form friendships but you will also
find this an opportunity for you to network now and in the future.
· ‘Giving something back’ - for some people volunteering is entirely
altruistic.
· Learning more about a cause - if there is a cause that you have a special
affinity with, then through volunteering with a relevant organisation you can
learn more about it.
· Improving confidence and feeling of self-worth - being an important part of a team or being
highly valued by an individual you are working with can do wonders for your
self-esteem.
It is important to remember that all types
of employers view volunteering as just as valuable, and in some cases
more valuable than, paid work.
What's in it for me?
·
a sense of personal
fulfilment?
·
an opportunity to 'give
something back'?
·
involvement in the community?
·
the chance to meet new
people?
·
to acquire new skills?
·
the opportunity to explore
new areas of work; test out suitability and commitment before
making career decisions?
·
necessary pre-course experience?
·
enhancing your CV?
What can I
offer?
·
Personal
qualities -
projects seeking volunteers tend to value enthusiasm, new ideas and hard work
more than specific skills. People skills — cheerfulness, patience and
understanding — are most important.
·
Expertise - particular abilities will
always be welcomed. Conservation projects appeal to those with practical or
technical skills. Teaching, advisory and counselling activities demand high
levels of communication skills. Being able to drive could be a useful asset.
·
Affinity - support for a cause,
concern for a special project or group of people or sharing the aims,
objectives and values of a specific organisation could lend support to your
desire to be a volunteer.
·
Time
commitment
- how much time can you realistically spare? Some voluntary projects may only
need you on an ‘as and when available’ basis. Others, particularly when working
in a supporting or teaching capacity or when specific training is offered, will
look for regular and sustained involvement. You may need to agree a mutual trial
period with the voluntary organisation.
Types
of work
·
Social care - Typical
roles include: advice worker (e.g. advising on consumer, legal and employment
issues); drug user support worker; kitchen assistant for homeless people;
project organiser.
·
Environment
and Animals
- Typical roles include: conservation volunteer; researcher; animal fosterer;
farming assistant; rescue worker; fundraiser.
·
Education and Youth Work - Typical
roles include: literacy/numeracy tutor; IT tutor; Girl Guides/Scout leader;
youth leader; student tutor in schools.
·
Children and Families - Typical roles include: befriender; childsitter;
telephone counsellor; crèche worker; mentor
·
Health - Typical
roles include: hospital “buddy” (i.e. providing friendship to people in long
term care); information officer; providing therapeutic care (e.g. massages for
those in hospitals, hospices and respite care); ward helpers; care
worker.
·
Arts, Sports and Culture - Typical
roles include: music group facilitator; choir organiser; crafts group support
assistant; historic house guide; lifeguard; sports coach; referee
·
Equality - Typical
roles include: web designer; committee member; administrator.
·
Community Development - Typical
roles include: community radio staff; assistant in children and women’s groups;
journalist (community magazines/newspapers).
·
Working with the Elderly - Typical roles include: IT teacher; mini bus driver;
café assistant; social club helper; day care assistant.
Volunteering all over the world
Types of work
What you could be doing in many countries is very varied. The main types of volunteer work that
students and graduates are involved in are:
·
Conservation - projects
include monitoring species populations and habitats on land and in the
sea. Some projects also include an
educational element, for example you would teach the importance of conservation
to local people.
·
Construction - building
places that will benefit whole communities, such as schools, community centres
and houses.
· Teaching/Education - this
includes teaching English, sports and music to young children through to
adults. Health education is also a
popular area to volunteer in and can often be done in conjunction with a
teaching placement
·
Youth Work - includes
working with children in orphanages, children with disabilities and street
children.
· Social and Community Work - working in a community, sometimes with specific
groups, such as women, to promote awareness of a wide range of issues
·
Healthcare - using skills already gained in healthcare in projects overseas. Medical students early on in their studies can be involved in some projects.
Healthcare - using skills already gained in healthcare in projects overseas. Medical students early on in their studies can be involved in some projects.
