Why volunteering is not only good for the community, but also for you

Photo by Seth Butler/ CC BY-NC-SA

Volunteering is a selfless deed. Because of the high demands of daily living these days, many find it almost impossible to make time for a volunteer job. Being able to set aside time to help others is very altruistic. Even though the true essence of volunteering is to make a difference in this world without really expecting anything in return, you’ll be surprised to know about the many benefits volunteerism can bring to your overall well-being.

One of the mental health benefits you get from volunteering is it helps prevent depression. Because you are, most of the time, working with and reaching out to others in your community, it gives you the feeling of social inclusion. You get more opportunities to meet new people and make friends. Aside from new friends, volunteering also gives you new learning, experiences and skills. Contributing to the community gives a person a sense of pride and fulfillment, which boost self-confidence.

In addition to its positive effects to mental health, volunteering has physical health benefits too. Studies done by Carnegie Mellon University in the U.S. showed that those who volunteered for 200 hours a year were less likely to develop hypertension, as their blood pressure were always lower. The respondents who volunteered had lower mortality risk after 4 years as well. But make sure that your intent for volunteering is not only for self-oriented reasons. The study also stated that those who volunteer only for personal gain still had mortality risk the same as non-volunteers.

According to Helpguide.org, here are some questions you need to ask yourself when finding the right volunteer job:

• Would you like to work with people or would you rather work in solitude?
• Do you prefer to work alone or as part of a team?
• Are you better behind the scenes or do you prefer to take a more visible role?
• How much time are you willing to commit?
• How much responsibility are you ready to take on?
• What skills can you bring a volunteer job?
• What causes are important to you?

Once you’ve answered all those questions, you’ll be on the right track to find the right opportunity. One of these volunteer opportunities might interest you:

Become a mentor

If you’re the type of person who believes that the future is in the hands of our youth, then the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada might be the perfect fit. The organization matches volunteers to children to become their mentor. This mentoring program gives young people the chance to reach their full potential and you the opportunity to change the course of your community’s future.

Help the elderlies

Filipinos are always being taught early in life the importance of caring for the elderly. That is why many Filipinos have a soft spot for the aged. In Canada, there are many retirement homes looking for volunteers. Volunteer duties may include running errands and reading books and the newspaper for the elderlies, and becoming a conversation partner.

Care for Mother Earth

There are many ways to care for our environment, but some people are still clueless about it. The Environmental Volunteer Network will give you opportunities to connect with different environmental organizations and municipal agencies, which will provide you hands-on experience and training in the field of conservation.

Build communities of hope

Gawad Kalinga (GK) is offering “volun-tours” to those living outside the Philippines who are interested in building homes for the less fortunate and in learning more about the Filipino culture. GK volunteers participate in activities that range from the construction of infrastructure to facilitating support programs, such as health, education, values formation and productivity. As of April 8, almost 2,000 houses (out of its 6,000 target houses) have already been funded for the Yolanda (Haiyan) reconstruction project.

For other volunteer opportunities, you can also check Volunteer Canada’s website or visit a volunteer center in your area.