My life would look very different if I had not started Volunteering. Academically good, I am a post graduate having a steady and upward career graph. I aim to create a much bigger network so that I can help the society by introducing and inspiring new volunteers to share and teach their skills to the less privileged sections of the society.
I aspire to write about “Student Volunteering“, why it is important and how does iVolunteer helps students who wishes to Volunteer?
Volunteering is a great way for students to have fun while exploring new activities and simultaneously build skills that will help them build their careers meaningfully.
Keeping this in mind students who show interest in volunteering are counselled to identify areas they would like to contribute towards. They are required to register as volunteers with iVolunteer and this also allows them to think about what skills they want to share and which areas they want to grow their expertise in.
Once this is done the student begins receiving notifications of projects and they may choose projects they like based on areas of interest and availability e.g. weekends or alternate evenings. Simultaneously volunteers are also encouraged to go through our website, where multiple volunteer projects including those that one can contribute to ‘virtually’ or ‘online’ are listed.
All volunteers who sign up are invited to attend a ‘Volunteer Orientation’ which prepares them for their foray into volunteering. Topics like what to expect and how to make the most of your experience are addressed. They also meet others who are volunteering and share learning and experiences.
Why volunteering services are important while studying?
Volunteering is a great way to pick up new skills and build on one’s expertise. It also allows volunteers an opportunity to work in a field or on projects that they believe they will like but are uncertain about. This exposure coupled with a access to limited resources encourages volunteers to think out of the box and face challenges confidently.
All of these experiences enrich student life while giving them a chance to receive ‘On the job’ training. Volunteers usually work on live projects so students are able to see and understand first-hand how their work is helping, unlike other ‘projects’ they take up. To this is added the joy of helping make a difference!
Today business networking platforms are also recognising volunteer work as a great way to showcase one’s skills while building your resume. It’s what sets one student apart from another and is thus a value add to every CV.
Volunteering services are important while studying because it helps to build upon skills one already have and use them to benefit the greater community. For instance, if someone holds a successful sales position, he / she raise awareness for their favorite cause as a volunteer advocate, while further developing and improving public speaking, communication, and marketing skills. Many volunteering opportunities provide extensive training.
In short volunteering is a great way to challenge oneself, gain knowledge and hands on experience, make a difference, sharpen one’s skills, build up a network, make new friends and have fun.
What are the different places/causes where a student can volunteer?
Students interested in volunteering can begin by identifying which areas they want to contribute towards and how much time they have to spare. Non-profits are always looking for enthusiastic and committed people to help them so finding an opportunity will not be too difficult.
Let’s start your journey of Volunteering with us. Sign up now, http://www.iVolunteer.in
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