WMSU-ISMP-GU-001.

00
Effective Date: 7-DEC-2016

National Service Training Program – Literacy Training Service

Volunteerism

Volunteering is a great act of kindness. It involves caring, loving, and sharing of

our time, our heart, and our soul. I believe volunteering makes a person feel empowered
because we made someone else's life better or we helped our community in some way.
Volunteering also shows that we are generous, compassionate, and good-hearted
because we are kind enough to give up a few hours of our time and put it into the
community. It is a way of helping others without expecting anything in return. I believe
that everyone should give back to their community because volunteering not only makes
us feel better as a person but it also helps the people who really need it. It gives me a
sense of self-worth, like what I did actually matters, and it does.
Volunteering gives you an opportunity to change people's lives, including your
own. It gives you the satisfaction of playing a role in someone else's life, helping people
who may not be able to help themselves. Volunteering is a way of giving back to your
community while developing important social skills, and gaining valuable work
experience all at the same time.

But how can I get a job if all they want is experience, you ask? That's where
volunteering comes in. If you're looking for work, volunteering is a good way to gain
experience and references for your course of life. Many people work unpaid in order to
gain experience in very competitive fields such as television, but some people may not
describe them as volunteers. Well then, what exactly is "volunteering"? Many would
describe it as any unpaid job, which involves spending time doing something that aims
to benefit others. In that case, volunteering at an animal hospital, for instance, would be
a great opportunity. We've all seen the stories on TV about animals in need. This is

Page 1 of 6

CONTROLLED COPY
 WMSU-ISMP-GU-001.00
Effective Date: 7-DEC-2016

where you take charge of your life and contribute a little of your time and energy into
helping others. You're bound to get more out of it than you put in.

There are so many beneficial ways of getting involved in and giving back to your
community. Not only is volunteering a rewarding experience, but it helps teenagers'
reputations. By giving up a few hours of your day to clean up the local community park,
you may bring a lifetime of happiness in some child's life. Or provide shelter and warmth
to a family who lives on the streets by volunteering to help in building them a home.
Why not spend a little time helping others, because in the end, what goes around comes
around.

Volunteering is not only effective, but it's a good way to meet people, learn, and
develop social skills. By helping or supporting others, you learn and use news.
Volunteering, something everyone talks about doing but hardly ever does it. As a
volunteer you gain a sense of pride in yourself, the work that you are doing and the
people you are investing in. Not many people are willing to put themselves out there and
say “put me where you need me, I'm here to help”. However this may be the case for
some, volunteering is well worth the trouble. People around the world need to volunteer
more because it benefits the people they are helping, volunteers gain a sense of pride
for their work and because people have a civic duty to volunteer. People, it is honestly
all about people. Volunteering is most beneficial to the people that you are helping.
Majority of volunteers work with underprivileged individuals who need help in various
areas of their lives, whether that be physical issues, emotional needs or environmental
needs.

Topic Outline:

1. Volunteerism
a. Concepts and Elements of Volunteerism

b. The Role of the Youth in Strengthening Volunteerism and the Importance of

Voluntary Action

Page 2 of 6

CONTROLLED COPY
 WMSU-ISMP-GU-001.00
Effective Date: 7-DEC-2016

Try This!

Directions: Answer the following questions.

1. Have you volunteered before? If so, where? For how long?

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

2. Why did you decide to volunteer now? Why did you choose independent living
services?
______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

Think Ahead!

Directions: Fill in each blank with appropriate word given inside the box.

Improve community benefits combat

Vital huge

Page 3 of 6

CONTROLLED COPY
 WMSU-ISMP-GU-001.00
Effective Date: 7-DEC-2016

Volunteering offers _______________ help to people in need, worthwhile causes, and

the _______________ but the benefits can be even greater for you, the volunteer.

Volunteering helping others can help you reduce stress, _______________ depression,

keep you stimulated and provide a sense of purpose. While it’s true that the more you

volunteer, the more _______________ you’ll experience, volunteering doesn’t have to

involve a long – term commitment or take a _______________ amount of time out of

your busy day. Giving in even simple ways can help others those in need and

_______________ your health and happiness.

Voluntary Work
Directions: Answer the following questions.

What are the people doing in the picture?

_________________________________________________
___ What kind of work do they do?
_________________________________________________
___
Are they obliged to do it?
_________________________________________________
___

What are the people doing in the picture?

____________________________________________________
What kind of work do they do?
____________________________________________________
Are they obliged to do it?
____________________________________________________

What are the people doing in the picture?

_________________________________________________
___ What kind of work do they do?
_________________________________________________
___
Are they obliged to do it?
_________________________________________________
___
Page 4 of 6

CONTROLLED COPY
 WMSU-ISMP-GU-001.00
Effective Date: 7-DEC-2016

Directions: Complete the sentences.

What do these people have in common? ____________________________________

What do they need? ____________________________________________________

See if you can do this!

Directions: Write the letter big letter T if True and F if False on the blank.

______ 1. Women volunteer more than men in every age group.

______ 2. Younger volunteers are more likely to accept an invitation to volunteer than
older volunteers.
______ 3. Organizations tend to prefer older volunteers.
______ 4. Psychologists say older volunteers tend to want to establish a legacy for
future generations versus focusing their emotional energy inward, on
themselves.
______ 5. Longitudinal studies confirm that volunteering can help people stay physically
healthy and active, improve emotional well-being, and even maintain good
cognitive functioning throughout life.
______ 6. High income volunteers receive greater health benefits from it than low
income volunteers.

Page 5 of 6

CONTROLLED COPY
 WMSU-ISMP-GU-001.00
Effective Date: 7-DEC-2016

______ 7. People with higher levels of education are more likely to volunteer than those
with less education.
______ 8. Even tenth graders lost weight and lowered their cholesterol levels by
volunteering. ______ 9. It has been proven that volunteering improves stamina,
memory, and flexibility, as well as levels of depression because it gives us
purpose in life.
______ 10. One study showed that volunteerism is associated with 10% fewer nights
spent in hospital.
______ 11. The health benefits of volunteering apply regardless of why one volunteers.
______ 12. Informed observers suspect that once you begin volunteering, you become
more other-focused.
______ 13. Almost 80% of Canadians 15 years old and over volunteer at least a little.
______ 14. 10% of volunteers account for 53% of all volunteer hours.
______ 15. Percentage wise, older people volunteer more often than younger people.

Prepared by:
Prof. Joebert P. Alberto
WMSU NSTP LTS Facilitator

Page 6 of 6

CONTROLLED COPY