Chapter 13: Volunteerism

Learning Objectives

At the end of this chapter, the learners are expected to:

Overview

This chapter takes up volunteerism-its meaning and benefits, values expected of volunteers, and
volunteer opportunities.
Volunteerism helps hasten and strengthen community development as it promotes active
participation of individuals in different programs and projects that respond to the needs of community.

Volunteerism

Volunteerism is the act, practice, or principle of contributing one's time, talents, and resources
freely to worthwhile purposes without tangible compensation. It is considered the most fundamental
act in the society. It is geared toward good causes that help alleviate the suffering of others. It promotes
peace, solidarity, and trust among citizens.

Volunteerism can serve in various areas ranging from medical, environmental, and educational
support groups to child protection and human rights advocacies, poll or election work, peacekeeping
missions, and relief operations, to name a few.

Some people consider volunteerism a pastime; others see it as a vocation. Some volunteers
have high-paying jobs and stable careers: others are well known in their fields. Volunteers could be
teachers, doctors, lawyers, or celebrities. They could also be housewives, students, or retirees.

Regardless of age, economic status, sex, and educational attainment, volunteers work together
toward a common cause for which they commit their time, know-how and expertise, and sometimes
even their own money.

However, one does not become a volunteer by simply raising his/her hand. A volunteer has to
undergo trainings and attend seminars for specific functions or tasks that he/she volunteers for.

Moore (2002) describes a volunteer as follows:

"A volunteer is a person who is a light to others, giving witness in a mixed-up age, doing well and
willingly the tasks at hand, namely, being aware of another's need and doing something about
it.

"A volunteer is a person who strives to make other people happy, who takes the
loneliness out of the alone by talking to them, who is concerned when others are

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 unconcerned, who has the courage to be a blessing and to say the things that have
to be said for the good of all.

"A volunteer is a person whose charity is fidelity, who is faithful in an unfaithful world, grateful
in an ungrateful world, giving when all are grasping, listening when others need to tell about
their fears and problems."

Volunteers are people from all walks of life, all ages and stages, having a common desire to
make a difference in their community and their own life by giving of their time and expertise. For young
people, volunteering brings a new sense of confidence and self-gratification. It is a good way to interact
in the "grown-up world." It enables them to develop communication, career-building, and social skills
that will be useful in other facets of their lives.

Benefits of Volunteers

Volunteerism yields the following benefits:

1. Community development
2. Development of the skills of volunteers
3. Peace, solidarity, and trust among citizens
4. Career opportunities for volunteers
5. Friendship among citizens 6. Experience and self-esteem gained by volunteers

Values Expected of Volunteers

Here are some core values expected of volunteers:

1. Commitment. Volunteers are attached to, identified with, and involved in community service.
2. Professionalism. Volunteers observe work ethics in performing their responsibilities with socially
and morally accepted behavior.
3. Creativity. Volunteers search constantly for new strategies and methods of doing a task for
improved results.
4. Unity. A volunteer supports teamwork to achieve the common goal.

Volunteer Opportunities

The 2001 National Survey of Giving, Volunteering, and Participating shares the following questionnaire,
the answers to which help determine what kind of volunteer opportunities will be suited to the
individual volunteer:

1. If you have all the human and financial resources in the world, what problem would you solve,
what would you change, and what would you create? Your answers will tell you what matters
the most to you.
2. What kind of time commitment are you willing to make? Are you looking for a regular/weekly
volunteer commitment or a short-term/one-time opportunity?
3. Would you like to volunteer with other people or by yourself?
4. Would you like to volunteer from your own home, or would you prefer to volunteer in an
organization?

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 5. If you would like to volunteer away from home, where is the best location for you-near your
home, your work, your child's care center?
6. Do you have specific skills or talents that you would like to share with an organization?
7. Would you like to develop a specific skill?
8. What are your personal goals? Would you like to re-enter the workforce or meet new people?

A. Potential volunteer opportunities are as follows: A. Based on the interests of an individual

1. If you like animals, you can help out at an animal shelter or the nearest zoo.
2. If you like working with kids, you can get involved at a day-care or preschool center or help
younger students with their schoolwork.
3. If you enjoy playing sports, you can play games with the kids at a nearby sports complex or
organize a mini-sports fest.
4. If you like to cook, you can get together with friends and teach moms or housekeepers new
recipes, the latest about food preparation and preservation, and entrepreneurship
opportunities in cooking.
5. If you enjoy arts and crafts, you can teach how to make curtains or bedspreads, embroider
pillowcases and towels, and make unique fashion accessories at a women's shelter, nursing
home, or orphanage.
6. If you enjoy the outdoors, you can help organize a clean-up drive in your street or park or help a
neighbor plant flowers.
7. If you enjoy dancing, singing, and acting, you can participate in your community's cultural show
group. 8. If your grandparents have passed away or live far away and you do not get to see them
as often you want to, you can make friends with a senior citizen and adopt him/her as your
grandma or grandpa.
8. If you are interested in foreign culture, you can volunteer at a school that accepts foreign
students. 10. If you are concerned about people with disabilities, you can volunteer at an agency
or institution that care for people with physical or mental disabilities.

B. Based on the future career goal of an individual

1. If you like to work in the medical field, you can volunteer at a community health center or a
government hospital or clinic.
2. If you are interested in teaching, you can volunteer at a public school.
3. If you are interested in science, you can volunteer at the local science museum or 200.
4. If you like to work in an office someday, you can volunteer at a non-profit organization.

Community Service

Community service is identified by the higher educational institution (HEI) in consultation with
the local government, community-based organizations, and non-governmental organizations as
designed to improve the quality of life of community residents, particularly low-income individuals, or to
solve particular problems related to their needs. Community service includes the following:

1. first aid training or health care, preschool storytelling, social welfare, social services, trauma
counseling, group dynamics, crime prevention, recreation, street cleaning, and community
improvement.
2. serving in the youth corps as defined in the NSTP Act of 2001

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 3. assisting students with disabilities
4. tutoring, supporting educational and recreational activities, and counseling, including career
counseling

Volunteer community-service can be rendered in government offices, private companies or in any

Conclusion

Community volunteerism entails identifying resources; building up present strengths; empowering

REFERENCE:

Villasoto, H.S & Villasoto, N. S. (2018). Human person gearing towards social development: NSTP-CWTS
1 worktext for college students. 2nd Edition. C & E Publishing, Inc. pp. 156 – 160