Volunteering
A pathway towards Happiness
“No one is more cherished in this world than someone who lightens the burden of another.”
Volunteering is generally considered an altruistic activity where an individual or group provides services for no financial or social gain “to benefit another person, group or organisation”. Volunteering is also renowned for skill development and is often intended to promote goodness or to improve human quality of life. Volunteering may have positive benefits for the volunteer as well as for the person or community served.
“Kindness is the language that the deaf can hear and blind can see”
There are many way can do volunteering, such as educational, social, community, emergency rescue, environmental and many more.
“Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just have the heart.”
Why volunteer?
People choose to volunteer for a variety of reasons. For some it offers the chance to give something back to the community or make a difference to the people around them. For others it provides an opportunity to develop new skills or build on existing experience and knowledge. Regardless of the motivation, what unites them is that they find it both challenging and rewarding.
Below are some of the reasons people choose to volunteer. For some it provides an opportunity to
Give something back to an organisation that has impacted on a person’s life, either directly or indirectly
Make a difference to the lives of others
Help the environment
Help others less fortunate or without a voice
Feel valued and part of the team
Spend quality time away from work or a busy lifestyle
Gain confidence and self-esteem
For some, volunteering can be a route to employment, or a chance to try something new which may lead to a career change. From this perspective, volunteering can be a way of:
Gaining new skills, knowledge and experience
Developing existing skills and knowledge
Enhancing a CV
Improving one’s employment prospects
Gaining an accreditation
Using one’s professional skills and knowledge to benefits others (usually described as pro bono)
for others, volunteering appeals because of its social benefits. These include:
Meeting new people and making new friends
A chance to socialise
Getting to know the local community
As Mahatma Gandhi said: “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others”.
“Lets Together Build a Happier Caring Community”
Submitted by Symon Kazi Arif Mahmud
Have a story of an act of kindness that touched you? Share with us! Let us work together to share the graciousness in our community and inspire more to give. Down the road, compassion will definitely be part of Singaporean’s 5 Cs.